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Gameti RCMP responded to a call Thursday morning of an intoxicated male threatening to kill himself with a rifle.

They arrived at approximately 9:30 a.m. and shortly after requested assistance from the critical incident team in Yellowknife. Crisis negotiators and the emergency response team, as well as members from the Behchoko detachment, were preparing to travel to Gameti when the young man exited his home unarmed.

"The male is being transported to Yellowknife and will be evaluated by health professionals," said Const. Todd Scaplen, acting media relations officer for the RCMP G division.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Training workshops

The mayor and councillors with the Hamlet of Enterprise will hone their municipal government skills at two upcoming workshops.

On April 30, the first workshop will deal with reading financial documents. It will be presented by a representative of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA).

On May 5 & 6, a workshop on bylaws, contracting and conflict of interest will be presented by a lawyer, whose visit has been arranged by MACA.

- Paul Bickford

Winter roads closing

The winter road from Wrigley to Tulita was scheduled to close on April 2, but cool temperatures extended its closure date to April 6.

The remainder of the Mackenzie Valley winter roads have closed.

The Trout Lake winter road and the Nahanni Butte ice crossing have also closed, while the Liard River ice crossing and the Ndulee ice crossing are expected to close between April 15 and 25.

The ice crossing near Fort Providence is expected to close sometime this week.

Tlicho winter roads are expected to close on April 10. The Beaufort Delta's ice roads usually close at the end of April, although Gurdev Jagpal, regional superintendent for the Department of Transportation, said it is still too early to estimate when the roads will close this season.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Awaiting cause of death

The cause of death has not yet been determined for a Fort Smith man - Raymond Paul Beaulieu, 53 - discovered deceased near the community's arena on Feb. 7.

Cathy Menard, the chief coroner for the NWT, said she is still awaiting an autopsy report.

Menard said, in general, an autopsy report can take four to six months.

- Paul Bickford

Volunteer Appreciation Night in Fort Smith

Thebacha/Fort Smith

A Volunteer Appreciation Night will be taking place in Fort Smith on April 26.

Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre is working in conjunction with the Town of Fort Smith to present the event.

It will be held at the museum from 7-9 p.m. on April 26.

All volunteers in the community are being invited to attend.

- Paul Bickford

Salt River to hold public meetings

Thebacha/Fort Smith

The chief and council of Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith will be holding a series of meetings during April to collect ideas and opinions from band membership.

The gatherings will focus on educational, social and cultural development, and possible projects for the Fort Smith First Nation Development Corporation.

The first meeting on April 11 will be for elders 60 years of age and older, followed by an April 12 meeting for youth aged 13 to 21.

On April 30, there will be a meeting for all band members.

All the meetings will begin at 6 p.m. at the Salt River band office.

- Paul Bickford

Weather cancels events

Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour

Numerous community events were postponed or cancelled between April 1 and 3 in Sachs Harbour due to blowing snow and cold temperatures.

The annual general meeting for the recreation department, scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 3, was postponed for a second time because of bad weather. Doreen Carpenter, recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet, said it will likely be scheduled for this week or next week, depending on when other local meetings are held.

Community members interested in recreation programs and community events are urged to attend.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Truth commission on tour

Beaufort Delta

Residential school survivors in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region will be getting another chance to share their stories.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada is scheduled to hold public hearings in Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok, Sachs Harbour and Paulatuk from April 11 to 19. In addition, they will be collecting private statements from survivors and their families.

The first event will kick off in Tuktoyaktuk with a community feast and drum dance at Kitti Hall on April 10. A public hearing will be held at Mangilaluk School from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. the next day, followed by private statement gathering from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 12. A closing feast and drum dance will be held at Kitti Hall the same day at 6 p.m.

Ulukhaktok will host a public hearing at the community hall on April 13 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Private statements will be collected the next day, followed by a community feast.

The Ajgaliaq Centre in Sachs Harbour will host public and private statement gathering on April 16, followed by a community feast. The final events, to be held in Paulatuk, will be held on April 17 at Angik School and April 18 and 19 at the visitors centre.

All events are being organized by local community corporations in co-operation with the commission's Inuit sub-commission.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Fun and games for Easter

Ulukhaktok

The Hamlet of Ulukhaktok's special events committee had a full slate of activities planned for Easter weekend.

Some scheduled events included outdoor and indoor games, a fishing contest, a scavenger hunt and sliding contests, according to Joanne Ogina, recreation co-ordinator.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Rendezvous this weekend

Aklavik

The Mad Trapper Rendezvous Carnival kicked off on Thursday with a feast, sing-a-long and drum dance at the Sittichinli Recreation Complex. The whole community was welcome, but participants were asked to bring their own dishes and cutlery.

On Friday the traditional 10-mile dog race was scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by cross-country snowmobile races at 4 p.m. In the evening, Moose Kerr School was set to host a fiddling contest and talent show.

Planned events on Saturday included a pancake breakfast at the Sam Arey Curling Club, three-legged races, piggy-back races, the egg throw and barrel pulling.

Radio bingo was scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m., with the jackpot set at $10,000.

On Sunday games were scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at the carnival site on the river. Events included ice chiseling, tea boiling and snowmobile racing.

There was to be a dance at the Sittichinli Recreation Complex that night, with registration for the jigging and jiving contests opening at midnight.

More dog races and traditional contests are scheduled for today, as well as snowshoe and snowmobile races.

The carnival is a drug- and alcohol-free event. It is dedicated to all elders past and present.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Daffodils for cancer

Beaufort Delta

Daffodils and daffodil pins are being sold in communities across the Beaufort Delta this week in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. Between April 1 and 7, residents in Inuvik, Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic, Ulukhaktok, Sachs Harbour and Tuktoyaktuk will get the chance to purchase flowers.

This year, bundles of eight to 10 flowers will be sold for $6. Pins will be sold by donation.

Last year, the region raised more than $5,000 for the cause.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Easter egg hunt in the Wells

Lli Goline/Norman Wells

The Town of Norman Wells was scheduled to host an Easter egg hunt at the Ray Persson Arena on Thursday. The event was set to kick off at 1:30 p.m. and was to be followed by a movie showing. All ages were welcome to attend.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Six-day carnival

Whati/Lac La Martre

Whati's 2012 carnival wrapped up on April 1 after nearly a full week of events.

Some scheduled events at the youth centre included a youth and elders cribbage tournament, a pool tournament for kids, a mixed road hockey tournament for adults and handgames.

At the culture centre, bingo, dances and outdoor events were scheduled.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Police mum on search for Cambridge Bay man

Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

Cambridge Bay RCMP would not confirm Saturday that they were still searching for a man in his early 40s missing since April 1.

The man was expected to return from a pleasure trip on his snowmobile, but was last seen at a cabin 50 km southwest of Cambridge Bay.

He was dressed for the weather, with warm snow pants and a parka.

Heading into the weekend, search-and-rescue volunteers and RCMP were looking for him by land and air.

-- Casey Lessard

Iqaluit gets extra long weekend

Iqaluit

With zero visibility and persistent winds gusting up to 80 km/h, many Iqaluit residents got an extra long weekend when schools, and city and government services shut down due to weather Thursday.

School was cancelled in the morning and remained so for the afternoon, Government of Nunavut staff were told to go home for the afternoon, as were City of Iqaluit staff. Qikiqtani General Hospital remained open for emergencies only.

Canadian North and First Air cancelled their flights in and out for the afternoon.

Although North-Mart closed at 2 p.m., Arctic Ventures had no plans to close, despite the fact the fire department closed the city's roads in the early afternoon.

-- Casey Lessard

Senator takes issue with environmentalist finances

Nunavut

Foreign money is "flooding" into this country to influence public policy in Canada and the North, said Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson late last month, adding this country does not need foreign aid.

Patterson made the comments during a debate on the interference of foreign donations in Canada's domestic affairs and their abuse of Revenue Canada charitable status on March 29 in the senate. In his argument, he noted the phenomenon in the environmental sector.

"I believe foreign funding is a concern because it is coming from foreign foundations with agendas that are not necessarily in the best interests of our country and because these groups have become immensely powerful," he also said on March 29.

Patterson said these charities often "thrive on misinformation or incomplete information."

He specifically cited funds brought in to resource- and environment-centred groups such as the David Suzuki Foundation, Tides Canada and Ducks Unlimited.

Patterson recommended the Canada Revenue Agency require more disclosure from Canadian charities on the source and purpose of the funding.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Two programs end in Cambridge Bay

Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

Parents of the children attending an after-school interpretive program watched Arctic sports and throat-singing demonstrations, tried drum dancing and got an overview of the program's themes during a one-hour finale on March 29.

The Arctic Coast Visitor Centre offered the program once a week from Sept. 6 to March 29 to children from kindergarten to Grade 6. Eight children were registered but some would drop in weekly to participate in various activities, such as sewing and traditional storytelling, said Clara Wingnek, the manager of the visitor centre.

She added she had hoped more children would have registered. The program could accommodate 12 children per session.

"It was well-taken - well-received - but I mean, it wasn't at capacity most of the days," said Wingnek.

Another program ended late last month with the final session of the sealskin craft making program on March 31. The program had started on Feb. 25 and was better-attended than the other, with 24 participants, most of them women, said Wingnek. She said they would do small sealskin crafts, such as hairpins, children's mittens, flower barrettes and coin purses.

"It was very successful. A lot of the ladies were sad to see it was ending," she said.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Closing its doors

Nunavut

The Nunavut Training Implementation Committee (NITC) closed its doors for the final time on March 30.

The NITC was one of the first organizations created after the ratification of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, and remained in operation for almost 20 years.

The committee provided training within the network of implementation organizations in Nunavut, and also provided numerous scholarships to Inuit students.

The NITC was forced to close when both the Nunavut and federal governments decided not to renew its funding to provide scholarships, workshops and employment training for Inuit.

- Darrell Greer

Happy 34th birthday, Hall Beach

Sanirajak/Hall Beach

Hall Beach is 34 and it celebrated its hamlet day April 2.

Residents participated in indoor and outdoor games, ate country food and bannock at a feast, said Lena Kautaq, the hamlet's recreation co-ordinator.

Mayor Paul Haulli said the hamlet's operations have at times been good, at times not so good during the past 34 years.

"It was a very good turnout. We had a lot of traditional food like caribou, fish, walrus and muktuk," he said. "It's a long 34 years, even if it's a small community. The hamlet has been going up and down, up and down for 34 years but it's a very good thing we made it up to 2012, so I'm very proud of it."

- Jeanne Gagnon

Happy 36th birthday, Iglulik

Iglulik

Iglulik celebrated its 36th birthday with residents participating in indoor and outdoor games on April 2.

Some of the outdoor games included an iglu-building contest, harpoon throw and a three-legged race for children, said Alex Arnatsiaq, the recreation co-ordinator. He added indoors, elders participated in dart throws and all ages participated in a dance competition. Brian Fleming, senior administrative officer, said it was a positive birthday.

"I think everyone had a good time yesterday. Lots of people played in the games," he said.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Polar bear hunt opens in Clyde River

Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

Only one day after 10 polar bear tags were given out April 1, Derek Hainnu was the first to kill a bear in Clyde River. Judy Joanas also had success in the hunt April 3, as did others, hamlet spokesperson Nina Qillaq said.

"They drew names on Sunday," Qillaq said. "Four have been caught so far. It might take less than a week (before the tags are all used)."

Hunters had to go pretty far out on the ice, she said, noting it was "pretty rough" driving snowmobiles on the ice.

- Casey Lessard

Holistic health the focus in Pangnirtung

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung

Attagoyuk School in Pangnirtung will be the venue for a Community Health Fair Friday, April 13. The event will promote a holistic approach to health from a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual viewpoint, public health nurse Dora Carbonu said.

"Good health leads to long life," she said. "The key word is positive attitude to health."

Displays will cover the gamut from mental to dental, nutrition to traditional healing, as well as tobacco, alcohol and drug use, and sexuality.

"March 24 was World TB Day, April 7 is World Health Day, March was Nutrition Month, April is Dental Month and Immunization Month," she said. "So we thought, 'let's put this all together and talk about the whole life cycle.'"

The event runs April 13 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the school gym.

- Casey Lessard

Clyde River celebrates Easter

Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

Easter lasts a whole week in Clyde River, where residents were set to attend a picnic Sunday and will have games running all week through to Saturday.

An Easter egg hunt will be held today with a prize of $30 per egg found, according to a schedule of events forwarded from the hamlet.

Indoor and outdoor games will also be held throughout the week. Residents will compete for best snow sculpture Tuesday and biggest kanajuq (sculpin) caught Wednesday.

There will also be a dance every night Monday to Saturday at the community hall.

- Casey Lessard

Dropin centre facelift in Rankin Inlet

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

The Rankin Inlet DropIn Centre is receiving a muchneeded facelift and new equipment for local youth.

The centre received a new pool table and foosball table this past week, while the badlyneeded renovations are expected to get underway this week.

The project is being funded through Health and Public Services.

- Darrell Greer

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