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Monday, July 4, 2016
Extreme fire conditions over Canada Day long weekend
The threat of wildfires near Behchoko was expected to stay listed as extreme over the weekend, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Two fires were burning about 100 km from Whati, Behchoko and Fort Providence as of June 30. There was also a four-hectare fire burning 5 km southeast of Fort Smith that was being held in check Friday, but ENR warned that residents be prepared to evacuate in the event of an emergency.
In total, 12 fires were being monitored or fought in the South Slave region as of July 1 and three had been put out. Of the 27 fires in the Deh Cho region, 10 were being monitored and six were being fought, while the remaining 11 were either under control or had been put out. Four of the six fires in the North Slave region had been put out, while the remaining two were being monitored or fought. One of the Sahtu region's three fires had been put out with the other two being fought or monitored. One fire in the Inuvik region had been put out.
- Kassina Ryder
Smugglers intercepted twice in same week
Kahbamiue/Colville Lake
RCMP twice intercepted a group of Colville Lake residents attempting to smuggle booze and marijuana into the community late last month, according to a news release.
The first incident took place on June 25, when police received a tip that a group of four individuals were planning to bring booze and drugs into the community via a chartered a plane from Norman Wells to Colville Lake. Police stopped the group and seized the liquor.
On June 27, the same group of people booked tickets on the regular flight from Norman Wells to Colville Lake. Police again stopped the group and seized alcohol.
In total, police confiscated 63 375-mL bottles of vodka, nine 750-mL bottles of vodka, six 1.14-L bottles of vodka, four 1.14-L bottles of rum, one 750-mL bottle of rum, one 750-mL bottle of whiskey, 24 cans of beer and twisted tea, and three small bags of marijuana. No one was charged.
- Kassina Ryder
Liquor smuggled into Deline
Deline/Fort Franklin
RCMP seized 41bottles of vodka and 15 cans of beer after two men smuggled the booze into Deline from Norman Wells on June 27, a news release stated.
The men carried the liquor in their luggage on a commercial flight from Norman Wells to Deline. After receiving a tip, police searched their luggage when the pair arrived in Deline and seized the alcohol.
Deline is a restricted community and police can lay charges if someone possesses more alcohol than permitted.
In Deline, an individual is permitted to possess a combination of 1,140 mL of spirits and 12 355-mL containers of beer; a combination of 1,140 mL of spirits and two litres of wine; 12 355-mL containers of beer and two litres of wine; or 24 355-mL containers of beer and one litre of wine.
No charges were laid in the incident.
- Kassina Ryder
Operation Nunakput begins July 7
NWT
Operation Nunakput is set to take place in Lutsel K'e, Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Simpson this summer, according to a news release from Joint Task Force North.
The exercise is an annual Canadian Armed Forces operation. This year, the focus will be on local search and rescue training. Search and rescue training will take place in Lutsel K'e on July 7 and a community day is scheduled to be held the following day, the release stated. Navy training will take place in Yellowknife from July 10 to July 12 and interoperability drills are scheduled to take place in Hay River on July 15. Search and rescue training will take place in Fort Simpson on July 18 and 19 and a community day is scheduled to be held on July 20.
"These activities test the effectiveness of the Canadian Armed Forces' Northern capabilities and promote the whole-of-government working model outlined in the Canada First Defence Strategy and Canada's Northern Strategy," the release stated.
- Kassina Ryder
Wekweeti hosts Tlicho Annual Gathering
Wekweeti/Snare Lakes
The 12th annual Tlicho Gathering is scheduled to take place in Wekweeti from July 5 to 7, according to information from the Tlicho Government website.
The gathering is expected to begin at 10 a.m. in the Alexis Arrowmaker School gym. The schedule includes the Tlicho Government's annual report and financial report, as well as the annual report for the Tlicho Investment Corporation. The three-day meeting is also scheduled to include opening and closing drumming performances, as well as speeches by Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus and Wekweeti Chief Johnny Arrowmaker. Chief Alfonz Nitsiza from Whati, Chief Clifford Daniels from Behchoko and Chief David Wedawin from Gameti are also expected to make closing comments.
- Kassina Ryder
Behchoko celebrates Canada Day
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo
Though many residents were expected to be out of town on Canada Day weekend, event organizer Rusty Mantla said there were many activities planned for Behchoko residents to enjoy.
Behchoko's schedule was expected to include a parade, which would begin at the fire hall at about noon. The parade would finish at the cultural centre. Other events included a bike decorating contest, three-legged races and egg toss competitions.
Games were geared to both adults and youth, Mantla said.
A barbecue was scheduled to begin at about 2 p.m. followed by horseshoe games at about 3 p.m. Mantla said the horseshoe games were expected to be a popular event.
"Most of the people have been interested in playing horseshoes this summer," he said.
- Kassina Ryder
Still time to apply for Canol Trail hike
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
The 2016 Canol Youth Leadership Hike is scheduled to take place from July 7 to 14, said organizer Myles Erb. The application deadline passed on June 30, but Erb said applications could still be accepted until July 5.
"We have some openings if somebody gets to me as soon as possible," he said.
This year's hike begins at Mile 40 and will end at the Mackenzie River. An elders' station will be set up at Mile 25 where hikers will be able to visit and take a break.
"There are going to be a couple of youth helping the elders," Erb said.
Hikers will be brought back to Norman Wells by boat on July 14 and participants from other communities will be flown home the following day.
- Kassina Ryder
Canada Day events and day camps in Tulita
Tulita/Fort Norman
Tulita's Canada Day events were expected to kick off with a Feeding of the Fire ceremony outside the arena, said recreation co-ordiantor Archie Erigaktuk.
The ceremony will be followed by youth and adult games at the arena, as well as carnival games. After the youth games finish, children and youth are invited to the pool for a free swim from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. On July 2, a skeet shooting competition and canoe races are scheduled to take place. Tulita's summer day camp is scheduled to begin on July 4, Erigaktuk said.
The first week of the camp will be combined with the Sister Celeste Bible Camp. Participants will take part in games and activities, as well as swimming at the pool. The combined camp will take place at Chief Albert Wright School. The week will finish off with a day trip to Windy Island on July 12.
"We'll have a little hot dog cookout and scavenger hunt over there," Erigaktuk said.
Registration forms for the camp are due on July 4. The summer day camp will then continue throughout the summer at the arena.
- Kassina Ryder
Moose Kerr School plays it safe
Aklavik
Moose Kerr School students participated in the school's Safety Week the week of May 23, said principal Velma Illasiak.
This is the first time the school has held the event in a few years.
"We've done it off and on throughout the years," Illasiak said. "For the first time this year, we brought it back."
The week focused on fire drills, a lockdown, fire arms safety and staying safe around water. Illasiak said the water safety portion was especially important.
"It's a good time because of spring thaw and kids are tempted to go out on the ice," she explained.
A smaller but similar program about ice safety is also held at the school in the fall, Illasiak added. Members of the RCMP, a bylaw officer with the Hamlet of Aklavik and representatives from other community organizations visited the school to help deliver lessons. Illasiak said she would like to thank everyone who helped make the event a success.
- Kassina Ryder
Spring geese hunting in Sachs Harbour
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Residents of Sachs Harbour will be busy hunting geese over the next few weeks, said recreation co-ordinator Doreen Carpenter.
Every year, residents head out on the land to hunt geese and go fishing.
"The geese come through here and they go and get their geese for the year," said Carpenter.
During the week, people leave town as soon as they're finished work for the day.
"For the next two weeks, it's pretty quiet," she said.
People are fishing for Arctic char, trout and cod at this time of year.
- Kassina Ryder
Chief Julius School cleans up community
Tetlit'zheh/Fort McPherson
The Grade 6 class at Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson organized this year's community cleanup, which was expected to take place on May 25, said teacher Erica Thompson.
While the school has held the cleanup for years, this is the second year the Grade 6 class has taken charge.
The class is part of a program called the Four Pillars Resiliency Project, which includes Chief Julius School, Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, Chief Sunrise Education Centre in Hay River and Moose Kerr School in Aklavik, said Thompson. Part of the project encourages students to engage in service learning, such as organizing and executing the community's annual spring cleanup.
The Grade 6 class assigned their classes to different parts of the community, handed out garbage bags and gloves and partnered with students from Kindergarten to Grade 3 to help out younger students.
"It's kind of a way for them to demonstrate the leadership and ambassadorship skills they've been learning throughout the year," said Thompson.
The afternoon was scheduled to conclude with a barbecue at the school.
- Kassina Ryder
Healthy options reap rewards
Deh Cho
Four schools under the purview of the Deh Cho Divisional Education Council have received recognition for their efforts to implement Drop The Pop programming.
Kakisa Lake School, Louie Norwegian School in Jean Marie River, Charles Tetcho School in Sambaa K'e and Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson were all recognized by the Department of Health and Social Services, among 18 schools chosen as winners across the Northwest Territories for the Drop The Pop campaign.
Prizes for winners range from $500 to $3,000.
This is the 10th year of the campaign, which promotes healthy food and beverages in schools and encourages students to learn more about nutrition.
- April Hudson
Angik School graduating class doubles
Paulatuk
Paulatuk's Angik School is expected to graduate two students on June 14, said principal Debbie Redden-Cormier.
While the school had originally planned to graduate one student this year, a student from Paulatuk who had been attending school in Tuktoyaktuk decided she wanted to be a part of the graduation ceremony in her hometown, said Redden-Cormier.
Both Lisa Illasiak and Brianna Wolki will now be honoured during the ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at Angik School at 6 p.m.
A feast is scheduled to follow the ceremony and there will be activities into the evening as well, said Redden-Cormier.
"There will be festivities," she said.
Everyone is welcome to attend the event.
- Kassina Ryder
Pool opens and the schedule is packed
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson's pool has opened for the summer.
Swim club is taking sign-ups at the pool.
The schedule includes bronze medallian training, pool games, synchronized swimming, Aqua Fit and parent and tot swims, as well as public swimming and swim club.
Bronze Medallian training is scheduled to take place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays will include a family swim from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
- April Hudson
Dump area closed
Iqaluit
Following a fire at the city's metal and wood dump, the City of Iqaluit reminded residents June 27 that the site is closed to the public until an alternate disposal location is prepared to accept metal and wood waste.
"This means that it is closed to both dropping off waste and removing waste," states a news release.
Accessing the site without permission from the city is considered trespassing, and illegal dumping comes with fine of $500 for an individual or $5,000 for a business.
During the next weeks, the city will be preparing a new area within the West 40 landfill for accepting wood and bulky metal waste.
On June 28, the city said an update with instructions regarding the location and operating hours for the alternate disposal location would be provided as soon as possible.
- Stewart Burnett
Northern shrimp report completed
Nunavut
An independent review of the Last In, First Out policy (LIFO) for the Northern shrimp fishery is in the hands of a Liberal cabinet minister while Nunavut fishers now wait for an expected decision.
Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated in a news release he appreciates the economic importance of the shrimp fishery for all harvesters and their communities in Atlantic Canada.
"The purpose of this independent review was to give those affected by LIFO an opportunity to share their views and concerns in an open and transparent process, and to ensure that the final decisions for the Northern shrimp fishery take those views into account," he stated.
Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson previously criticized the policy as favouring older licence holders and called it "discriminatory" against Nunavut fishers. He hopes those concerns are taken into account in LeBlanc's decision on the policy.
- Stewart Burnett
New president at Qulliq Energy
Iqaluit
After almost three years of internal leadership shuffling, Qulliq Energy Corporation has a new president. Bruno Pereira takes over the job July 5 after a national competition.
Pereira is a professional engineer with a master's degree in business administration and has more than 25 years experience in Ontario's energy sector, including as director of engineering at Milton Hydro.
Peter Ma, Alain Barriault and Peter Tumilty have served in the role at Qulliq since Peter Mackey was fired in November 2013.
Other senior government changes, effective July 29, include Chris D'Arcy moving to deputy minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, cabinet secretary and secretary to the Senior Personnel Secretariat from deputy minister of Finance Deputy Minister, taking over from David Akeeagok, who returns as deputy minister of Environment.
Simon Awa is returning as full-time chief negotiator on devolution from deputy minister of Environment.
Nunavut's comptroller general Jeffery Chown will take over a deputy minister of Finance and Alma Power becomes acting comptroller general.
- Casey Lessard
Solar panels power rec centre
Kugluktuk
The Kugluktuk Recreation Centre is a huge, multi-purpose building - with an almost Olympic-sized ice surface, a youth centre, a community hall, a huge kitchen and a radio station - and keeping the lights on takes a lot of power.
In light of that, the hamlet launched a solar panel project June 22 with the help of federal and territorial funding.
Currently, the panels, installed across the rooftop of the building, provide 10 kilowatts of power, but the system can be upgraded to provide up to 50 kilowatts.
The idea is to try out the panels and see if they can make a significant difference to the hamlet budget.
"We monitor the system every day," said senior administrative officer Don LeBlanc, adding he's already seeing a bit of a difference.
Leblanc says the hamlet is keen on jumping on the green wagon. If the project proves successful with the recreation complex, they will move on to installing solar on other buildings.
- Michele LeTourneau
Generosity appreciated
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
Some surprise generosity came from the Hunters and Trappers Association in Hall Beach to the people of Clyde River when it announced the association was sending two boxes of caribou meat to the community.
The boxes were shipped through First Air so that the people of Clyde River could enjoy the meat either at Canada Day, Nunavut Day or whenever deemed appropriate.
"We never asked for meat from them and we never ordered from them but they sent us meat for people to eat and that is very heartwarming," stated Niore Iqalukjuak of Clyde River on Facebook.
- Stewart Burnett
Accountant wins Indspire Award
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
Laura Arngna'naaq, originally from Baker Lake, was among those who received an Indspire Award televised on APTN and Global TV on June 24.
Arngna'naaq was the winner in the Inuit Youth category.
She is one of only a few Inuit chartered accountants in Canada and, despite working in the heart of Toronto's financial district, stays connected to her Inuit roots through studying Inuktitut and teaching herself to carve soapstone.
- Darrell Greer
Youth celebrate Canada Day in Ottawa
Nunavut
While Nunavummiut celebrate Canada Day at home, 19 Nunavut youth are travelling to Ottawa as participants in Northern Youth Abroad.
The youth include A.J. Nookiguak and Annie Nookiguak of Qikiqtarjuaq, Bobbie Ningark of Kugaaruk, Cara Killiktee of Pond Inlet, Chance Mannik of Baker Lake, Charmaine Putulik of Repulse Bay, Christopher Eetuk of Coral Harbour, Donathan Kigutikakjuk of Arctic Bay, Emily Kakkee of Grise Fiord, Eric Illauq of Clyde River, Harley Evalik of Cambridge Bay, Julianne Angulalik of Kugluktuk, Jutanie Tapaungai of Kimmirut, Kathleen Akikuluk of Arctic Bay, Loriann Parr of Cape Dorset, Mahasi Nateela of Arviat, Megan Maliki of Hall Beach, Michael Jewell of Gjoa Haven and Willie Iqaluq of Sanikiluaq.
Northern Youth Abroad offers two core programs. The Canadian Program sees youth take part in a seven-week travel experience that includes a five-week volunteer work placement in southern Canada and a five-day orientation and de-briefing programs in Ottawa, states a news release.
NYA Next has participants complete a six-week placement at Algonquin College in Ottawa that focuses on supporting them as they begin to achieve their educational, career, and personal goals.
- Michele LeTourneau
NorthMart makes big food donation
Iqaluit
NorthMart last week donated thousands of pounds of food to the Niqinik Nuatsivik Nunavut Food Bank, which has been fundraising and seeking donations before the upcoming sealift order.
"The surplus food donated by NorthMart contributed to about 40 per cent of our donated food," stated food bank president Stephen Wallick in a news release.
"NorthMart helped fill our shelves with staples like flour, sugar and pasta. We want to thank North West and the NorthMart staff for allowing us to have a donation box in the store and extend a special thank you to the customers who dropped off food donations at the store. For years we have collected a full box of NorthMart customer donations every
month."
- Stewart Burnett
Youths speak to Senate
Ottawa
Arviat's Shelby Angalik, 18, was one of three Inuit youth to speak before the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples in Ottawa on June 21.
The indigenous youth leaders were given the opportunity to place their stories on the public record to celebrate the 20th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day.
Among the concerns raised by the three Inuit youths were Nunavut's housing crisis, suicide prevention, proper schooling, supporting Inuit language and culture and support for the arts.
- Darrell Greer
Kugluktuk heather inspires state dinner
Ottawa
On June 28, when the president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, dined at Rideau Hall, the residence of Gov.-Gen. David Johnston, he enjoyed a meal that included caribou from Rankin Inlet.
Executive chef Louis Charest cooked the caribou with a method he learned in Kugluktuk last summer.
Lawyer Steven Cooper, who practises in Nunavut, in conjunction with the Society for Building a Healthier Kugluktuk, organized a project that saw Charest travel to Kugluktuk last July.
"With the assistance of Healthier Kugluktuk, we had some prominent food people travel to Kugluktuk to reconnect elders and youth through food," stated Cooper in an e-mail.
"While in town, chef Louis Charest, the Governor General's executive chef and a friend of ours, discovered the use of heather to flavour caribou and now has included it in a state dinner."
Speaking to reporters about preparing the state dinner, Charest said: "We were cooking caribou on these giant grills (in Kugluktuk), and we were throwing fresh heather on the grill and it was smoking it live. So I wanted to replicate that."
- Michele LeTourneau
Performing arts workshop gets boost
Nunavut
The Qaggiq Performing Arts Teacher Training Workshop got a boost last month when Canadian actor Martha Burns donated $5,000 to the organization.
Burns was donating the prize she received for an acting award.
"I am humbled to be able to donate this prize money to Qaggiq," stated Burns in a news release.
"This is a great opportunity for me to bring attention to artists in Nunavut who are building an organization and supporting each other."
The donation will help sponsor an Arctic performing artist to attend the workshop, which is focused on developing Inuit-specific performing arts programming for children and youth. It will be taking place July 14 to 19 in Iqaluit.
- Stewart Burnett
Harvest planned at greenhouse
Naujaat/Repulse Bay
Undergraduate business students Ben Canning and Stefany Nieto have taken the greenhouse project to the next level in Naujaat.
The two attend the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University in Toronto and are part of the student entrepreneur campus group, Ryerson Enactus. Nieto is president.
Members of the Enactus team will be in Naujaat from July 1 to 18 when they plan to team with residents and attempt to harvest the produce planted at the end of this May, as well as work with a women's collective to sell the fresh food to residents at an affordable
price.
They will also try to assist the women's collective in using produce to make nutritious, prepared meals to sell to both the community and neighbouring communities, as well as launch a co-op program with high school students, so that the students will learn horticulture and business skills, as well as earn a course credit in science.
They also hope to build another community greenhouse in Arviat this coming August, depending on available funding.
- Darrell Greer
Harvested bear found to be blond grizzly
Arviat
DNA testing has concluded a bear brought down by Arviat hunter Didji Ishalook in May was a blond grizzly bear and not a polar bear-grizzly hybrid referred to as a grolar bear.
Nunavut's Department of the Environment submitted a tissue sample of the bear to a genetics lab for the DNA analysis that proved the fairly rare bear was a blond grizzly.
- Darrell Greer
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