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Yellowknife hunters received an unwelcome surprise last week when the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) cancelled their bison tags.

Oh, it was done for all the right reasons. This past summer's anthrax outbreak devastated the Mackenzie herd, with an estimated 440 carcasses found along the Highway 3 corridor and the rest of the Mackenzie Bison Range during the summer.

Considering that at last count there were about 1,440 animals in the herd, the disease reduced their number by about one-third. The number of dead bison could actually be higher because some carcasses may not have been found.

The move by ENR to restrict the number of animals allowed to be harvested during hunting season, which began Sept. 1, makes sense. There is no point in allowing more animals to be taken from a herd that is already in jeopardy.

That said, so far only 15 tags for resident hunters and nine tags for outfitters have been rescinded and there is only a possibility that more of the 118 issued tags will be cancelled, but only following consultations with First Nations groups. There are still 94 tags allocated to the aboriginal harvest, including tags held in the community of Fort Providence, by the Tlicho government, the Yellowknives Dene, the North Slave Metis Alliance and the North Arm Metis Council.

While we recognize that aboriginal people in the communities surrounding the capital, like Behchoko, have a reliance on wild meat, they are not the only ones who have a stake in the bison harvest.

We encourage territorial government officials to consider all the players in the process of making future decisions on wildlife. Resident hunters also deserve to be consulted about the future of the Mackenzie bison herd. We would have thought the GNWT would have learned from its experience regarding the draft Wildlife Act, which was completed prior to discussions with affected non-aboriginal people.

In the end, resident hunters and outfitters may not be able to make an argument persuasive enough to salvage any bison tags, but so long as they have a seat at the table they will at least be fully informed of what's at stake and why certain decisions are being made.

You can't fight city hall, some cynics say. The upcoming municipal election is a great opportunity to disprove that.

On Oct. 15, Yellowknife residents will elect a new mayor and council to a three-year term. As of press time, three candidates are vying for mayor and 11 candidates, including four incumbents, are competing for eight council seats.

Decisions made at city hall, which address everything from garbage collection and traffic flow to municipal zoning and recreational programming, arguably affect the daily lives of citizens more than any other level of government.

City council is about neighbours negotiating with neighbours for the improvement of the community. The discussion is enriched when lots of ideas are shared around the table.

With the nominations period now open, the best way to amplify one's voice is to run for office.

Yellowknifer hopes more candidates representing a variety of perspectives will make the choice to run before nominations close at 3 p.m. on Monday.

Win or lose, running as a candidate is an important and noble pursuit that strengthens political debate.

As time runs out on Kivalliq Counselling and Support Services (KCSS), one can't help but wonder what qualifies as a sound investment for funding these days.

Having been at the helm of Kivalliq News for the past 14 years, I've seen first hand the positive, often dramatic, effect programs delivered through the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre can have on families in our region.

The work done by the Angutiit Makigiangninga (Men Rising Up) group in Coral Harbour during the past three years has been stellar.

Social problems are near rampant across our region and we all know it.

Yet, the very people who have been doing the most to help stem the tide of addiction and despair are the ones struggling to keep afloat.

OK, so they don't spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to study suicide, and hundreds of thousands more to draft policies on how to tackle the problem.

And, no, most of these people don't have any initials after their names.

They also don't use big words to sound more impressive than they really are, and they don't spend a week baffling folks with a myriad of reasons (some would say glorified excuses) people in the professional world have come up with to avoid personal accountability with the help of one's therapist and/or lawyer.

What they do have is a genuine understanding of the issues so many people in our region struggle to deal with. They understand the pressures many face in not just providing for their families, but in trying to be a role model, nurturing parent and loving spouse in the face of adversity.

Staff members with KCSS or members of the Coral men's group have never claimed to be miracle workers.

There's no going to one meeting and becoming a perfect parent and spouse.

It's a process, and one that can often be long and difficult.

We do have people in our region, of course, who suffer from genuine disorders, but the vast majority of those who struggle do so from despair, poverty, frustration, a lack of hope and, yes, habit.

Maybe those who control the purse strings think the success of homegrown programming is being overstated.

Or, maybe, they simply can't buy into any group being successful that isn't based on a southern-developed formula or, at the very least, led by a group of people with those impressive initials after their names.

If so, they'd be wrong.

The North is as distinctive with its problems as it is with its culture.

We need people on the front lines born and raised here who truly understand the culture, the issues and, most importantly, the people trying to deal with them.

They have to know what's expected of them to become better people and understand there's no shortcuts to achieving that goal.

And, paramount to success, they have to know and trust those trying to help them almost to the point of family.

That's just the way it is here.

At the end of the day, people such as those found today with KCSS and the Coral men's group are our best hope in dealing with not all, but a number of the problems our region struggles with.

It's truly ironic to see them so dependent, themselves, when it comes to the funding needed to make a difference.

Dogs have had a long and important history in the North. Less than 50 years ago and long before that, dogs provided transportation, hauled wood and supplies and were a source of protection.

In those days, dogs were an essential part of Northern life. Ensuring they were well cared for was a necessity because strong and happy animals work harder and are more loyal.

These days the role of dogs in NWT communities has changed, much like the way of life for many people has changed. Fewer people hunt and trap. Goods are hauled by motorized vehicles. Centralized communities instead of nomadic camps means, for the most part, people stay put.

Stories about dogs being neglected in the communities are familiar from the SPCA and in the pages of this newspaper. Although there is no question that dogs should be well cared for and live free from abuse and neglect, we have to question whether a lot of the cases are malicious.

The transition from dogs as work animals to dogs as pets in smaller NWT communities hasn't been long in the making. With that in mind, we wonder how many cases of neglect are merely instances of not knowing what to do with an animal that no longer serves a purpose.

This is not to excuse the mistreatment of animals but it's important to guard against labelling a group of people as bad dog owners when the problem may be a lack of understanding how much the relationship between dogs and Northern people has changed. Awareness campaigns and education programs might serve to reduce the number of animal cruelty complaints as much as spaying programs and SPCA rescues.

It's not a case of helping people learn how to properly care for dogs but to help them carefully consider what role a dog might play in their lives. No one is going to value a work animal that lays around all day. It is like paying an employee to sleep in the broom closet.

It's time to examine the roles dogs play in the North. It's likely in these modern times, their purpose will be to serve as pets and companions and not workers. With that in mind people should ask themselves not if they can care for the animal, but if they should own one in the first place.

Ice levels are at an all-time low on the Arctic Ocean and some studies are predicting further loss of old ice - ice that survives summer after summer.

That means travel for hunters who use ice crossings are in jeopardy of losing traditional routes to food sources. Wildlife also is threatened as habitat changes.

Inland, warmer weather means permafrost is beginning to melt, softening the ground, causing settling, which results in buildings shifting and crumbling.

Although we must continue efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions here and worldwide, we must also combat the impacts of climate change as they are happening. Reversing the warming trend - if such a thing is even possible - will take time, time our Arctic people might not have.

Adaptation plans are vital to ensure infrastructure - schools, homes, medical centres - will stand up to the changes in the environment.

However, adaptation is not only the responsibility of the government, it is also in our hands. We must be wary of changing conditions and adjust our lives to compensate.

Travelling safer and smarter will save lives and money.

It is important to keep up the efforts to reduce our own impacts on the Earth, but we can't forget as the world changes so must we. It's a basic principle of survival.

The numbers are in, but they aren't saying much.

Nutrition North Canada has posted the breakdown of the dollar figures and weight of food and other products subsidized during its first 12 months, from April, 2011 to this past March.

Almost $54 million was allotted for Northern communities, with Nunavut receiving a total of 57 per cent of the budget, between $7 million and $8 million every three months. Eleven million kilograms of subsidized items travelled to Nunavut.

The message in all this data is that yes, there is money coming from the federal government to retailers, suppliers and country food processors.

The question is: How much of the $31 million in cash savings goes to Nunavummiut families?

There are only two more weeks until more changes come to Nutrition North. Then, the list of eligible food and non-food for subsidies will shrink. No more subsidies for canned fruit and vegetables, frozen pizza, rice, toothpaste or diapers.

This will mean more of Nutrition North's budget will be stretched across fewer items, focusing on the most nutritious, perishable food.

The prices of previously-subsidized items will rise and the number of affordable choices, in places such as Grise Fiord with a subsidy rate of $16/kg, will decrease as well.

Still, the number that matters most is how many families are going hungry because the cost of living is still too high.

That number governments cannot be allowed to ignore in all their praise for Nutrition North.

The City of Iqaluit needs permission from ratepayers to borrow up to $40 million for the development of a new aquatic centre, a facility that promises to offer a wave of perks for the community.

The catch is, ratepayers would see a property tax increase anywhere from one per cent to almost eight per cent initially, depending on what additional funding the city can secure.

Although the vote barely scraped by as a 'no' seven years ago, if the city offers up clear and consistent information to the community, Iqalummiut may feel more confident with the municipality taking on the expense. Fundraising and cost control would sweeten the bitter pill of higher taxes.

The city should also benefit from investing in its own rec centre, instead of renewing a lease on a facility that has been plagued with structural issues.

With a growing population, a need to promote healthy living and a climate that holds on to winter for more than half the year, an indoor centre offering young and old hours of exercise and enjoyment is something everyone can get behind.

Announcing his campaign for mayor in 1994, nine-year city council veteran Mike Byrne pledged to tackle Yellowknife's skyrocketing cost of living if elected.

Alas, Byrne was not successful - at getting elected mayor or bringing down the cost of living.

It was a source of frustration then and remains one today. Heating fuel, the price of gas, and the most cash-depleting bugbear of them all, housing - the costs rarely, if ever, go down, but almost always up.

Yellowknife prices aren't rising the fastest - according to Statistics Canada, that honour belongs to Whitehorse - but we're certainly disadvantaged when it comes to making our dollars last longer.

High transportation and construction costs are naturally the chief cause of Yellowknife's higher prices. A high cost of living makes it particularly difficult for low wage earners to make ends meet in a tight rental market.

Some people think high costs, especially as they relate to housing, ought to be a topic of discussion in this fall's municipal election. But what can city council actually do about it?

After all, council can no more control housing costs than the price of heating fuel. It can open up more land to development but it can't get people to buy lots and build homes.

The best council can do is to encourage the development of more affordable condominiums and townhomes, which it has been doing; protect the stock of less expensive homes that do exist - i.e., Northland Trailer Park, check that one off too; and allow the development of more rental apartment suites, such as the 28 units and five six-plexes being added to the Shaganappy and Ptarmigan apartment complexes.

This certain helps but construction costs will always remain higher in the North and not everyone wants to live in a condo or in a trailer park. Despite 155 homes being built in 2011, it's expected the average resale price will rise by two per cent this year to $382,900.

And let it be noted lowered real estate prices is of no benefit to city hall. Higher real estate prices means higher assessment values, which translates into more property tax dollars.

Last year, an interesting study appeared that seemed to put conventional wisdom on its head by reporting that Yellowknife was one of only nine affordable housing markets in the country. The U.S.-based Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey took the average 2010 price of homes in the city - $293,000 - and the average household income -- $121,000 - and came up with a figure that placed us 35th on a list of 325 housing markets worldwide, thus showing that while our dollar may not go very far, residents here tend to have more of them.

Some city councillors were quick to point out that not everyone in the city makes more than $100,000 a year. But the report does provide a counterpoint to the unyielding belief that Yellowknife's cost of living is too high.

No doubt it is for some. This is a tough city to live in for lower wage earners and will continue to be despite modest investments in "eco-housing" and rent subsidies from the NWT Housing Corporation.

There is one thing we can almost surely count on. Even if Yellowknife's cost of living should become a dominant issue in this year's municipal election, the situation is bound to be the same when election 2030 rolls along.

In this week's edition of the Deh Cho Drum, there are two stories about teenagers who spent part of their summer vacations participating in programs.

The types of programs they attended were widely different from each other. They had focuses ranging from law to sciences to university life to the Canadian Forces. While the programs focused on different things, they also had a few things in common.

Each of the programs was designed to give youth a chance to explore career opportunities and to learn about new things. Three of the programs were designed specifically for aboriginal youth.

With these programs and many like them available, all eligible Deh Cho teenagers should be applying. There is no reason that any teenager in the region who has an interest in travelling and exploring new opportunities should be sitting at home during their summer vacation.

The importance of promoting these programs and getting youth to participate in them cannot be underestimated.

In the region, there are always discussions taking place about how the youth are the future and about the need to foster and support youth so they will be strong leaders and productive members of the workforce. Having youth participate in programs such as the Raven Aboriginal Youth Employment Program or the University of Toronto Faculty of Law's Aboriginal Youth Summer Program are a positive step in that direction.

Teenagers from the Deh Cho need to be presented with opportunities to travel outside of their communities and the region. They need to have the chance to see what is available in the rest of Canada and beyond.

The purpose of this exploration isn't to convince teenagers of the need to live their lives elsewhere, although some may, but rather to help them expand their horizons and make informed decisions.

Many of the youth who attended programs over the summer are now considering different career paths or have reaffirmed that the path they have chosen is the right one for them. The need to go to school and get good grades has also been driven home. If law school, for instance is their goal, skipping classes won't get them there.

With so many opportunities waiting for them, school staff, parents and community members need to promote summer programs and help students apply for them. By attending them, the lives of the students, as well as the region, will be enriched.

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Stop the silence
Editorial Comment
Danielle Sachs
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012

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Sept. 9 is FASD awareness day and one local group is throwing a community baby shower meant to inspire support and understanding.

It's hard to get the right information out to people who need it, say members of the group.

There are still a lot of myths surrounding FASD. For example: it's OK to drink one glass of wine a day, for the first three months it doesn't make a difference, or as long as you drink water afterwards nothing will happen.

But they're just myths and there is no "safe" amount of alcohol when you're pregnant.

Depending on what stage of pregnancy the mother is in, different aspects of the child are affected.

People tend to focus on the physical characteristics, but that's not the only aspect of FASD.

There aren't any specific numbers specific to Canada that relate to FASD, there are only estimates and they fluctuate widely from community to community.

FASD is something that can affect everyone, says the group. And it's spread across all socio-economic levels.

Part of the problem is people are unwilling to talk about it. No one wants to be seen as the irresponsible parent but a proper diagnosis of FASD depends directly on the admission of pre-natal alcohol consumption.

Yes, there is a stigma attached, but that's exactly what the community baby shower aims to address.

In the past they've shown people how to make mocktails, drinks without alcohol that taste like they're swimming with booze.

They're also focusing on peer support, saying it's important to have friends that aren't always talking about the last great party they went to or that awesome night at the bar.

Part of the unwillingness to talk about FASD stems from people unknowingly drinking while pregnant.

"I had a few glasses of wine while pregnant," said one of the workshop members. "I hadn't taken a test yet and didn't know I was pregnant, but I still felt horribly guilty."

The group wants more awareness and they want to spread the word. If you want help there are people there for you.

Lise Luppen, a dietitian with the Inuvik Regional Hospital, said it's important to show there are other choices out there.

"Not everyone is comfortable talking about it but there are people for you," she said.

"One of the positives to come out of this event we're holding is people can see there are positive role models in the community and there are other choices out there."

Luppen wants to get that dialogue going, saying talking about it can be one step in reducing the stigma.

"Don't be ashamed to have a conversation with your doctor or other health care practitioner," she said.

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