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News Briefs: Monday, January 14, 2013
Market on Hay River reserve
For the first time, the Hay River Commons Co-operative Limited will hold a market on the Hay River Reserve.
The co-operative will host the market at Chief Lamalice Complex on Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
It will feature produce from the Hay River area, baked goods, crafts, food and music.
- Paul Bickford
Education awards nominations requested
The South Slave Divisional Education Council is seeking nominations for its 2012-2013 Excellence in Education Awards.
The awards can go to a teacher, education assistant, parent, student or community volunteer who has contributed to a school's improvement or to student success.
Nominations will be accepted until March 31.
- Paul Bickford
Wise women nominations open
The Status of Women Council of the NWT is now taking nominations for the 2013 Wise Women Awards.
One woman will be selected from the North Slave, Beaufort/Delta, Sahtu, South Slave, and Deh Cho regions, with five recipients to be awarded at the March 8 Bread and Roses Luncheon, on International Women's Day. The luncheon will be held at the Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife.
The award, which has been distributed for two decades, recognizes "role models who demonstrate wisdom, perseverance and dedication while standing up for women, children and families in our communities."
The deadline for nominations is Feb. 1.
- Thandiwe Vela
Dene language class returns
South Slavey basic literacy and conversation classes will return to the Yamozha Kue Society this year.
The institute secured NWT Official Languages funding to offer the adult course syllabus for a third year, said projects manager Rosaline Cayen.
"It gets people to learn their language. They want to begin to learn or they want to freshen up," she said, adding it is open to everybody.
"We've had a lot of non-natives that have been taking it and they find it very beneficial. They use it in their work."
Dates, time and location of the classes are yet to be confirmed.
- Thandiwe Vela
Seasonal activities a hit
Aklavik
The community brought in the new year with a bang, as fireworks, drummers and dancers, and an old-time dance wrapped up the 2012-2013 Aklavik Christmas and New Year's Activities.
Aklavik recreation co-ordinator Dean McLeod said the events, which ran Dec. 8 to Jan. 1, were a huge success thanks to the participants and volunteers.
"We had a good turnout for all our events and activities. We thank everyone for coming and we hope they all enjoyed them," McLeod said. "We'd just like to say 'thank you' to everyone that participated in our activities and everybody that helped out."
Among this year's most popular activities were the old-time dance and jigging contest on Dec. 26, the talent shows, and New Year's Eve fireworks, bonfire and parade.
In addition to entertainment from the Aklavik drummers and dances, a number of visitors took part in the community activities as well, McLeod said, including drummers and dancers from Inuvik and Alaska.
-Thandiwe Vela
Students await the sun
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Students at Helen Kalvak School returned bright and early back from holidays on Jan. 4, but the sun, on the other hand, has not returned to the community.
"At this point, the students are a lot brighter than the sun," Principal Jack Reid said Tuesday. "We're hoping to have this year activities outside, welcoming back the sun."
Among the activities being considered to welcome the return of the sun are a pancake breakfast for the community and a competition among students to predict the date the sun will be in full view.
Fort Smith pool to close on Mondays
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Town of Fort Smith has announced that its swimming pool will be closed on Mondays. The one-day-a-week closure, which began on Jan. 7, is the result of the 2013 municipal budget passed in mid-December. While the budget decided the pool would be closed one day a week, the determination of which day was left to an examination of usage levels at the pool.
The move will save the municipality over $40,000 per year.
Under other cost-saving measures in the budget, the arena, pool and rec centre will also be closed for statutory holidays, excluding days that the facilities are required for use.
- Paul Bickford
Sled funds for graduates
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Two remaining sleds built by students at Helen Kalvak School will soon be up for raffle or auction. Four sleds were built last year under the guidance of elder Winnie Akhiatak, who facilitated and assisted the students with the creations.
The first two sleds were auctioned and raffled off during the Christmas season. Proceeds from the sled sales will go toward this year's graduating class.
- Thandiwe Vela
Quest for the Gwich'in Cup
Paulatuk
The hamlet's minor hockey team is hoping to fund their way to the 2013 Gwich'in Cup in Inuvik.
The team missed out on the tournament last year, so along with their parents, are organizing a number of fundraising events this year to make it, said Lily-Ann Green, Paulatuk recreation co-ordinator.
"They are excited," she said. "They didn't go last year because we didn't raise enough funding to take them out so they're pushing themselves extra hard this year."
After collecting 742 pop cans and raising $74.20 in the team's pop can drive, they are now looking for a donor to meet or beat that fundraising amount.
Interested donors can contact Green at the hamlet office.
- Thandiwe Vela
Principal's pancakes
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
The principal will be flipping pancakes for the kids at Chief Paul Niditchie School in Tsiigehtchic this Friday.
Principal Darcy Douglas said the Jan. 11 pancake breakfast won't be the last.
"It's a tradition since 2013," he said, joking. "It's been done in the past. I'm just hoping to revive it"
In addition to the special event, the school has a regular breakfast program, which usually includes oatmeal and orange juice for students of the small school, in addition to a 10:30 a.m. snack.
- Thandiwe Vela
Deputy mayor named in Enterprise
Enterprise
Craig McMaster has been returned as deputy mayor of the Hamlet of Enterprise. Council agreed by consensus to name him to the position at its first meeting of the year on Jan. 7.
Along with serving on council, McMaster is the fire chief in the hamlet.
- Paul Bickford
Forum to visit South Slave
South Slave
The Minister's Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness will make stops in South Slave communities this month and in early February. The forum will be in Hay River from Jan. 15-17, in Fort Resolution on Jan. 17, on the Hay River Reserve on Jan. 21 and in Fort Smith from Feb. 6-8.
The community visits began on Dec. 3 with a four-day session in Fort McPherson.
"This is part of our ongoing discussions with communities about how we can best support our residents to make healthy choices," said Health and Social Services Minister Tom Beaulieu in a news release before the community visits began. "Addictions touch every community and every family. We will talk to people all over the NWT about what has worked for them and for their loved ones. We need a flexible, made-in-the-NWT solution."
Members of the public not able to attend a community forum can still offer feedback on the department's website.
The forum is being chaired by Paul Andrew. Other members are Hazel Nerysoo, Lawrence Norbert, Marie Adele Rabesca, Paul Andrew, David Poitras, Wilfred Simon, Pat Martel, JoAnne Deneron, Jill Taylor, Frank Yakimchuk and Laurie
Sarkadi.
- Paul Bickford
Four years for Kimmirut shooter
Iqaluit
David Lyta has been sentenced to four years in prison for firing a .22-calibre rifle at the homes of two Kimmirut RCMP officers, where they and their families slept, on March 18 of last year.
Justice Andrew Mahar handed down Lyta's sentence on Dec. 18, and released his reasons for judgment last week. While Lyta, 22, was sentenced to four years, Mahar gave him 1.5 days credit for each day imprisoned in the Baffin Correctional Centre while his case went through the Nunavut Court of Justice for close to nine months.
According to the judgment, Lyta had not been a problem for the police beforehand, and "in fact, had a friendly relationship with the (officers)."
Lyta claims to have shot at the homes in an attempt to get help on a night when he was drunk and suicidal.
The RCMP officers and their families awoke in the night to being fired upon, with no idea how many assailants were outside their homes or what sort of weapons were involved, stated Mahar's written judgment.
No one was hit by the shots but the emotional impact will likely be long-lasting, wrote Mahar.
An emergency response team was flown in from Iqaluit and Lyta was arrested without incident. He later pleaded guilty to intentionally discharging a firearm into a place knowing that another person is present in that place.
Lyta's DNA will be kept on record, and he is prohibited from having firearms for life.
- NNSL staff
Fisherman rescued after falling through ice
Iglulik
A fisherman who had to be rescued after falling through ice last week is back in Iglulik.
The hamlet received a call at around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 10, saying Simon Qamanirq had called his spouse from his satellite phone notifying her he had fallen through ice, said assistant senior administrative officer Celestino Uyarak.
He added they didn't know exactly where he was but had an idea where he could be. The man did not have a SPOT device with him.
An initial search team did not locate the man, said Uyarak.
He added a second team, sent in another direction, found the man just before 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 11.
"We were not able to get to him quite as fast as we expected due to broken ice," said Uyarak.
The man was taken to the health centre then released.
"He was cold; otherwise fine," said Uyarak.
He added he understands the man went out to Baffin Island to fish for a couple of days but heading back in the dark, he took the wrong route and fell into the water.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Bodies found in Pangnirtung home
Two people were found dead by RCMP in Pangnirtung shortly after midnight on Jan. 10.
Police had been called to a residence in the community, where they found the bodies of a male and a female.
The RCMP Major Crimes Unit and Forensic Identification Section travelled to the hamlet from Iqaluit last Thursday to assist with the investigation. Names and ages of the deceased are not being released until next of kin has been notified.
- Peter Worden
Qulliq employee assaulted: police
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
Two people are each facing six charges, including aggravated assault, after a Qulliq Energy Employee was assaulted at the power plant in Cape Dorset on Jan. 8, according to the RCMP.
The employee was medevaced for further medical attention to Iqaluit, where he is recovering from serious but non life-threatening injuries in hospital.
Kooyoo Peter, 46, and Kumaarjuk Pii, 51, are each facing one count of break-and-enter to steal firearm, possession of property obtained by crime, aggravated assault and careless use of a firearm as well as two counts each of possession of weapon for dangerous purpose. The weapons have been identified as a knife and hammer in court documents.
Peter has been remanded in custody pending his first court appearance in Iqaluit on Feb. 5. Pii has been released pending her first court appearance in Cape Dorset on Feb. 4.
"QEC will be co-operating fully with the RCMP in their investigation and will not be commenting further on this incident," stated Qulliq in a press release.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Polar bear hide stolen in Iqaluit
Iqaluit
An eight-foot polar bear skin was taken from outside Iqaluit resident Solomon Awa's home.
Awa, a renowned local hunter, said this is the first time something like this has happened.
He said thievery of polar bear hides is very infrequent, mainly because in order to sell the hide legally, it requires an accompanying tag from the local wildlife office denoting the bear was a legal harvest - a tough thing to prove with a stolen hide.
"I've never heard of it," said Awa about the theft. "It may be the first time in Nunavut."
The hide, which he said went missing sometime between Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, was worth about $5,000.
Ten friends and family members helped in its preparation, a "big job" said Awa, scraping and removing fat. A polar bear hide is a difficult item to hide and Awa asked that anyone with information contact him or simply return the hide, no questions asked.
- Peter Worden
Towtongie meets with Chief Spence
Ottawa
Three Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. executives met with Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence at her camp on Victoria Island near Ottawa on Jan. 9.
NTI president Cathy Towtongie stated the meeting was important to show the NTI delegation, consisting of herself, vice-president Jack Anawak and chief executive officer James Arreak, supports Spence. They discussed common points Inuit and First Nations share in respect to the federal government's failure to live up to its obligations under land claim agreements and modern treaties, stated Towtongie.
NTI recently won a lawsuit against the federal government, which was ordered to pay $14.8 million for delaying the implementation of the Nunavut General Monitoring Plan. Ottawa has since appealed.
Spence has been on a hunger strike since Dec. 11 in a bid to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston to discuss treaty issues. Spence attended a Jan. 11 ceremonial meeting with Johnston, but announced she will continue her hunger strike until she has Johnston and Harper in the same room during discussions.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Year-end generosity
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Netsilik School students' delivery of Christmas hampers as well as woolen hats and mitts resulted in many warm hands and warm hearts in time for the holidays.
On Dec. 14, the school's student council gave elementary students their Christmas presents - warm woolen hats, mitts and Christmas cups stuffed with candy canes, stated school principal Gina Pizzo.
Three days later, about 40 elders received hampers stuffed with dry and canned goods as well as turkeys, she stated. Pizzo added the elders also received a special gift this year - warm blankets and boxes of chocolates.
- Jeanne Gagnon
All hail, taxi service in Pang
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
If you spot a Jeep Liberty cruising around the hamlet with a toplight, you can hail Jimmy Keenainak, driver of the taxicab and operator of Pangnirtung's first taxi service.
"I thought there was a need for it," he said. "There's nobody doing it."
Jim's Taxi and Services was up and running early in the new year with Keenainak on the road beginning Jan. 3. He is open for business from 8 a.m. to midnight Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Keenainak thanked many local people as well as the Hamlet of Pangnirtung, Kakivak Association, Nunavut Broadband Development Corp and Pangnirtung Housing Association for their help in making the business possible.
- Peter Worden
Christmas games 'a blast'
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Cambridge Bay's Christmas games were a hit in the community, according to the hamlet's recreation co-ordinator.
The games, held Dec. 18 to Jan. 3, featured a bingo, Santa Claus parade, talent show as well as laser tag and a crib tournament, which were new activities this year. Laser tag attracted 20 to 40 kids daily and 21 people participated in the crib tournament, said Fred Muise.
"We had a blast. A lot of great activities happened," he said. "It was well-attended. To me, this year, it was as best as it could have been for 2012-13."
He added the Christmas games packed the Kullik Ilihavik gym every night.
The events included a house decorating contest.
"The winners ... they built snow houses and decorated it outside the front of their house with lights," said Muise. "They also built an inuksuk out of present boxes and different things like that."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Lights on the Bay
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
The annual midnight New Year's Eve snowmobile parade lit up almost every street in the hamlet Jan 1.
After a countdown to midnight, the parade, which featured about 60 snowmobiles and as many trucks, met out on the bay and snaked throughout the streets playing follow the leader.
Like elsewhere in the territory, people in the hamlet are returning to normal life after late holiday nights, said economic development officer Clare Kines.
"People are slowly getting back their circadian rhythms," said Kines, whose wife partook in the parade while he watched the action from home.
- Peter Worden
Festival delayed one month
Iglulik
Iglulik's return-of-the-sun festival will be delayed by close to one month because the elders' committee, which usually organizes the event, has been inactive for three or four months, according to the hamlet's assistant senior administrative officer.
Celestino Uyarak said the festival was supposed to be Jan. 11 to 14 but the elders' committee was inactive until November, when they reactivated the committee and reclassified as a society.
"It's usually around the second week of January," said Uyarak, of the festival. "Now, my understanding is the Return of the Sun (festival) is rescheduled to Feb. 8, 9 and 10 and 11. My understanding it was moved to early February due to elders' committee not being still active at the time."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Christmas comes to Naja Isabelle Home
Igluligaarjuk/Chesterfield Inlet
Community members made sure no one was left out during this year's Christmas activities in Chesterfield Inlet, said recreation coordinator Kevin Issaluk.
In addition to outdoor and indoor games, games were also held on the radio.
"There was also radio games for people who didn't go out," said Issaluk.
Residents of the Naja Isabelle Home were given gifts by the recreation department.
- Darrell Greer
Busy holidays
Salliq/Coral Harbour
Coral Harbour was a hive of activity during the Christmas holidays, thanks to the community's recreation department.
Christmas Games were held from Dec. 24 until Jan. 1, said recreation coordinator John Eetuk.
Residents participated in ptarmigan-hunting contests, as well as cod, sculpin and crab fishing. There were also snowmobile obstacle races, snow-sculpture contests and iglu-building contests. A community feast was held on Christmas Day featuring caribou, walrus and fish, said Eetuk.
- Darrell Greer
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News desk 
