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How does a Crown prosecutor justify a sex offender being released on the streets after his conviction?

In the case of Anthony Griep, we cannot tell you. We can only tell you Griep was released by Judge Bernadette Schmaltz after pleading guilty and was let go until he is to be sentenced with no objection from the crown.

The Crown prosecutors' office could not be reached to explain its willingness to have Griep await his punishment outside of a jail cell.

Griep, 25, is guilty of having grabbed a woman on the Frame Lake Trail on June 5, 2008, pulling her into the bushes and sexually assaulting her. The guilty party remained a mystery until April 2011 when police obtained a DNA sample from Griep following his arrest for an unrelated offence.

The sexual assault, as disturbing as it was, could result in up to 10 years of imprisonment.

Were that the extent of his criminal behaviour, it would be enough of an argument that Griep should not be roaming the streets until a judge sentences him, regardless of conditions to report to the RCMP a few times per week. Then, last November, Griep was fined $300 for failing to attend court. Continuing with his abysmal track record, he was in court again on Jan. 31 to be sentenced for uttering threats.

It turns out that he was busy last November, as that's also when he made a threat on Facebook to rape an acquaintance's mother. For this too he was fined $300 and given nine months probation.

However, he was still allowed to walk out of the courtroom until his March 6 sentencing for the Frame Lake Trail sexual assault.

We can only hope his victim does not come face to face with him on a city sidewalk.

It's clear to us this individual has not earned the right to enjoy his freedom, even with limitations. We'd like to hear from the Crown prosecution or the courts how it could be viewed any other way.

For more than 25 years, the NWT tourism industry has promoted our territory to Japanese travellers as an aurora viewing vacation destination. Chinese travellers are also now being courted by at least one area business.

Yellowknife Tours, a two-year-old tour company whose employees are fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, has hosted about 200 Chinese guests who travelled from Hong Kong, Beijing and other parts of Canada.

It might be time for the rest of the NWT tourism industry to broaden its reach in Asia.

In 2007, then premier Joe Handley and a GNWT delegation visited China to pitch aurora tourism, though NWT Tourism has not dedicated funds to developing a sustained Chinese-oriented marketing campaign.

It might be time for NWT Tourism to broaden its reach in Asia.

In 2008, perhaps due in part to competition from Alaska's aggressive marketing of aurora tourism in Asia and direct flights from Tokyo to Fairbanks, visitors to Yellowknife declined for the first time since the 2001-2002 season.

Shifts in Japanese tourism numbers won't be felt as acutely if the territory attracts increasing numbers of Chinese visitors in coming years.

Yellowknife businesses and entrepreneurs that benefit from tourism, including hotels, restaurants, tour guides, gift shops, art galleries and even individual artists, do not have to wait for the government to launch a Chinese marketing campaign to act.

Businesses such as the Gallery of the Midnight Sun in Old Town have worked hard in recent years to welcome Japanese patrons in their own language.

The tourism industry can follow Yellowknife Tour's lead by reaching out to Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking visitors, as well.

It's always interesting to see what's new at Deh Gah School in Fort Providence.

The school always seems to have new and often times unique programs in the offering. The latest program to emerge at the school is no exception.

In January, Deh Gah School started its alternative high school program. The program is aimed at young adults ages 18 to 23 who haven't achieved their high school diploma for a variety of reasons.

Through the program, the school is offering students a completely customizable way of working towards their career and education goals. Participants can aim to achieve their Grade 12 equivalency or they can start with something smaller such as getting their driver's licence.

How the participants go about reaching their goals is also flexible. Students can come to the school every afternoon and work in a classroom environment or they can choose to do their schoolwork at home and bring it in once a week for a check-in.

The program's two teachers are seemingly willing to shape the program in whatever way necessary to help participants succeed.

The other Deh Cho communities with high schools and educators across the territory should be taking note of the program and following its progress.

It's nice to think that with the support offered in normal high schools that students will graduate Grade 12 with their peers or at least shortly later. Experience, however, shows that this is often not the case.

For a variety of reasons there is a population of young adults in the Deh Cho and the North who haven't completed at least high school. The reasons they don't have their diplomas vary. For some, problems with literacy or academic difficulties are responsible.

Some didn't have the motivation at the time to finish their necessary courses. For others, life simply happened and barriers made completing high school unattainable.

Programs such as the alternative high school in Fort Providence are a way to reach out to that population and help them to achieve their potential that might otherwise be underdeveloped and wasted. One of the best parts of the program is participants get to choose what they are looking to achieve. If getting their driver's licence is their initial goal and they achieve it, just imagine what other goals might stem from that.

Young adults who haven't finished high school are still valuable resources for their communities and every effort, such as alternative high school programs, should be made to help them develop and reach their goals.

One week later, the charred house on Gwich'in Road still gives off the bitter smell of burnt wood. One week later, the fire department is instilling new proactive measures to ensure they are prepared for what the frigid climate dishes out to them. One week later and the town of Inuvik, once again, has rallied to the aid of those lives left in shambles.

The temperatures caused a harsh working environment for the firefighters who had to deal with a frozen hydrant and a frozen pumper. Some residents might be perplexed by the fact that, for a window of time, water was unavailable to fight a fire.

It is important to note, however, firefighters deal with an array of conditions making it difficult to contain fires quickly – harsh winds, downed live wires, the location of a house in relation to other obstacles, and freezing temperatures.

Extenuating circumstances beyond anyone's control, such as a winterized hydrant locking up in the cold, come with the territory of the Arctic. Faith should not be lost in the department, which attends every call – no matter how many are false.

The fire department can always be counted on to get to the scene of a fire and, before attempting to save a house, save lives.

The community, in turn, can always be counted on to be there to pick its people up when they fall. One day after the volcanic-looking cloud billowed above Inuvik, cast up from the raging fire on Gwich'in Road, organizations throughout the town were making phone calls and sending e-mails and the donations started rolling in.

The generosity and support flows naturally, like a coping mechanism; as if there's no question this is where the energies of the town must be invested.

It happened last week and it happened in October's devastating house fire – the community gathered together for those left homeless by fire.

Being a close-knit town, the connections are strong between people. A victim of a fire is not just a victim, but someone's relative, someone's co-worker and someone people recognize on the street or in the grocery store.

It's through these actions that the survivors realize the true meaning of the word "community" and can take that first step away from a taxing event. The support of their neighbours helps them move forward.

After 12 years on the job, Gord Van Tighem will end his reign at city hall this fall as the most successful mayor in our city's history.

Not even the colourful Fred Henne, who presided over the city in three different decades, had the sort of winning knack that Van Tighem did.

After only eight years in Yellowknife, the former banker made his first run at the mayor's seat in 2000 and bucked the natural law of small-town politics by beating two-term incumbent and lifelong Yellowknifer Dave Lovell.

That was followed by two acclamations and a stunning 74 per cent victory over two challengers in his last election in 2009.

He suffered one significant defeat, the voters' rejection last year of the city's plan to borrow up to $49 million to build a district energy system to heat the downtown core.

All in all though, it has been a very successful run. If Van Tighem viewed the lost referendum as his signal to call it a day, he can count on a long list of milestones and achievements to elevate his mayoralty: the construction of two major facilities, the Multiplex and Fieldhouse; the development of Niven Lake, and perhaps most importantly, Yellowknife's transformation from gold town to diamond capital, despite a lack of assistance from the GNWT in building upon the latter title. Oddly enough, it's not leadership that defines Van Tighem's success but rather his ability to facilitate.

City council was much more conservative during his first two terms. When a majority of councillors wanted balanced budgets with no tax increases, even if it meant program and service cuts, Van Tighem merrily slashed away with them.

When a perception arose that council was too developer-friendly and didn't care enough about greenspace, parks and trails, Van Tighem sidestepped the fate of other councillors who went on to drop out or lose their seats and he became the greenest mayor this city even saw.

It is with a deft hand that Van Tighem rules. Good luck to any who wish to emulate it.

It's tough to make progress in the face of confrontation.

The Yellowknives Dene are protesting against plans by the territorial Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to allow more cabin leases on land north of the Ingraham Trail.

Former Ndilo chief Fred Sangris is adamant that land proposed for cabin leases "still belongs to the Yellowknives Dene."

"Before any of you buy any of the titles, don't do it," Sangris told about 65 people who gathered at Northern United Place Feb. 1 for a public meeting to hear from people about the government's plan to allow more cabin leases.

We recognize the Yellowknives Dene claim to the land but wonder whether best efforts are being taken to manage the resource.

Among the complaints raised by Sangris, and Tlicho First Nation member Michael Black, who lives in Ndilo and operates a trapline in the area, is that non-Dene recreational users trespass and "Ski-Doo all over the place. There's no respect for the lands, or for anything." Black told Yellowknifer that 25 traps were stolen from his trapline near the eastern shore of Prosperous Lake last week.

Sangris said, "If people want to go out and enjoy our lands, then they should consult with us first."

Is there is a mechanism in place for communication by recreational users with the Yellowknives Dene? Further, what about the existing cabin leaseholders? Why, we wonder, are lease payments going to the GNWT instead of to the Yellowknives Dene?

Perhaps Sangris and Black would get more support for their position if they approach situations such as these with less of a confrontational attitude and more of a desire for meaningful dialogue.

Best intentions are all well and good, but things can go terribly astray when they're not very well thought out.

The same is true when the purveyor of those best intentions doesn't take human nature into account.

And, as shocking as it might be to some in the North, the term human nature applies to us all.

The good folks at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and those in charge of the Nutrition North program should have a close eye on the situation unravelling in Coral Harbour concerning the Southampton Island caribou herd.

Those behind the airline decision to offer $1.50 per kg in cargo rates to ship country food around Nunavut probably thought it would allow families to help each other.

They also may have thought some folks would want to lend a helping hand and send country food to places without much right now, like in and around the Iqaluit area.

Unfortunately, however, the aforementioned human nature kicked in and precious few things distort some people's ability to reason than the chance to make money, ethical or otherwise.

So now we have the entire Southampton herd being pushed to extinction by one of the darker traits of human nature - greed.

Yes, hunting caribou to make a fast buck would be fine if the herd was healthy. And the outbreak of disease is primarily responsible for the rapid decline of the island herd's population and its prospects of survival.

That's not the point.

The herd is not healthy and its numbers are in rapid decline.

For the vast majority of island residents, the issue is now about just wanting to ensure they can continue to put food on their table.

It must be a bitter pill to swallow, knowing a handful of neighbours are pushing you toward a harder life every time they pull the trigger for a buck.

And that's just one example of the complexity of this issue.

When it suits our purpose - that is, when things are going well - we have no shortage of folks willing to tell the rest of the world how efficient we are when it comes to managing wildlife.

But when things take a turn for the worst, run for cover and don't come out until you have an explanation that absolves your department, group or organization of any and all blame for the collapse.

Let's pretend for a moment there isn't a single person at any level of government, in our top land claim organization or business community who sees the potential for abuse with low shipping rates for country food. Let's also pretend we live in a perfect world where everyone only looks at the health benefits and sharing of food, and no one sees the chance of making a good buck from shipping meat cheaply.

That still doesn't excuse "partners" who haven't done much effective managing lately, and who seem intent on sitting on the sidelines as the herd disappears one shipped package of meat at a time.

What's the good of Inuit hunters having the right to dispose freely of any wildlife lawfully harvested, if that right means a minority of people profit at the expense of a herd's survival and a community's wellbeing?

It's time the partners did a little proper managing, before a small group of hunters write a cheque the majority of people on Southampton Island can't afford to cash.

The federal government should look to the GNWT for advice on relationship building with aboriginal leaders. A Jan. 24 gathering between hundreds of chiefs and federal ministers and officials seemed to indicate Ottawa was ready to push for real reform in federal policy and possibly make amendments to the controversial Indian Act.

However, some Northern leaders left the one-day meeting feeling more skeptical than hopeful and few thought the meeting would lead to any significant change. It was little more than a political sideshow.

K'atlodeeche Chief Roy Fabian and Deninu Ku'e Chief Louis Balsillie were two of the more critical Northern leaders following the event.

Balsillie, who did not attend the meeting because he said it would not be a good use of his band's funds, criticized Prime Minister Stephen Harper for ignoring Northern First Nations. He said Harper has not shown any interest in sitting down with aboriginal leaders during past visits to the NWT.

Fabian's belief that the flowery speeches will fall on deaf ears while the status quo remains is likely an accurate opinion. Although Harper stated there will be continued dialogue with aboriginal governments, the Prime Minister's earnestness is lacking considering a date for follow-up meetings was not set.

In addition, his announcement that even a mere progress report will not be forthcoming for another year further demonstrates how far down his priority list the aboriginal community falls.

Unlike the GNWT's demonstrated commitment to meet with territorial aboriginal groups and draft a plan for future communications and partnerships, known as the "aboriginal engagement strategy," the federal government's one-off political charade was simply a public relations exercise.

With that in mind, it is vital First Nations follow the advice of Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus and continue to press for action from Ottawa. It is time for aboriginal groups across Canada to stand with one voice against the federal government.

At the heart of the debate should be the Indian Act and how to either modernize the colonial-era document -- drafted more than a century ago in 1876 -- or scrap it all together.

Aside from being antiquated, paternalistic and arguably racist, the Indian Act is the biggest obstacle to restoring proper autonomy to aboriginal peoples.

Fabian hit the mark when he said the act is hindering progress and preventing change that would not only benefit our first peoples but also Canada as a whole.

"We need to create capacity where we can thrive again, so Canada doesn't have to pay for us," were the chief's heartfelt words.

After 136 years, Canada's aboriginal people should not still be fighting for authority over issues like development or protection of traditional territory, which still requires approval from a federal minister in Ottawa.

Lip service from Ottawa is no longer acceptable; change is long overdue.

It's doubtful anyone was surprised to hear an environmental group in the U.S. is calling for harsh and urgent political action when it heard whispers that the government is allowing more polar bears to be hunted in Western Hudson Bay.

Deputy environment minister David Akeeagok told Nunavut News/North the GN will release statistics next month that will reinforce its stance that the animal's population is healthy. Numbers and hard facts are essential to making decisions on hunt quotas, and releasing them to the public is essential to creating public trust. However, simply releasing these numbers isn't always enough.

The GN must wage a public relations campaign to educate the south and people overseas on the reality of the polar bear situation in Nunavut. If polar bear populations are so healthy that it has become dangerous for humans to even hunt for seals in some communities, that needs to be conveyed. Inuit hunt for sustenance and to make a living, so let's get the word out once again, as vociferously as possible.

The GN should call upon the federal government for support in waging this campaign, because the territorial budget is tight and issues like housing and health care are bound to keep pressure on the territorial purse.

International political pressure against the hunt is often directed at the federal government, and it has a responsibility to defend its Northern residents against unfair criticism of a hunt that offers not only livelihood but also makes communities safer.

The Internet is littered with numerous websites and blog posts espousing a range of opinions on the hunt - from those sympathetic to the Inuit plight while still opposed to the hunt, to those who are downright militant against all hunting in general - and the comments sections of these sites can fill up with heated debate very quickly. Often the arguments are based on emotion, not relying on fact.

It's easy to take a photo of a majestic polar bear, talk about reduced sea ice, and paint a grim picture of the survival of this species, but these are very dangerous beasts with which Nunavummiut share their living space. Their pelts are also a good source of money in a place where income doesn't always come that easy.

Of course the bears' population must be safe-guarded and the hunt must be sustainable, that's in the best interest of all Inuit. Yet the GN must not forget the power of public perception and the international outcry that can force governments to change policy. If its decision on raising the quota is backed up by facts, they need to publicize those details nationally and internationally to counter the sensationalism stirred up by some conservation groups.

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