 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
Monday, June 29, 2015
Fort Simpson marijuana trafficking charges laid
RCMP has laid marijuana trafficking charges in Fort Simpson.
The charges have been sworn against two men from Alberta after RCMP in Fort Simpson carried out a search warrant on two vehicles June 23.
James Beck, 60, and Gordon Harrold, 55 have been charged with possession of a controlled substance for trafficking and trafficking a controlled substance, according to an RCMP news release.
They've been released and will appear in court Sept. 2.
- Shane Magee
Tourist centre opens in Tsiigehtchic
A new tourist centre opened last week in Tsiigehtchic that will be open from late June to early September.
The centre has a shower and kitchen facility for paddlers on the Mackenzie River and Arctic Red River. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has contributed $153,000 since 2012 to establish the centre.
During the opening event, a replica of a 13,650-year-old steppe bison skull found in the community in 2007 was exhibited.
- Shane Magee
Fabian re-elected as K'atlodeeche chief
Roy Fabian has been re-elected chief of K'atlodeeche First Nation on the Hay River Reserve.
In an election on June 24, Fabian received 91 votes, compared to 81 for challenger April Martel.
The election also chose four members of council - Fred Martel, Robert Lamalice, Jeanna Graham and Pat Martel. They were among eight candidates seeking a seat on council.
The turnout was 174 of the 456 eligible voters, or 38 per cent.
Elsewhere in the Deh Cho, Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte will hold a band election this summer, although a date has not been set and Pehdzeh Ki First Nation will have an election July 15.
- Paul Bickford
Cook challenges Erasmus
Incumbent Bill Erasmus will have a challenger when he runs to be re-elected as Dene National Chief next month.
Harold Cook, originally from Fort Good Hope and now living and working in Yellowknife has thrown his hat into the ring.
The two are the only candidates who will be vying to become Dene national chief when the election is held on July 22 during the Dene National Assembly in Deline.
- John McFadden
Oceans celebrated in Aklavik
Aklavik
Residents of Aklavik celebrated the world's oceans June 19.
The day's events, put on by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, began with a parade from the Sittichinli complex to the river.
Monica Arey won for best-decorated truck and Deandra Greenland took the title of best-decorated four-wheeler.
Madison McLeod of Moose Kerr School was also recognized for winning the World Ocean's Day logo contest, run by the department.
McLeod was awarded a fishing rod and an iPod speaker and her logo was used on special T-shirts and sweaters made for the day.
The fun continued with a harpoon-throwing contest, a three-legged race, animal calling, tug-of-war, balloon toss and a barbecue.
World Oceans Day committee co-ordinator Corrine Bullock said the day's weather started off cool but warmed up later on.
"It was a really great event," she said.
"It's a time to celebrate the importance of the oceans and what they mean to us. The theme for this year was healthy oceans, healthy planet."
World Oceans day events are traditionally held around the globe.
- Miranda Scotland
Replica steppe bison skull to be put on display
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
A museum exhibit featuring a cast of a 13,650 year-old steppe bison skull came to Chief Paul Niditchie School June 24.
Tsiigehtchic's Shane Van Loon discovered a steppe bison skull and some of the animal's remains poking out from a hill by the Arctic Red River in 2007.
He brought the unique find to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, which went on to create the exhibit inspired by the discovery.
Called Ice Age Discovery, the exhibit also features a mammoth tooth, a mastodon tooth, a giant beaver skull and a large mural of two steppe bison during rutting season.
The exhibit will spend a week in the school's library before being moved to the local visitor centre for the summer.
At the end of tourist season it will return to the school and be kept there indeterminately.
- Miranda Scotland
Salt River celebrates anniversary of signing
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith celebrated the 13th anniversary of its treaty land entitlement agreement on June 22.
The agreement, which included both land and money, was signed with the federal government on June 22, 2002.
Such an agreement settles the land debt owed to a First Nation that did not receive all the land it was entitled to under a numbered treaty entered into with the Crown.
Salt River First Nation was entitled to a settlement based on Treaty 8, which was signed at Fort Fitzgerald, Alta., in 1899.
- Paul Bickford
Solstice marked in Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The summer solstice was celebrated in Fort Smith on June 20, the day before the actual official arrival of summer, with a solstice solar show presented by the Thebacha and Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society and Wood Buffalo National Park.
At Fort Smith Mission Park, people enjoyed looking at sunspots and solar prominences through special telescopes set up by the society and learned about the sun's impact on Earth.
They then experienced a journey through space and time under the park's mobile planetarium, the Great Northern Discovery Dome.
The summer solstice occurred on June 21 at 10:39 a.m. MST.
- Paul Bickford
Sovereignty patrol on Mackenzie River set
Hay River
Operation Gateway - the RCMP's annual patrol of the Mackenzie River and delta as well as the coastal waters of the Beaufort Sea - is slated to take place in July.
A launch ceremony for the 17-day patrol is set for 10 a.m. on July 7 at the Canadian Coast Guard dock in Hay River. The RCMP will be deploying a Zodiac vessel called Mackenzie for the patrol, which will conclude in Tuktoyaktuk.
The goals of Operation Gateway include exercising sovereignty, maintaining and enhancing operational readiness, responding to calls for service, and engaging communities, according to an RCMP news release.
Operation Gateway will run concurrently with Operation Nunakput, a Canadian Armed Forces maritime patrol. The purpose of the collaborative operations is to demonstrate how the different organizations work together while working within independent mandates.
Throughout the patrol, the RCMP will participate in co-operative training exercises with the Canadian Armed Forces, along with Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The first Operation Gateway took place in 2003.
- Paul Bickford
Year-end awards
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
Students at Louie Norwegian School had their annual year-end awards on June 24 followed by a barbecue.
Chief Gladys Norwegian and four delegates are travelling to Fort Simpson to attend the Dehcho Annual Assembly. Five female band members have signed up to take flagperson training in Fort Simpson on June 25.
The community wishes happy birthday to Kyla Norwegian on June 25.
- April Hudson
Youth care for community
Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte
Youths in the community have started maintaining the grass around Nahanni Butte.
Last week, the community held a boating safety course as well as a First Aid course.
A few delegates from Nahanni Butte have gone to Fort Simpson for the Dehcho Annual Assembly. The community wishes a happy birthday to Ryley Matou, whose birthday was June 14; Tom Betsaka, whose birthday was June 18; Kayla Betsaka and Elsie Marcellais, whose birthdays were on June 19; Destiny Ekotla, whose birthday was June 22; Faith Vital, whose birthday was June 24; Vicki Marcellais, whose birthday is June 25 and Laine Moreau-Betsaka, whose birthday is June 26.
On June 23, the community held a retirement celebration for local teacher Laura Vital. The celebration was also for Principal Reed Smith. The community thanks Cathryn and Earl Bertrand, Violet Tesou, Marlene Matou, Jayne Konisenta and Qualin Matou for their help.
- April Hudson
Polar Medal unveiled in Ottawa
Ottawa
The Northern Medal is no more, as it will be replaced by the Polar Medal, which comes with a different mandate and appearance.
The new medal comes with added prestige as it is now part of the Canadian Honours System.
The Polar Medal "will celebrate Canada's Northern heritage and recognize persons who render extraordinary services in the polar regions and Canada's North," according to the Governor-General's website.
The Northern Medal - bestowed upon Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Zacharias Kunuk and Tagak Curley - was awarded to those who "contributed to the evolution and constant reaffirmation of the Canadian North as part of our national identity," the site reads.
"Canada is a northern nation, and the North is integral to our identity and our sovereignty," Governor-General David Johnston stated in a release.
The image of the snowy owl soaring through aurora borealis and a Canadian Arctic diamond that depicted a North Star will be replaced by an RCMP sailing near a tall iceberg with two crew members standing on the ice.
- Casey Lessard
Heritage Trust seeks elder nominations
Nunavut
The Inuit Heritage Trust is looking to honour elders who have passed on Inuit traditional knowledge to younger generations.
The trust is seeking suggestions for elders who have helped children find their cultural identity and encouraged them to become strong, self-confident adults.
Elders recognized under the program will receive $1,500 each.
People with suggestions for elders in their community to honour should e-mailrkownak@ihti.caand summarize the contributions of the elder and leave a contact number.
The deadline for suggestions is Oct. 1.
- Stewart Burnett
Award given for work on watershed
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Kivalliq Inuit Association director of lands Luis Manzo of Rankin Inlet was presented with a 20142015 Assistant Deputy Minister's Recognition Award for his efforts as a member of the 2014 Baker Lake Watershed Cumulative Effect Monitoring Program earlier this month.
Manzo was presented with the award during a gala celebration in Ottawa on June 16.
- Darrell Greer
Prizes for best cleaners
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
The community of Hall Beach held a community cleanup challenge for the last week, encouraging everyone to pick up the garbage around town and make their home look nicer.
Kimberley Young, recreation co-ordinator with the hamlet, said the community is also encouraging separating recycling from garbage.
"On Canada Day we'll award prizes to those who have picked up the most trash in town," said Young.
Prizes could be a large-screen TV, window insulation kits, fishing rods and more.
- Stewart Burnett
Search and rescue volunteers ready
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Cambridge Bay has now trained volunteers for the Canadian Air Search and Rescue Association, giving the community its own search and rescue team should the need arise.
Despite some hiccups and unco-operative weather, the training went well, according to organizers.
Junna Ehaloak, a participant, said the experience was great.
"I feel great once again doing my favourite thing to do, volunteering," stated Ehaloak on Facebook.
Pokok Ohokannoak and Mike Aitauk played as the "lost people" out on the land and many volunteers helped out.
Coming soon to the community is Twin Otter training.
- Stewart Burnett
Barbecue season in Cape Dorset
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
Summer means holiday and community barbecues for Cape Dorset.
The municipality recently held a barbecue for Aboriginal Day, serving hotdogs, burgers, juice and watermelon.
More than 100 people attended the barbecue, said Stacy Coutler, community economic development officer.
Coming up are two more community barbecues for Canada Day and Nunavut Day.
Those events will also feature games for entertainment.
- Stewart Burnett
Wind knocks out power
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
A feeling of deja vu came over Pangnirtung on June 22, when the hamlet lost power at 8:15 p.m. that evening.
But residents need not have worried about a repeat of the April 2 power plant fire because the outage was caused by high winds that triggered a line surge, according to Qulliq Energy Corporation corporate communications manager Sheila Papa.
The entire community lost power for several hours. Partial power was restored for everyone by about 11:15 p.m. that night.
A crew from Iqaluit was prepared to head to the community, but the charter plane was kept from flying due to the winds in Pangnirtung.
They arrived the next morning at 7:40 a.m. and had power restored by 8:20 a.m., Papa said.
- Casey Lessard
Summer camp starts
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Children in Arctic Bay will be active this summer thanks to a new summer camp launching on June 29.
The free Get Happy Summer Day Camp will feature sports, drama, arts, crafts, theme days, and mini-Olympics, a brochure for the camp states.
Economic development officer Clare Kines has registered his children in the camp, which is for children aged five to 13.
The six-week program runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
"Years ago, they had short (camps), but this is the first one I can remember for a while," Kines said. "It's badly needed to give the kids something organized to do during the summer."
- Casey Lessard
Fund reopens
North Baffin
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association is now accepting proposals for its Ilagiiktunut Fund, which has $750,000 available to build community capacity as the Mary River mine progresses.
The fund was established last year through joint contributions from the QIA and Baffinland, which operates the mine near Pond Inlet.
This year's projects should focus on resilient communities, strong families, or job readiness, and funding can be awarded to North Baffin communities, North Baffin beneficiaries, North Baffin community committees, not-for-profit associations, or non-government organizations.
The deadline is July 31, and applications are available through the community liaison offices in each community, or through the QIA's website.
- Casey Lessard
Meadowbank team wins big at Mine Rescue Competition
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
The team from the Agnico Eagleowned Meadowbank gold mine put in a strong showing at the Worker's Safety and Compensation Commission's 58th annual Mine Rescue Competition in Yellowknife earlier this month.
The Meadowbank team took top spot in the surface obstacle/extrication individual-task component of the competition.
The team from Ekati Diamond Mine took home both the Overall Surface and Overall Underground trophies.
The twoday competition saw seven teams from six mines demonstrate mine surface and underground response and rescue skills.
Mines from Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and British Columbia competed at the event.
- Darrell Greer
Awards broadcast
Kivalliq
The 2015 Indspire Awards were broadcast on both Global TV and APTN on June 19.
The Indspire Awards gala celebrates the accomplishments of 14 outstanding indigenous individuals from across Canada, representing a diverse range of accomplishments, each profiled in a unique video vignette.
The awards saw wellknown elder Peter Irniq, originally of Repulse Bay (Naujaat) win the 2015 Indspire Awards for Culture, Heritage and Spirituality, while Arviat's Jordan Konek won the 2015 Indspire Award for YouthInuit.
- Darrell Greer
| 
