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News Briefs: Monday, May 13, 2013
Youth symposium
More than 70 high school students from 11 communities around the NWT will be in Fort Smith May 13 to 16 for the third annual NWT Youth Symposium at Aurora College's Thebacha Campus.
The symposium is focused on helping youth prepare for post-secondary education and learning about opportunities at Aurora College.
- Paul Bickford
Shale gas discovered near Fort Liard
The National Energy Board has granted a Commercial Discovery Declaration to a Calgary exploration company after finding shale gas near Fort Liard, a news release stated.
Lone Pine Resources Inc. is now asking Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada for a 21-year lease for the area where the gas was found, which will likely be extracted using hydraulic fracturing, the news release stated.
The company has a working interest in more than 50,000 acres in the Liard Basin and Pointed Mountain.
Lone Pine has reserves and exploration properties for gas and light oil in Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec.
- Kassina Ryder
Theft case adjourned
The case against a woman charged with stealing money from three companies and a resident has been adjourned for two weeks.
More than $5,000 was taken from Mackenzie Valley Integrated Oilfield Services Ltd., Deline Construction Ltd., Storm Communications Ltd. and one individual in Inuvik. Grace Elizabeth Loreen of Inuvik has pleaded guilty to charges related to the thefts from the companies and has pleaded not guilty to a charge for allegedly defrauding an individual. The accused was set to be sentenced May 9 in territorial court. However, the hearing was adjourned after defence lawyer Thomas Boyd took issue with part of a statement of agreed facts. Loreen is expected to be back in court May 23 to set a date for sentencing.
- Miranda Scotland
Enterprise council to consider request
Amy Mercredi, president of the Enterprise Senior Society, made the case to hamlet council on May 6 for the old visitor information centre to be used to display historical information about the community.
Footprints of Enterprise, a year-long project by the society to collect the information, was recently completed. The old visitor information centre currently houses a tots program, which would move to the hamlet hall under the proposal.
Councillors want to consult hamlet residents before any decision is made.
- Paul Bickford
Races planned on Fort Smith track
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Races are planned for May 25 on Fort Smith's new track, which was officially opened in September 2011.
The event, called the Fort Smith 5,000, will feature races in five distances - 400 metres, 800 metres, 1,500 metres, 3,000 metres and 5,000 metres.
All ages are welcomed to register for the foot races.
- Paul Bickford
White Fox Jamboree
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Sachs Harbour held its White Fox Jamboree from May 3 to 5. The event was well-attended, according to interim senior administrative officer Adella Carpenter.
A variety of traditional games and activities, such as the harpoon throw, blanket toss and goose calling, were featured during the weekend festivities. The jamboree committee also organized a community feast, a casino night, a pancake breakfast, a turkey shoot and a talent show.
- Myles Dolphin
Science workshops at Moose Kerr School
Aklavik
Moose Kerr School in Aklavik received a visit from two University of Alberta students from May 3 to 5.
The students are part of the DiscoverE program, an initiative aimed at delivering workshops about science and engineering to more than 50 communities in Alberta and the NWT.
The annual visit is intended to give students from kindergarten to Grade 12 more exposure to science, technology and engineering.
The university will send more students to the community Aug. 19 to 22 for a summer camp, be to held at the Sittichinli Recreation Complex.
- Myles Dolphin
Health challenge in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A six-week health and wellness challenge will take place in Fort Smith from May 20 to June 30.
The challenge is titled Get Fit for Summer Fort Smith and will be taking place at the rec centre.
It will include an initial fitness assessment and goal setting, and access to the rec centre, including instructor-led courses.
There will also be weekly nutrition and fitness challenges, a weekly workout option participants can do on their own, and prizes and discounts for people taking part in the challenge on a regular basis.
More information can be obtained by contacting the Fort Smith Recreation and Community Centre.
- Paul Bickford
End-of-spring barbecue
Paulatuk
A goose call and darkest-tan competition are two of the major events being held at the Paulatuk End-of-Spring barbecue on June 5, at the old store site.
Between eight and 12 people are expected for the goose call, where participants call a goose for up to 20 seconds, according to recreation co-ordinator Aaron Ruben.
- Myles Dolphin
Community yoga class
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Community yoga classes began at the Fort McPherson Youth Centre on May 6.
The classes will be held every Monday from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. throughout the summer. Class sizes will number between 10 and 15, approximately, and yoga enthusiasts of all ages and levels are welcome.
"Spring is a great time to begin something new," said yoga teacher Jolene Ross.
Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing. Mats will be made available to those who don't have their own.
- Myles Dolphin
Traditional dancer visits school
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Cheryl Blake, a traditional dancer from Tsiigehtchic, was at the Chief Paul Niditchie School on May 3 to speak to students about her experience at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.
Blake represented the NWT at both the opening and closing ceremonies. She showed footage of her performance to the students and really captured their attention, according to principal Darcy Douglas.
"When someone local is involved in something so global, it's really impressive," he said. "It happened only three years ago, so our senior students remembered it well."
- Myles Dolphin
Public meeting planned in Enterprise
Enterprise
A public meeting has been set for May 21 in Enterprise.
The meeting has been called by the hamlet council to discuss a number of issues, including its capital plan and a proposed dog bylaw, and to hear concerns from residents.
The hamlet plans to hold its public meeting in conjunction with a constituency meeting by Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli.
Council hopes that holding the two meetings one after the other may increase the turnout of residents.
Nadli's constituency meeting will take place first, beginning at 7 p.m. on May 21 at the Enterprise Community Centre.
- Paul Bickford
Shots for tots
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Dozens of young children starting kindergarten this fall will undergo health screenings this week.
From May 13 to 17, Rankin Inlet and Arviat Public Health will take appointments for the yearly pre-school screenings that include a dental, hearing and vision medical go-over plus a developmental assessment and all immunizations.
Some parents opt out of immunizing their children. According to Trudy Pettigrew, regional executive director of Qikiqtani School Operations for the Department of Education, kids who are not immunized can still attend class.
The Department of Health and Social Services wants to remind parents that registering for the health screening is not the same as registering their children to attend school, which must be done by calling the school directly. Kindergarten class begins in September and is available for children born in 2008.
- Peter Worden
Wear green for mental health
Nunavut
In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week, the Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit Embrace Life Council encouraged people to wear green on May 9.
The not-for-profit suicide prevention organization spent the week posting about mental health with a focus on youth.
The week of events ended with a community feast co-hosted by the council and the Akausisarvik Mental Health Treatment Centre on May 10 in Iqaluit.
- Danielle Sachs
Call for nominations
Nunavut
The National Inuit Youth Council is looking for its next president. Applicants must be Inuit between the ages of 18 and 30.
The National Inuit Youth Council is made up of six regional co-ordinators, the president and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami youth co-ordinator. The president is elected for two years and acts as the national spokesperson for Inuit youth and serves as a board member on both the Inuit Circumpolar Council and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
The deadline for applications is May 15.
- Danielle Sachs
Cultural Fridays
Qausuittuq/Resolute
April was packed with activity at Qarmartalik School in Resolute.
On top of visits from the Canadian Forces during Operation Nunalivut, there has also been visits from the Young Scientist program based out of Ottawa, Ont., and weekly cultural Friday afternoon activities, said principal Vincent Pickett.
"The Young Scientists of Canada came in and did activities with the grades at the beginning of May," said Pickett.
Elder Louise Gillespie and Wayne Davidson have both recently visited the school. Gillespie has helped with sewing and Davidson has been fiddling.
- Danielle Sachs
Spring blows in
Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord
Spring, it is said, often comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. In Grise Fiord, spring came in like an angry polar bear.
"That's what they should say," said Grise Fiord senior administrative officer Marty Kuluguqtuq about the 110-km/h wind that tore through the hamlet April 30 and May 1.
"The whole town shut down and at least one shack got blown away."
Several items not tied down such as jerry cans and other debris were blown away by the high wind.
At least one house owned by the housing corporation lost power after its lines were taken out by wind. The wind also temporarily knocked out radio communication.
"I haven't seen it that bad in my time here," said Kuluguqtuq, who has lived in the community 17 years. The good news was that the wind seems to have brought in the seagulls - a sure sign of springtime.
- Peter Worden
Animals flock to Arctic Bay
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
All manner of wildlife is being reported around the hamlet these days.
Last week about 20 beluga whales were spotted at the floe edge, according to Noire Iqalukjuak, a hunter and former mayor of Arctic Bay who now works with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.
"It's the time of year when everything starts coming back in," said Iqalukjuak, who listed seals, seagulls, ravens, rabbits, falcons and snow bunting near the mouth of Admiralty Inlet. "Did I mention polar bears?
"I think the floe edge seems better than last year. The ice conditions are favourable as well," he said.
Iqalukjuak said he recently watched a raven hunt a fulmar, a bird in the seagull family but smaller.
"That was pretty neat to watch," he said, adding there were lots of foxes spotted over the winter, which may not bode well for seal pups. "I don't know if the seal hunting will be any better (this spring). Lots of foxes could have got into the seal dens."
- Peter Worden
Tuktu survey underway
Salliq/Coral Harbour
A third straight survey on the population of the Southampton caribou herd was underway at press time.
The cost of each survey is about $100,000.
The Southampton herd has seen its numbers drop to less than 6,000 animals from more than 30,000 in less than two decades.
- Darrell Greer
Young and old on the land near Kugluktuk
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
For the second time this year, Grade 10, 11 and 12 students from Kugluktuk High School, took groups of preschoolers out on the land for a fishing trip.
"They've done all the prep work, like augered the holes," said principal Gary Kennedy.
This is the first time, at least while Kennedy has been at the school, that the older students have acted as guides for some of the youngest in the community.
"When the older students go out they do learn a lot, but with the younger kids they take on a different role," said Kennedy. "They have to model behaviour, they've even prepared a tent and snacks."
For the first trip out there were some concerned adults, said Kennedy. People weren't sure if it would be too cold but everyone prepared for the weather and it's a program that will most likely continue into the future.
- Danielle Sachs
Health facility opens
Naujaat/Repulse Bay
The longawaited new health centre in Repulse Bay became a reality with an official grand opening held to launch the facility on May 3.
The new centre is expected to eventually house the community's social workers and an Xray department.
- Darrell Greer
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