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Monday, May 9, 2016
RCMP praise protocol
The Dene Nation Public Safety Protocol, a partnership between the Dene Nation and the RCMP signed in 2014, is resulting in successful drug and liquor investigations in the territory, according to an RCMP news release.
Chief Superintendent Ron Smith presented information on the protocol to members of Dene Nation on April 28. The information highlighted more than 16 incidents where drugs and alcohol were seized and charges laid.
- Kassina Ryder
Bootlegging, trafficking charges laid in Inuvik
An Inuvik man is facing bootlegging and drug charges after police searched a Raven Street residence on May 5, a news release from the RCMP stated.
Talal Abdullah Khatib, 63, was charged with trafficking marijuana, possession of salvia for the purpose of trafficking, selling liquor without a licence, possession of marijuana and possession of crack-cocaine, among other charges.
Khatib is scheduled to appear in Inuvik Territorial Court on Aug. 3.
- Kassina Ryder
NWT launches camping guide
The Government of the Northwest Territories is launching a new pocket-sized guide to camping in the territory, a news release from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment stated.
The NWT Road and Campground Guide identifies local attractions and routes to camping areas and will be available in visitor's centres in the NWT, Yukon and adjoining provinces. It can also be found online. Online reservations for NWT campgrounds opened on April 7 and had more than 1,000 transactions in two days, resulting in expenditures of more than $138,000.
- Kassina Ryder
Outstanding volunteers announced
The territorial government announced this year's Outstanding Volunteer Award winners on May 6.
Yellowknife's Dave Kellett received the Outstanding Elder Award, Leona Berreault from Fort Liard received the Outstanding Youth Award, Tsiigehtchic's Charlene Blake received the Outstanding Individual Award and the Outstanding Group Award was shared by the Katlodeeche Kamba Carnival Committee, according to a press release from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA).
Winners received $500 to give to an organization of their choice and a certificate of recognition.
- Kassina Ryder
Spring has sprung at Behchoko Community Library
Behchoko/Rae Edzo
The Behchoko Community Library hosted a spring-themed family literacy night on April 26, said librarian Emily Jarvis.
About 90 children and parents came out for the event.
"We had lots of things to do with plants and flowers," Jarvis said. "There were opportunities for kids to plant sunflowers."
Jarvis said there were also stations set up designed to encourage children to practice words, including a tub full of sand where children could dig for dinosaur toys. There was also a tub full of gravel and trucks and construction vehicles.
"We try to have play areas that encourage the kids to talk to each other and talk to their parents and expand their words and vocabularies," Jarvis said.
The event ran from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and each participant brought home a free book. The books were donated through the NWT Literacy Council.
- Kassina Ryder
Mothers celebrated in Whati
Whati/Lac La Martre
Whati's recreation department was scheduled to host a special Mother's Day weekend from May 6 to 9, said recreation co-ordinator Doreen Nitsiza.
Events were expected to kick off with a craft activity where children could make Mother's Day cards. May 7 was scheduled to include a cribbage tournament just for moms and Sunday was expected to feature a community barbecue at 2 p.m. Games for moms were expected to take place after the barbecue, including a twisting contest and musical chairs. All activities were scheduled to take place at the culture centre.
- Kassina Ryder
Flea market season begins in Gameti
Gameti/Rae Lakes
Gameti's first flea market of the season was scheduled to take place on May 7, said organizer and volunteer Roxanne Mantla.
The flea markets are usually held every month from May until October at the Gameti community hall. Mantla said residents are encouraged to sell anything from clothing to DVDs.
She said hosting the sale once a month gives people an indoor venue to sell their wares instead of different households having yard sales.
"This is like a huge garage sale that everybody participates in," Mantla said.
Flea market tables cost $5 and the money goes to Gameti's recreation department.
- Kassina Ryder
Mackenzie Mountain School hosts pirate dance
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
A pirate-themed dance was scheduled to take place at Mackenzie Mountain School on May 6 to raise awareness about an upcoming school play, said principal Michael Duclos.
"It is pirate-themed to coincide with our play that's called the Dread Pirate Sadie," he said. "It's a pretty hilarious pirate comedy."
The play is scheduled to take place on June 24.
"We're going to do one summer performance of the play before everyone goes for the summer," Duclos said.
The school has also re-scheduled the date for Grade 12 graduation, which is now expected to take place on June 17. The goal is to have the graduation outside at McKinnon Territorial Park. So far, 10 students are expected to graduate this year, Duclos said.
- Kassina Ryder
Out on the land
Tulita/Fort Norman
Chief Albert Wright School students spent time camping out on the land last month, said principal Lorraine Kuer.
The first trip was for boys in grades 8 to 12. The group travelled to Old Fort Point from April 15 to 20 where they participated in a successful moose hunt.
They brought it back to the community where students learned how to butcher the meat before distributing it to community members.
"The moose was brought back to the school and Grades 7, 8 and 9 participated in cutting up the meat," Kuer said.
"They were learning how to cut up the meat and actually got out and delivered it to households in the community."
The following week, a girls' trip brought students to 12 Mile Point where they learned how to maintain campfires and make dry meat.
Hunters participating in the trip caught another moose, as well as ducks and geese, which the girls were able to bring home, Kuer said. The camping trips taught all students valuable cultural lessons, she added.
"It's been very successful," she said.
- Kassina Ryder
Weather balloon launched
Tetlit'zheh/Fort McPherson
Chief Julius School students from Grades 6 to 12 have been working on a unique project together, said teacher Justin Cormier.
Partnering with the University of Regina, students helped launch a weather balloon equipped with a Go Pro video camera on April 29.
The balloon eventually landed about 70 km from Fort McPherson toward Aklavik and captured information along the way, such as temperature and carbon monoxide levels. It also videotaped its journey, giving students an aerial view of the area, Cormier said.
"We were all watching the videos today," he said on May 3. "The kids were very excited."
Before the launch, elders visited the school to talk about traditional methods of weather prediction. Students then tried out the methods and documented what they learned in a weather journal.
"It compared culture and science and how the two can work together," Cormier said, adding the students will now send the data the balloon collected to the university and students at Chief Julius School will have the chance to use the information to continue learning about weather and climate change.
- Kassina Ryder
DiscoverE science
Aklavik
Spring is getting busy for students at Moose Kerr School in Aklavik, said administrative assistant Bobbie-Jo Greenland-Morgan.
A University of Calgary DiscoverE Science workshop was scheduled to take place May 5 and 6. The workshop has become an annual event, Greenland-Morgan said.
"There is a different theme for each grade, so they'll be doing anything ranging from building structures to chemistry," she said.
In April, students travelled out on the land over the last two weeks of the month to participate in a variety of cultural activities, such as ptarmigan hunting and muskox harvesting. The school's aboriginal language instructors and local hunters led the trip, Greenland-Morgan said.
- Kassina Ryder
A first-hand look at post secondary
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Helen Kalvak School students travelled to Edmonton to experience college and university life first-hand, said teacher Kathy Tollenaar.
Five students from Grades 10, 11 and 12 left Ulukhaktok on March 31 and spent three days touring the city's college and universities, including the University of Alberta, MacEwan University and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).
They also learned how to open a bank account, how to budget and how to navigate the city. The goal was to prepare students for living away from home for the first time.
"I really felt there was a need for that opportunity to prepare and actually have an on-the-ground look," Tollenaar said.
Tollenaar said she hopes to make the trip a biennial event for future students.
- Kassina Ryder
Fling for spring
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
The third annual Spring Fling is set for May 21, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Snowshoe Inn parking lot.
A community yard sale was scheduled to kick off May 7 at the Deh Gah School gymnasium at 10 a.m. The day was set to include a pancake breakfast at the school kitchen, a bake sale and a raffle draw, among other events.
Fort Providence held a youth appreciation day on April 27.
- April Hudson
Councillor resigns
Iqaluit
Coun. Gideonie Joamie resigned from Iqaluit city council on May 5.
He did not respond to a request for comment.
Mayor Madeleine Redfern issued a news release saying he had made valuable contributions to council in his short term.
"He was an avid promoter of privatizing public works and reducing staff positions as a way for the city to save money and tackle our deficit," stated Redfern.
"It is unfortunate he has chosen to leave, especially since he had been so committed to helping the city deal with its financial situation, advocating for more efficient and streamlined delivery of our programs and services."
- Stewart Burnett
U.S. praised on polar bears
Nunavut
Premier Peter Taptuna is happy with a recent decision by the United States not to upgrade polar bears on the endangered species list.
"The Government of Nunavut welcomes the decision by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to not pursue increased trade restrictions for polar bears under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)," stated Taptuna in a news release April 29.
"The decision by the U.S. reflects what we have known in Nunavut and Canada all along. Our co-management system for polar bears is robust and effective, and the trade in polar bear parts does not pose a threat to the species."
Taptuna goes on to note that the carefully managed harvest of polar bears provides a vital source of sustenance, income and traditional culture to communities across Nunavut.
The premier recognized the efforts of the Government of Canada, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and organizations from across all Inuit regions.
"Their tireless work to promote effective polar bear management systems ... Their efforts to educate the value of polar bears to both the ecosystem and the people of the Arctic have been invaluable in this process."
- Michele LeTourneau
Water restoration delayed
Iqaluit
City council abruptly moved to "immediately" restore trucked-water deliveries on Wednesdays at its April 26 meeting, but the city's collective bargaining agreement is slowing that measure down.
"To accommodate the change in work schedule for staff, the city must provide employees with 14 calendar days of notice as per the collective agreement," stated communications officer Eva Michael in a news release.
Council had moved to suspend "Waterless Wednesdays" until administration could prove that the measure was saving the city money.
Wednesday deliveries are scheduled to resume May 18.
The city did not confirm by press time whether a committee of the whole meeting, included in a motion approved at the April 26 meeting, will go ahead as desired May 9 to hear from administration about cost savings from eliminating a day of water deliveries.
- Stewart Burnett
Kamik program a success
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
A kamik-making program in Kimmirut saw far more interest than organizers anticipated.
Twenty-six women applied to take part, but there was only room for six.
Monica Gardner, community justice outreach worker in the hamlet, applied for a grant to host the program with the Department of Culture and Heritage. She also got help from the Illisaqsivik Society.
She hired Annie Ikkidluak Sr. and Jeannie Padluq as instructors.
"I wouldn't have been able to run this program properly without them," stated Gardner in an e-mail. "I'm so proud of each and every one of them for succeeding in their goals. It takes a lot of hard work and patience to make these."
- Stewart Burnett
Nunavummiut take Rangers course
Quebec
Cambridge Bay's Chris Aitaok and Kimmirut's Michael Shoaty recently took part in a Canadian Ranger Basic Military Indoctrination (CRBMI) pilot-course at the Farnham Garrison in Quebec.
Capt. Karine Roy told Nunavut News/North that Rangers used their Lee Enfield .303 during the training, which was offered only in English.
The course took place from April 10 to 16 and was hosted by the 2nd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group.
"The conducting of CRBMI is an important milestone in the efforts of the Canadian Army to equip the Canadian Rangers with a modern training program, one that is mission-based and adapted to realities on the ground," stated Lt.-Col. Bruno Plourde, Commanding Officer 2nd CRPG, in a news release.
The CRBMI is the first course all Canadian Rangers undergo after enrolment and is said to mark an essential step in the start of their careers in the Canadian Armed Forces.
The training focused on the roles and responsibilities of the Canadian Rangers, basic drills, Code of Service Discipline, communications, handling and firing a service weapon and first aid.
- Stewart Burnett
Students ready to drive
Iglulik
The Iglulik recreation committee asked high school students what they need in the community, and as a result a driving course was offered.
"Within the last year it came to our attention that some people wanted to get their driver's licence but just thinking about the process made a lot of them nervous," stated Merlyn Recinos in an e-mail to Nunavut News/North. "It also came to our attention that some young people could not apply to some jobs as they required a driver's licence."
Recinos says there wasn't funding available so the committee volunteered to teach classes every night at the library and tests were administered on the weekends.
"Our director of recreation Ghadihela Quezada made a poster about our course and posted them around town, also using social media asking people if they would be interested in getting a driver's licence and we received a great turnout," he said.
An estimated 100 people have signed up and more are waiting. Iglulik has a population of about 2,000.
"Due to the great demand we decided to split them into groups of 15 to 20 people per group," said Recinos.
RCMP officers in the community are doing the testing.
- Michele LeTourneau
Online tool tracks climate change
Nunavut
A new interactive online climate-change resource for Nunavut, Tukisigiaqta, launched May 2.
The Department of Environment developed the web-based Tukisigiaqta through its Climate Change Centre (NC3) to help Nunavummiut understand and prepare for impacts of climate change, according to a news release.
"Tukisigiaqta tests users on their knowledge of how climate change is affecting people both in the home and on the land, and helps them understand how to prepare for the challenges caused by climate change," stated Climate Change program manager Colleen Healey.
"Tukisigiaqta includes both Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and information about modern communication devices and technologies that can help Nunavummiut deal with the effects of climate change."
The department also mentions the importance of using the SPOT device and satellite phones when travelling on the land.
"There is also a section (on the website) where users can share their stories of travelling on the land. The stories will be posted on the NC3 website for others to enjoy and learn from."
The new resource is at climatechangenunavut.ca.
- Michele LeTourneau
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