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Monday, March 14, 2016
Tlicho Government working with Nunavut to protect caribou
The Tlicho Government is working with Nunavut to protect barren-ground caribou, according to a press release from the Tlicho Government.
The release highlights the concerns the Tlicho have regarding the Coppermine Project in Nunavut's Kitikmeot Region. Exploration had been scheduled to begin during the barren-ground caribou calving season but the company has changed its schedule, the release said.
- Kassina Ryder
RCMP look for Northmart thief
Inuvik RCMP are asking the public to help identify a suspected shoplifter at the local Northmart.
According to a news release, the suspect is male with a stocky build who was wearing a grey hoodie and black pants at the time of the theft. The release stated that at about 12:30 p.m. on March 6, RCMP received information that a man had stolen merchandise worth about $2,000 from the store.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Inuvik RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
- Kassina Ryder
GNWT asks public for budget advice
The territorial government is asking the public to help prioritize its budget spending.
Residents are invited to answer questions on the Department of Finance website from March 11 to May 20, according to a news release. The questions will allow participants to provide suggestions on how to improve government efficiency, what they consider most important in terms of government programs and services, as well as how to equalize infrastructure investment and program and service delivery.
- Kassina Ryder
Community tourism gets a boost
More than 60 representatives from community organizations throughout the territory participated in the Engaging Community Tourism Champions workshop in Yellowknife from March 8 to 10, according to a territorial government news release.
The workshop included discussions on the importance of tourism to the territory's economy, as well as ways to improve tourism in communities. More than 91,000 tourists spent $132 million during visits to the territory in 2013 and 2014, the release stated.
- Kassina Ryder
Handgames tournament in Behchoko
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo
The 11th annual Aboriginal Handgames Tournament is scheduled to take place in Behchoko from March 18 to 20, according to a poster on the community's Facebook page.
The grand prize for first place is $25,000 while eighth prize is $2,000. Teams must consist of members who are over the age of 16. The entry fee is $150 per player.
- Kassina Ryder
Heritage Fair a hit
Whati/Lac La Martre
Mezi Community School hosted the Tlicho regional heritage fair on March 1.
Students from throughout the region arrived in the community to compete for the top three spots.
First place winners were Sly Mantla from Behchoko, Angie Arrowmaker from Wekweeti and Laylu Judas from Wekweeti.
The following seven students will now advance to the territorial heritage fair in Yellowknife in May: Laylu Judas, Carmen Flunkie, Angie Arrowmaker, Kyla Simpson, Kara Lee Nitsiza, Kearia Magrum and Megan Rebesca. The territorial fair is scheduled to take place from May 5 to 8.
- Kassina Ryder
Tlicho celebrates Aboriginal Languages month
Wekweeti/Snare Lakes
March is Aboriginal Languages month and Tlicho residents are encouraged to promote language in their homes, schools and communities, according to the Tlicho Community Services Agency. Parents are especially encouraged to speak Tlicho and read books written in Tlicho to their children.
Resources are available on the Tlicho Government website.
- Kassina Ryder
St. Patrick's Day events at local library
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
The library at Chief Julius School is hosting a variety of activities throughout the month of March, including a St. Patrick's Day breakfast on March 17, according to the library's calendar of events. The breakfast is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. A St. Patrick's Day family night is also scheduled to take place on March 16 at 6 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to don a festive green wardrobe.
The library is also hosting LEGO Tuesdays throughout the month and a movie on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The library will be closed in the mornings but open back up to the public each afternoon.
- Kassina Ryder
Environment Canada hosts Peary caribou meeting
Paulatuk
Representatives with Environment Canada were scheduled to host a meeting in Paulatuk to discuss the Peary caribou herd on March 10, according to a notice from the Paulatuk Hunters and Trappers Committee.
A supper was scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. before the meeting began at 6 p.m.
The meeting focused on the herd's draft recovery strategy and participants were encouraged to share their thoughts with Environment Canada representatives.
- Kassina Ryder
Busy days in Tsiigehtchic
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
The recreation department in Tsiigehtchic has scheduled events and activities to keep residents busy throughout March, according to the department's monthly calendar.
Each Tuesday features a different event, including Elders in Motion, tag games, volleyball and Inuit and Dene games. Thursdays include handgames and adult floor hockey.
All events take place at the Chief Paul Niditchie School gym.
- Kassina Ryder
Ulukhaktok hosts small business workshop
Ulukhaktok/Holman
A small business workshop is scheduled to take place at the council chambers in Ulukhaktok on March 15, according to a post on the Ulukhaktok Buy Sell Trade Facebook page.
The workshop will focus on financial statements and financial statement analysis, as well as introduce participants to the variety of ways individuals can start their own businesses.
It is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Kassina Ryder
Staff train at workshops
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
Staff and members of Jean Marie River's public works department had the opportunity to attend a workshop in Hay River from Feb. 29 to March 2.
At the same time, the band's chief, council and senior administrative officer were at a workshop in Hay River, which ended March 3. Jean Marie River First Nation also has its annual general meeting set for March 18 to 20.
- April Hudson
Liard catches Cabin Fever
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
Cabin Fever Days were all set to run March 11 and 12 with the hope of getting people outside into the snow.
On both days of the event, a family snow sculpting contest with participants sculpting in their front yards was scheduled.
The fun was set to begin on the first day at 3:30 p.m. with youth outdoor games at the hall, followed by a community dinner at 6 p.m.
At 9:30 p.m., there was to be a talent show at the hall, with adult and youth categories as well as prizes for first, second and third place.
The events planned for March 12 were scheduled to start at 10 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the hall, followed by a traditional cookout at the ball diamond from noon to 5 p.m.
Adult games, including tea boiling, moose-calling and wood chopping run at the same time as the cookout, followed by a community feast at the hall and a drum dance with the Wrigley
drummers.
- April Hudson
Beavertail Jamboree underway
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
A full week of Beavertail Jamboree events were to wrap up March 13.
A feast at the recreation centre, Beaver Cup hockey and opening ceremonies, including the crowning of King, Queen, Prince and Princess and a youth talent show were on the docket for March 10.
On March 11, the Northern store was to host a free community barbecue, followed by games for children. The day was scheduled to cap off with a the Corporate Challenge and an evening dance.
The afternoon of March 11 was declared a civic holiday by the village.
On March 12, the village planned to prepare a pancake breakfast at the recreation centre. In the afternoon, there was to be snowdrags at the Snye., Beaver Cup playoffs and youth/adult traditional games.
The day was set to end with an adult talent show followed by an adult dance.
The jamboree ended March 13 with a planned family fun run at 1 p.m., broomball games at the arena and a fish fry.
- April Hudson
Handgames in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Thebacha Nane Traditional Men's Hand Game Tournament was set for March 12 and 13 at the Fort Smith Recreation Centre.
The tournament is being held in conjunction with the Wood Buffalo Frolics winter carnival.
- Paul Bickford
Fort Resolution celebrates spring
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
The Fort Resolution Spring Carnival is set for March 17 to 20.
The annual event features activities including talent shows, a sliding party, pancake breakfasts, a cribbage tournament and adult events such as wood splitting, sled pulling, nail pounding and snowshoe races.
In addition, there will be the crowning of a carnival king and queen for candidates 13 years and older, and of a prince and princess for candidates 12 years and under.
Plus, the carnival includes dog racing on the ice of Great Slave Lake.
The annual carnival is presented by the Hamlet of Fort Resolution.
- Paul Bickford
Travel website praises Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Flight Network - a Canadian online travel company - has named Fort Smith among the Top 50 small towns in the country.
The website praised the town for its "adrenaline-pumping" white-water rapids, endless hiking and mountain-biking trails, and abundance of outdoor winter activities.
It also mentioned two annual events - the Dark Sky Festival and Slave River Paddlefest - and opportunities to explore Wood Buffalo National Park.
Two other NWT towns made Flight Network's list - Behchoko and Inuvik.
- Paul Bickford
No one hurt in standoff
Sanikiluaq
Schools were put on "hold and secure" status March 9 when RCMP in Sanikiluaq responded to a report of a man having barricaded himself in his home with a firearm.
"At approximately 4 p.m. the suspect exited the residence and was taken into police custody without incident," stated Const. Lurene Dillon in a news release.
The incident lasted about two hours. No other details were released.
- Stewart Burnett
Child care under review
Iqaluit
The Government of Nunavut will be consulting on the Child Day Care Act this fall during a comprehensive review of its policies.
"We're starting to have consultations, as we're going to be amending the Child Day Care Act," said Education Minister Paul Quassa through an interpreter in the legislative assembly last week.
His department is looking to complete revisions to the act in 2016-17.
"The review process will go until then to get the information and feedback," said Quassa. "We will be doing that right up until the fall of 2016. That's the only way to do it."
There are currently two established school day cares in Iqaluit.
- Stewart Burnett
Students quiz the mayor
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
Students of Abby Anavilok's Intermediate 2 class at Quqshuun Ilihakvik in Gjoa Haven have been studying the topic of power and authority.
In early March they brainstormed a list of questions to ask the mayor of Gjoa Haven.
"After interviewing (Mayor) Joanni Sallerina about his position they wrote books to document and share what they learned," said Anavilok. "They really enjoyed learning about our Mayor Joanni Sallerina."
- Michele LeTourneau
Wildlife centre completed
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
The new wildlife office in Pangnirtung is officially complete, with hopes to become fully operational by the end of this month.
"This new office replaces the previous wildlife office in Pangnirtung, which had reached the end of its 25-year life cycle," stated Environment Minister Johnny Mike in the legislative assembly last week.
Planning for the new building began in 2014.
"This new office will help the Department of Environment conservation officer in Pangnirtung to continue providing a high quality, professional service to the people of that community," stated Mike.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been involved in its design and construction."
- Stewart Burnett
Youth volunteer awarded trip to Winnipeg
Naujaat/Repulse Bay
Suzanne Putulik of Naujaat was one of two people selected as a community champion and hosted by the North West Company in Winnipeg.
The company ran a contest in January on its Facebook page asking its customers to nominate people who made positive contribution to their communities by volunteering, specifically in the areas of healthy living and youth leadership.
Putulik, along with Darcie Bernhardt of Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, were awarded an all-expense paid trip to Winnipeg to watch a Winnipeg Jets hockey game.
The two were among 50 volunteers to be nominated.
Putulik and Bernhardt each took part in different activities, including a trip to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, shopping and a tour of The North West Company head office, capped by a Winnipeg Jets NHL hockey game.
"It's so different than what you see on TV - it's awesome!" stated Putulik.
"This was a great opportunity for us to connect with communities and share the stories of youth that have made a difference in the communities they live in," said Christine Reimer, vice-president of sales and operations for the North West Company.
- Michele LeTourneau
Proposal a learning experience
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Pitching to venture capitalists in at the 2016 Canadian Crowdfunding Summit March 3 was very much a "Dragon's Den" experience, said Pinnguaq founder Ryan Oliver.
Pinnguaq, founded in Pangnirtung, is a language and technology company with roots in educating with Inuktitut. It was one of a handful of companies chosen to present to wealthy investors at the annual summit.
"We are a very unique company to pitch to a bunch of venture capitalists," Oliver stated in an e-mail to Nunavut News/North.
"Everyone was really into the idea and the company as a whole. Lots of positive response and we've made some good friends since last week that we will be able to work with. At the end I was asked by one of the venture capitalists, 'What's the end goal here, how can I make money?' To which my reply was, 'Ultimately the end goal is to produce extremely high quality content for the next 20 years and we are looking for partners who want to join that journey with us, not just walk away in a year with hefty profits.' So, that didn't work."
That said, he loved the experience and said it forces him to think in a different mindset.
"As long as we maintain the balance between what we are doing and why, with sustainability and profit, we should be sustainable," stated Oliver.
"It's as important for us to immerse ourselves in community and elder teaching as it is to jump full force into the world of capitalist profit-driven industry. The understanding of both will ultimately create the type of business we want to sustain with."
- Stewart Burnett
Lost hunter applauded for survival skills
Iglulik
Aggu MLA Paul Quassa took a moment in the legislative assembly March 7 to congratulate the survival skills of a lost hunter in Iglulik.
The hunter, Aapak Taqaugaq, had been on the land for six days before he was found by a search and rescue team March 6. The team had been looking since March 2.
"I am very proud of the fact that he used traditional knowledge and survived," stated Quassa through an interpreter in the legislative assembly.
"That's why we have been taught Inuit traditional knowledge and survival skills. We have been advised about Inuit traditional ways and survivor skills. When this individual followed the advice, he survived," Quassa stated. "When we use Inuit traditional knowledge, it really helps us in life."
- Stewart Burnett
Naujaat youth fly to Norway
Uqsuqtuuq/Naujaat
Six youth from Gjoa Haven and Naujaat flew to Norway from Vancouver last week to present at a conference on what they have learned about their social history through the Nanivara project at the University of British Columbia.
The youth spent a few days in Vancouver before they flew to Oslo March 9 and then northern Norway to the Sami community of Kautokeino. There they will participate in an international conference on indigenous education, said University of British Columbia researcher Patricia Johnston.
"The last time this conference was held, it occurred in Iqaluit," she said. "Many Nunavummiut will be in attendance."
The Nanivara project, organized by the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia, is for Inuit youth to explore, discover and re-examine the history of their communities.
What the youth learn through this project will be communicated using social media, photography and film.
The project addresses issues of identity, confidence and self-esteem that often confront Inuit youth unfamiliar with many aspects of their social history and culture, according to the website for the project.
The project is sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada in partnership with the Nunavut Arctic College, with support from First Air.
Nanivara builds from a previous initiative in Arviat called the Nanisiniq Arviat History Project.
- Michele LeTourneau
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