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The roads should be safer in the NWT in 2012, thanks to the Department of Transportation's ban on hand-held electronic devices while driving.

The legislation, which imposes a $115 fine and three demerit points for any driver caught using devices such as cellphones, Mp3 players and laptops, came into effect Jan. 1.

Just because digital technologies allow us to communicate at most times in most places, it doesn't mean we have to.

Driving is a complicated activity and thus the driver's seat is no place for multi-tasking.

Anyone who has watched or participated in Dene hand games recognizes that the sport requires players to make quick decisions while monitoring and responding to a complex system of rapidly changing signals. Surely hand game players attempting to win the game as they listen to someone recite a shopping list or respond to texts about the latest celebrity gossip will suffer a disadvantage and probably fail miserably in their task.

Drivers require the same level of engagement and attention as hand game players, but on the road there is a lot more at stake.

While Yellowknifer applauds the government's ban on hand-held devices, we wonder if the legislation didn't go far enough. Perhaps the territory should look to Saskatchewan's model, where young and new drivers are banned from using even hands-free cell phone devices as part of the province's Graduated Licensing Program.

Typically, young people are the heaviest users of the latest communication gadgets, talking, texting and Googling during all parts of the day and night. We should anticipate that computers will become more and more integrated into their daily lives. We must remind the next generation of new drivers that the driver's seat is a unique space with special responsibilities.

No matter how convenient or accessible digital communication technologies become, there is no allowance for distraction behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

The vision is for a green estate-residential development at Grace Lake, which would arguably become Yellowknife's first suburb.

City hall pulled out all the stops - LEED rating, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and sets strict standards for mechanical design and construction material, a minimum rating of 85 under the EnerGuide for New Homes system, R-2000, water-saving devices, grey water recycling, energy audits, light-pollution restrictions, solar-facade requirements and more.

The development would likely result in stick-built homes starting at $500,000 in an upscale waterfront community. It all sounds good, except for the lack of balance.

The vision had been included in the city's general plan for 2011, a document which identifies areas for future growth and is intended to result in orderly development.

First city councillor Cory Vanthuyne, late last year, and then Coun. Mark Heyck last week, criticized the strict environmental regulations, leading the city to rethink its stance.

Vanthuyne referred to the last council's handling of Phase VII of the Niven Lake development, which resulted in such heavy-handedness in regulations that the proposed costs scared developers away.

"I think we have the potential to have a great waterfront community here, but I think we could potentially ruin it if we regulate eco-energy requirements," Vanthuyne said.

Heyck thought a better place for such restrictions were in a development scheme or the zoning bylaw. Both councillors are correct in saying the general plan is too broad of an instrument to micromanage these kinds of developments. Although green initiatives are philosophically popular, specifically mandating them in a planning tool goes too far.

Council's move to remove the strict environmental regulations for Grace Lake from the general plan opens the door for future developers to gauge the market for potential buyers before proceeding.

That's when the balancing act between environmental issues and economic considerations should happen.

No matter how you feel about seeing southern workers on Kivalliq job sites, there can be no denying the effort a good many of them have been making lately to give a little something back to the community.

Not only is that a good thing, but it's also the way things should work most of the time.

We all know these companies make darn good money plying their various trades in our region, and their employees, in the vast majority of cases, make darn good wages with a qamutiik full of benefits to boot.

And, as much as it can pain us to admit it, we also know deep down inside we're still at the point in our territory's development where we need these outfits.

An argument can certainly be made that there's a fair amount of responsibility on the part of, for example, mining companies that plan to be here for decades to ensure they contribute to a community's infrastructure and overall good health while doing business in our region.

In fact, such arrangements should be vigorously pursued by our Regional Inuit Association while hammering out negotiations with such companies, and that's on and above local employment, Inuit content and monies paid to be working the land.

If they weren't making money, they wouldn't be here, so it's only right some of that profit remains here in the form of tangible benefits long after they leave.

Smaller companies, only here for a couple of years, are a

different story, however.

Many are subcontracting their work through a bigger, more well-known outfit in the territory.

Though still lucrative, their profit margins are more narrow and they don't have the same long-term vested interest in our territory's success.

In short, it's harder to argue their contributions to our communities are expected.

They could, like many who came before them, simply complete their work (some much better than others), collect their stipend and be on their way.

Many wouldn't even notice at the end of the day, if we're going to be completely truthful about this.

How many Nunavummiut could name the southern companies conducting work in their community at any given time?

Yet, more and more of these companies are taking the steps on their own to contribute to our communities.

Not only does this establish good will among those who truly care about our own communities, but they, more often than not, benefit our youth.

In no area is this more true than sports.

Now, please excuse me if you couldn't care less about sports, but this is about the many youth in our region who do and who benefit from these acts.

There are numerous areas that have been, or that could be, helped, including hockey, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics equipment -- the list goes on and on.

No matter how you look at it, donations, big or small, help youth participate and benefit from the positive atmosphere sports provide.

Idle hands are the devil's workshop, and every youth who benefits from an act of kindness takes a giant leap away from the dark side of life.

And that's something we all benefit from when these companies lend a helping hand.

Corrections officials in the NWT have pegged the aboriginal population in territorial jails at 86 per cent but suggest the true number may be higher.

As the federal government mulls its new tough on crime legislation, there are fears that mandatory jail time and longer sentences will further increase the large numbers of First Nations people behind bars.

NWT Justice Minister Glen Abernethy told the media he held similar concerns and discussed those with Canadian Justice Minister Rob Nicholson back in December.

Following the meeting, Abernethy told the legislative assembly that Ottawa recognizes the unique circumstance in the NWT and will continue to discuss alternative justice options, diversion programs and alternative courts.

It is important Abernethy hold the federal minister to those words. Although jail sentences in the NWT have often been criticized as light, the courts must be allowed to take into account the social issues among the aboriginal population in the territory. Judges must also be mindful of our federal government's role in the destruction of First Nations identity and culture, a major contributor to the social ills that plague our communities.

Northern News Services' reporter Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison concludes her four-part series on the NWT's justice system in this edition of News/North. This instalment focuses on residential schools and how they factor into crime and punishment in the lives of aboriginal people. It's an issue that can spark heated debate but we must continue to recognize the residential school era did more than damage individual students, it harmed generations of an entire society.

Those who attended the schools were deprived of their culture, but more significantly were robbed of the nurturing influence of their parents.

Students who attended the government-run schools were forcefully institutionalized, akin to being jailed for a large part of their childhood.

Once allowed to return home, they were strangers among their own people, lacked the skills passed down from parent to child and did not have the tools to raise their own children. Although taught mathematics and how to read and write, they were robbed of the life-skills education that would allow them to function in society.

Residential school survivors found themselves lost and many turned to drugs and alcohol to cope, which eventually led to crime. Later, their children, nurtured by parents who knew nothing of the concept, suffered the same fate.

Further institutionalizing a population whose suffering began in an institution is not the answer. Early education, parenting programs and cultural programs are what they need early in life to prevent entry into the justice system.

For those who have stumbled into a life of crime, alternative justice programs focusing on education and culture will be more effective than spending more time locked away.

We all have choices and there must be consequences when we break the law and hurt those around us, but we must always remember that some people have grown up in environments where the concepts of right and wrong were skewed.

Unfortunately, when it comes to aboriginal people of Canada, our government created that negative environment and it must not forget its responsibility to deal with the wrongs it caused thousands of children and their children.

The Canadian government as part of the problem must also be part of the solution.

The key to hiring family is keeping bias out of the equation and that requires a good understanding of how damaging a perception of favouritism can be.

In small communities, often entrenched in family ties, it can sometimes be hard to avoid hiring a relative - positions need to be filled. As well, a family member may sometimes be the most qualified candidate.

If a girl or boy is raised in the same household as a businessperson, it's likely they could become familiar with the issues that business faces, and the way that businessperson deals with those issues. A sort of mentorship could happen that would result in the boy or girl having a good grasp of the core concepts of a workplace, and in the small job markets of Nunavut's communities, that could make them the right person for the job.

Where this falters is when hiring in-family becomes nepotism - favouring a family member's job application over that of a more qualified candidate.

Hiring should always happen on the merit of the application. Wherever possible, the people with the family ties should distance themselves from the application process. This should be common sense. It's essential the process not only be fair but appear to be fair to people outside the office.

If the best person for the job isn't hired because of nepotism, not only is it unfair to the person who has worked hard at building a good resume and is trying to break into a small job market, but it is plainly just a bad decision for the organization.

Without the best people on board, the job will not be done the best it can be.

This goes not only for private businesses, but government departments - and it's especially more pertinent in government because it's public money and service quality is on the line.

Nearly one month ago, the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal heard allegations made by Peter Petaulassie against the Hamlet of Cape Dorset alleging nepotism. A decision was expected to be made by last week, but, as of press time, the tribunal told Nunavut News/North the decision is not yet in.

Whether the hamlet's actions constituted nepotism or not, Petaulassie was well within his rights to challenge what he viewed as nepotism and, in fact, did the right thing in doing so.

In communities where the few qualified candidates are likely connected to someone in a decision-making position, checks need to be in place to make sure nepotism is kept out.

And if it happens, people must challenge the hiring decision. Otherwise nepotism will happen more and more often.

There is no denying that Lloyd Thiessen meant well when he asked the city to install sidewalk ramps so students heading to school can avoid riding bikes on busy Franklin Avenue or Old Airport Road.

His request certainly appears to be in line with city council's vision of a bike and pedestrian-friendly city. In fact, the city has been steadily moving in that direction for years. In this year's budget, $500,000 has been dedicated toward ongoing "streetscaping" efforts on Old Airport Road, which includes a bike path so cyclists don't have to pedal among semi-trailers and pickup trucks while travelling down the street.

But Thiessen's request revealed that riding bicycles as they relate to sidewalks remains a grey area in the consciousness of city council and the public. Thiessen, who holds a seat on the city's Transportation Issues Committee, was one of only a handful of people to make presentations regarding the 2012 city budget last month. He asked council to fund the construction of sidewalk ramps - dropped corners - at five major intersections in the city that would allow cyclists to easily ride from street to sidewalk and vice versa without having to hop a high curb. He said the transportation committee has recommended the city do this back in 2007.

Unfortunately, no one at the budget meeting pointed out that riding bicycles - by anybody - on city sidewalks is illegal and punishable by a $2,000 fine and/or six months in jail.

Like the city's littering bylaw, it's a rule that gets broken regularly but is hardly, if ever, enforced. Most people simply take the practice for granted, particularly children on their way to school.

Still, council would find themselves in a pretty sticky situation should they ignore the rules by building sidewalk ramps with the expressed purpose of making it easier for cyclists to access sidewalks. The city likely wouldn't have much of a leg to stand if it declares an open season on sidewalks and a pedestrian is injured by a 15-year-old ripping along on his BMX, and that pedestrian sues.

It might be a different matter if these ramps were built to allow better sidewalk access for wheelchair users and parents with strollers. Certainly, there are many issues to consider.

It seems reasonable to allow children to ride bicycles on sidewalks if they are accompanied by parents, but it could be dicey to give them free rein without adult supervision.

The rules are all over the map when looking at other cities in North America. Toronto, for instance, allows cyclists to use sidewalks as long as the tire size is 61 centimetres or less. In Vancouver, cyclists are banned from most sidewalks. Council will have to carefully consider what works best for Yellowknife if it was to ever consider changing the rules here.

In his New Year's message David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada, expounded on at topic that is worthy of note.

Johnston called on Canadians to encourage volunteerism and philanthropy. Johnston said that more than 80 per cent of Canadians make some kind of financial donation to a worthy cause every year and some 12 million Canadians spend over two billion hours volunteering.

As Canada approaches its 150th anniversary in 2017, Johnston called on Canadians to imagine a smarter, more caring Canada, where giving in all its forms, including time, talent and altruism, becomes a more integral part of our daily lives -- part of being Canadian.

This message happens to fit perfectly with the main article in this edition of the Drum. On page 3 you can read about how two young women from Fort Simpson each spent six months of 2011 volunteering.

Shannon Cazon and Amber Erasmus both participated in an exchange program run by Canada World Youth. Both women gave of themselves to the communities they called home for half a year.

In Palca, Peru, Erasmus helped make non-electric stoves and fridges out of adobe bricks to help improve the lives of families. In the Uvikiuta Compound in Tanzania, Africa, Cazon helped to improve the public library and teach English to students.

Having returned to Fort Simpson, both women speak about how much their volunteer work meant to the communities they lived in. Their volunteerism, however, not only helped those communities but also led to positive changes in themselves.

Both women have similar messages about how much they learned about themselves during the program and how much they grew as individuals. Erasmus and Cazon's experiences highlight the benefits of having local youths participate in exchange programs such as Canada World Youth or Northern Youth Abroad, but also contain lessons for us to learn here in the Deh Cho.

Volunteering at any age is important.

Volunteers give so much to the communities they serve. Without volunteers Deh Cho communities wouldn't have winter carnivals, art festivals, sports teams and events, cadets or Girl Guide groups, just to name a few examples. The region would be a far less interesting place without volunteers.

Volunteering also comes with benefits for the people who choose to do it. They get to give something back to their community, interact with different people and have the knowledge that they've helped others.

As 2012 starts, we should all take up David Johnston's challenge and volunteer a bit more. The Deh Cho will be an even better place to live as a result.

When you're from Inuvik, or start calling the place home, it's near impossible to avoid questions about what the town is like.

How cold is it? How dark is it? Did you have seal and polar bear for Christmas? What do you wear when you go outside?

These questions are pretty easy to answer, but the hardest one I find is, "What is Inuvik like?"

I had always considered my Canadian history and geography lessons in school to be pretty comprehensive – that is, until I actually came up here and realized I knew next to nothing.

That's why, when Flat Stanley arrived in the mail last month, I was determined to show him everything the North had to offer.

For those of you who never read the book in school, Flat Stanley is the story of a young boy who, after being flattened by a bulletin board, visits his friends by mail.

The tradition now, often as part of a class project, is to send off your own Flat Stanley to somewhere far away and exotic, and have him return home with photos and souvenirs.

My eight-year-old sister, who attends school south of Vancouver, was put to the task of mailing off Stanley – and this is how he came to arrive in my post office box in Inuvik.

For weeks I brought the cardboard cutout with me everywhere. Stanley went to the ski club, the swimming pool, the curling rink and the arena, the river and the bush. He even went to Stanton's to pose with expensive milk.

What I found was the hardest part of playing tour guide was knowing that however many pictures I took, I would never be able to convey how the people here in town come to be your family.

I sent my eight-year-old sister a pair of miniature mukluks for Stanley, as well as some caribou buttons and a certificate saying he passed the Arctic Circle, but I couldn't send her that caribou smell you so often experience when visiting a new home, or any of the corn meal dust that fills the air during a square dance.

The best I could do were some photos and souvenirs – but that's still more of a Northern education than I ever got.

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