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Monday, October 20, 2014
Woman medevaced after 'interaction' with RCMP
Mounties say an investigation of an RCMP "interaction" on Friday with a female individual in Fort Liard who was later medavaced to Yellowknife will be carried out by an independent police force down south.
RCMP in the community responded at 11:41 a.m. Friday to what was describe in a news release as a female in distress.
The news release states that "following an interaction" with Fort Liard RCMP, the female was medevaced to the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife where she was in stable condition.
Police have not explained the nature of that interaction or whether hospitalization was because of that interaction.
Managing officers at RCMP headquarters ordered an external investigation of the incident, according to the news release. The release does not state what prompted police to hand the investigation over for review.
RCMP spokesperson Const. Elenore Sturko said Saturday she couldn't add anything beyond what was in the news release. The name of outside police agency that will carry out the review has not yet been announced. There are four RCMP officers stationed in Fort Liard.
- Shane Magee
NDP pushes childcare plan
New Democrats want to create a national child care program that would cost families no more than $15 a day.
The NDP's Plan for Affordable Childcare would legislate the federal government to contribute $5 billion to the program over the next 10 years, according to a news release.
"Northern families can be spending as much as $1,000 a child," stated NWT MP Dennis Bevington. "Under the NDP plan these costs could be cut by more than 50 per cent."
The funding would allow communities in each province and territory to plan and deliver their own childcare and education programs.
- Kassina Ryder
Alcohol seized in Deline
RCMP in Deline seized several packages containing alcohol and marijuana destined for the community at the airport last week.
Police were notified that two suspicious packages were put on an airplane to Deline via air cargo, according to a news release. The two packages contained a total of eighteen 375-millilitre bottles of Smirnoff vodka and 26 grams of marijuana. Deline is a dry community. Cst. Elenore Sturko said no charges have been laid yet. The investigation is ongoing.
- Cody Punter
Elders in motion in full swing
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
The elders in motion program has started back up in Tsiigehtchic. The program runs every Tuesday night at the gym from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
"We bring them out once a week and try to get them fit," said William Storr, acting recreation co-ordinator. "As long as there's a turnout we'll hopefully continue it."
The program is intended to help elders improve their flexibility, balance, and strength by doing low-intensity stretches and movements, using balls and chairs to help stabilize themselves.
"It helps to avoid injuries and falls," Storr said.
Between four to six elders have been turning up for each of the Tuesday sessions so far. Storr said he is hoping to get more people out in the coming weeks.
- Cody Punter
Fall feast planned at Fort Smith museum
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A fall feast will be hosted by Fort Smith's Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre on the evening of Oct. 25.
The feast will feature homemade soups, breads and desserts.
Each guest will also take home a handmade pottery bowl created by Yellowknife-artist Astrid Kruse.
Creations of both Fort Smith and regional artists will be on display and will be auctioned off.
- Paul Bickford
Let's talk about wildlife
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
Jean Marie River First Nation will be sending two members to the Department of Environment and Natural Resource's seventh biennial Deh Cho regional wildlife workshop from Oct. 21 to 22 in Fort Simpson.
Also, Dehcho First Nations' Grand Chief Herb Norwegian and consultant Petr Cizek were scheduled to host a meeting with the chief and council and community on Oct. 15 about the land quantums that are being negotiated as part of the Dehcho Process and some of the land selection scenarios that have been developed.
- Roxanna Thompson
RCMP teach healthy living
Tuktoyaktuk
RCMP in Tuktoyaktuk are partnering up with Mangilaluk School to promote a healthy lifestyle through their TUK Power after-school program.
The program is being spearheaded by Const. Sebastian Hebert, who has been leading a series of intensive workouts and sporting activities for all children of the hamlet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, at the school gym.
In addition to the after-school program, RCMP has been serving students a pancake breakfast, along with fruit and milk every Tuesday morning.
Every Tuesday volunteers like Shawn Lundrigan and Sgt. Philippe Cyr help prepare pancakes for almost 200 students.
According to a news release from the RCMP, the program is always happy to welcome new volunteers. Any member of the public who would like to chip in should attend the school approximately one hour prior to the school's first bell.
- Cody Punter
Halloween event for Smith families
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Circle of Friends in Fort Smith will be hosting a Family Fun Halloween at the Rec Centre on the afternoon of Oct. 25.
There will be games for children, prizes for carved pumpkins and treats for all youngsters.
The children must be accompanied by an adult.
Circle of Friends is a group of women who help out with various good causes in Fort Smith.
- Paul Bickford
Weaving an artistic spell
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Spell to Bring Lost Creatures Home, an audio-visual performance by Shary Boyle and Christine Fellows will be performed at Bompas Elementary School on Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door.
- Roxanna Thompson
Ice storm and blizzard hit Clyde River
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
Clyde River got clobbered with ice, then snow last week.
"We had a hockey rink all around town," for the Thanksgiving weekend, chief administrative officer John Ivey said. "People were sliding into the ditches and falling down. We had a tremendously wet freezing rain for two or three days. It was really warm, like 0 C, -2 C, for four or five days, culminating with freezing rain and wind overnight."
Days later, starting Oct. 15, a snow storm blew into town with high wind and lots of snow.
"It's going to get worse," Ivey said Oct. 16. "I think it's supposed to hit up to 80 km/h this afternoon."
The hamlet, school, and health centre closed for the afternoon.
"At one o'clock, everything's shutting down," he said. "It's getting pretty lousy. We've advised people to stay off the roads. Our big trucks are having a hard time getting around.
"They're having difficulty negotiating some parts of town. It's not really safe to be driving around."
The weather was expected to clear, along with the roads, once the hamlet got back into service on Oct. 17.
- Casey Lessard
Nunavut Tunngavik seeks vice-president
Nunavut
Nancy Karetak-Lindell, chief returning officer for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s (NTI) vice-presidential election, announced last week that nominations for the position will run from Oct. 27 to Oct. 31.
The election will be held Dec. 8. Voting can also take place at advance polls Dec. 1, by proxy or mail-in ballot.
Nomination forms are available from the chief returning officer, community liaison officers, or from Nunavut Tunngavik's website.
"Candidates are responsible for ensuring that nomination papers are received. If nomination papers are not received by deadline, a potential candidate will not be permitted to run in the NTI elections," stated Karetak-Lindell in a news release.
- Michele LeTourneau
Youth to act as MLAs
Iqaluit
Nunavut high school students are expected to take over the Nunavut legislature Nov. 27 when the 2014 Speaker's Youth Parliament convenes.
Students from all Nunavut high schools are invited to apply for participation.
"Youth Parliament is a unique and exciting opportunity for students from across our territory to assume the role of Members of the legislative assembly," Speaker George Qulaut stated in a release. "In addition to learning about the government's institutions and processes, Youth Parliamentarians will enjoy a variety of recreational activities."
The proceedings will be open to the public, and can be seen on local community cable TV stations and on satellite, and re-broadcast the first week of December.
- Casey Lessard
Ownership change for fisheries firm
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
After several months of discussion, Cumberland Sound Fisheries Ltd. (CSFL) announced Oct. 16 that it has acquired 51 per cent majority equity in Pangnirtung Fisheries Ltd. (PFL), while Niqitaq Fisheries Limited (NFL) and Nunavut Development Corporation (NDC) are minority owners, each holding 24.5 per cent of the company.
"The joint venture we have had with NDC in PFL has been a successful one, resulting in income opportunities and economic benefits to the community of Pangnirtung. We look forward to these benefits continuing under this new arrangement," stated Cumberland Sound secretary-treasurer Sakiasie Sowdlooapik. Since 1992 the company held a 49 per cent equity interest in Pangnirtung Fisheries.
The strategic business acquisition will see benefits to its shareholders, stated Jacopie Maniapik, chairperson for Niqitaq.
The development corporation's chairperson, Nancy Karetak-Lindell noted the sale "fulfills a long-standing commitment by the Nunavut Development Corporation to its joint venture partner Cumberland Sound Fisheries Ltd. Our partnership with CSFL over the years has been a strong one. I believe that the conclusion of this transaction will benefit all parties while ensuring ongoing employment and income earning opportunities for Pangnirtung's fishermen and plant workers."
Changes in ownership will not affect operations or the 30 seasonal jobs at Pangnirtung Fisheries.
The company bought 850,000 pounds of turbot and char from local fisherman in 2014 and generates $2 million in employment and income opportunities for local residents and businesses annually, according to the news release.
The change is effective Oct. 1.
- Michele LeTourneau
Deadline looms for NTI election
Iqaluit
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. chief returning officer Nancy Karetak-Lindell was reminding Inuit voters last week that the deadline to verify information on the NTI Voters List is Oct. 24.
Inuit who are 16 years or older on Dec. 8, 2014 and enrolled under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement are included on the Voters List, indicating they are eligible to vote in NTI elections. People who believe they are eligible to vote, but are not on the list, are encouraged to contact the community liaison officer in their community.
- NNSL staff
Indoor plan for Halloween
Arviat
Due to a high number of polar bear sightings around Arviat recently, hamlet council has decided there will be no door-to-door trick-or-treating for Halloween this year.
Instead, a community Halloween party will be held at the community hall for the kids. People who usually provide treats to the kids are asked to bring their candy to the hall and join in on the fun and games, Oct. 31
- Darrell Greer
Helping out
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
The Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre is, once again, offering a helping hand to under-privileged kids in the community of Rankin Inlet. The centre is currently gathering the names of youths who could use some help in keeping warm this winter.
Once the list is compiled, the participants in the sewing program will begin making winter parkas for the kids.
- Darrell Greer
Artifacts brought to life
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
Staff at the Nattilik Heritage Centre in Gjoa Haven held a workshop last week for two groups of elders.
The workshop involved discussion about the oldest artifacts in the centre's collection, which were returned from the Museum of Cultural History in Norway.
These objects were part of a collection brought back to his own country by explorer Roald Amundsen during his stay in the area from 1903 to 1905.
"We opened the showcases so we could take the objects out," said Tone Wang, on loan to the heritage centre by the Norwegian museum. "We brought them one by one to the table so the elders could carefully examine them. We were all very concerned to keep the object safe, they are very old and unique, so the centre was closed to other visitors during this time. Everybody wore gloves when touching the objects."
The elders examined the objects, one of which was a bowl, and shared stories about their use and their original names.
"There were so many new words and good information in Nattilingmiut dialect that will now become part of the Nattilik Heritage Centre archive," said Wang.
Participants agreed that more such workshops would take place to help share and preserve the Nattilik culture.
"The heritage centre would also like, in the future, to invite elders from the other communities in the Nattilik region, Kugaaruk and Taloyoak, to a workshop about our collections."
- Michele LeTourneau
Small polar bear causes stir
Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord
No one wanted to pull the trigger, but eventually someone had to kill a small polar bear that came into the hamlet of Grise Fiord.
"Nobody wanted to shoot it," Ivuq Hunters and Trappers Association manager Mark Akeeagok said.
The bear was spotted Oct. 8, and efforts to scare the bear away were successful, for a time. But the bear came back and chased a person, he said, so the HTO had to send someone to kill it. The bear was about four-foot-seven, so probably a cub, but was alone.
"It was going to keep coming back," he said. "It was a danger to the students and to the community."
- Casey Lessard
Love for foster families
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
A special celebration to appreciate foster families was held in Hall Beach Oct. 13.
Social worker Maggie Amarualik organized the event. She said although there is only one foster child in the community, it's good to recognize the importance of foster families. Although the event competed with Co-op Week, Amarualik said there was a great turnout. It was the first event she'd organized in the community since she arrived as the new social worker in July.
"We served 150 hot dogs," she said. "And we had games and prizes." The Co-op donated the food and some of the prizes.
The school even made a banner for the event.
- Michele LeTourneau
Bookstore arrives at school
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Last week, students and parents of Kullik Ilihakvik enjoyed the benefits of the first book fair of the school year. The school has been holding the fair for almost two decades.
The book fair is like bringing in a bookstore to the school, said teacher Ruth Roberts.
"The main reason for holding the fair is that there are no other options to get books into our community," said Roberts. "It gives a chance for everybody to look at books.
The Scholastic fair, aside from books for youth, has a variety of adult books, cookbooks, as well as kits for crafts and sewing. Posters are also available. Some shoppers get an early start on Christmas.
"We advertise it within the community, at the daycare, at the stores."
The fair is run by Grade 4 students and a few senior students. "To teach them money skills and handling change and the like," said Roberts. Unsold books remain in the community for a fair in March and a final half-price fair at the end of the school year.
- Michele LeTourneau
Qikiqtaaluk Corporation tours communities
Eastern Nunavut
Representatives of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation will wrap up a regional tour this week, visiting southern communities after a High Arctic tour last week.
The tour includes corporation president Harry Flaherty and departmental directors, and is intended to create discussion about small and large projects that create economic opportunities in Nunavut hamlets. During the community visits, the visitors are hosting phone-in radio shows, meeting mayor and council and sitting down with local businesses. Chairperson Levi Barnabas visited Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet, Iglulik, Hall Beach and Clyde River last week. Vice-chairperson Moses Appaqaq is expected to visit Qikiqtarjuaq Oct. 20, Pangnirtung Oct. 21, Cape Dorset Oct. 22, and Sanikiluaq Oct. 23. Community members hoping for a meeting with the group should contact Tudja Noah at Qikiqtaaluk Corporation.
- Casey Lessard
High wind cancels school
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
School was cancelled at Pangnirtung's two schools Oct. 10.
"We had a high-wind warning," acting vice-principal Lynne Isenor said, noting the wind was blowing at about 80 km/h. "Usually if we have a high-wind warning of 60 km/h and up, there's a discussion between the principals and the DEA (district education authority) about whether we should close."
The main concern is risk of buses overturning, Isenor said.
"We have had incidents in the past where we've had boats and trucks overturn," she said. "A couple of years ago we had a really bad one. There was flying debris, flying around and smashing windows."
She said a wind tunnel is created in the fiord, so the schools err on the side of caution.
Flights were cancelled starting that day and through the long weekend, she said.
- Casey Lessard
Warm clothing provided
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
The Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre is, once again, offering a helping hand to under-privileged kids in the community of Rankin Inlet.
The centre is currently gathering the names of youths who could use some help in keeping warm this centre.
Once the list is compiled, the participants in the sewing program will begin making winter parkas for the kids.
- Darrell Greer
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