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Painful memories stay with a person for a lifetime.

Dealing with those memories can affect a person in many ways, some of which are unhealthy and even self-destructive.

In the case of residential schools, the horrors that caused the unbearable memories for aboriginal people across the North and the nation were beyond their control, inflicted by people of authority and power. Such oppression results in feelings of hopelessness and distrust; it makes it impossible to seek help from a system that embodies those responsible for the abuses.

In 2008, the Canadian government took the first step toward lifting the oppression caused by residential schools. Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a public apology for Canada's role in the residential school era.

Most importantly, through Harper's statement, the government admitted the arrogance that formed the policies of residential schools and contributed to the horrific treatment of many aboriginal children "was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country."

Words can be powerful and that step of validating First Nations people in their belief that those in authority were wrong opened the door for the healing process to begin.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's mission to collect and record the sad and terrible stories of humiliation, abuse and cultural genocide perpetrated by the people working at residential schools was an essential next step.

Publicly documenting the stories demonstrates our nation's further acknowledgement of its contrition. It is also a promise to give restitution to the generations who were hurt either by residential schools or the legacy of those institutions.

The commission's national event in Inuvik, held June 28 to July 1, was a culmination of its work in the North; thousands of stories were heard leading up to and during the event. Opportunities to re-unite with old friends, meet new ones and share in events helped add some lightheartedness to an otherwise sombre affair.

With the national event concluded, Canada's responsibility to residential school survivors is not anywhere near its end. The national event was not a cure-all, wiping away the pain caused by the residential schools, nor did it restore the cultural degradation and lost parenting skills that came as a result.

Community programs designed to continue the healing process and restore aboriginal culture, language and identity are essential to help undo the damages.

Unfortunately, residential schools have forever scarred the hearts and minds of First Nations people as much as they have scarred the reputation and pride of our nation. Together we must keep working to rebuild trust and restore as much as possible of what Canada stole from its first people.

A poorly marked buoy, an object designed to enhance safety, can actually be a killer.

This was the case when conservation officer Seeglook Akeeagok, 55, died in a boating accident in Iqaluit harbour on Nov. 5, 2010. As darkness fell, the eight-metre aluminum vessel he was riding in slammed into a buoy -- about three metres in length, rusty brown in colour and without a beacon.

"It's a hazard all year round," RCMP Sgt. Jimmy Akavak, who frequently goes boating himself, said shortly after the incident.

Members of Iqaluit's boating community expressed concern about the years of neglect that allowed the buoy to fall into disrepair.

Mooring buoys must have a yellow light and yellow reflective material, according to federal regulations. Why was that not the case for the buoy in question?

Part of the problem lies with having two federal bodies responsible for the water safety markers. Transport Canada looks after private buoy regulations while the Canadian Coast Guard is responsible for federally-regulated buoys.

On the surface, that seems clear-cut enough but there's obviously still some confusion.

The buoy that was involved in Akeeagok's fatal accident has been removed.

While a properly marked buoy may still be needed in that area, at least the hazardous one is gone, no matter who took it away.

Transport Canada said it has taken the lead role in determining who owns the remaining buoys in the harbour.

Really? Neither of the two organizations responsible for monitoring buoys is sure who owns the existing markers?

That's not good.

Furthermore, a Transport Canada official said four of the five buoys remaining in the harbour have been marked with reflective tape.

What about the fifth buoy?

What about lights, which are required by law and would make the floating objects much easier to see?

What about consultation with boaters in Iqaluit? Why haven't officials from Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard held public meetings explaining their roles and what action has been taken since last year's accident?

In the absence of full accountability to the public, the agencies will continue to appear to have dropped the ball and still be scrambling to get their respective houses in order, even several months after the fatal incident that killed Akeeagok.

They must do better than that.

Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, received some Northern exposure during the one full day they explored Yellowknife and Blachford Lake. In return, Yellowknife enjoyed some great exposure of its own.

The capital city is no stranger to royal visits. Queen Elizabeth visited the city in 1959, 1970 and 1994 while Prince Charles was here in 1979; but the young, glamorous couple, who graciously shook hundreds of hands on Tuesday, brought a new wave of royal excitement to Yellowknife.

The GNWT estimates the media exposure of the visit is worth at least $1 million in global advertising. That's not surprising. One of the most famous couples in the world stopping at the territory's doorstep during their first tour abroad since their April 29 wedding is bound to grab international attention. It makes for a golden opportunity to market what this city and the broader territory have to offer.

The royal couple, along with a cluster of security and hundreds of accredited journalists toured the city and Blachford Lake Lodge, caught glimpses of drum dancing, the reverent sounds of an opening prayer, glistening lakes, moose hide traditional clothing and colourful beading, handgames, a lighthearted game of street hockey and the welcoming faces of those in the crowds. Seeing the candid shots of the city in media around the globe creates a more favourable impression of Yellowknife for many who, up until this week, did not have our city on their radar.

This occasion put many of us up close and personal with the glamorous royal couple. If we capitalize on their appearance, it will provide more than just memories, it will pay dividends in tourism for years to come.

Getting rid of Yellowknife's trash has quite literally been an uphill battle from the get-go.

Early residents of the city looked to the pond that used to exist where Fritz Theil Park is now located to dump their trash, and when that was full, the garbage went up the hill to the Niven Lake area. It was finally covered in 1993.

The current landfill, nestled above Jackfish Lake and Giant Mine, was opened in 1974 and has served the city well. Unlike the previous locations, it isn't close to homes and businesses, although it's near enough to the airport to make federal transportation authorities worry about the potential for bird strikes.

The city is about to turn another page on its dump history when it opens a new cell at the adjoining rock quarry this summer. The attitude of the city -- and residents in general -- toward garbage disposal has progressed much over the years, and one would expect it will be another long stretch following this latest landfill addition before it's time to find another site for our waste.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem points to city recycling efforts, tipping fees and the GNWT beverage container recovery plan as the main reasons why the current landfill's lifespan has been extended by four years. Residents also deserve credit for buying into these programs, including the three-bag curbside limit on garbage, with minimum fuss.

It's possible residents may be willing to do more, including accepting a lower bag limit of two and paying a higher solid waste levy for curbside recycling, but city council would likely have to do a better job at keeping tax increases to a minimum before residents accept a higher waste levy.

One thing is for sure, it's better to have more land set aside for development and the public's enjoyment than needing ever-expanding space to dump our trash.

In recent years there's been an iceberg lurking at every Dehcho First Nations annual assembly.

Every year the Dehcho Process is nestled somewhere in the schedule. No matter what day it is on, however, it's guaranteed that the process won't stay there. Inevitably close to half, if not more, of the assembly is taken up by the topic.

There is a very good reason for this phenomenon. The Dehcho Process, much like an iceberg, is a huge undertaking and at any given time only a small portion of it is visible. Its true enormity can only be seen once you start in on the topic.

Dehcho First Nations negotiators probably have the clearest vision of the true scope of the process. As engaged participants in the negotiations on the agreement-in-principle, they see both the minutiae of chapters on topics such as migratory bird harvesting, social housing and dispute resolution, just to name a few, as well as the larger scope of the government that is being created and the areas it will have authority over.

The leaders of the First Nations and Metis locals in the Deh Cho are a step further away from the process. Although they give directions to the negotiators through resolutions passed at assemblies, they aren't involved in the daily tasks related to the process. The effect of this even small distance becomes apparent at the annual assemblies. Many of the questions and topics that have been asked before are raised again as leaders try to come to grips with certain aspects of the process as well as its implications as a whole.

The quick run-through of the chapters that are being worked on for the agreement-in-principle that the leaders receive at the assembly really isn't enough to provide them with a solid grasp of everything.

Further still from the process is the rest of the population of the Deh Cho. Most probably know the process is being negotiated but, beyond that, awareness likely ranges from none to middling, depending on the individual. After all, it isn't having a direct effect on anyone yet.

What's ahead is a lot more work and a steep learning curve for many people. The negotiators still have some important topics to cover with the federal government, including land quantum and natural resource management. Possibly within a year and a half, however, the agreement-in-principle will be ready.

At that point it will be in every Deh Cho residents' interest to known as much as possible about what may be signed and what implications it will have. The Deh Cho is at a very important point in its history and only with time, negotiations and the active participation of informed residents will the region's future be forged.

The Truth and Reconciliation national event in Inuvik brought a lot of old memories to residential school survivors.

Some told their stories for the first time, confronted old fears and shame, apologized for the behaviour they may have inflicted on family and friends or even simply remembered events they had locked away for years.

During the event, surrounded by health care workers and other survivors going through the same emotions, it was a safe and healthy environment to bring up the past. Nights were filled with entertainment and crowds, a celebration of the resilience of aboriginal culture and a rejection of past pain. During the days, support workers were ready to offer comfort at the first tear drop.

After revisiting all these emotions, residential school survivors now have to return to their communities, with limited health support. While bigger centres, like Winnipeg and Halifax, may have more support for survivors, there is arguably far less help available in places such as Ulukhaktok and Tsiigehtchic.

While survivors had the courage to tell their stories and face their demons in the safe and comforting environment of the TRC, what will happen when they return home? What happens when they return full of optimism and hope for the future and are met with the same poor conditions they left behind? And how will the strength and pride they gained from the event be met by people who didn't attend? How will the message of the TRC travel to all the small, Northern communities?

The TRC event seemed like a great idea. But now, with survivors on their own once again, it almost seems like a disaster in the making. How will they deal with their issues and move forward on their healing journey without help? Won't raising the issues and then not providing support just send them further backwards? What good is bringing up the past if there's no way to move into the future?

While the TRC is a necessary step for the entire country to take, something needs to be done to ensure the survivors living in remote communities continue to have the care and support they need. The commissioners even commented that with an apology must come action. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's apology came in 2008 and the TRC event represents a step forward. But the action must continue.

Whether it's travelling support workers, video conferencing, team building exercises or monthly awareness campaigns, something more must be done for Northern survivors. They travelled the farthest to attend residential schools, and now the government must go to them to repair the damage. It's only fair.

One thing is clear after last week's initial and somewhat guarded presentation to the public on the city's vision for the waterfront, there are some ambitious plans afoot.

Boardwalks and marinas, boutiques in the place of shacks, fees and tighter rules for houseboats - the status quo appears destined to disappear as the city aims to improve public access and bring order to a portion of the city that hasn't had much of it since gold was discovered at Burwash Point in 1934, when miners and entrepreneurs quickly gobbled land by the shore and erected ramshackle shacks and shops.

The city has tried to exercise control over the waterfront on two occasions over the past couple of decades, but failed on both counts. First came the city's attempt to make houseboaters pay property taxes in the mid-1990s, which was abandoned in 2000 after it was determined the city had no jurisdiction over waters in Yellowknife Bay. The second attempt came a few years later with the city's waterfront plan that died in council chambers after residents in Old Town and Latham Island expressed outrage over plans to remove long-existing private docks encroaching on public lands to make way for boardwalks and public docks.

By getting all the major players together on the harbour planning committee, including the Yellowknives Dene and all levels of government, the city is on much more solid ground this time around.

Despite that, there doesn't seem to be any pressing need to rush ahead, especially considering the past difficulties. Even if the city has the legal authority to remove docks and raze shacks, it would be wiser to work with property owners along the waterfront and houseboaters instead of stirring up old hostilities. Residents, including those in the Woodyard, should be consulted every step along the way, and accommodated wherever it's possible and reasonable.

As for those living on or using waterfront space right now, it can't be expected that life will carry on unchanged in perpetuity. Change is coming, and people will find it easier to adjust if they take part in the planning and not just reflexively oppose it.

A recently released study shows that the NWT has earned the dubious distinction of being home to the third fattest citizens in Canada, and that we need to do more work to fix the problem.

The Canadian Community Health Survey indicates that 62.8 per cent of NWT residents 18 or older are obese or overweight, compared to the national average of 51.6 per cent.

The health problems associated with obesity have become all too familiar, including high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

There is no one simple cause of obesity, but some of the main ones are well known: the high cost of food in the North, the ongoing debate over wildlife management and availability of country food and the enduring attraction of junk food. While some may argue a lack of recreation programs and facilities are an issue, Yellowknife is well equipped with the Multiplex, the Fieldhouse and numerous athletic groups and associations. We just have to get off our butts more often.

Meanwhile the NWT's chief public health officer reports that, while he continues to see unhealthy snacks served in schools, he is also starting to see the appearance of more fruits and vegetables.

That's encouraging - and should be encouraged further.

With an aging population, and health care costs only continuing to rise, governments have no choice but to do what they can to promote healthy lifestyles. Our obligation is to eat well and get active. Our health depends on it.

It's quite rare I revisit a topic within a few weeks.

But a number of issues to surface from the conversations I've had on the beneficiary-only hirings for students with the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet this summer warrant further discussion.

A number of local residents, as well as Inuit in other communities, told me a beneficiary-only policy aimed at kids is taking things too far.

And I agree.

Unfortunately, they also refused to state their opinions publicly for fear of reprisals from the main players in the policy the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), Kivalliq Partners in Development and the Government of Nunavut.

Fear, it appears, still remains a deterrent to the maturation of this territory.

The need-not-apply message to all non-beneficiary kids was delivered under the guise of summer jobs falling under the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti (NNI policy), which is almost laughable in its own right.

But even if we were to extend what everyone accepts as mainly a procurement policy aimed at companies and government tenders, two of NNI's own points in relation to its application (Inuit participation and Nunavut education and training) include the words "... reflect the Inuit proportion of the Nunavut population."

I think we can agree 100 per cent is not an accurate reflection.

Uber-dangerous are authorities that bend their own rules when it suits them.

Just as dangerous are the long-term ramifications of being afraid to speak against injustice through fear of reprisal from elected bodies, and being silent when someone close to you benefits from a policy you know to be wrong.

As far as the hamlet itself goes, it is there to serve all residents of Rankin Inlet.

The mayor and council members should leave all their outside influences at the door when they take their seats in the council chamber.

They have been elected to serve the people of Rankin Inlet -- all the people!

Should funding come with strings attached that discriminate against any segment of the population, the hamlet's reply should be thanks, but no thanks.

Some who support the non-Inuit-kids-need-not-apply policy say the funding originated with NTI and, since it's NTI's money, it should be allowed to put whatever stipulations it wants on it.

Now there's a path a territory almost totally dependant on federal dollars wants to take, isn't it?

It's also a wonderful message to send our youth -- it's OK to discriminate against other people as long as you do it with your own money. At the end of the day, who knows how many non-beneficiary kids would have applied for a summer job in their own home community, had they not been forbidden to do so based on their culture?

Would it have been that much of an affront to our governing agencies to have three non-beneficiary students (an accurate reflection of the population-percentage-to-jobs-available ratio) get a few weeks work with their hamlet this summer?

One can't help but wonder if some would like this path to lead from today's need not apply, to tomorrow's not welcome here.

A dangerous path indeed!

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