 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
Monday, June 22, 2015
46 fires burning
More than 141,223 hectares have been affected by wildfires across the territory as of Friday, the NWT Fire website shows.
So far there have been 67 fires this season with 21 declared out. Deh Cho has been the hardest hit, with 31 fires burning 94,989 hectares so far.
With the exception of Hay River, the fire danger was high or extreme in the South Slave as of Friday. Rain last week reduced the danger in the North Slave region around Whati and Yellowknife.
Last year, 385 fires affected 3.4 million hectares, costing the GNWT $56.1 million.
- Shane Magee
New data on missing, murdered indigenous women
Females, including aboriginals, are most frequently killed by someone they know, according to a new examination of recent cases by RCMP.
In a June 19 news release the deputy commissioner Janice Armstrong stated, "Our 2012 update confirms the unmistakable connection between homicide and family violence, and that aboriginal women continue to be overrepresented among Canada's missing and murdered women."
In 2013 and 2014, 81 per cent of murders of aboriginal women have been solved in RCMP jurisdictions.
- Shane Magee
CanNor invests $3 million in NWT
The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is investing more than $3 million into community and business projects in the NWT.
At a news conference in Yellowknife on June 19, officials announced that the money was being divided among several groups including CDETNO, the NWT forestry industry and biomass initiative, the Gaia Integrative Centre, the Sambaa K'e Dene Band, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the City of Yellowknife.
- John McFadden
Dene Nation congratulates grads
The Dene Nation is congratulating the first ever graduates from the Lutsel K'e Dene School. In a news release, the Dene Nation acknowledges Tristen Lockhart and Lucas Enzoe, both 19 years old.
Many students in the past had to relocate from their communities in order to obtain a grade 12 diploma. Seventy-six students currently attend the school in Lutsel K'e.
Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus congratulated the grads in a speech at the school's first-ever graduation ceremony.
-John McFadden
Exhibit at museum on residential school
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A new art exhibit called the Residential School Experience has opened at Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre in Fort Smith.
The exhibit, which began on June 12 and will run to July 28, features paintings by Robert Burke, who is originally from Fort Smith.
It represents the largest collection of paintings by a single artist on the residential school system.
Burke lived in the residential school system for 10 years. The artist now resides in British Columbia.
- Paul Bickford
Elections heat up in Deh Cho
Deh Cho
Liidlii Kue First Nation elections have closed and Gerry Antoine has been named the new chief.
For Dehcho First Nations, nominations closed for Grand Chief with only one name in the hat: incumbent Herb Norwegian. Norwegian will be acclaimed during the Annual Assembly from June 24 to 26.
Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley has already opened its nominations for chief and council. Nominations close July 3 at 5 p.m. and a candidates forum is scheduled for July 7 at 7 p.m.
Advanced polling will happen July 8 between 1 and 5 p.m., with election day taking place July 15. The new chief and council will be sworn in the following day. Deh Gah Goti'e's election date is scheduled for Sept. 15.
Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte will be holding an election this summer, although a date has not yet been released. The band is currently in the process of scheduling that.
Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake held its election in April and Chief Dolphus Jumbo was re-elected.
No elections will occur in Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River or Acho Dene Koe this year.
- April Hudson
Treaty Day set for Deninu Ku'e
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
Deninu Ku'e First Nation will hold its Treaty Day on June 23.
The annual treaty payments will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Mission Island.
A shuttle will leave the band office every half hour starting at 12:30 p.m. for those who need a ride to and from Mission Island. Elders can call the band office to be picked up at their homes.
The day will also feature a barbecue, youth events and adult events.
- Paul Bickford
Fort Providence hosts yard sale
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
After a successful second Spring Fling sale, the community of Fort Providence is coming together to host a hamlet-wide yard sale, which will take place on June 28
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe is in the midst of its 2015 Treaty/Aboriginal Day celebration, which began June 16 and will run until June 21.
The celebration kicked off at the arbour on June 16 with a fire feeding ceremony, followed by a lunch, a barbecue and a drum dance.
June 18 will feature walk-in bingo at the hall, while June 19 has youth clan activities scheduled from 1 to 7 p.m. and a community fish fry at 4 p.m.
The celebration will continue into the weekend with a fishing derby beginning at 1 p.m. on June 20 and a Metis Dancers workshop and performance scheduled for 3 p.m. on June 21.
- April Hudson
Fire burning near Aklavik
Aklavik
Lightning ignited a wildfire near Aklavik June 10.
The 10-square-kilometre blaze is approximately 23 km northwest of the community but poses no threat at this point.
However, there have been a few days where smoke from the fire has drifted into the community, said Dean McLeod, recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet.
"It was noticeable for some people," he said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is monitoring the wildfire.
There have been a total of 65 fires in the territory this season, with only two in the Beaufort Delta.
One of these fires has been put out.
- Miranda Scotland
Reminder to keep the cabin tidy
Aklavik
The Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee issued a recent reminder to the Inuvialuit membership.
Organizers are asking community members to keep the organization's search-and-rescue cabin clean and garbage free.
According to recent Hunters and Trappers Committee Facebook post, if the cabin is not looked after they may lock it up.
- Miranda Scotland
Registration open for first Mackenzie Canoe Marathon
Beaufort Delta
Canoeists looking for an athletic challenge are invited to register for the Mackenzie Canoe Marathon, a 140-km-race from Tsiigehtchic to Inuvik.
East Three Canoe Club is running the event, which is scheduled for August 15 to 16. Participants must have some canoe experience, as the race will be difficult.
Shona Barbour, club member, said the course is expected to take 14 to 20 hours to complete.
There will be checkpoints along the way and canoeists will carry Spot trackers. Other safety measures will also be in place.
The club hopes 10 canoes will enter, according to organizers. Registration will close a week before the race and there is a fee of $150.
- Miranda Scotland
Ambulance stolen, crashed
A woman faces charges after an Iqaluit ambulance was stolen and crashed on June 12.
The incident happened just before 9 p.m., when police and municipal enforcement officers were called to the baseball diamond on Federal Road.
There, they found an ambulance had crashed into the fence and determined it had been stolen while paramedics were away from the vehicle attending to someone needing medical help.
The suspect was not hurt in the crash. There's no word on the damage done to the vehicle.
A woman was in court June 15 to face charges related to the vehicle theft and impaired driving.
- Casey Lessard
More changes announced for Qulliq
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
Last week, Premier Peter Taptuna announced changes to senior Government of Nunavut management.
Virginia Qulaut Lloyd is now the deputy minister of the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. She was previously executive director of strategic planning with the department and a past chief operating officer for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
Peter Tumilty is becoming the short-term president of Qulliq Energy Corporation. He was the assistant deputy minister of the Department of Finance. The position of QEC president will go through an open competition, according to a news release.
Tumilty replaced Alain Barriault.
- Stewart Burnett
Internet scams going around territory
Nunavut
SSi Micro is warning Internet users about scams travelling around the territory.
A pop-up window impersonating SSi Micro has been trying to get people to provide sensitive details. Last week, e-mails starting going around requesting people to update their username and password details in order to prevent a problem with their webmail account.
"This e-mail was not sent by SSi and is an attempt by a third party to obtain your login information for malicious reasons," stated William Ingarfield, SSi support team manager, in a news release.
He advised users to avoid clicking any links in suspicious e-mails.
"Look for things such as improper grammar or misspelled words, as scammers will often send out poorly written messages in their attempt to steal your login credentials," stated Ingarfield.
- Stewart Burnett
Fire causes school to shut down
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
Two people face charges after a commotion and house fire that led to the community school being put into "hold and secure" mode on June 12.
The incident happened as the school day started. Police were called to respond to the commotion.
Upon arrival, they found Clyde River firefighters at the scene of the fire, which police say was related to the incident.
Two adults escaped the house unharmed.
The incident is believed to be alcohol-related, and two people face public intoxication charges.
The fire marshal's office is assisting in the investigation, according to a police statement.
- Casey Lessard
Iqaluit phone book drive succeeds
Iqaluit
Iqaluit elementary students helped prevent 896 Northwestel phone books from going to the landfill and as a result Ecole des Trois-Soleils earned a $1,050 donation from the company.
Each year the school participates in the collection program which involves schools across the North.
Northwestel publishes more than 100,000 phone books annually. This year, 19,393 books were collected by students.
The school's haul marks the greatest year-over-year improvement, as it marked a 291-per-cent increase in directories recycled compared to last year.
The donation typically funds field trips, equipment, books or graduation activities, according to a Northwestel news release.
The company also hosted a directory exchange event in Iqaluit to enable customers to exchange old phone books for new ones.
- Casey Lessard
Gjoa Haven cleans up
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
Gjoa Haven had a lot of support for its community cleanup last weekend. E-mails scheduling the cleanup were met with many volunteers for the annual event.
Members of the community were enthusiastic about the spring cleanup.
A free BBQ was held for the cleaners and free garbage bags and gloves were distributed.
Groups and workplaces signed up for specific parts of town.
Government of Nunavut staff, members of the Nunavut Water Board, firefighters, Northern Store staff, Co-op workers and many more took part in the cleanup.
- Stewart Burnett
Pangnirtung pool will open
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Pangnirtung's pool has been closed for years, but, at last, the pool is set to open later this month.
"Staff here in the hamlet are working hard to make sure that the pool will open on time," senior administrative office Shawn Trepanier stated by e-mail, noting a June 28 or 29 open date.
The fire marshal's office gave the go-ahead to open the pool pending some minor repairs, which are in the process of being made.
The pool will be open Monday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Trepanier stated.
- Casey Lessard
Author's Chair lets students share stories
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
Students at Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik school in Kugluktuk had an opportunity to share stories with family and community members. The project was initiated by Catherine Keeling, the school's principal, who wanted to celebrate the kindergarten to Grade 6 students' writing and illustrating in the school year.
A special chair was purchased for each of the 10 classrooms, and three times during the year classes focused on story writing for the Author's Chair events. Each classroom teacher submitted her class's favourite five student stories to the principal, who would then choose one winner from each class. On the day of the event, family members came to the classrooms and enjoyed hearing the students share their stories. In the gym, classroom winners read their piece to the whole audience.
Lori Rudyk, a teacher at the school, said there was a wide range of themes for the stories, including an ice-fishing camp, plans for the last day of school and there was even a haiku.
"Our Author's Chair events have been a very uplifting addition to our school year activities and we will certainly continue with them in the future," said Rudyk.
- Stewart Burnett
Cambridge Bay hosts bike rodeo
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
The community of Cambridge Bay hosted a bike rodeo last week, giving out 11 bikes to youth in the area. Ikaluktutiak Elks #539, Northern Justice, the RCMP, Kullik Ilihakvik, the Department of Health and the wellness centre all teamed up to help out.
In addition to the 11 bikes, they gave out bike repair kits, bike tubes, bike locks and bike bells. Youth learned about bike safety and got hot dogs, snacks and drinks at the end. The organizers said they hope to make it an
annual event.
- Stewart Burnett
Culture camp outside Repulse Bay
Kivalliq
The Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) will be hosting a Pijunnaqsiniq Culture Camp from July 27 to Aug. 7 at NiaquungutNorth Pole River outside of Repulse Bay (Naujaat). The camp is aimed at youth aged 15 to 29. It will feature activities such as sewing traditional Inuit clothing, traditional food preparation and preservation, learning survival skills out on the land, traditional Inuit weather observation and a grief-and-loss workshop and healing.
Applications may be picked up at the KIA office in Rankin Inlet, or through the community liaison officer in the other six Kivalliq communities.
- Darell Greer
| 
