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Since the time of contact between aboriginal and Western cultures, a war has been raging between contemporary life and the traditional ways of the North's First Nation, Metis and Inuit populations.

That battle has been waged perhaps most fiercely along the lines of language, where the casualties span generations. Whereas some languages, such as that of the Tlicho people, have weathered the war better than most, the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit languages are on the verge of vanishing forever.

In the Beaufort Delta, the stronghold of both the Gwich'in language and Inuvialuit languages (Uummarmiut, Siglit and Innuinaqtun), there has been a significant decline in the number of aboriginal people who speak an aboriginal language, according to the NWT Bureau of Statistics.

In 1989, 34.4 per cent of the Beaufort Delta population spoke an aboriginal language, whereas in 2009 that figure decreased to 22.1 per cent. Ulukhaktok has traditionally been the strongest community in terms of language preservation. In 2009, 60.1 per cent of the community reported speaking an aboriginal language -- although that's 20 per cent higher than the second strongest community, Sachs Harbour, it is still a 36 per cent decline from 1989.

There are no easy solutions, but, ironically, the best hope for traditional languages is its perceived nemesis -- the contemporary world.

Language programs in schools are helping bring youth back to tongues primarily spoken by their grandparents. However, new technologies might be an opportunity to renew the enthusiasm for traditional languages at home, where it might not be spoken as often as in the past.

Projects such as the Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre's Nauvikhaq (A Place to Grow) database, which has been diligently transforming the oral history of the region into digital recordings and website content, are vital. Having a resource where language material can be heard, seen and interacted with is essential, especially in environments where the opportunity to hear a language spoken is rare.

Technology such as smartphones and tablets should be the next target for language resource material. Mobile technology is all the rage with younger people, especially as devices become more versatile. A quick scroll through the applications menu of most major smartphones will reveal hundreds of programs designed to teach or improve skills in hundreds of languages worldwide.

That resource base is beginning to expand. British Columbia may be at the forefront of Canadian provinces using new technology to advance aboriginal languages. The First Peoples' Heritage, Language and Culture Council created the Firstvoices program, "a suite of web-based tools and services designed to support aboriginal people engaged in language archiving, language teaching and culture revitalization," according to its website. Last year, Firstvoices mobile went live, expanding the program's services to the iPhone and iPad.

The GNWT should consider a similar program across the territory. A territory-wide language program, similar to Nunavut's Inuktitut Living Dictionary, would be a huge step towards saving the nine official aboriginal languages the government claims to support.

Developing those resources into interactive website and cellphone applications will unite today's youth with the traditional languages they are at risk of losing.

When it comes to the traditional languages, the youth are literally our future. As it stands, as our population ages, each death deals an irreparable blow to our knowledge of the past.

The meeting of fisheries ministers in Iqaluit Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 put the state of the industry and ocean-health on the national stage, even if provincial and territorial ministers from Western Canada didn't attend.

Environment Minister Daniel Shewchuk had the chance, at least, to emphasize to federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield the importance of Nunavut getting a bigger share of the turbot pulled from Baffin waters, and to take Ashfield to Pangnirtung to see the progress of the small craft harbour, which will allow for fishing vessels to dock at the community, currently in construction on its shore.

The harbour, supported by $25 million from the feds, is just a step toward creating a large, viable and safer industry that could bring income to a significant number of Nunavummiut.

Having Ashfield see the construction of the harbour, set against the sometimes violent Arctic Ocean and the people who pull their sustenance from it, will convey the importance of projects such as these.

Pangnirtung is getting its harbour, but more communities need them. The GN Department of Economic Development and Transportation identified Pangnirtung, Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq, Pond Inlet, Repulse Bay, Chesterfield Inlet and Kugaaruk as top candidates for small craft harbours.

Hopefully Ashfield saw the need, and more funding will open up for these projects. Without adequate infrastructure to take advantage of the bountiful Arctic Ocean, Nunavummiut are being deprived of further opportunities they deserve.

There won't be three empty seats when the legislative assembly reconvenes on Oct. 18.

Joe Enook will represent the Tununiq/Pond Inlet riding, Pangnirtung will have Hezakiah Oshutapik as its MLA and Monica Ell will speak for constituents in Iqaluit-West.

Congratulations to these successful candidates in the Sept. 12 by-election, as well as to their opponents, who gave residents a choice and prevented acclamations.

Voters were quite motivated to mark their ballots with turnout at the polls hitting 69.3 per cent in Tununiq, 60.1 per cent in Iqaluit-West and 55.7 per cent in Pangnirtung - not bad numbers for a byelection.

Enook campaigned with housing as one of his primary issues.

Ell also said she plans to fight for better housing, as well as improved health care and daycare services, and she wants GN hiring practices to be reviewed.

Oshutapik has health care on his agenda, sees the need for dust control and wants to lengthen the arena season for youth in Pangnirtung.

These are obviously issues that voters are throwing their support behind. It's imperative our new MLAs, as well as their counterparts, follow through on these important issues and don't lose sight of the people who put them in office.

A lack of accountability from MLAs, something that has been a problem in the past, isn't something Nunavummiut should have to endure.

If all goes well for Bob McLeod, he will slip into the NWT premier's chair without planting a single campaign sign, or going door-to-door to talk issues with constituents, or having one solitary vote cast in his name - at least not in a voting booth.

The Yellowknife South MLA, one of three incumbents acclaimed for another term to the legislative assembly last week, let it be known he's willing to take on the premiership if other MLAs are willing to give it to him.

So we may have a situation again where 19 voters -- the sitting MLAs -- will choose the leader for the remaining 43,000 or so residents of the NWT. This is exactly what happened with Premier Floyd Roland and former Premier Joe Handley before him.

While a Premier McLeod may be a good thing for Yellowknife -- he lives here and understands well the role the capital plays in the territory -- it's not good for democracy where the majority of ALL voters are supposed get to choose either the party and leader or in the case of the United States, their leader by direct vote.

When asked whether he supported changes to consensus government following news of his acclamation, McLeod said: "If people don't like it and want to see real change, they have to start earlier rather than wait for the writ to be dropped."

Judging by the volume of comments on social media websites, people are becoming increasingly frustrated by the method in which MLAs select the premier and cabinet, which is done behind closed doors after the election. Criticism of consensus government itself is nothing new either.

For most of the critics of consensus government, whether they complain in the coffee shops or the media, party politics is the solution for fixing the undemocratic nature of electing our premier and the perceived problems with consensus government. We say 'perceived' because any observer of politics as it plays out either in Ottawa or Washington would be treading on thin ice holding those squabbling institutions up as models of efficiency.

The point is, there is nothing stopping individuals living in any number of NWT communities from declaring themselves members of a party, putting together a platform of policies and running as candidates in separate ridings. All they have to do is win enough ridings and, providing their chosen leader wins a seat, vote that person in as premier and others in the party as members of cabinet.

Under present election laws, there is no provision for party affiliation to be noted on election ballots alongside the names of candidates so it's not allowed. But as the legislative assembly has the power to change the law, it need not be a problem for long.

So, Yellowknife's contender for NWT premier has put the ball squarely in the court of those who want to see party politics erase the evils of consensus government: Get out of your armchairs, get organized, stay committed and run for office

You have four years to do it.

Fort Simpson is about to have another achievement to add to its list of accolades.

If a proposed solar panel installation is built, the village will have become an unofficial alternative energy testing ground within the territory. The village was put on this path last year when the Northwest Territories Power Corporation site for tested an in-stream hydro-kinetic turbine on the Mackenzie River near the community.

The turbine was the first of its kind in the NWT. The solar panel installation would be another first. Reaching up to 100 kilowatts, the installation would be the largest of its kind in the NWT. Once again, the power corporation, backed with funding from the GNWT's Energy Priorities Framework, is behind the project. Some may question why being the location for these two projects is something for Fort Simpson to be proud of. After all, the solar panels – like the turbine – won't result in a decrease in local power bills.

The answer is that the village is helping these two technologies reach a stage where they could decrease power bills and be an economically viable alternative, not to mention one better for the environment than diesel-generated power. At the moment, Fort Simpson has the dubious distinction of being the largest diesel-powered community in the territory.

The hydro-kinetic turbine was installed last year to test the design and functionality of the technology. Its first season led to the corporation learning a number of lessons, including changes that needed to be made in order to help protect the turbine from debris. Despite being guarded by a deflector boom, a log hit the turbine shortly after it was installed, putting it out of commission until the end of August.

As well, low water levels in the Mackenzie River over the testing period led to low flow rates which in turn decreased the amount of power the turbine produced, which reflects the importance of placement.

With last year's lessons under its belt, the corporation re-installed the turbine this year. When it is taken out of the river next week, new information is sure to be gathered.

The solar installation will undoubtedly undergo the same process. Problems discovered within the first year will allow changes and adaptations to be made to improve the facility's performance.

The protection of the land and the environment are always voiced as priorities Deh Cho residents believe in. By providing a location for alternative energy projects, Fort Simpson is taking a concrete step to support those priorities.

Someday, lessons that are learned in the village may allow Fort Simpson and the rest of the Deh Cho to benefit from these technologies.

With the announcement of candidates on Sept. 9, the battle now begins.

As Premier Floyd Roland vacates his seat in Inuvik Boot Lake, four men have put their names forward to take his seat. Robert C. McLeod was acclaimed to his seat, giving him a month free from responsibilities to relax and listen to the rhetoric.

Those four former "regular" members of your community – Grant Gowans, Chris Larocque, Alfred Moses and Paul Voudrach – have announced their interest in Inuvik and your concerns. What a brave step to take. Good luck to all of you.

In this week's Street Talk, many people voiced their concerns about the state of Inuvik and though they didn't all appear in the newspaper, the majority listed homelessness and housing as top concerns. Although the homeless shelter returned to business thanks to the community involvement through the Inuvik Interagency Committee, homelessness is still a major issue.

Despite this new and improved shelter, people still live on the streets and as the weather turns colder, the situation will become worse. We all see it, but who will do something about it? And what will these candidates think are the solutions?

As for the NWT Housing Corporation, something needs to change, not just in Inuvik, but across the entire territory. The way the system is set up now, when people get jobs, their monthly income lowers while their rent skyrockets. What incentive is there for them to continue working when it puts them further in debt?

Housing should help people up to the next level, to gain independence and the possibility of beginning a career, not make their lives more miserable by putting them further in debt or unable to save any money.

Local communities can only do so much, as demonstrated by the Inuvik homeless shelter, but there comes a time when the government will have to provide solutions for housing in the North.

With most recent housing minister Robert C. McLeod acclaimed in his riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes, one hopes that even though he doesn't have to campaign, he will still hear the concerns of his constituents when it comes to housing and homelessness.

As for the new candidates, keep this issue on your minds while campaigning. It's an important local issue, but could have implications across the territory.

The absence of single-use bags at close to 370 businesses in the NWT has changed the way people run errands, forcing them to be more conscious of the environment.

A year and a half since a 25-cent surcharge on disposable shopping bags took effect in the territory, stores such as Canadian Tire and The Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op have lowered the cost of reusable bags and created plastic bag-free zones.

Despite only 41,000 people living in the Northwest Territories, the GNWT's single-use retail bag program has eliminated up to 5.7 million single-use retail bags since June 2010.

The NWT is not the first jurisdiction to have these bans in effect. Leaf Rapids, Man., has been a plastic bag-free zone since 2008.

Alberta is hoping to reduce the number of bags used by 50 per cent by 2013; South Africa banned plastic bags in 2003.

Different locations are using different methods to decrease the use of single-use bags, either by introducing surcharges, fining retailers who hand out the bags or by allowing only reusable bags to be available for purchase.

These methods are effective ways to reduce the number of bags blowing around in the streets, filling our dump or littering our lakes and forests and endangering wildlife.

According to the federal government, Canadians take home an estimated 55 million plastic bags per week, for a total of 2.86 billion per year and with three quarters of those ending up in the landfill.

Bringing bags from home doesn't take a lot of effort. It is changing people's behaviour and the numbers are a telling sign that we're doing a great deal of good for the environment.

The Yk1 school board is looking at ways to engage its Dene students through expanded aboriginal programming.

While this is admirable, the focus should be kept on cultural lessons and Northern history, not on an aboriginal language. There are nine official aboriginal languages in the NWT, so how would the school board chose among North Slavey, South Slavey, Tlicho, Chipewyan and others? There is no standardized aboriginal tongue, so it cannot be compared to French lessons.

Instead, efforts should be devoted to aboriginal culture and history, like the meanings of place names in the North.

On-the-land camps are already a reality in some schools. These camps serve to help students learn traditional skills like fishing, identifying plants and making shelter. While this knowledge is valuable, it has to, of course, be balanced with academics.

Although statistics are improving, there is still a long way to go: in 2009, 44 per cent of NWT aboriginal students graduated from high school compared to 70 per cent of other students. Expanded aboriginal programming may bring more Dene students into the schools, but literacy skills and sciences cannot be allowed to suffer.

This is not to dissuade the board from examining ways to further engage students, just to advise that balance must be its foremost principle.

With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 having just passed, those who often make the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties were back in the headlines once again.

It's human nature to sometimes take for granted the services provided by our military, firefighters, policemen and other emergency-response professionals - and the price they sometimes pay.

And often, their sacrifices -- past and present -- seem to go almost unnoticed.

There was a group of people in the Second World War whose death rate was about one in seven; an astoundingly high number.

In fact, they suffered the highest casualty rate among our entire military during the conflict.

There are no movies glorifying their storming of the beaches at Normandy, nor are there any of them sailing around Europe in search of a surviving brother to bring home to his grief-stricken mother.

In fact, it took our government almost 50 years to recognize their efforts in the war and grant them official veteran status in 1992.

Yet, without their perilous efforts, many of our troops may not have reached Europe at all, let alone carry on the war effort once there.

They are the surviving members of Canada's merchant mariners, an unheralded group of more than 12,000 who were responsible for bringing troops, food, fuel, weapons and other supplies through U-boat infested waters.

Today, the Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans Association is trying to have a silver bar (a badge of pride identifying them as merchant mariners) added to the volunteer service medal which all former military personnel received for completing 18 months of voluntary service.

One of the first barriers the veterans must get past is the fact, to date, the Governor General's office hasn't shown a whole lot of interest in the proposal, and its chancellery controls issue of the medals.

Maybe Gov. Gen. David Johnston has more important things on his agenda these days, like trying a little Kivalliq seal meat for posterity's sake, but surely the recognition isn't too much to ask from a group of people whose war contributions were sadly overlooked for almost five decades.

All of us, as Canadians, owe a huge debt of gratitude to the men and women of our military who made such sacrifice to keep our country free.

And the same rings true for our modern military operations of today.

But, the truth of the matter is, in retrospect, we, as a country, may owe these veterans a little more.

For far too long have their contributions and sacrifice during the Second World War been belittled by their lack of official veteran status.

Now we have a chance to make up for a bit of that by bestowing the same recognition upon our merchant mariners as was given to those who fought at Dieppe and the Battle of Hong Kong.

The gesture would fill the hearts of these brave veterans with pride and, just maybe, finally have them truly believe Canadians from coast to coast to coast respect -- and will always remember -- the vital role they played in the war effort.

The recognition is deserved, and we could even supply traditional food for the unveiling ceremony to get the Governor General's attention!

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