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Monday, April 13, 2015
Dog euthanized after biting child
A dog was euthanized after biting a young child in Wekweeti April 3.
Behchoko RCMP responded to a call that a child received a serious dog bite from a family pet. The child was transported to Yellowknife for treatment.
Community members put down the dog after the incident and RCMP says no charges are pending.
- Stewart Burnett
Caribou, frog added to species at risk list
The GNWT will have two years to complete a management plan for the recovery of the Dolphin and Union caribou herds after the territory listed them as species of special concern last week.
The caribou spend summers on Victoria Island and cross the sea ice to the mainland for the winter. About 15 per cent of the herd is found in the territory with the remainder in Nunavut.
The northern leopard frog, in the South Slave region primarily east of the Slave River, was also declared a threatened species.
The designation was made by the NWT Species at Risk Committee and lasts for 10 years.
Species can be re-listed, changed to a different status or taken off the list any time during that period.
- Shane Magee
Social worker gets national recognition
A Fort Smith social worker was recognized during National Social Work Month in March.
Mary Bishop, who is the social work supervisor with the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority, was one of nine recipients of distinguished service awards from the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW).
The awards are presented to social workers selected from the membership of CASW partner organizations.
- Paul Bickford
Wood Buffalo rep to speak at museum
A representative of Wood Buffalo National Park will be speaking at Fort Smith's Northern Life Museum, April 30.
Richard Zaidan, the park's visitor experience manager, will be the guest for the fourth instalment of the museum's speaker series.
The park is home to the world's largest free-roaming wood bison herds and the last remaining natural nesting grounds of the endangered whooping crane.
For the first time ever, the park will be offering whooping crane visitor experience opportunities and packaged tours.
- Paul Bickford
You are getting sleepy
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A hypnotist show will be held in Fort Smith May 1.
The show will feature local hypnotist Dianne Dul.
Plus, the event, called An Evening of Hypnosis & Hijinks, will feature a silent auction and other fun activities.
It will be a fundraiser for the Fort Smith Animal Shelter and to help in the battle against Crohn's disease and colitis.
The event, which is for those 19 years of age and over, will take place at Roaring Rapids Hall, beginning at 7 p.m.
- Paul Bickford
300 eggs in five minutes
Tuktoyaktuk
The Easter egg hunt at the Jason Jacobson Youth Centre didn't last long.
Twenty-five children, aged five to 14, searched for 300 chocolate eggs, finding them all in a mere five minutes or so.
Recreation co-ordinator Caroline Loreen said it was the best turnout she's seen in her four years with the department.
"There were so many kids," she said "They were running around filling up their pockets."
- Miranda Scotland
One unlucky fish
Ulukhaktok/Holman
There were five prizes up for grabs during a recent fishing derby in Ulukhaktok but only one got claimed.
"Throughout the whole day there was only one fish caught," explained Easter event organizer Tyler Inuktalik. "It was crazy. People were fishing for six hours and only one person got a fish."
Kendra Kuneyuna was awarded a $50 convenience store gift certificate for her fish.
Isaac Inuktalik and Patrick Akhiatak also received prizes April 5 for competing in an ice fishing hole drilling contest, held at a lake approximately three km out of town.
Inuktalik finished his hole first. Both contestants received T-shirts, hockey sticks, potato chips and bubble gum.
The previous day, youth were invited to enter a contest to pick up the most rabbit poop. Nicholas Alonak and Devon Notaina won.
The hamlet also ran relay games and races at the school gym each night of the Easter weekend. There was also Western style drumming and dancing. The gym wasn't as packed as at Christmas but 50 to 75 people still showed up, said Tyler Inuktalik.
- Miranda Scotland
Auditors in the community
Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake
Auditors were in Trout Lake this week performing the annual audit on the development corporation with plans to complete an audit on the week of April 12 at the band office.
A community cookout and Easter hunt for the children were held in the community on April 6, Easter Monday. Trout Lake is also getting back to normal after its winter carnival March 26 to 29, where residents competed in traditional games and a youth and adult talent show, among a host of other events.
Tanya Jenbo and Betty-Lynn Jumbo celebrated birthdays on April 2, Kaechoa Rocque-Jumbo on April 6, and Tyler Jumbo on April 8. Arthur Jumbo celebrated his birthday on April 12, and Ron Kotchea will celebrated his on April 14 and Dennis Deneron on April 17.
- Andrew Livingstone
Heritage takes over Bompas
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Bompas Elementary School students explored their heritage and presented their findings during the school's annual heritage fair on April 10.
Students from junior kindergarten through to Grade 6 presented their projects to a panel of judges with the hopes of winning one of the top prizes.
Principal Kelly Andrews-Klein said students worked on projects with an aim to build some sort of personal connection.
"The focus is students are making a personal connection to the topic they choose," she said.
"(They had) some historical content and be able to make personal connection to it, whether it be family or a community member."
- Andrew Livingstone
Hunter in contest presumed dead
Iqaluit
Iqaluit's celebration of spring turned sombre for many in the community April 7 after a man hunting seal for a contest was lost on the floe edge and is presumed dead.
The man, whose name is not being released to the media, went hunting April 6 near Ward Inlet, southeast of Iqaluit.
He left in the early morning by snowmobile, and met another hunter at about 12:30 p.m.
That hunter said the man had only the gas in his machine, and was expected to return by 4 p.m., RCMP Sgt. Yvonne Niego said.
When he failed to return by 7:30 p.m., searchers headed to the scene, and looked until 2 a.m. April 7.
Later that morning, a Twin Otter joined the search, which was called off at 3 p.m. when searchers found signs the man was lost in Frobisher Bay.
"Gear debris was seen in the water at the edge, and tracks were running directly into the water," Niego said.
Conditions were too hazardous to continue searching for the man or his body, police said.
- Casey Lessard
Power remains delicate
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
It took four days, but power was restored to the hamlet of Pangnirtung April 6 after an April 2 fire at the power plant.
Emergency back-up generators continuing to power the community as of press deadline.
The government plans to bring larger generators and transformers to the hamlet as soon as possible, and is working to bring that equipment from southern locations in "the most efficient and economical" way possible, according to a government news release.
Most government workers in the hamlet, including the regional offices of Education, Family Services, Health, Environment, Community and Government Services and Economic Development and Transportation, were waiting for the go-ahead to return to work.
Essential government workers are working at other locations and the community health centre remains open. Schools were set to re-open April 13 for a half-day - it's a hamlet civic holiday - and resume as normal Tuesday.
- Casey Lessard
Iglulik death inquest called
Iglulik
Chief coroner Padma Suramala announced April 7 her office will be moving forward with an inquest into the death of Felix Taqqaugaq, who died after being shot by police in Iglulik on March 20, 2012.
Suramala stated in the press release that external investigators in Ottawa are in the final stages of their investigation.
Nunavut News/North reported in April 2012 that Taqqaugaq's sister Louisa Taqqaugaq said her brother has been schizophrenic since 1998 and had tried committing suicide.
She added a family member called the RCMP saying Felix had a gun.
"He had no gun at his place," said Louisa at the time.
Meanwhile, the RCMP had said an officer checking on the well-being of an adult male, at a home in the evening of March 20, was met by a man wielding a weapon and uttering threats.
Police said they shot the man, who succumbed to his injuries some time later.
The Ottawa Police Service began its investigation at that time.
Louisa said that her brother, who was 29 at the time of the shooting, was known by RCMP to be schizophrenic and that "he was shot three times and he had no gun."
"The coroner's office is currently waiting for (investigation) disclosure and as such I am unable to confirm the timelines," stated Suramala.
"Upon completion of the review, the dates of the inquest will be set depending on the availability of all parties involved. There will be a public announcement at that time with further details."
- Michele LeTourneau
Students speak for success
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
A large audience of proud parents and friends gathered at Quqshuun Ilihakvik's Igloo Room in Gjoa Haven April 1, said student support teacher Bernadette O'Brien.
The crowd gathered to listen to 10 participants in the 10th annual public speaking competition.
"The speaking competition was, once again, a great success," said O'Brien.
Judges included the hamlet's senior administrative officer Shawn Stuckey, MLA Tony Aloak and Northern store manager Matt Gee.
"(The judges) had a hard task in deciding the first, second and third place winners but they were all winners and I'm so proud of them all," said O'Brien.
Despite the hard task set out for them, these were the ultimate winners, according to the judges: Lorenza Kammimalik placed first, Keira Qitsualik second and Emerald Hatkaittuq placed third.
All winners received participation ribbons and medals inscribed with "Public Speaking, 2015."
- Michele LeTourneau
Boil water advisory in place
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
A boil water advisory was issued in Rankin Inlet by Nunavut's Department of Health April 2 as a precautionary measure based on the low levels of chlorine in the community's water system.
Residents were instructed to bring all water meant for consumption to a rolling boil for at least one full minute. The advisory remained in place April 9. Bottled water was being brought into the community. Water intended to be consumed, used for preparing infant formula or brushing teeth was impacted by the notice.
- Darrell Greer
Graduates closer to Europe
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
A group of soon-to-be graduates from Clyde River's Quluaq School are one step closer to their goal of visiting France and England after one of their major fundraising milestones was reached.
"We hit our $20,000 goal," teacher and chaperone Heather McIsaac stated in an email to Nunavut News/North, a week ahead of the date that money was needed to secure the tour. "It feels pretty surreal, humbling, overwhelming, just to know so many are willing to support this opportunity. Wow."
The group now needs to fund raise for airfare and incidentals, hotels in Ottawa, and passport fees, in total about another $18,000. That figure could be lower if the group can secure support from one of the Northern airlines, McIsaac said.
- Casey Lessard
Weekend of jigs and reels
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
The community was spinning as it held its annual Kugluktuk Square Dance Showdown over the Easter long weekend.
Over four days, Kugluktuk dancers competed with guest youth, teen and adult dancers from Gjoa Haven.
Teams were judged for attire, traditional dance techniques, synchronization and timing.
The winners were Jessamine Bolt for most outstanding female, Nigel Allukpik for most outstanding male, Amauligaaq Dancers of Gjoa Haven for most outstanding team. There were cash prizes awarded to the winners in many categories, with the grand prize of $3000 going to the champions of the showdown - Ukaliit Numiqtiit of Kugluktuk, led by Allukpik.
- Michele LeTourneau
Photo winners announced
Salliq/Coral Harbour
Ruth Eetuk of Coral Harbour took top spot and a $1,000 prize for her photo, Making Pipsi, in the International Women's Day photo competition held by the Qulliq Nunavut Status of Women Council.
The International Women's Day photo competition was on display at the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum in Iqaluit from March 8 to 24.
Lisi Kavik Mickiyuk of Sanikiluaq took second place and $500 for Tending to the Qulliq, while Madeleine Cole of Iqaluit took third place and $250 for Myna Teaching.
- Darrell Greer
Evvik to represent Pangnirtung
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
The turnout was small, with only 25.45 per cent of voters casting a ballot, but Peter Evvik won the byelection to name a Qikiqtani Inuit Association community director for Pangnirtung April 7.
The byelection was called after Tommy Akulukjuk resigned for personal reasons Nov. 21.
Leopa Akpalialuk received 48 votes, Hezakiah Oshutapik received 43, Sakiasie Sowdlooapik received 38, and Manasa Evic received 31.
Of 896 eligible voters, only 228 people cast a ballot.
- Casey Lessard
Meeting attracts only reporters
Iqaluit
Reporters were the only ones to show when the Qikiqtani Inuit Association held its final community consultation on seismic testing in Iqaluit. It was the low point on an otherwise positive information gathering mission.
"The consultation went very well," said Cape Dorset director Olayuk Akesuk, referring to visits to other communities potentially affected by proposed seismic testing in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait.
"We got information we requested from the communities and I do believe it will help us out a lot in the long run to give us an idea what the animal migrating routes are, and how long they stay."
QIA staff had maps of Frobisher Bay ready for feedback to determine where polar bears, fish, whales, and seals could be found in the water near Iqaluit. Next week, the Federal Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear Clyde River's appeal of a National Energy Board decision to allow seismic testing.
"QIA continues to be opposed to the proposed seismic survey until Inuit concerns have been met and we support the Hamlet of Clyde River in their efforts to stop the seismic survey," QIA president PJ Akeeagok stated in a release.
- Casey Lessard
More hockey gear coming
Kivalliq
Barry Hickman, the man who launched Northern Dreams: One Skate at a Time, plans to step up his efforts to bring more quality used hockey equipment to Kivalliq youth in 2015.
Hickman plays on the same hockey team as Darryl McComb, the operations manager for J&R Hall Transport in Vancouver, B.C. The company takes the gear Hickman collects to its Winnipeg warehouse, where it hands it off to Calm Air to be flown into Kivalliq hamlets free of charge.
The group distributed pallets of gear across the region this past season, putting many young players on the ice who, otherwise, would not have been able to play.
- Darrell Greer
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