Judge cancels Rabesca's trial date

Joe Rabesca, the former Tlicho grand chief charged with sexually assaulting a woman, was expected to stand trial on April 27. Instead, he sat at the defence table in Yellowknife territorial court and listened to his lawyer, Paul Falvo, ask the court to be removed from the defence.

"I regret making that request on the eve of trial," said Falvo, who cited "irreconcilable differences" between him and Rabesca as the reason. As a result, Judge Christine Gagnon cancelled Rabesca's April 27 trial date in Behchoko and instead rescheduled the court appearance so the parties could set a trial date. Rabesca, 61, pleaded not guilty to the charge of sexual assault on Feb. 15, 2011.

- Terrence McEachern

Hay River tight lipped on SAO departure

The Town of Hay River is remaining tight-lipped about the departure of its senior administrative officer (SAO) Terry Molenkamp.

A press release issued April 29 states, "There have been questions asked about Ms. Molenkamp's departure. Having regard to the laws concerning protection of personal information of employees, the town cannot comment further."

Molenkamp stepped down from her position April 15 after 19 years of service to the community.

Michael Richardson will fill in as SAO for a period of six months effective April 18 and the town will be advertising for a permanent SAO.

- Kevin Allerston

Public hearings set

The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board will be visiting Nahanni Butte and Fort Simpson in June to discuss Canadian Zinc's proposal to build and operate the Prairie Creek mine south of Nahanni Butte. The board will first stop at the community hall in Nahanni Butte on June 22 at 10 a.m.; the next two days will take them to Fort Simpson's lower community hall starting at 9 a.m. on June 23.

Canadian Zinc's proposal is to mine lead and zinc from underground for up to 14 years.

- Guy Quenneville

Ice roads' final leg

The Fort Simpson ice crossing on the Liard River and the N'Dulee Ice Road on the Mackenzie River were both closed as of Friday, said Earl Blacklock, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation.

As the weekend began, the Northern ice crossings including the Peel River crossing on Highway 8, the Tsiigehtchic Winter Access Crossing and the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk crossing were in good driving condition but nearing the end of the season, according to Blacklock. Check the department's website for updates.

- Katherine Hudson

Foot party to the finish line

Lli Goline/Norman Wells

Registration is underway for the third annual Bearathon run in Norman Wells scheduled for June 18.

Bearathon III will kick off at the Royal Canadian Legion where participants can choose among for a 1 km, 5 km and 10-km runs. Registration began on April 11 and organizers are asking participants to register before May 8 to guarantee their requested shirt size.

The event, organized by the Norman Wells Running Club, promotes healthy lifestyles while having fun doing it.

- Andrew Livingstone

Public hearings scheduled

Sahtu

The Sahtu Land Use Planning Board will hold three days of public meetings starting May 3 in Norman Wells to discuss the third draft of the Sahtu Land Use Plan.

The hearings will be held at the Dennis Drolet Memorial Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

According to the board's website, the purpose of the hearing is to provide planning partners, including businesses, community member and leaders, an opportunity to present their views on the proposed plan and for the board to gather input for final revisions.

For more information on the hearings please contact the board.

- Andrew Livingstone

Easter festivities

Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson

The hunt was on in Fort McPherson on Good Friday when about 20 youth scoured for chocolate eggs left by the Easter Bunny at the recreation complex.

Jackie Pascal, recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet, said the children looked high and low for the tasty treats left for them to collect. She said she was surprised by the great turnout and said it was a huge success.

Pascal said prior to the egg hunt, the hamlet held an Easter egg decorating event on April 20. She said kids came out to the youth centre to decorate some fancy eggs.

- Andrew Livingstone

One is the only number

Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour

Students and teachers at Inualthuyak School are crossing the days off their calendars as the last day of the school year is fast approaching - school's out for the summer on May 19 for students, May 20 for teachers.

For one student, the end of the school year will be extra special - Charli-Jo Elanik will graduate from Grade 9 on May 16 during a community celebration and school-wide awards ceremony.

Elanik will move on to Grade 10 in Inuvik next school year. School principal Debbie Budgell said the graduation/awards night will be a big event for everyone.

"Every child will get something," she said. "We want to recognize every student for something they excel at."

Budgell said three students, one from each class, will be awarded with the Star Student Award for their work throughout this past school year.

Budgell said Inualthuyak School has the earliest graduation date of all the schools in the territory, but added she and her staff are working on bringing their school calendar in line with other schools in the region and territory.

- Andrew Livingstone

Jamboree of a time

Aklavik

The 2011 edition of the Mad Trapper Jamboree wrapped up April 25 with a bang as Jordan McLeod won the Open Class 75 Mile snowmobile race and the $3,000 grand prize to go with all the glory.

The five-day jamboree was loaded with events, said recreation co-ordinator Dean McLeod, not just snowmobile races. He said they gave out thousands of dollars worth of prizes to participants in dog racing, jigging, snowshoe racing and the more popular talent show and fiddling contest.

"It was just a really great event," said McLeod. "We had a really good turnout and the weather was really great."

McLeod said the community had visitors from all over the Delta region, as well as some from Yellowknife who made the trip for the jamboree.

The Danny A. Gordon Memorial Jigging Contest attracted a large crowd to the event to see dozens of couples show off their jigging skills.

Edward Kogiak and Doris Rogers won top prize in the 16 to 30 category while Abel Tingmiak and Mary Greenland stole the show in the 50 and over category. Both teams took home a prize of $300.

- Andrew Livingstone

Getting ready for commercial fishing

Beaufort Delta

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the federal government late last month to prepare for the possibility of commercial fishing in the Beaufort Sea.

Nellie Cournoyea, president of the corporation, said the document is just an early step and commercial fishing isn't something they are overly concerned about at this point.

She added it was important to take the initial step to recognize the future potential and to protect the aquatic life in the sea for the Inuvialuit.

Cournoyea said commercial fishing is likely a long ways away for the corporation, and for the Inuvialuit, to worry about.

- Andrew Livingstone

Snowmobile and SUV collide

A crash between a snowmobile and SUV sent one man to hospital in Iqaluit on April 26.

RCMP responded to a call at 10:30 a.m. in front of North Mart, stated a press release.

The snowmobile driver, a 77-year-old male, had stopped on the shoulder of the road to cross when he was stuck by an oncoming vehicle, also driven by an elderly male.

The driver of snowmobile was taken to the Qikiqtani General Hospital with undetermined injuries.

The investigation is ongoing and the names of the drivers are being withheld.

-Emily Ridlington

Apex man faces charges

An 18-year-old from Apex has been charged with six criminal offences stemming from an incident on April 18.

RCMP said they got a call at 3:30 a.m. after shots were reported to have been fired inside a house.

Three people inside a residence escaped unharmed and called police. RCMP seized a firearm from the residence.

Markoosie Tiglik, 18, has been charged with discharging a firearm, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm and failure to comply with conditions of an undertaking.

He appeared at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit on April 20

Tiglik remains in custody until his next court appearance on May 3.

-Emily Ridlington

Former Iqaluit mayor to run for MLA

Former Iqaluit mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik will run as a candidate in the Iqaluit West byelection, she confirmed last week.

Sheutiapik, who lost to Paul Okalik in the 2008 territorial election, said she decided to become a candidate following an "influx" of calls of encouragement since the seat became vacant.

"I have never been involved by self-interest. It's always been because people encouraged me and certainly everyone has," she said.

Okalik resigned to run for the Liberal party in the federal election.

Sheutiapik said, if elected on Sept. 12, working at the territorial level will be a learning experience.

"Ultimately, it is always about listening to what people want and how do you try and move forward with the wants, needs especially."

The byelection for Iqaluit West is set for Sept. 12, the same day as the one for Pangnirtung.

-Jeanne Gagnon

Fun festive activities

Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord

Residents in the community celebrated Easter with some good old-fashioned activities with a twist on April 25.

Instead of an Easter egg hunt, 14 envelopes were hidden around the pond.

Each envelope had a number and it co-ordinated with a candy or prize.

"Everybody who wanted to participate could," said Ann Akeeagok, who organized the event.

She said it took about 30 minutes for everyone to find the envelopes.

There was also sliding on sealskins with prizes awarded in adult and children's categories for those who went the furthest. Others pulled a jerry can using thread without breaking it. This was done in relay race format with teams. There were hot dogs, coffee, hot chocolate and fresh fish caught at Devon Island by Raymond Mercredi to eat, and Annie Audlaluk won the cake-decorating contest.

- Emily Ridlington

Fishing derby

Taloyoak/Spence Bay

Fishing lines will be the tool of choice for those participating in the fishing derby set for the May long weekend.

From May 21 to 23, residents will be able to participate in the cod fishing derby and seal hunting contest just outside the community, said David Igutsaq, chairman of the fishing derby committee.

"About 95 per cent of the community usually goes," he said. "We usually take the whole family to go out for the long weekend."

About 895 people live in Taloyoak, according to information from the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Pakallak Tyme

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

The community of Rankin Inlet's annual Pakallak Tyme hamlet days celebration took place April 26 to May 2.

The celebration was scheduled to include activities for kids of all ages, including dog team races, square dances, target shooting, crib and Scrabble tournaments, teen dances, elder's games, an ice chisel contest, kid's pond hockey tournament, talent show, flea market, and a Fear Factor challenge.

- Darrell Greer

Hamlet takes down old house

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung

House #456 was scheduled to come down in late April because it was not safe.

"It was lived in until two or three years ago, then it was basically abandoned. We did secure the house but kids find 26 billion ways of getting in and it's become a hangout," said Ron Mongeau, SAO.

The house is located near the power plant.

Mongeau said residents were welcome to salvage parts from the site before it was demolished. The hamlet was paying for the demolition costs.

- Emily Ridlington

Students 'electing' a school mascot

Iglulik

A walrus, caribou, raven, polar bear and wolf are the five "candidates" for school mascot Ataguttaaluk Elementary School students will vote for as part of Student Vote, a non-profit organization.

Grade 7 teacher Shontell MacInnis said the school will set up six polling stations on April 29 for students to choose one of five mascots, each of which has a name, platform and campaign speech. She added the program is a way to teach the election process and terminology to younger children by voting for a school mascot.

"The students can learn the election process by choosing their own mascot," she said. "They (teachers) are introducing how just like in our class we are choosing a mascot - one of these animals, in Canada we are choosing our leader and in Nunavut we are choosing our MP."

The names of all four candidates for the Nunavut riding - Leona Aglukkaq for the Conservative party, Paul Okalik for the Liberal Party, Jack Hicks for the NDP party and Scott MacCallum for the Green party - will be introduced to the students, she added.

"If they are learning the election process now, they will be more likely to vote in the future and more aware of the political climate of Nunavut and Canada. So it's really important," said MacInnis.

- Jeanne Gagnon

On the land

Arviat

Students at Qitiqliq Middle School in Arviat enjoyed some time learning traditional skills with the elders out on the land earlier this month.

The iglu project is a popular program with the 162 students registered in Grade 6 to 8 at the school, as is Qitiqliq's practical arts program.

"We hire elders, bus the students out and they get to take part in numerous activities, both inside and outside of the iglu, such as cooking, making bannock, drum dancing, skin preparation, storytelling, making snow blocks, learning to make shelters and recognizing the different types of snow," said principal Doreen Hannak.

Hannak said she was disappointed when someone ruined the two iglus for this year's project, just as her students were getting ready to begin. She said it was decided the program had to continue, so it was done with tents instead of the traditional iglu.

- Darrell Greer

Community Easter egg hunt

Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

There were 200 chocolate Easter eggs hidden outside by one very special bunny for the young and the young at heart to find on April 23.

"Everyone had fun and enjoyed it," said Clark Kalluq, acting recreation co-ordinator.

The most coveted finds were two chocolate Easter bunnies with $40 each in them and a golden egg hidden in the middle of town.

Kalluq said the person who found it got a free bicycle from the Northern store.

"It was little boy who found it and he was very happy," he said.

There were also games and a dance at the community hall.

- Emily Ridlington

Easter fun

Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven

Ice chiseling, drum dancing, family relay races, cod fishing and an Easter egg hunt were some of the activities about 150 to 200 residents participated in for Easter, said the hamlet's senior administrative officer.

"Everybody enjoyed the games but it was only for that one day," Enuk Pauloosie said. "The weather co-operated. It was really nice out."

- Jeanne Gagnon

Snowmobile and SUV collide

A crash between a snowmobile and SUV sent one man to hospital in Iqaluit on April 26.

RCMP responded to a call at 10:30 a.m. in front of North Mart, stated a press release.

The snowmobile driver, a 77-year-old male, had stopped on the shoulder of the road to cross when he was stuck by an oncoming vehicle, also driven by an elderly male.

The driver of snowmobile was taken to the Qikiqtani General Hospital with undetermined injuries.

The investigation is ongoing and the names of the drivers are being withheld.

-Emily Ridlington

Apex man faces charges

An 18-year-old from Apex has been charged with six criminal offences stemming from an incident on April 18.

RCMP said they got a call at 3:30 a.m. after shots were reported to have been fired inside a house.

Three people inside a residence escaped unharmed and called police. RCMP seized a firearm from the residence.

Markoosie Tiglik, 18, has been charged with discharging a firearm, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm and failure to comply with conditions of an undertaking.

He appeared at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit on April 20

Tiglik remains in custody until his next court appearance on May 3.

-Emily Ridlington

Former Iqaluit mayor to run for MLA

Former Iqaluit mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik will run as a candidate in the Iqaluit West byelection, she confirmed last week.

Sheutiapik, who lost to Paul Okalik in the 2008 territorial election, said she decided to become a candidate following an "influx" of calls of encouragement since the seat became vacant.

"I have never been involved by self-interest. It's always been because people encouraged me and certainly everyone has," she said.

Okalik resigned to run for the Liberal party in the federal election.

Sheutiapik said, if elected on Sept. 12, working at the territorial level will be a learning experience.

"Ultimately, it is always about listening to what people want and how do you try and move forward with the wants, needs especially."

The byelection for Iqaluit West is set for Sept. 12, the same day as the one for Pangnirtung.

-Jeanne Gagnon

Fun festive activities

Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord

Residents in the community celebrated Easter with some good old-fashioned activities with a twist on April 25.

Instead of an Easter egg hunt, 14 envelopes were hidden around the pond.

Each envelope had a number and it co-ordinated with a candy or prize.

"Everybody who wanted to participate could," said Ann Akeeagok, who organized the event.

She said it took about 30 minutes for everyone to find the envelopes.

There was also sliding on sealskins with prizes awarded in adult and children's categories for those who went the furthest. Others pulled a jerry can using thread without breaking it. This was done in relay race format with teams. There were hot dogs, coffee, hot chocolate and fresh fish caught at Devon Island by Raymond Mercredi to eat, and Annie Audlaluk won the cake-decorating contest.

- Emily Ridlington

Fishing derby

Taloyoak/Spence Bay

Fishing lines will be the tool of choice for those participating in the fishing derby set for the May long weekend.

From May 21 to 23, residents will be able to participate in the cod fishing derby and seal hunting contest just outside the community, said David Igutsaq, chairman of the fishing derby committee.

"About 95 per cent of the community usually goes," he said. "We usually take the whole family to go out for the long weekend."

About 895 people live in Taloyoak, according to information from the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Pakallak Tyme

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

The community of Rankin Inlet's annual Pakallak Tyme hamlet days celebration took place April 26 to May 2.

The celebration was scheduled to include activities for kids of all ages, including dog team races, square dances, target shooting, crib and Scrabble tournaments, teen dances, elder's games, an ice chisel contest, kid's pond hockey tournament, talent show, flea market, and a Fear Factor challenge.

- Darrell Greer

Hamlet takes down old house

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung

House #456 was scheduled to come down in late April because it was not safe.

"It was lived in until two or three years ago, then it was basically abandoned. We did secure the house but kids find 26 billion ways of getting in and it's become a hangout," said Ron Mongeau, SAO.

The house is located near the power plant.

Mongeau said residents were welcome to salvage parts from the site before it was demolished. The hamlet was paying for the demolition costs.

- Emily Ridlington

Students 'electing' a school mascot

Iglulik

A walrus, caribou, raven, polar bear and wolf are the five "candidates" for school mascot Ataguttaaluk Elementary School students will vote for as part of Student Vote, a non-profit organization.

Grade 7 teacher Shontell MacInnis said the school will set up six polling stations on April 29 for students to choose one of five mascots, each of which has a name, platform and campaign speech. She added the program is a way to teach the election process and terminology to younger children by voting for a school mascot.

"The students can learn the election process by choosing their own mascot," she said. "They (teachers) are introducing how just like in our class we are choosing a mascot - one of these animals, in Canada we are choosing our leader and in Nunavut we are choosing our MP."

The names of all four candidates for the Nunavut riding - Leona Aglukkaq for the Conservative party, Paul Okalik for the Liberal Party, Jack Hicks for the NDP party and Scott MacCallum for the Green party - will be introduced to the students, she added.

"If they are learning the election process now, they will be more likely to vote in the future and more aware of the political climate of Nunavut and Canada. So it's really important," said MacInnis.

- Jeanne Gagnon

On the land

Arviat

Students at Qitiqliq Middle School in Arviat enjoyed some time learning traditional skills with the elders out on the land earlier this month.

The iglu project is a popular program with the 162 students registered in Grade 6 to 8 at the school, as is Qitiqliq's practical arts program.

"We hire elders, bus the students out and they get to take part in numerous activities, both inside and outside of the iglu, such as cooking, making bannock, drum dancing, skin preparation, storytelling, making snow blocks, learning to make shelters and recognizing the different types of snow," said principal Doreen Hannak.

Hannak said she was disappointed when someone ruined the two iglus for this year's project, just as her students were getting ready to begin. She said it was decided the program had to continue, so it was done with tents instead of the traditional iglu.

- Darrell Greer

Community Easter egg hunt

Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

There were 200 chocolate Easter eggs hidden outside by one very special bunny for the young and the young at heart to find on April 23.

"Everyone had fun and enjoyed it," said Clark Kalluq, acting recreation co-ordinator.

The most coveted finds were two chocolate Easter bunnies with $40 each in them and a golden egg hidden in the middle of town.

Kalluq said the person who found it got a free bicycle from the Northern store.

"It was little boy who found it and he was very happy," he said.

There were also games and a dance at the community hall.

- Emily Ridlington

Easter fun

Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven

Ice chiseling, drum dancing, family relay races, cod fishing and an Easter egg hunt were some of the activities about 150 to 200 residents participated in for Easter, said the hamlet's senior administrative officer.

"Everybody enjoyed the games but it was only for that one day," Enuk Pauloosie said. "The weather co-operated. It was really nice out."

- Jeanne Gagnon