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Monday, June 15, 2015
Deline gets self government
Senate gave the Deline Self-Government Agreement Act its third and final reading June 11, marking one of the final steps before the Deline Gotine Government is ratified.
Senate completed a clause-by-clause review of the act June 10. A number of witnesses spoke to the committee including Chief Leonard Kenny, chief negotiator Danny Gaudet and many others.
Now, the bill only needs to receive royal assent.
Deline leaders hope to have the NWT's first community self-government in place by April 2016.
- Meagan Leonard
RCMP warn public about dangers of salvia
An Inuvik youth was recently transported to hospital for treatment after inhaling smoke from the plant hallucinogen salvia.
Users commonly smoke the drug and while it is not illegal, it has been known to cause erratic or violent behaviour.
On the streets it is referred to as "brainfreeze" and sold in small containers labeled as potpourri or incense.
Common symptoms of salvia use include hallucinations, anxiety, depression, restlessness, loss of consciousness, short-term memory loss, lack of physical co-ordination and slurred speech.
- Meagan Leonard
Boil water advisory ends for capital
A boil water advisory that began May 11 for Ndilo, Dettah and Yellowknife ended on June 12 according to a news release from the NWT chief public health officer Andre Corriveau.
The advisory had been issued due to high turbidity - or muddy water - in the drinking water supply.
No illnesses were reported.
The news release also states residents who use water tanks should drain and clean the tanks prior to refilling them.
- Shane Magee
Norwegian back in as Dehcho grand chief
Herb Norwegian has been re-elected as grand chief of Dehcho First Nations by acclamation.
This is because no one else submitted nomination paperwork by the June 10 deadline according to a news release issued June 11.
It will be his fourth term in the position, and each term lasts three years.
Norwegian's re-election is expected to be accepted during Dehcho First Nations annual assembly in Fort Simpson on June 24.
- Shane Magee
Art in the Park set in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Art in the Park - a brown-bag lunch concert featuring live music - will be held in Fort Smith on June 17.
The concert will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Mission Historic Park.
Art in the Park is being presented by Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre.
- Paul Bickford
Treaty annuity payment in Nahanni Butte
Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development was in Nahanni Butte on June 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the treaty annuity payment.
Eye Team was also in the community on June 3 for the day.
Nahanni Butte is wishing a happy birthday to Archie Betsaka, Nathan Betsaka and Pauline Campbell.
The community is also congratulating Melvin Vital on his accomplishment of graduating high school. Melvin took part in the graduation ceremony at Thomas Simpson School on June 6.
- April Hudson
Driving tests in Fort Liard
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
The GNWT Department of Transportation was in Fort Liard to hold Class 7 written tests last week, beginning June 8 and running until June 12.
The community is also celebrating new LED street lights, which were recently installed and are providing a brighter and potentially cheaper alternative to the old street lights.
Fort Liard was scheduled to hold a baseball tournament on June 13, which will double as a hamburger and hotdog cook-out and a farewell gathering for all of the community volunteers.
- April Hudson
Ready for traditional games
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Liidlii Kue First Nation is presenting its third annual Traditional Spring Gathering in Fort Simpson from June 19 to 21, in memory of the late Chief Minnie Letcher.
The gathering begins at 8:30 a.m. on June 19 and closing ceremonies will be held at 6 p.m. on June 21.
Registration for the handgame tournament is at 9 a.m. on June 19, with handgames starting at 10 a.m. each day.
On June 19, LKFN, the Village of Fort Simpson, High Performance Soccer and Dezoa Gogha are collaborating to offer the first ever Sober Sally/Sober Steve night, an event for youth ages 12 to 18.
The evening kicks off at 9 p.m. at the arena and will involve carnival games, board games, crafts and an evening swim.
The recreation centre is also hosting a slo-pitch game starting at 10 p.m. on June 21, the longest day of the year. All are welcome.
On June 27, the recreation centre will hold its inaugural fishing derby.
The derby starts at 8 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. The registration deadline is June 26.
- April Hudson
School trip for Trout Lake students
Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake
Students from Charles Tetcho School left the morning of June 8 for their school trip to Victoria, B.C. They are expected to return on June 21.
During the trip, they will be doing some sightseeing. They will also be learning about sea creatures, including narwhals, dolphins and sea lions.
- April Hudson
One cod caught during derby
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Fritz Carpenter won top prize during a recent fishing derby in Sachs Harbour for having the heaviest and lightest cod.
Ten people entered the contest, held June 5, but Fritz was the only person to catch a fish. So he took home both prizes: a portable toilet and a portable grill and gas lantern.
- Miranda Scotland
Inuvialuit Day celebrated with food and fun
Beaufort Delta
Dreary weather didn't stop Tuktoyaktuk residents from enjoying Inuvialuit Day.
The community corporation kicked off June 5 with a drum dance in honour of the late William and David Nasogaluak, followed by a barbecue, foot races, a traditional dress competition, and tug of war.
"We had rain while we were trying to cook up all the stuff but we managed to get everything done," said Darlene Gruben, a community corporation employee who helped run the events.
"They did the tug of war in the rain. It was a little bit funny because one of the ladies slipped in the mud. But it was good."
Cash prizes were awarded to the competition winners.
There was also a draw for two round trip Canadian North tickets from Inuvik to Edmonton, which went to Dora Raddi. All in all it was a good day, said Gruben.
"We had a lot of volunteers so that really helped things run smoothly ... If they didn't volunteer we wouldn't be able to hold the event."
Inuvialuit Day marks the signing of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, a comprehensive land claim, in 1984. The Aklavik Community Corporation also held a barbecue to celebrate. Volunteers served hot dogs, burgers, muskrat meat, muktuk, fruits and salads while the Shorty Lake Boys entertained everyone.
Thirty door prizes were also handed out including four $100 Northern store gift certificates and 10 $50 Stanton gift certificates.
- Miranda Scotland
Boat safety course offered in Aklavik
Aklavik
A one-day boat safety course is being offered to Aklavik residents.
Participants will learn about Canadian boating rules and regulations, how to properly equip a craft, passenger safety and proper boat maintenance, among other knowledge. At the end of the training they will receive a pleasure craft operator's card.
The free class is scheduled for June 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the hamlet council chambers.
Aklavik Community Corporation's Evelyn Wilson is taking applications.
- Miranda Scotland
Power outages no cause for alarm
Nunavut
Communities across Nunavut have been experiencing power outages over the last few weeks and more are coming, but they are all controlled and for scheduled maintenance.
Cape Dorset, Taloyoak, Repulse Bay and Rankin Inlet have all had power outages recently.
Qulliq Energy Corporation plans its outages during the spring and summer months to take advantage of better weather conditions, explained Andy Burns, manager of operations and maintenance with the energy company.
"Scheduled outages are necessary to perform maintenance upgrades to our generation and distribution systems to help increase the reliability of power supply in communities," he stated in an e-mail.
"In addition, scheduled outages are required to ensure the safety of technicians while conducting their work."
- Stewart Burnett
Labour force shrinks due to increase in participation rate
Nunavut
A new report from Statistics Canada said that the three-month moving average for the territory's employment rate rose from 12,300 from March to May last year to 12,400 the same period this year, an increase of 100 persons.
However, the employment rate fell from 53 per cent to 52.6 per cent because the territory's labour force also grew from 14,000 to 14,600, an increase of 600 persons. This increased Nunavut's participation rate by 1.5 per cent.
As a result of these numbers, 500 more people were unemployed during the measured period, increasing the territory's participation rate from 12 per cent in May 2014 to 14.9 per cent in May of this year.
- Karen K. Ho
Governor General leadership group visits Rankin Inlet
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Rankin Inlet hosted a group of 14 people from the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC) for an activityfilled day this past month.
The GGCLC is offered every three years, with about 250 individuals taking part from across Canada.
Members of the GGCLC are expected to reach seniorleadership positions in their
various organizations within the next 10 years.
Rankin Inlet's Reanna Sateana, an operations officer with the Atuqtuarvik Corp., was selected as one of the eight delegates from Nunavut to participate in the GGCLC.
She travelled to Quebec with a group of individuals from across Canada.
- Darrell Greer
Watt-Cloutier honoured
Belleville, Ont.
Inuit advocate Sheila Watt-Cloutier, the recent author of The Right To Be Cold, was honoured by an Ontario college and an Ontario university this month, receiving an honorary diploma from Loyalist College in Belleville and an honorary doctorate from Toronto's York University.
Such honours are traditionally given to people giving convocation addresses, which Watt-Cloutier did at Loyalist June 4.
"If there is one thing that I have learned about when I was growing up in my traditional culture it's that everything and everyone is connected," Watt-Cloutier said, according to a release from the college. "This connectivity is what opens up all the possibilities in front of us, even those we cannot imagine. It gives all of us unlimited potential for this life journey."
She was one of 13 speakers at the York University graduation ceremonies, speaking to the Faculty of Health and the Faculty of Environmental Studies on June 12.
- Casey Lessard
Multimedia site raises funds
Iqaluit
Since offering his photos and videos for sale in February, Iqaluit's Mark Aspland has raised $3,000 for the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line, he told Nunavut News/North May 10. And since that time, he's added a second charity to his effort.
"I decided to print and frame a few photos that I took and will be purchasing healthy food for Iqaluit's Food Bank with the money I have raised," Aspland stated in an e-mail.
He has raised about $500 for the food bank, he added.
With the spring weather, he expects to have more opportunities to add to the website.
- Casey Lessard
Nominations for Order open
Nunavut
Nominations can now be made for the Order of Nunavut, the territory's highest honour.
The Order of Nunavut was created in 2010, and recipients are chosen by an advisory council consisting of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the senior judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice, and the president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
Members of the Order of Nunavut include: Reverend Michael Gardener, the late Mark Kalluak, the late Jose Amaujaq Kusugak, the late Kenojuak Ashevak, Charlie Panigoniak, Jimmy Akavak, Louis Angalik Sr., Davidee Arnakak, and John Amagoalik.
Nomination forms are available at MLA offices and at the legislative assembly's website, and must be submitted by Aug. 31.
- Casey Lessard
Fun day raises $4,000
for TV hosting
Iqaluit
A family fun fair fundraiser brought in $4,000 - far exceeding expectations - to welcome a French celebrity to Iqaluit for the filming of an ICI Radio-Canada television show, La Petite Seduction.
The June 7 fun fair brought in about 500 Iqalummiut, who played on a bouncy castle, had their faces painted, played mini-golf and enjoyed chili and cotton candy, event organizers Carrefour Nunavut stated in a news release.
The funds will be used to pay local artists to entertain the show's participants, to provide materials for the set, and to feed volunteers.
La Petite Seduction films June 26 to 28, with the express mission of making Quebec singer-songwriter Louis-Jean Cormier fall in love with Iqaluit. The show will air July 29.
- Casey Lessard
Twin Otter visiting four Nunavut communities
Quasuittuq/Resolute
The legendary Twin Otter aircraft is celebrating its 50th anniversary by touring the Canadian North. The Otter has been an essential part of the North due to its unique ability to perform reliably in the toughest environments.
"Whether on wheels, floats, skis or tundra tires, the Twin Otter has been a lifeline of transportation, community connection and commerce for isolated regions, not only in Canada's north but around the world," stated David Curtis, Viking president and CEO, in a news release.
The celebration tour begins on the West Coast on Canada Day, July 1, in Victoria. From there, the Twin Otter will stop at 13 different Northern communities, including Cambridge Bay on July 3, Resolute on July 4, Pond Inlet on July 5 and Gjoa Haven on July 7.
- Stewart Burnett
Cambridge Bay rallies for Nepal earthquake victims
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Residents of Cambridge Bay have been dedicated to helping out Nepal earthquake victims. Multiple community events to fundraise for the victims have gone on recently, including a formal dance in the local high school gym.
Another group of residents held a carnival to raise money on June 6. The carnival featured a wide variety of events, including a bouncy castle, ring toss, face painting, mini golf, bowling and more. Tickets were 25 cents per person and the event raised $131, all of which is going to help people in Nepal.
The April 25 Nepal earthquake hit Kathmandu and killed approximately 8,800 people and left thousands homeless.
- Stewart Burnett
Iglulik students see trees
Iglulik
Students from Ataguttaluk High School in Iglulik saw trees in person for the first time on a recent trip south. They participated in a cultural exchange program with students from Mother Teresa High School in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven. In April, the southern students visited Iglulik and participated in traditional activities, such as ice fishing and iglu-building, and joined in community feasts and ceremonies.
The Nunavut youth spent May 16 to 25 in Ottawa for the second half of the exchange. They held hedgehogs, climbed trees, went rock climbing, visited the Senate, checked out dragonflies, let ants crawl on them, had fun with their southern hosts and met the mayor of Ottawa.
- Stewart Burnett
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