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Monday, May 5, 2014
Ice roads closed for season
The Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk ice road and the ice road to Aklavik have closed.
The announcement was made the morning of April 29 by the NWT Department of Transportation (DOT).
As of May 1, all NWT winter roads and ice bridges were closed for the season except the ice crossings to Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson along the Mackenzie and Peel rivers, which remained open at press time. However, DOT officials say those crossing could close any time.
- Shawn Giilck
Elders' Parliament
Eighteen elders over the age of 50 have been selected for the biennial Elders' Parliament, taking place May 5 to May 9.
This year's Elders' Parliament representatives are as follows: Deh Cho - Samuel Gargan; Great Slave - Bill Reid; Hay River South - Julia Trennert; Inuvik Twin Lakes - Rosa Kayotuk; Monfwi - Mary Rose Charlo; Nunakput - Jean Gruben; Sahtu - Edward Oudzi; Tu Nedhe - Violet Beaulieu; Yellowknife Centre - Be'sha Blondin; Frame Lake - Jean-Pierre Isore; Hay River North - Tom Makepeace; Inuvik Boot Lake - Mary Beckett; Mackenzie Delta - Eileen Koe; Nahendeh - Albert Moses; Range Lake - Elaine Coumont; Thebacha - Ron Holtorf; Weledeh - Carole Robinson; Yellowknife South - Melody McLeod.
- Laura Busch
Fort Smith seeks AWG bid co-chair
The Town of Fort Smith is seeking a volunteer to co-chair the committee developing a bid to host the 2018 Arctic Winter Games in the South Slave.
The Fort Smith co-chair will be expected to immediately begin working with the Hay River co-chair and other members of the South Slave Bid Committee.
Interested persons must complete an expression of interest form and submit it to the Town of Fort Smith no later than 5 p.m. May 7.
Applications will be reviewed by the recreation advisory board, which will select the successful candidate.
- Paul Bickford
College instructor honoured
An Aurora College adult educator was one of three recognized on May 1 at the Northern Adult Basic Education Symposium in Whitehorse.
Bryan O'Hagan, a math and science instructor in the developmental studies program at Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith, was honoured as the outstanding adult educator in the NWT. Patty Moore of Haines Junction, Yukon, and Rex Willie of Arctic Bay, Nunavut, were also recognized as the outstanding adult educators in their territories.
- Paul Bickford
Celebration in Sachs
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Sachs Harbour's annual Whitefox Jamboree was scheduled for this past weekend.
The festivities were to include a pancake breakfast at the Inualthuyak School on May 2 with games to follow throughout the day.
Later on in the afternoon the opening ceremonies were scheduled to be followed by a community feast.
Unfortunately, there were no participants signed up to be the king and queen for this year's jamboree.
"It's such a small community it's really hard to get people," said recreation co-ordinator Jackie Pascal.
In order to pick this year's couple, the recreation committee will distribute cupcakes to all the men and women at the festival. Two of the cupcakes will contain a gum ball and the winner will be the one that finds the gum ball, said Pascal.
On May 3 there were to be outdoor games all day, including the ever-popular Whitefox run. In the afternoon a kiddy carnival, followed by a merchandise bingo, a crib tournament and poker derby at the recreation centre later that night were also scheduled.
The turkey shoot and rifle shoot were scheduled for May 4, followed by indoor games.
The weekend was to wrap up with a jigging contest, a talent show and goose calling, followed by closing ceremonies in the gym.
- Cody Punter
Astronomy Week celebrated in Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Fort Smith is celebrating Astronomy Week from May 4-10.
A number of events are being presented by the Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society. On May 7, a brainstorming session on AstroNuts will be held in the theatre at Wood Buffalo National Park headquarters. AstroNuts is a science and space program for children.
One of the astronomical society's outreach objectives is to raise awareness and engage students by helping to create a space and science club for children.
On May 10 - Astronomy Day - the society will host an afternoon of activities at Mission Historic Park.
The purpose of Astronomy Week is to promote astronomy and space science to the general public.
- Paul Bickford
Spring gets sprung
Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte
Nahanni Butte held its spring carnival from April 18 to 20.
Supper was provided on all three days and there were community breakfasts April 18 and 19.
Because it took place over the Easter weekend, the carnival included an Easter egg hunt, egg decorating and face painting for children.
- Roxanna Thompson
Offshore drilling consultations
Beaufort Delta
The period for public comments regarding Imperial Oil's Arctic offshore drilling in the Beaufort Sea closed on April 30.
The Environmental Impact Review Board will now review all of the comments received in writing or orally during the community tour and revise the terms of reference accordingly, stated Dez Loreen, a spokesperson for the EIRB, in an e-mail to News/North.
When asked to provide an overview of the comments it received, Loreen explained that community members generally said people voiced a range of concerns with development of offshore drilling with most saying they require more information about the specifics of the Beaufort Sea Joint Venture Drilling Program before it advances.
Loreen said there are currently no further community meetings scheduled. However, the EIRB does plan to continue direct community engagement throughout the review process and they will be holding further community meetings, perhaps as early as the fall of 2014.
- Cody Punter
Strawberry tea just before Mother's Day
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A strawberry tea will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 10 at St. John's Anglican Church Hall in Fort Smith.
People are being invited to get an early start on celebrating Mother's Day - May 11 - with strawberry shortcake and a cup of tea or coffee.
In addition, plant cuttings, baked goods and used books will be for sale.
- Paul Bickford
Students get big toys
Tthek'ehdeli/
Jean Marie River
A heavy equipment operator training course will be held in Jean Marie River May 5 to 14. Ten people may take the training that is being offered through the School of Community Government.
Cathy Sanguez and Pam Norwegian attended a language meeting in Fort Simpson April 28 to 30.
A group of men from the community went geese hunting around Fort Providence April 22 and were expected to return April 30.
- Roxanna Thompson
Little backpacks and tiny lunch boxes
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
Echo Dene School has started registration for the 2014-15 school year for students who will be in junior kindergarten and kindergarten. Children turning four before Dec. 31 are in the age range for junior kindergarten. Parents and caregivers can contact the school to register.
The community was full of geese and ducks as of April 29. Some of the birds were swimming in the water on the ice where the Liard and Petitot rivers meet.
- Roxanna Thompson
Smith museum seeks artists and performers
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre in Fort Smith is making plans for its Art in the Park series this summer at Mission Historic Park.
The museum is looking for artists to do musical or theatrical performances or art demonstrations over the lunch hour in Mission Historic Park.
An honorarium is provided to the artists.
More information on Art in the Park is available by contacting Northern Life Museum.
- Paul Bickford
Dehcho talks language
Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake
Ruby Jumbo and Tanya Jeanbo attended the language meeting in Fort Simpson with Dehcho First Nations from April 28 to 30.
Geese and duck hunting is picking up around the community.
- Roxanna Thompson
Inuvik-Aklavik flights to resume
Aklavik
North-Wright Airways has resumed regular scheduled flights to Aklavik as of April 29, now that access to the winter road has been limited.
"Normally we wait until the winter road is closed but the regulations for light traffic has changed," said David James, operation manager for North-Wright Airways. "So we started up a bit earlier than usual."
The planes are scheduled to fly seven days a week, three times a day during the week and twice a day on weekends. Flights go back and forth between Inuvik and Aklavik with connections to other airlines available in Inuvik.
"It's good to have the Aklavik people with us travelling again," James said.
Aklak Air also offers scheduled service from Aklavik.
- Cody Punter
Teachers fined for possessing liquor
Salliq/Coral Harbour
Three teachers at Sakku School in Coral Harbour will pay fines ranging from $600 to $1,000 each for unlawful possession of liquor under the Liquor Act.
Jessica Evans, Erin Sallie and Rick Aucoin appeared before Justice Andrew Mahar in Coral Harbour April 30, where they pleaded guilty to breaking the Liquor Act by bringing alcohol into the dry community.
Two youth have been found guilty of break, enter and theft in relation to a February incident that led to liquor being found in the homes of Evans and Sallie.
Aucoin, the vice principal of Sakku School, voluntarily admitted to possessing alcohol after his colleagues were charged under the Liquor Act.
All three teachers are still employed at the school.
- Darrell Greer
Two flights cancelled after attendants sick
Iqaluit
Passengers on two separate Canadian North flights last week were given peculiar reasons why their flights back to Pangnirtung were cancelled April 28.
It turns out the flight attendants scheduled to work those flights were sick.
Based on Transport Canada regulations, the flights had to be grounded, said Canadian North spokesperson Scott Weatherall.
"We did not have back-up flight attendants in either Pangnirtung or Iqaluit at that time unfortunately, so the flight had to be cancelled," he stated in an e-mail on May 1.
"We are required to have a flight attendant on board by Transport Canada. Flight 604 was cancelled with a total of 20 passengers and flight 600 cancelled with five passengers. We accommodated eight passengers in hotels, at their request. To my knowledge all passengers have been accommodated since that time."
- Myles Dolphin
May the Fourth be with you
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Pangnirtung fans of the legendary Star Wars franchise were set to get together last week to celebrate a special day. Sunday was May the Fourth, also known as Star Wars Day. Residents were encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters and convene at the Quick Stop for a chance to win prizes.
Everyone who wore a costume was set to receive a free hot chocolate.
It's the first year the store has celebrated the holiday.
- Myles Dolphin
Purple Cobras run bingo
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Taloyoak's Purple Cobras are running a bingo May 24 to raise funds to attend the Laura Gauthier memorial volleyball tournament in Rankin Inlet.
The jackpot is $10,000 and the bingo will be held at Netsilik School.
The volleyball tournament is set to be held in Rankin Inlet May 30 to June 1.
Megan Porter, coach and player for the Purple Cobras, said the team plans to send seven players.
"We're hoping to have fun and play. There's good competition over there," said Porter, adding a few years ago the team placed third in the competition.
- Miranda Scotland
Respected elder dies
Arviat
The community of Arviat was in mourning late last month following the death of highly respected elder Donald Uluadluak.
Well known for his involvement in education, Uluadluak was a former elder adviser for Nunavut's Department of Education, a former hamlet councillor, and the author of the heartwarming children's book, Kamik: An Inuit Puppy's Story.
Elder Uluadluak was 81 years old.
- Darrell Greer
A meeting of the minds
Whitehorse
Educators from all three territories met in Whitehorse last week for the first ever Northern Adult Basic Education symposium.
Participants attended working sessions, workshops and presentations on a variety of topics, including collaborating with elders and the decolonization of adult education.
The federal government has pledged $27 million over five years, from 2012 until 2016, to expand adult basic education in the North. The funds are being distributed between Aurora College, Nunavut Arctic College and Yukon College based on the territories' needs and the number of residents lacking Grade 12 education.
- Miranda Scotland
Students honoured at year-end ceremony
Iqaluit
To celebrate the end of the 2013/2014 academic year, the Environmental Technology Program (ETP) of Nunavut Arctic College will hold its annual graduation luncheon on May 15.
The event will take place in Iqaluit at the ETP building.
"One of the main purposes of the luncheon is to publicly acknowledge our appreciation for all the support you and/or your organizations have shown to the ETP over the past year," said senior instructor Jason Carpenter in an e-mail on May 1.
"Our success this year was, in large part, due to the tremendous support and opportunities you provided to the ETP."
The 2013/2014 ETP student of the year will be announced during the evening and others who have achieved academic success will also be honoured.
Nunatta Campus will be holding its graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. on the same day at the North 40 campus.
- Myles Dolphin
Big award for Arviat tourism
Arviat
The Arviat Community Ecotourism program was one of the big winners at the World Travel and Tourism Council Summit in Hainan, China last month.
The ecotourism initiative captured the Community Award for being committed to sustainable tourism leadership in local community development, empowerment and cultural heritage.
The Arviat group was selected over fellow finalists Abercrombie and Kent and Basecamp Explorer Kenya.
- Darrell Greer
Derby time
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
The annual Rankin Inlet Fishing Derby is set to be held May 16 to 19.
Measuring for the winners in cod and trout will take place outside the community hall on May 20 at about 1 p.m.
- Darrell Greer
Put on the cap and gown
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
High school is coming to an end for four Netsilik School students this year.
Nigel Neeveacheak, Meranda Karoo, Allison Aiyout and Renalda Eetoolook will graduate May 15 in front of their friends and family.
- Miranda Scotland
One injured in minor fire
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
One Pond Inlet resident was medevaced out of the community on April 27 after a fire broke out at a public housing unit.
The resident suffered minor burns and was sent to Winnipeg as a precaution, said economic development officer Colin Saunders.
The building, a four-bedroom house, suffered smoke damage.
A few children were treated locally for smoke inhalation, according to resident Sheila Katsak.
- Myles Dolphin
Recognize a volunteer
Nunavut
Nunavummiut have only a few days left to get their nominations in for the Prime Minister's volunteer awards.
There are 17 awards up for grabs - 15 regional awards and two national awards.
The winners get to choose an eligible not-for-profit organization to receive a grant of $5,000 or $10,000. Nominations close May 9.
- Miranda Scotland
Mosque plan progressing
Iqaluit
Fundraising to build Nunavut's first mosque is well underway and half the supplies have already made it to Iqaluit, according to the general manager of the same foundation that sent a mosque to Inuvik in 2010.
Hussain Guisti, of the Zubaidah Tallab Foundation, said the organization still needs to raise $300,000 to make the project happen.
"It should be ready by November," he said. "In the summer of 2012 we purchased 60 per cent of the supplies and sent them to Iqaluit, where they've been in storage ever since. Since that time we've been through the process of trying to rezone a lot for the purposes of assembly occupancy and finally got approval last September."
Guisti said the lot was ready at that time but it was too late to send more supplies up via sealift.
They've been making a list of supplies they still need and will soon apply to the city for a building permit.
"We'll send material via sealift this summer and a crew from Winnipeg will be arriving to start working in July," he added.
The other foundation involved in this project is the Islamic Society of Nunavut, which has also been fundraising towards the construction of a mosque.
The society has already raised $83,000, according to its website, with a goal of $198,000.
The Islamic Society has purchased the lot and will build the foundation, while the Zubaidah Tallab Foundation will build the mosque itself.
- Myles Dolphin
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