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Monday, August 22, 2016
Charges pending after raid on Lutsel K'e area island
Charges are pending against two Yellowknife residents and a resident of Lutsel K'e after RCMP seized marijuana and a large quantity of alcohol from an island just north of Lutsel K'e. According to a news release, police began an investigation into illegal alcohol in the community on Aug 17 and located several individuals camping on the island. The two suspects from Yellowknife are facing criminal charges while the Lutsel K'e resident will be charged under the NWT Liquor Act. No names have been released.
- John McFadden
Research project studies climate change impact on roads
The second phase of a project looking at climate change impacts on the territory's roads will examine parts of the newly constructed Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, according to a press release from the federal and territorial governments.
The Northwest Territories Transportation Monitoring Program is researching how climate change is impacting permafrost transportation infrastructure, including roads, culverts and bridges.
The second phase of the project is estimated to cost $747,600.
- Kassina Ryder
Residents asked to report abandoned oil wells
Northwest Territories residents and visitors are being asked to report any abandoned wells in the territory through a new program called Well Watch, a press release from the territorial Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations (OROGO) stated.
"The program recognizes that the people who use the land are in the best place to notice changes to the land. Information from community members will help OROGO to target its inspection activities towards well sites of concern in areas used by residents of the Northwest Territories," the release stated. "It will also serve to validate the information that OROGO has on file about abandoned wells in its jurisdiction."
- Kassina Ryder
Cultural Arbour opens
Fort Providence's Cultural Arbour is now complete,
The facility has seating for 600 people and is intended to be a community gathering lace.
The federal Gas Tax Fund funded the project, which cost $451,000.
- Kassina Ryder
Gameti combines Gameti Day and Tlicho Day
Gameti/Rae Lakes
Gameti combined its annual Gameti Day and Tlicho Day celebrations to create one big party on Aug. 6, said recreation assistant Becky Chocolate.
Gameti Day actually takes place on Aug. 9 and Tlicho Day is observed on Aug. 4. Both the hamlet and the Tlicho Government (TG) hosted events throughout the day, including games and a barbecue.
The recreation department organized games such as Chubby Bunny, where participants compete to see who can fit the most marshmallows in their mouths, as well as envelope drops where residents raced for cash prizes tossed into the crowd.
The TG held canoe races for women and men's teams, as well as egg toss games and other events, Chocolate said.
"It was a good turnout," she said.
- Kassina Ryder
Tulita youth spend day at Windy Island
Tulita/Fort Norman
A trip to Windy Island near Tulita on Aug. 14 was a highlight of the community's summer activities, said recreation co-ordinator Archie Erigaktuk.
Twelve youth and five adults travelled to the island where they spent the day swimming, doing scavenger hunts and enjoying a barbecue together.
The weather was perfect for the trip, Erigaktuk said.
"It was plus 28 and the winds were below nine kilometres an hour," he said. "It was a good day to take advantage of."
The group had planned to spend about an hour and a half at the island but ended up staying much longer, Erigaktuk added.
"We were out there for three and a half hours," he said. "They just loved it out there."
- Kassina Ryder
$25,000 men's handgames tournament on the way
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
The second annual fall gathering and handgames tournament was set to sweep Fort Liard from Aug. 19 and running until Aug. 21.
The $25,000 men's handgames tournament was to be a double knock-out format, with eight players per team plus one optional sub.
The handgames tournament was for ages 12 and up.
All events were held at the arbour, and the gathering to include a traditional food camp and cultural workshops.
An evening drum dance was expected for Aug. 19.
Aug. 20 was to be a flea market and community supper.
- April Hudson
Slo-pitch takes the stage
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
The Big River Mixed Slo-Pitch Tournament was all set to move forward from Aug. 19 to 21.
Registration for the tournament closed Aug. 17. Teams were to have six men and four women.
Prizes were set for first, second and third place.
There was also to be a home run derby.
- April Hudson
Youth camp for Kakisa
Ka'a'gee Tu/Kakisa
Partnering with Dehcho First Nations, Kakisa will be running a youth ecology camp from Aug. 22 to 26 through the Dehcho K'ehodi stewardship program.
The camp, for ages 12 and up, is set to take place at Sucker Creek and will include fire ecology, lessons in water monitoring and a paddle safety course, as well as land-based skills taught by land-users and elders.
- April Hudson
Behchoko starts cooking classes
Behchoko/Rae Edzo
A cooking class geared for girls in Behchoko is scheduled to run from Aug. 16 to 25, according to the Tlicho Government website.
The class is available to girls aged eight and up and is taking place at the Behchoko Cultural Centre from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Participants were expected to learn baking and techniques, including how to follow recipes.
- Kassina Ryder
Youth stay fit in Fort Good Hope
Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope
Children and youth in Fort Good Hope will be keeping fit this fall, thanks to an exercise program called Dry Land Fitness, said recreation co-ordinator Freda Kelly.
The recreation department is partnering with the RCMP to deliver the program, which is scheduled to run every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., beginning on Sept. 3.
"They did it last year, too," Kelly said. "The kids enjoyed it."
The program is expected to take place at the Chief T'Selehye School gym. Anyone between the ages of five and 15 are encouraged to sign up.
- Kassina Ryder
Northern Life Museum to hold annual meeting
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre in Fort Smith will be holding its annual general meeting next month.
The meeting will be on Sept. 18, beginning at 7 p.m. It will include the election of officers to the board of governors. Anyone wishing to vote or to be considered for election to the board of governors must be a member in good standing prior to the meeting. Memberships will not be sold at the AGM.
- Paul Bickford
Smith pool closed for maintenance
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Fort Smith Swimming Pool is closed for annual maintenance.
The closure of the pool was scheduled to begin on Aug. 15 and end on Sept. 6. The facility is operated by the Town of Fort Smith.
- Paul Bickford
Film workshop in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Fort Smith YouthRise Project - the third-annual summer intensive film workshop in the community - is underway.
The first session began Aug. 15 and will run to Aug. 19. Another session will take place from Aug. 22 to 26.
Participants in the workshop, which is for youth aged 11 to 16 years, will learn how to make a film.
The free workshop is taking place in the theatre of the Fort Smith Rec Centre.
- Paul Bickford
Invasive plant hunt
Liidlii/Fort Simpson
Staff from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources spent some time on the afternoon of Aug. 15 picking weeds near the site of the new Catholic church.
The weed in question, scentless chamomile, is considered a highly invasive plant.
Wildlife manager Nic Larter said the species is not new to the region and has popped up a few times but the department has always had it removed.
"It's a very pretty-looking daisy," he said. "But it comes up, and if it gets a hold, it can just choke out patches."
- April Hudson
Bear awareness needed
Liidlii/Fort Simpson
Sightings of black bears inside the village of Fort Simpson has the Department of Environment and Natural Resources advising residents to be bear aware.
Regional superintendent Carl Lafferty said the bear season has been relatively quiet this year, compared to last year.
However, in recent weeks reports of bears in the area have increased.
Residents are advised to bring protection with them if they go for nature walks and to be aware of potential danger.
Last year, Lafferty said the department destroys an average of 13 to 15 bears per year in the Deh Cho region.
- April Hudson
Whooping cough spreads
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
Despite best efforts, the whooping cough outbreak plaguing Nunavut communities has appeared in Cape Dorset.
The Department of Health confirmed two cases Aug, 19 for a total of 71 cases territory-wide. There have been 36 cases in Hall Beach, six in Pond Inlet and 27 cases in Iqaluit.
"The best way to protect yourself from whooping cough is to ensure everyone in your household is vaccinated," the department stated in a news release. "All residents of Cape Dorset are advised to contact their health centre to verify their vaccines are up to date."
The department advises people should see their health care provider if anyone in the household, especially a young child, has a cough followed by an unusual sound that sounds like "whoop," vomiting after coughing or not breathing after coughing.
Small children may not have a "whoop" cough but may vomit after coughing, according to the department.
- Michele LeTourneau
Codeshare review in progress
Nunavut
There are no results yet from the Competition Bureau on its review of the competitiveness of the airline industry for services within Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
"The bureau conducts its reviews independently, and confidentially, therefore I am unable to comment further," stated senior communications advisor Taylor Bildstein in an e-mail to Nunavut News/North Aug. 18.
"It is difficult to say how long a particular review will take, as the bureau evaluates the steps that need to be taken on a case-by-case basis. As always, we work to complete our reviews as expeditiously as possible."
In October 2015 and again this past May, the bureau confirmed it was "reviewing a codeshare agreement between First Air and Canadian North," but Bildstein declined to say when the review actually began or to list airlines currently under review.
In January, Canadian North, First Air and Calm Air executives appeared at the legislative assembly in Iqaluit before Premier Peter Taptuna and Nunavut MLAs to answer questions.
"In the history of the legislative government in the North, never before has one industry been asked to appear before the committee in this forum," Taptuna told the airline bosses. "We take this session today very seriously and you should to."
The three airlines' switched to a codesharing scheme July, 2015, and the three presidents repeatedly called the complaints which followed the change "growing pains." All three - Canadian North president Steve Hankirk, First Air president Brock Friesen and Calm Air president Gary Bell - insisted their companies had made adjustments and the aviation industry in Nunavut was now better than ever.
- Michele LeTourneau
Broken line stops water
Iqaluit
Residents of Lower Iqaluit found themselves without water on Aug. 11.
An emergency shut down of water service to the 100-, 200- and 300-blocks affected residents from 9 a.m. until the evening, with water being restored around 6 p.m.
The city of Iqaluit determined that a broken water line caused the disruption that turned water off to many buildings, including the Arnakallak Building, Unikkaarvik Visitor's Centre and the Iqaluit Centennial Library.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Search suspended
Kugluktuk
A five-day search for a Kugluktuk hunter has been suspended, stated RCMP Aug. 18.
RCMP received a call on the morning of Aug. 12 informing them that Allen Kudlak was overdue in returning to the community.
"Allen Kudlak had left the community on Aug. 11 on his ATV with a rifle and had failed to return home," said Sgt. David Lawson. "Local ground Search and Rescue was immediately activated and on Saturday Allen's ATV was located approximately 10 km outside of Kugluktuk."
The search consisted of up to 30 people, 15 all-terrain vehicles, two boats daily and air support.
Lawson said people searched a large area south of Kugluktuk around Kugluk Territorial Park.
"After five days of searching, the only items located were Mr. Kudlak's ATV and his footwear," said Lawson. "The Kugluktuk RCMP would like to recognize and thank the local search and rescue team and everyone who supported them."
Kudlak had no other supplies or equipment besides his rifle and was believed to be an outdoor enthusiast who knew the land well.
The decision to suspend the search was made by Kugluktuk RCMP in conjunction with the local Search and Rescue team and Nunavut Emergency Management.
"Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Kudlak and the community of Kugluktuk during this difficult time," said Lawson.
- Michele LeTourneau
Fishermen baffled by odd Arctic char
Iqaluit
There's something fishy about the most recent catch of Arctic char.
Fishermen from Iqaluit to Pangnirtung are noticing that instead of being the usual deep red, the fish are much lighter, almost pink, with a difference in taste.
The fish have also been bigger than in previous years, around 900 grams larger.
The changes are significant enough that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is taking samples of the char for testing.
Some fishermen have suggested that the larger, paler fish might not be Arctic char at all, but rather Dolly Varden trout, usually found in the Western Arctic.
Another explanation could be a change in diet, with char eating more capelin, abundant in Cumberland Sound, instead of crustaceans and other food that effect their colouring.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is asking anyone who catches an unusual fish to take a photo and if possible share a sample of their catch for testing.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Hunters find moose on mainland
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Chad McCallum and George Angohiatok, two hunters from Cambridge Bay, ran into a surprise bounty out on the mainland Aug. 14.
The two men brought home a couple of moose.
"(George) got a young bull and I got a big, huge cow," said McCallum. "It's pretty unusual. It was right across on the mainland about 30 miles away."
McCallum said it's not unusual for hunters around Kugluktuk, about 430 km to the southwest, to come across the occasional moose, because they are closer to the treeline.
"It is pretty far north," he said.
In fact, most range maps indicate the only section of Nunavut that may get moose is the southern-most tip of the Kivalliq region. McCallum says the only moose he's seen before has been down in Alberta by the highway, by Banff and Jasper.
About the size, McCallum said, "The fellow I went with, he's a short guy and the moose legs were way bigger than he is.
"It was pretty huge, for me anyway. We're only used to caribou and they're pretty small."
Later, at a camp, the two hunters spotted something black and dark in the distance.
"He was thinking it could have been a muskox but we were thinking it could have been another moose because the ones we got were pretty dark, pretty black."
- Michele LeTourneau
Boil water advisory imposed
Tikirarjuaq/ Whale Cove
A boil water advisory for residents of Whale Cove was imposed on Aug. 15.
All residents are warned that they must boil their water before consumption until further notice after unacceptable levels of total coliform bacteria was discovered in the water system.
"The Departments of Health and Community and Government Services are working with the Hamlet of Whale Cove to monitor the situation and to ensure that the residents of Whale Cove are informed, stated Irma Arkus, on behalf of the Department of Health. "No cases of illness related to water supply have been detected and the advisory issued is for the safety of the community."
All water for consumption must be brought to a rolling boil for at least one full minute, and can be boiled in a pot or kettle or in an electric kettle without an automatic shut-off. The Department of Health advises that it is essential to boil water for drinking, infant formulas, juices, ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, cooking and brushing teeth, although all other activities do not require boiling. "The Department of Health's boil water advisory to the residents of Whale Cove is precautionary, issued due to bacterial count detected in community's water supply during routine testing," stated Arkus. "Additional samples are tested this week and the boil water advisory will remain in place until the results have been analyzed."
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Welcome back to school!
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
Student and their families filled the classrooms and halls of Quqshuun Ilihakvik Aug. 12.
"The afternoon was a whirlwind of activity with a huge turnout of families. After meeting with teachers and completing back-to-school registration paperwork, wonderful homemade snacks were provided. Families also had the opportunity to visit a Book Fair happening at the same time," said principal Katharine Bartlett.
School community counsellor Christine Porter, said: "It was great to see everyone again after the summer."
Kindergarten teacher Annie Akoak was excited to welcome the new kindergarten students to the school. Kindergarten and Grade 1 students all received two books to welcome them back to school and promote family literacy.
Susan Hillier, the school's learning coach, said she was pleased at the number of books going into the homes of our students both from this initiative and the Book Fair.
"I would like to thank the Gjoa Haven District Education Authority for their support and involvement in this event, as well as all Quqshuun Ilihakvik staff for their hard work in preparing for this event," said Bartlett.
- Michele LeTourneau
Youth projects boosted
Nunavut
Polar Knowledge Canada and Students on Ice have awarded up to $15,000 in funding for youth initiatives in the Arctic, the organizations announce Aug. 16.
Former Student on Ice participant Paulli Illuitok received funding for an initiative to help inform alternative safe travel routes for residents of Kugaaruk by capturing time-lapse footage of the speed and timing of ice melt in the area during the spring and early summer, according to a news release.
Another group of alumni, Madeline Yaaka, Gabrielle Foss, Eva Wu and Patrick Hickey, will be working on a project called Northern Lights using photography and community outreach to increase awareness and understanding and to provide a positive activity for youth struggling with mental illness.
Also on the list of recipients is Robert Comeau and his project, the Iqaluit Qajaq Society, intended to teach qajaqing among Iqaluit youth and to promote traditional knowledge and healthy living.
Launched in 2015, the grant program was created so former Students on Ice participants could positively use the inspiration that resulted from the expedition to benefit their community or region of the Canadian Arctic.
- Michele LeTourneau
Nominations open for World Heritage Sites
Quttinirpaaq National Park
For the first time in more than a decade, Canadians are invited to nominate sites to be part of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
Canada currently has 18 UNESCO sites, and nominations are now open to suggest sites across the country for Canada's tentative list of world heritage sites.
Only two nominations per year can be submitted by each country for consideration by the World Heritage Committee.
Canada's tentative list was last updated in 2004, and five of the 11 sites on that list have since been inscribed as World Heritage Sites.
There's only one site from Nunavut on the current tentative list - Quttinirpaaq National Park, in the northern part of Ellesmere Island. The polar desert includes ice caps, glaciers, ice shelves, fiords, Mount Barbeau, the highest mountain in eastern North America, Lake Hazen, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the circumpolar region with ancient deposits of 80-metre thick freshwater ice shelves.
The park also contains the highest concentrations of pre-contact sites in the High Arctic, from all pre-contact cultural groups known to have occupied Canada's High Arctic, 4,500 to 3,000 years ago. These sites are associated with the earliest documented human inhabitants in the region.
Now, Parks Canada is asking communities across Canada to nominate additional sites.
"The designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is reserved for humanity's most outstanding achievements and nature's most inspiring creations. This is an opportunity for all Canadians to think about the natural, historic and cultural wonders in their communities," stated Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna.
"As we prepare to come together as a nation to celebrate our 150th birthday in 2017, I invite Canadians and communities from across the country to nominate their unique and exceptional places for consideration as future World Heritage Sites, so we can share more of our treasures with the world."
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
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