Housing shouldn't necessarily be firstYellowknifer - Wednesday, April 20, 2016
The mayor of Yellowknife is calling the so-called homeless situation a "crisis" and is demanding immediate action, specifically from the territorial government.
After coming across a woman passed out in the middle of the McMahon Frame Lake Trail on his way to city hall, Mark Heyck told Yellowknifer this is the worst he's ever seen it.
Although the situation is indeed a crisis, it is debatable when it reached that point - one may argue it's an ongoing crisis, and people's ears are just perking up now due to a perceived lack of action.
Nevertheless, the mayor is indeed correct in his assertion that immediate action is required.
Yet the city and the territory - both working to address this issue - seem to be somewhat at odds over just how to roll out the Housing First program, which requires both levels of government to work together. The city receives the federal funding but it needs the GNWT to fund the clinical services necessary to the program's success.
In the rush to get roofs over people's heads, Coun. Linda Bussey - the councillor spearheading Housing First for the city - seems to be satisfied with using existing apartment spaces, saying the first person will be housed through the program this summer. This idea seems to stem from a southern consultant who gave a presentation to city council earlier this year saying the multiple apartments model is the ideal one.
Maybe this would work in other places but it will have a tough time succeeding in Yellowknife.
This is a population with complex needs who require a facility with around-the-clock supports and most, if not all, would be ill-served to just be granted a regular apartment to call home - even if people came to check up on them regularly with clinical support.
Caroline Cochrane, minister responsible for homelessness, seems to agree, saying the GNWT doesn't have the money to provide high-level support services to supremely needy people in market housing units scattered about the city. But this statement sounds suspiciously like an excuse to do nothing.
The minister is organizing a meeting next week that brings together representatives from the GNWT, city and social-issues advocates to decide on an immediate plan to address the "homelessness" situation. Attendees must not accept a plea of poverty from the minister, and if she doesn't like the city's plan, she should present a better proposal.
Attendees would be wise to remember what is really at play is an addictions issue, mostly involving alcohol. If the issue was strictly about homelessness, then simply putting roofs over people's heads would be a viable option.
In fact, many of those dubbed homeless in Yellowknife, as learned from past reports, are not even from the city - much of the population comes from the smaller communities. Some are here for days, weeks, months and years, and while relatively stable in their home communities, fall to pieces after arriving in Yellowknife.
Either way, even with only $150,000 committed from the territorial government to date, the respective leaders appear to understand the required immediacy of the situation - hopefully meaningful solutions will develop from next week's meeting.
As a nation with a First-World standard of living we owe it to these people to help them. Punting the issue down the road on a pillow of warm and fuzzy talking points is no way to deal with a crisis.
The power of programmingEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, April 20, 2016
It has been quite uplifting to see the numerous programs being held across the Kivalliq in support of cultural learning and traditional skills during the past few years.
And, as wonderful as they are, it doesn't have to be big-budgeted, multi-month programming to be effective.
Every Kivalliq community has hosted one program or another recently to cultivate and promote traditional sewing skills.
And whether you're talking mitts, kamiik, parkas or wind pants, the courses almost always bestow among their participants a set of valuable skills that will benefit their families for decades.
Also never to be overlooked are the positive personal benefits these programs can instil in the students.
They have the inherent ability to increase self-confidence and boost self-image through a newfound skill in being able to contribute even more to the family unit.
Instructors, the majority of whom are elders, often receive a little extra income for their efforts, as well as the personal gratification of knowing they've effectively passed along some of their vast traditional knowledge.
It's a win-win situation for everyone and kudos must be given to the hamlet councils and funding agencies that see the wisdom in approving as many of the programs as the budgets allow.
The programming also helps boost the sense of community, and in many cases, the programs include a strong social component.
Having a safe-and-secure space to listen to, and talk with, others who share the same challenges in life is one of the most underestimated aspects of these programs, especially ones that focus on sewing skills.
Cooking skills have also seen a revitalization in the Kivalliq during the past year.
Many feature modules focusing on budgeting skills -- an important skill to master these days -- and all of them focus on healthy choices when it comes to what hits the dinner table or feast-style cardboard.
The Young Hunters program in Arviat takes youth out of the community and out on the land to be taught how to provide healthy country food for their families.
The program has become so popular among Arviat youth, organizers cannot meet the demand and there is a lengthy waiting list of youths waiting to participate.
As was the case with a short square-dancing program in Chesterfield Inlet this past month, the youth tend to clamour for more upon the program's completion.
That's a sure sign cultural-and-traditional learning is still very much alive and well with many of our youth, despite what the doom-and-gloom prophets and naysayers would have you believe.
We have also seen success stories evolve from the programs, including fashion designer Victoria Kakuktinniq.
Originally from Rankin and now residing in Iqaluit, Kakuktinniq had her creative spark lit while sewing in a Nunavut Literacy Council program in her home town.
We have our struggles, but, given the opportunity, we also have a vast reservoir of untapped talent waiting to shine.
And, contrary to the beliefs of some, we still have a deep pool of love for all skills cultural and traditional in nature in our region.
And that bodes well for the future, while keeping a firm grip on the past!
Build road to diamondsNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, April 18, 2016
There has been no shortage of reasons to celebrate in Whati over the last few weeks. On April 1 the community welcomed its 30th anniversary as a hamlet. In that same week the Department of Transportation applied for permits to build a 94-kilometre road to the Tlicho hamlet of 500 people from Highway 3.
The road will replace the winter road, which is becoming increasingly expensive to build and open for less than 90 days each year.
In addition to reducing the cost of having to make the winter road, the new two-lane gravel highway will provide tangible benefits for the community- from cheaper groceries to better opportunities for local businesses.
Perhaps more importantly from an economic perspective, it will pave the way for Fortune Minerals to open its NICO mine 50 km north of Whati, which has lobbied the territorial government to build infrastructure to help its project get off the ground.
Tom Hoefer, executive director of the NWT/Nunavut Chamber of Mines, told News/North the road to Whati embodies the best of both worlds: it reduces the cost of mining in the territory through the supply of infrastructure while reducing the cost of living and providing a much needed road to the community.
"In the best case, infrastructure might serve both," Hoefer said.
While the road to Whati may hold double benefits, the fact is even if the road is built the opening of the mine is not a sure thing. Which begs the question: why isn't the government doing more to push for infrastructure to the diamond mines that are currently driving the territory's economy?
According to a 2013 study, the three diamond mines operating northeast of Yellowknife at the time employed a total of 3,028 people -- 1,548 of whom were Northerners -- in 2011. De Beers' Snap Lake has since closed, leading to layoffs for 434 people, although Gahcho Kue is expected to start production this fall and hiring more people by the day.
To put that into perspective, the total number of Northerners employed at these sites is three times higher than the entire population of Whati.
With climate change, the winter road network to the mines some 300 km northeast of Yellowknife is under increasing threat. Warm weather forced the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto winter road to close after only 42 days in 2006, forcing the mines to fly in supplies which ultimately cost four to eight times more per pound than transporting them by road.
The road opened a week a later than normal this year due to warmer weather and continue to be hampered by thinner ice conditions which means trucks must travel with lighter loads.
An all-weather road connecting Yellowknife to the diamond mines - and to other mineral rich areas along the NWT/Nunavut border, and even to Gray's Bay on the Arctic coast - is one of three major infrastructure projects being proposed by the GNWT.
Also on the list is the road to Whati and the $525 million Mackenzie Valley Highway, which would open up access to natural gas reserves. The idea of connecting communities in the Sahtu with roads is not without merit but with the price of oil and natural gas as low as they are at the moment the project just isn't economically worthwhile at the moment.
In contrast, the Slave Province diamond mine region is already a proven resource employing thousands of people. Or as Hoefer put it: "It's such a bread basket from mining perspective that it's the big prize."
Although it was recently touted by the premier as an important project in an interview with News/North, things have been relatively quiet on the diamond road front as of late.
If it really wants to get the most bang for its buck the GNWT should focus its energy on cultivating the bird in hand rather than the birds in the bush.
Increasing the lifespan of our diamond mines and ensuring the resource royalty tap remains open means the NWT will be in a better position to build the Mackenzie Valley Highway when higher gas prices return and make its construction more desirable.
Reap economic benefits of cruise ship passengerslNunavut/News North - Monday, April 18, 2016
Imagine being on the shore of a small community in Nunavut this coming August when a large, white shape appears on the distant horizon.
As the shape comes closer it becomes apparent the largest ship ever seen is coming closer. Word quickly spreads throughout the community and soon residents are standing along the shoreline to witness the passage of a gleaming 68,000-tonne, 250-metre vessel topped with majestic rows of 13 decks dotted with doors to cabins and staterooms. Cries of admiration soon turn to questions as people wonder if it will stop offshore and if anyone will come visit. What does this giant ship mean to a tiny outpost?
If you live in Cambridge Bay or Pond Inlet, there is a good chance you already heard about the planned excursion by the 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity of the Northwest Passage, from Alaska to New York City. That's because Crystal Cruises has done comprehensive advance work, including talks with people in potential ports of call about having a limited number of passengers come ashore for a taste of Inuit hospitality.
Although cruise ships plying the Arctic Ocean and the Northwest Passage are nothing new, this time the response was somewhat guarded from Cambridge Bay, agreeing to a visit this year only to see how it goes, likely because of fears the community may become overwhelmed by the size of the ship and potential number of passengers involved.
As outlined in last week's edition, Crystal Cruises has planned extensively for this excursion, will have an icebreaker escort, is showing respect for emission levels and the environment, and has hired two Inuit -- one cultural specialist who is an Innuinnaqtun interpreter/translator and an Arctic guide who is a former Canadian Ranger.
It looks like the cruise ship operator has the resources required to plan and carry out this historic transit of the Northwest Passage, providing weather and water conditions co-operate.
But are the communities ready to play host to passengers and reap the maximum economic benefit from a cruise ship visit?
An arts and crafts fair will be held in Cambridge Bay and there will be demonstrations of Inuit culture in Pond Inlet. Is it enough?
We suggest there is much involved in offering visitors a unique experience in exchange for adequate compensation. A specific set of skills are involved, which requires training and education.
The Government of Nunavut has a fund so people can get training as walking tour guides and implement innovative initiatives targeted at increasing direct economic benefits from cruise ships.
Now is the time for people in communities who are expecting cruise ship visitors - not just from the Crystal Serenity - to prepare to be professional hosts. A potential economic boon is arriving off the shoreline, it is up to Nunavummiut to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Pride essential for young people Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, April 15, 2016
In making gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender role models and allies prominent in the community, It Gets Better Yellowknife and NWT Pride are potentially saving lives.
Over the past five years, NWT Pride has drawn LGBTQ artists and allies to the Folk on the Rocks site to celebrate sexual diversity for a summer festival. Anti-bullying group It Gets Better Yellowknife, meanwhile, is now putting on a rainbow-coloured whirlwind of activities called Days of Pink this week full of outreach to young people.
Much has changed since former Pine Point resident Everett George Klippert was released from prison in 1971, having being convicted six years earlier, essentially for being gay. But make no mistake, a life and death struggle continues.
A 2007 study showed 33 per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth have attempted suicide, five times as many as their heterosexual peers. A 2010 study showed 19 per cent of transgender youth had attempted suicide within the previous year.
The NWT's suicide rate is twice the national average. One shudders to think what studies examining the suicide rate among this segment of Northern youth might find.
The series of events planned this week for Days of Pink range from an evening of art and music at the Fat Fox tonight to a lunch and discussion with youth at the museum cafe with Mayor Mark Heyck tomorrow. Ultimately, they all send one singular message: there is a place for gay, transgender, lesbian and bisexual youth in this city.
In hearing people discuss challenges unique to them, other young people may understand that they are not alone. In seeing adults who have faced and overcome similar situations, they may see a positive future for themselves and feel hope.
Think of what that might mean to youth struggling with sexual identity who may find themselves bullied in school who may have nowhere to turn if they are not out with their families or teachers. By reaching out to them, It Gets Better Yellowknife organizers are offering help to people who need it and who might not otherwise be able to find it alone.
Long live Bullocks Bistro Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, April 15, 2016
Bullocks Bistro has been a Yellowknife institution for almost a quarter century.
If a Yellowknifer travels and strikes up a conversation with someone who has visited the city it is not unusual for Bullocks to come up as if the place were synonymous with Yellowknife itself.
Every professional chef will hang up his or her apron for the last time but few will see that moment carry the kind of impact the closure of Bullocks could have had.
Fortunately, Renata and Sam Bullock timed the announcement of their retirement as proprietors of Bullocks Bistro with the introduction of the establishment's new owners.
When Jo-Ann Martin and Mark Elson took the keys for Bullocks Bistro last week they stepped in as proprietors of one of the most respected eateries in the city.
For many, a visit to Bullocks is a visit to the rustic heart of Yellowknife with only the freshest local or Northern fish and other fare on the menu.
As proprietors, the Bullocks will be truly missed, especially Renata's banter from behind the grill.
The new owners have vowed to keep the restaurant alive with the same flavours patrons have come to love (no Tex-Mex Cuban fusion here), but in time and good order, Bullocks will naturally take on the personality of its new owners.
Sam and Renata have earned a well-deserved retirement after establishing one of the city's most well-known brands and must-visit places for tourists and locals alike.
All fed upDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, April 14, 2016
As the Acho Dene Koe land claim enters its eighth year of negotiations, it seems GNWT negotiators have taken a step backward instead of forward.
That was never made clearer than during and after a public meeting with Premier Bob McLeod on April 7.
First, band members raised the concern over how third-party interests seem to be encroaching on the band's 6,474 square kilometres of treaty settlement lands, which was agreed upon two years ago in the historic signing of an agreement-in-principle.
Then, there is the question over why band members have been recently receiving tax notifications from the GNWT, as well as a notification that they cannot use their treaty house unless they sign a lease with the Commissioner of the NWT.
After being slapped with a $1.6-million property tax bill, according to the band, they feel as though the government is trying to displace them. After all, what recourse is there when one cannot pay their taxes?
Many band members would rather move than have such a tax bill hanging over their heads.
But why are these issues coming up now?
Chief Harry Deneron sees one possibility -- that they are means to delay the negotiating process from reaching completion.
It is also possible, although perhaps unlikely, all these issues are simply misunderstandings.
Deneron said the government defended its tax bill on the negotiating table by saying that was for payment of services, not land.
But ordering the Acho Dene Koe First Nation to pay their property taxes -- while they are in the middle of the land claims process -- is, to say the least, in poor taste. After all, the Acho Dene people are negotiating to own that very land.
Deneron said he has been told their land claim cannot be completed until the tax man gets his money. Whether or not the GNWT said that in those words, that is how Acho Dene Koe sees the situation. But where is an already-poor band going to get that kind of money from?
The GNWT needs to seriously reconsider its position on the negotiations before drawing that line in the sand.
During the public meeting, McLeod said he fully expects a final agreement will be close at hand within the next few years. But that seems like rhetoric in the face of the very real problems at the negotiating table.
The government is lucky that Deneron's team is so committed to securing their land claim. But the danger of negotiations breaking down is still quite present.
Negotiators for the government need to make an effort to clear the air before they sabotage the process entirely.
Changing of the guard?Inuvik Drum - Thursday, April 14, 2016
The challenges in the financial position at the Anglican Church in Inuvik are a symptom of a trend facing a majority of churches in Canada. Fewer people going to church and putting money on the collection plate means less revenue and less resources to keep staff.
This is hardly news. Churches in other jurisdictions are selling property, investing in the market, and trying to plan for a future in which people just don't fill the pews every week, nor do they feel the need to give their money to the religious organization.
Departing Rev. Stephen Martin said last week that the Anglican congregation in Inuvik faces some tough choices, but so do the people higher up in the organization. Is it worth keeping a church open if it's a losing venture?
In the best case scenario, religious institutions -- no matter what faith they represent -- are community organizations. They help people who need it, offer comfort to those who may be isolated for one reason or another, and bring people together to do good things. In reality, like any other organization, churches can be places where politics and cliques take up a large amount of the time and effort of those running them, which trickles down to everyone involved.
Historically, churches are also part of the arm of the state, taking care of everything from welfare to hospital care, to education, for better or for worse. Obviously this is no longer the case, but churches often still remain at least partly active in those realms, sending people to visit elders in hospice and supporting services like food banks and homeless shelters.
At the end of the day, as long as the needs of the most vulnerable in the community are being met, that's all that matters. The advantages of doing that sort of thing for a church is that they can often be directed locally in a way government just can't. Of course, churches come with their own hierarchy to be reckoned with.
Whether the Anglican church here can continue to fulfill its role without a minister is not something we care to predict. It may chug along just fine, or it may not. What's important is that people continue to get what they need from the community and each other in one way or another. As always, if there is a void, someone will step up to fill it.
