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News Briefs: Monday, January 9, 2012
Fort McPherson mayor sworn in
Hazel Nerysoo was sworn in as Fort McPherson's mayor on Jan. 4.
The incumbent won the Dec. 12 election with 66 votes, narrowly beating out Bill Prodromidis and Ruby Koe, who both garnered 64 votes.
A mandatory recount was done because of the slim margin, but the results were upheld, according to Knute Hansen, senior administrative officer of the hamlet.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Health authority asks for input
The Beaufort Delta Health and Social Services Authority will be hosting a meeting for aboriginal and community leaders on Jan. 11 at the community hall in Inuvik.
The main topic of discussion will be the health authority's five-year strategic plan, according to public administrator Peter Clarkson.
"We all play a role in ensuring we are as healthy and as active as possible. So it will be critical that the strategic plan for the authority has input and ownership of the leadership," he said.
The health authority's annual general meeting will take place at 7 p.m. the same day, following a feast from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
South Slave councils sworn into office
The new mayors and councillors in the two hamlets in the South Slave are being sworn into office.
On Jan. 4, new mayor Garry Bailey and six councillors were sworn in to serve the Hamlet of Fort Resolution.
In the Hamlet of Enterprise, new mayor Mike St. Amour and three councillors will take their oaths of office on Jan. 9.
All were elected on Dec. 12.
- Paul Bickford
Premier to return to Fort Smith
Near the end of his one-day visit to Fort Smith last month, Premier Bob McLeod said he will return to the community and continue to discuss issues.
"Everybody wants to have a fulsome discussion in the new year, and we've agreed to come back and do that and spend more time in Fort Smith," McLeod said during the Dec. 21 visit.
The premier met a number of community leaders, including the chiefs and council members of Salt River First Nation and Smith's Landing First Nation, and Fort Smith town council.
A wide variety of issues were discussed, such as housing, healthcare, education, devolution, and chipsealing all of Highway 5.
- Paul Bickford
First Nation sets byelection date
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A byelection will be held on March 14 to fill a vacant seat on the band council of Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith.
The vacancy arose when Brad Laviolette resigned from the council on Dec. 15.
The First Nation has yet to appoint a returning officer for the byelection. That person will set the nomination period.
- Paul Bickford
Making videos with Godson
Tuktoyaktuk
Twelve senior students at Mangilaluk School will get the chance to work with Aaron "Godson" Hernandez this week, according to principal Agnes Cudmore.
The high school students will be participating in a video workshop on Jan. 10, and on Jan. 9 Kitti Hall will be hosting a concert and dance for the performer from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
New year, new baby
Paulatuk
LouAnn Koe and Angus Ruben welcomed their son, Dante Allan Malachi, into the world on Jan. 1.
Malachi, born at 6:41 a.m. at the Inuvik Regional Hospital, was the territory's first baby of 2012.
He weighed in at eight pounds one ounce.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
A more efficient McPherson
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Ten Fort McPherson homes was kept warm this holiday season by new, energy efficient wood stoves.
The stoves, installed in the community in mid-November, were put in place by Donald Andre and Steve Outlet of the Arctic Energy Alliance, as well as Richard John Blake and Clifford Vaneltsi of Fort McPherson.
Funding for the stoves were provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Tetlit Gwich'in council and the homeowners themselves.
During their visit, members of the Arctic Energy Alliance also delivered workshops in the community on energy efficiency, how to efficiently burn wood and the energy efficiency and incentive program.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
New Year's Eve with a bang
Aklavik
Residents of Aklavik celebrated the new year with fireworks, a bonfire and a parade.
On New Year's Eve a bonfire was held at Shorty's Pond, followed by fireworks and a truck parade at midnight. On New Year's Day a Ski-Doo rally was scheduled to be held at the Sittichinli Recreation Complex at noon, followed by a community feast and a dance featuring the Good Time Band at 5 p.m.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Ribbon cuttings in Resolution
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
Two ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held in Fort Resolution on Jan. 3 - one for a new youth centre and the other for an expanded community hall.
About 100 people were on hand, including Tu Nedhe MLA and Health and Social Services Minister Tom Beaulieu, who cut the ribbons.
Both projects were undertaken by the Hamlet of Fort Resolution.
The first ceremony took place at the Fort Resolution Youth Centre, which has been open for young people since September.
Tausia Kaitu'u-Lal, the senior administrative officer with the hamlet, said many adult residents of the community had never been in the youth centre before the official opening.
"They were pleased with what they saw," she said.
The youth centre and an attached outdoor pool cost about $1.8 million to construct. Over $400,000 came from the GNWT's Community Capacity Development Fund, in an agreement among the hamlet, Deninu Ku'e First Nation and the Fort Resolution Metis Council. About $980,000 came from the Building Canada Fund and the remainder from capital infrastructure money provided to the hamlet by the GNWT.
Kaitu'u-Lal said the expansion at the Antoine Beaulieu Memorial Hall has created a much larger facility.
"People are amazed at how big the hall is now," she said.
The ribbon-cutting ceremonies were also attended by Tom Williams, deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
- Paul Bickford
Nordic walking 1,658 km
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Donna Neyando will be leading Tsiigehtchic's walking team in the 2012 Mackenzie River Nordic Walking Challenge.
The Gwichya Gwich'in Tr'iinin Kat is made up of mostly children, according to Sheena Tremblay, active communities co-ordinator for NWT Recreation and Parks.
The group will be challenged to walk 1,658 km - the length of the Mackenzie River from Fort Providence to Tuktoyaktuk - from now until Feb. 29.
In the contest, one hour of walking will equal five km, and team captains will submit combined walking times every second Sunday.
Liz Wright in Fort McPherson will be leading the Happy Landing Walking Club, and as of Jan. 4 three teams from Inuvik had registered as well.
The deadline to register a team is Jan. 15.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Norman Wells to talk alternative energy
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
The Norman Wells Alternative Energy Committee will be meeting with Nexx Energy from Jan. 9 to 12.
The committee is a non-governmental group established by local business owners and technicians to look into alternative energy solutions for the community.
They have formed a partnership with Nexx Energy, a company that specialized in green energy solutions, to develop a strategy for non-oil-based energy in Norman Wells.
Public meetings will be held in the future, but if residents have more questions they can contact the Alternative Energy Committee.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Chief Jimmy Bruneau School celebrating heritage
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo
Chief Jimmy Bruneau School will be hosting its annual heritage fair on Jan. 10.
In the morning judges will be reviewing the students' projects on culture and language and awards will be presented at 2 p.m.
The public is welcome to attend lunch at the school cafeteria and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. they can view the presentations.
Students chose their own topics, according to principal Patti Turner, and then brainstormed with their teachers on the best way to present them. They later worked with elders, staff and peers to complete the projects, most of which were completed using poster board. In some cases students will have objects to share, Turner said. A regional heritage fair will likely take place in the Tlicho region in early February.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Quilting workshops
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Workshops and a lecture on quilting will be held in Fort Smith later this month.
Carol Seeley of British Columbia will present the lecture and instruct at the workshops.
A workshop on basic colour theory and creating three-dimensional effects will be held on Jan. 26 and Jan. 29. The cost is $65.
A workshop on basic surface embellishment techniques is set for Jan. 28.
Seeley will also present a free lecture and trunk show on her own experiences with quilting on Jan. 27 at Northern Life Museum.
The events are being presented by the Boreal Piece Makers, a quilting group in Fort Smith, and are supported by a grant from the NWT Arts Council.
- Paul Bickford
Eegeesiak confirmed QIA winner
Nunavut
A recount of the Dec. 12 Qikiqtani Inuit Association election confirmed Okalik Eegeesiak will return as president for three years, a Jan. 4 new release said.
Eegeesiak lost one vote following the recount, while third-place candidate Paul Quassa gained one vote.
Officially, Eegeesiak won with 1042 votes, while George Qulaut finished second with 987 and Quassa had received 870 votes.
The official count was delayed due to the Christmas vacation and difficulties transporting a ballot box from Sanikiluaq to Iqaluit, the release stated.
- Casey Lessard
Pot case thrown out
Iqaluit
An Iqaluit man was cleared last month after a Nunavut judge threw out charges of possessing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
The man was charged after police, acting on an anonymous tip, found 35 grams of marijuana on him. In her Dec. 15 decision, Justice Susan Cooper said the car he was travelling in was illegally stopped, and that he should never have been searched.
The search happened on Dec. 10, 2009, after RCMP received a tip concerning a blue town car near the Baffin Correctional Centre. The person who tipped off police was apparently calling from the jail, and claimed to see a similar vehicle on other occasions dropping off drugs in a place where inmates could get it.
In a search, the investigating officer did not find any drugs near the jail. On his return to the detachment, he saw a car matching the caller's description, so he pulled over the vehicle and noticed the strong odour of marijuana.
When asked, the driver of the car said he and his two passengers had just smoked a joint, but had not dropped drugs off at the jail. He also denied they had any more drugs in the vehicle.
All three were arrested, and police found 35 grams of marijuana on the man, who was then charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.
The man's lawyer disputed the officer's right to stop the vehicle, and Justice Susan Cooper agreed, saying the vehicle was not stopped under motor vehicle or highway traffic legislation. Cooper said the man's Charter rights to privacy were infringed upon, and said he should never have been arrested or searched.
As a result, the drugs were not admissible as evidence against him.
- Casey Lessard
Deputy justice minister resigns
Nunavut
Nunavut's deputy minister of justice, Janet Slaughter, resigned from the government Dec. 19 for family reasons. Assistant deputy minister Norman Tarnow is acting deputy minister until a replacement is found.
"I would like to thank Janet for her leadership," Premier Eva Aariak said in a release. "I wish her the very best, and understand her wish to put her family first."
Slaughter took the job in 2010, prior to which she worked as a family lawyer for the Nunavut Legal Services Board. She was not available for comment by press time.
- Casey Lessard
Narwhal tusk trade can resume for five communities
Ottawa
The international narwhal tusk trade can resume for some Nunavut communities, the federal departments of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency announced in December.
Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq, Pangnirtung, and Iqaluit are no longer affected by the ban that went into effect in Dec. 2010, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. stated in a Dec. 19 release.
The ban was lifted in these communities after NTI said the DFO was using "questionable" 2003 aerial survey data. A 2010 survey in Admiralty Inlet near Arctic Bay showed the stocks were healthy in that area.
Twelve other communities that would harvest the Jones Sound and Hudson Bay-Foxe Basin populations will continue to be affected by the ban.
The federal government will continue to review the ban in hopes of developing a sustainable harvest plan by 2013, a Dec. 20 DFO and CanNor release stated.
- Casey Lessard
Arctic Bay swears in council, mayor
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Arctic Bay has a new mayor and deputy mayor after swearing in its new council Dec. 27, the night council also hosted a Christmas games event.
New mayor Frank May and his council took their oath, and appointed Geela Arnauyumayuq deputy mayor Jan. 2, senior administrative officer Joeli Qamanirq said.
The hamlet's night of games was one of several: the local hunters and trappers organization, hamlet council, the elders' committee and the youth committee each hosted a night.
- Casey Lessard
Deep snow means no fish for feast
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
There was no Arctic char at this year's Christmas feasts in Clyde River as deep snow prevented anglers from reaching the fishing lake, director of corporate services Steven Aipellee said.
The lake is 140 km from Clyde River, and a blizzard the week before dumped enough snow - 10 to 20 cm - to stop the four men from getting near the lake the weekend of Dec. 17. All four returned safely.
Another group that went caribou hunting also had difficulty with the snow, but managed to get through the snow to catch caribou, which complimented shrimp from Baffin Fisheries at the New Year's feast attended by 150 residents. The Christmas feast - attended by about 400 - featured ham donated by MLA James Arreak, as well as turkey.
Children also got a treat this year: the hamlet, RCMP and Canadian North donated 350 gifts to children 12 and under at the Christmas feast.
- Casey Lessard
Qikiqtarjuaq families get food for Christmas
Qikiqtarjuaq/Broughton Island
Families struggling this Christmas in Qikiqtarjuaq were able to have a proper feast at home as the hamlet's health committee spent a great deal of its budget on food bags
for everyone in need in the community.
"They gave out hams, chickens, turkeys from M&M Meats, cream and sugar, tea bags, flour, baking powder and rice, Tenderflake lard, crackers and cheese, cereal," finance officer Rikki Butt said.
Most people in town were on the list, Butt said, noting only working professionals were not included in the Dec. 23 distribution.
"There is a big need for some families" in Qikiqtarjuaq, she said. "The cost of living is high and the unemployment rate is high."
The hamlet health committee's budget comes from the GN's Department of Health and Social Services.
- Casey Lessard
Polar bear shot
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
Another polar bear hanging around Hall Beach had to be shot, this time on Jan. 1, as the animal was close to houses making for a dangerous situation, said John Ivey, the hamlet's senior administrative officer. He added the animal had to be shot because it wouldn't leave.
"Generally speaking, they're (polar bears) chased out but some don't want to go. They like it here so unfortunately, they end up in the soup pot," he said.
A resident also shot a polar bear in December.
As well, he square dancing, traditional games, other activities and the Christmas feast proved popular with residents, said Ivey. He added the events were held between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2 at the community hall.
"It was a good Christmas and holiday season," he said.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Year's first baby in Cape Dorset
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
Olayuk Akesuk is the proud grandfather of Cape Dorset's first baby of the year after his daughter, Neevee Akesuk, gave birth to her first child, a boy, in Iqaluit on Jan. 3 at 1:05 a.m.
"I am very proud," he said.
On another note, Cape Dorset's traditional Christmas feast had to be postponed since the ordered caribou meat has yet to arrive in the community, said Akesuk, also the hamlet's senior administrative officer. The event was originally set for Dec. 24. Once the meat arrives, a new date will be set, he added. The meat had to be ordered because ice formed late around Cape Dorset, said Akesuk.
- Jeanne Gagnon
More than $6,000 raised
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
Kugluktuk residents showed their generosity again this year as more than $6,500 was raised during the community's annual Christmas radio telethon on Dec. 10.
Jessica VanOverbeek, the hamlet's recreation co-ordinator, said the money was used to prepare and distribute 121 hampers to residents in need. The hampers, distributed on Dec. 24 with the help of the RCMP and volunteers, included supplies for a turkey dinner and leftover turkey casserole, she added.
"I think a lot of the community members that really needed the help and needed a Christmas dinner definitely got that food hamper and got a chance," she said.
Last year, the event raised some $31,000 but that included corporate donations. VanOverbeek said this year, the close to $20,000 in corporate donations - $14,000 cash and in-kind donations - went towards the Christmas games.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Contest winner
Arviat
Young Matthew Kidlapik Iblauk of Arviat was the proud winner of Calm Air's Ultimate Jets Experience contest this past month.
Matthew and a number of family members got to travel to Winnipeg to see an NHL game featuring the Jets.
- Darrell Greer
Christmas Games
Kivalliq
Hamlets from across the Kivalliq reported great turnouts and a high level of participation for their annual Christmas Games.
In Rankin Inlet, large crowds were the norm at the vast majority of events, including both the senior men's and oldtimer's Toronto versus Montreal hockey games, and the Rankin Inlet Senior Men's Hockey League AllStar Game on Dec. 30.
- Darrell Greer
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