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News Briefs: Monday, July 22, 2013
Fewer in NWT claiming employment insurance
Fewer people in the NWT are claiming employment insurance from the government than a year ago, according to a July 18 news release from Statistics Canada.
According to the report, 810 people were claiming benefits in May 2013, a drop of 12 per cent from the same time the year before.
A majority of claimants, 65.43 per cent, were men.
- Graeme McNaughton
LKFN says it is leaving Dehcho Process
Liidlii Kue First Nation (LKFN) has sent a letter to Dehcho First Nations (DFN) stating it will no longer be a part of the Dehcho Process. DFN's Grand Chief Herb Norwegian confirmed he received the letter, dated July 4. Norwegian declined to comment further, saying it was an internal matter.
Multiple calls to the LKFN office in Fort Simpson for further information were not returned by press time. The letter, signed by Chief Minnie Letcher, states DFN no longer represents or speaks on LKFN's behalf.
- Roxanna Thompson
Fire risk high
In the Deh Cho region, fires from last week were still burning as of Friday and smoke remained an issue in some communities, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources forest fire website. Several fires burned around Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park which kept the park closed due to smoke. ENR had firefighters working on Friday to protect the park as well as cabins in the Trout Lake area. A campfire caused a forest fire of .04 hectares about 25 km west of Yellowknife on Saturday. Though the fire was small the threat of forest fires over the weekend remained high and ENR dispatched firefighters to control the flames, its website stated.
There were no other new fires reported in the NWT over the weekend.
- Candace Thomson
Review board releases Gahcho Kue report
The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board released its Report of Environmental Impact Review and Reasons for Decision for De Beers' Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine on July 19.
The board approved the project, providing the project meet conditions laid out in the report to mitigate environmental impacts.
If Gahcho Kue reaches production, the mine will be the fourth diamond mine in the NWT and the second NWT diamond mine for De Beers. The mine site is 280 km northeast of Yellowknife.
The decision and recommendations are now before the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada for approval.
- Lyndsay Herman
Course to generate skills for mining industry
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A course beginning at the end of July in Fort Smith will prepare participants to become mineral processors in the mining industry.
The pre-employment program is designed to be a person's ticket to a well-paid Northern career.
The application deadline is July 31 and the program will start on Sept. 3.
It will consist of two phases. The first will be a 12-week classroom and shop session at Aurora College's Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith. Phase two includes three two-week rotations on-site at an operating diamond mine.
The program will qualify successful trainees for entry-level positions at the NWT's major mines.
The training course is being presented by Aurora College, the Mine Training Society, and the federal and territorial governments.
- Paul Bickford
Summertime and the living's easy
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Tsiigehtchic has started its summer programming for youth.
The programs are intended for youth 15 and under, and run from 1 to 5 p.m., and the gym will remain open for general activities from 6 to 10 p.m.
Each day, the youth do a different activity. Last week they were baking cookies, learning how to use paper mache and getting involved in a big scavenger hunt.
The program is being run by Bobbie Jean Van Loon with the help of summer students Angela Koe, 14, and 17-year-old Chevon Blake.
The program will run every day during the week until the end of August.
- Cody Punter
Raiders of the lost Arctic
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
The Ikaahuk Archeology Project hosted a community meeting at the Ajgaliaq Centre on July 8.
The project is a four-year study being conducted by group of southern archeologists including University of Western Ontario PhD student Laura Kelvin.
The study aims to combine archeology with Inuvialuit knowledge to better understand the human history of Banks Island.
During the meeting, members of the community were shown replica artifacts and photographs and asked to contribute in a discussion about their archeological heritage.
- Cody Punter
Slave River discussed at assembly
Inuvik
A call to protect the Slave River was brought to the Dene National Assembly in Inuvik earlier this month.
Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington, Edmonton-Strathcona MP Linda Duncan and Francois Paulette, an elder with Smith's Landing First Nation, spoke to the assembly about measures they have proposed to protect the Slave River.
Duncan tabled a private member's bill in the House of Commons in June to preserve federal protection of the Slave River.
"The Slave River is significant to indigenous communities located along the river as this fragile region is potentially impacted by expanding oil sands development," Duncan stated in a news release.
Since the 1880s, the Navigable Waters Protection Act has been used to assess the potential impact of development on lakes and rivers. However, changes made to the act in the federal government's omnibus budget bill mean that fewer than two per cent of Canada's waterways are now protected. The Slave River was excluded from protection.
"The Slave River, as part on the Mackenzie River Basin, has had a great history for both the NWT and Alberta," said Bevington in the news release. "We cannot sit by while the Conservative government in Ottawa leaves it unrecognized and unprotected."
- Paul Bickford
Back to the land
Paulatuk
Several youth got back on July 15 from a camping program centred on learning how to survive on the land.
Eight youths between the ages of 13 and 29 took part in the program which was run by instructor Liz Kuptana on Egg Island. Kuptana, who formerly was an Inuvialuktun instructor at Angik School, was helped by Ian Green, who is a community harvester of game and fish.
The youth learned how to set nets, cure dry fish, and they were also taught Inuvialuktun. The youth also tried to catch some whales but the weather was bad.
Fred Kuptana, corporate manager with the Paulatuk Community Corporation, said the youth learned a lot of camping skills as well as some basic language skills.
"I think it was pretty successful," said Kuptana.
- Cody Punter
Water safety course offered
Paulatuk
A water safety program will be taking place on July 23 at 2:30 p.m. on Old Water Lake.
A member of the Alberta-NWT branch of the Lifesaving Society will be coming to conduct the clinic.
Recreation co-ordinator Aaron Ruben said participants will be taught general boating safety, rescue methods, how to roll into water and how to get back into a canoe if it flips.
The program is open to people of all ages and is free.
- Cody Punter
Details released on TSN visit to Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Details are being ironed out for TSN's live broadcast from Fort Smith as a result of the community emerging one of the winners in the Kraft Celebration Tour.
On July 8, Fort Smith won over Whitehorse in an online vote to claim $25,000 and the right to host a live broadcast of TSN's SportsCentre.
The nationally-televised special edition of SportsCentre will feature anchors Darren Dutchyshen and Jennifer Hedger when they kick start the tour with a live broadcast at 4 p.m. on Aug. 16.
Kraft will also host a community barbecue at Riverside Park, where samples of Kraft products will be featured.
Earlier this year, the Fort Smith Centennial Arena was damaged by a fire. Until the arena is repaired, a temporary ice surface will be used, and will require portable dressing room units for skaters and hockey players. The $25,000 won in the Kraft Celebration Tour contest will go toward the purchase of one of those units, according to the Fort Smith Local Organizing Committee in a news release.
- Paul Bickford
Tournament celebrates pioneer
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Ulukhaktok was to host its 26th annual Billy Joss Open golf tournament from July 19 to July 21. The tournament is named after Scottish Hudson Bay Company manager Billy Joss, who was the first person to ever bring golf clubs to the community.
Joss would often be seen hitting golf balls on the ice in King's and Queen's bays and was one of three founding members of the first three-hole golf course in Ulukhaktok. In 1988, the course was extended to nine holes and it currently is the most northerly nine-hole golf course in Canada.
The tournament is open to anyone over the age of 12 and there are four categories for people to enter. The winners of the master's category, women's category and men's category will receive cash prizes of $500 for first place, $400 for second place and $300 for third place.
In the youth category, participants will receive $200 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place.
There will be other prizes to be handed out during the tournament.
This year's event will also feature hypnotist Jason Tymchuk and will be attended by hockey players Aaron Fedyk and Ben Hilborn from the Devon Barons in the North Central Alberta League.
- Cody Punter
Cash offered for Arctic char tags
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
As part of ongoing research into Arctic char in the Cambridge Bay area, rewards are being offered to anyone who catches a fish and returns the tags.
"It's a tagging project to study the migratory behaviour of sea-run Arctic char," said Les Harris of the department of Fisheries and Oceans. "Char will be tagged with acoustic transmitters and their movement will be tracked by an array of acoustic receivers set in rivers and in the marine environment throughout Wellington Bay."
Several hundred char will also be tagged with Floy (or spaghetti) tags as part of a weir study on the Halovik (30-mile) River.
"Your participation in this project is crucial. Please bring back any tags that you find, along with information on where the fish was caught and claim a reward in exchange."
If fish are caught with a tag, the tag can be brought to the HTO for a reward of $20. Acoustic tags net $40.
- Danielle Sachs
Fewer claiming EI
Nunavut
Fewer people in Nunavut are claiming employment insurance from the federal government than one year ago, according to a July 18 release from Statistics Canada.
According to the report, 470 people were claiming benefits in May 2013, a drop of 7.8 per cent from the same period the year before. A majority of claimants, 68.09 per cent, were men.
- Graeme McNaughton
Wildlife workshop
lqaluit
Government and wildlife management partners from across Nunavut will meet in Iqaluit from July 23 to 24 to discuss the status of Baffin Island caribou.
The workshop is the latest in a series of community consultations that began in 2011 and continued in 2012.
Consultation participants indicated caribou numbers were low, which was corroborated by a south Baffin Island survey in 2012, which indicated a considerable decline in numbers, according to a news release from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. on July 17.
- Myles Dolphin
Aviation scholarship
lqaluit
Nunavummiut interested in a career in aviation can apply for the Northern Aviation Scholarship, worth $5,000.
Applicants need to have lived in Nunavut or the Northwest Territories for the past two years, with plans on moving back to work after completion of studies.
There are 16 scholarships available from a fund sponsored by the NWT Department of Transportation, Nunavut Department of Economic Development and Transportation, Discovery Air, Keewatin Air, North-Wright Airways and First Air.
The deadline to apply is July 26.
- Myles Dolphin
Fundraiser for whale hunt
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
The Pangnirtung Hunters and Trappers Association was holding a fundraising event on July 20 to help support the bowhead whale hunt that is scheduled for the beginning of August.
"We have asked local businesses for donations so the hunt runs smoothly," said Eric Joamie of the Hunters and Trappers Association. "Although some funds are available from the Qikiqtaaluk Wildlife Board, we have to raise funds locally to ensure that all areas are covered as this is a monumental task."
A loonie and toonie sale was held and the association is still accepting donations for the hunt.
- Myles Dolphin
Learning about the past
Arviat
Residents were encouraged to revisit their family history last month during a kinship workshop.
Participants gathered for a discussion and then broke off into small groups to create a family tree.
The purpose of the exercise was to help younger generations know who they are and where they come from, said Luke Suluk, a counsellor support worker in Arviat.
"Today we Inuit are losing part of our family values," he said.
About 100 people participated in the workshop at Mark Aalluak Hall. A few attendees also travelled 19 km north of the community to a grave site where their family members are buried. It was a chance to connect with the past, said Suluk.
Those who made family trees were encouraged to take them home and continue adding to them, so generations to come will have a record of their relatives.
- Miranda Scotland
Art across Nunavut
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
The Inuit Art Foundation has been visiting communities around Nunavut asking what they can do to help promote the arts.
The foundation recently paid a visit to Kugluktuk with the intention of asking residents what they can do to better represent artists and the industry.
Nine board members travelled to the community for the meeting.
"They wanted to hear feedback about their organization," said Kugluktuk resident Wendy Bolt.
The Inuit Art Foundation was reconvened in December 2012.
- Danielle Sachs
Religious gathering
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
A Bible conference was held in Arctic Bay from July 16 to 20.
Approximately 10 people from various communities such as Ottawa, Resolute, Pond Inlet and Inukjuak, Que., visited the hamlet and spoke to residents at the community hall.
- Myles Dolphin
Celebrating in style
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
Residents gathered at the community hall July 9 for a fashion show featuring traditional clothing.
About 30 people participated in the show and wore outfits created by community members.
Hannah Killulark created an ensemble for two twin girls, while Martha Nukik stitched outfits for her and her husband to wear.
Caroline Angalik organized the fashion show. She said she was impressed to see about 80 people turn up to watch the event, sponsored by AREVA Resources, which is advancing its Kiggavik uranium project near the community.
Other activities were also held throughout Nunavut Day, July 9, including games for elders, adults and children.
- Miranda Scotland
Summer of music
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Students who won iTunes gift certificates are still able to pick them up from the high school in Cambridge Bay during the summer.
They were awarded for wellness recognition or for making the honour roll. Zuleika Maniyogina said she will be working at the Kiilinik High School during the day so students can pick up their awards.
- Danielle Sachs
Hamlet days coming up
Salliq/Coral Harbour
There was a full afternoon of activities to celebrate Nunavut Day on July 9 in Coral Harbour.
Residents were invited to participate in dice games, Umiangak races, a long-distance jump and a bike decoration contest.
There were also draws for $100 vouchers to the Co-op, which were donated by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
According to the hamlet's recreation director John Eetuk, the weather was a little chilly, but it didn't dampen anyone's spirits.
The events drew a few hundred people, he added.
Now with Nunavut Day over, the recreation department is gearing up for hamlet days, which is set to run Aug. 9 and 10.
Eetuk said the hamlet hasn't planned out the activities yet, but volunteers are needed if anyone wants to get involved.
- Miranda Scotland
Hunting suspended
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Narwhal hunting has been temporarily suspended in Arctic Bay after ice conditions were found to be too dangerous, said Thomas Levi, the hamlet's recreation co-ordinator.
Because of the thin ice, hunters will have to wait for it to melt completely before being allowed to go back and hunt narwhal from boats, he said.
- Myles Dolphin
Big day for Nunavut
Arviat
Nunavut Day was marked in Arviat with a variety of activities for adults and children hosted by the hamlet, as well as a barbecue.
Residents played dice games, musical chairs and Hituqtaq.
There was also a traditional clothing contest for men and women, according to recreation director Clive Alareak.
He also said the community is gearing up for Hamlet Days. There are plans to run activities in September.
- Miranda Scotland
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