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Monday, October 3, 2016
Wolves force cancellation of night classes
Paulatuk
Wolf sightings in and around the community have prompted the recreation committee to shut down evening programs for children at Angik School, said recreation co-ordinator Bill Ruben.
"We've closed the school during the evenings until further notice because of sightings of a couple of wolves in town," he said.
Activities for older youth and adults continue. The committee will let the community know when programs will be up and running again.
- Kassina Ryder
Ministers tour Deh Cho
Ministers Caroline Cochrane, Glen Abernethy and Alfred Moses are expected to visit all six communities in the Nahendeh riding along with area MLA Shane Thompson.
The tour begins Oct. 3 with Nahanni Butte in the morning and Fort Liard in the afternoon. On Oct. 4, the ministers will visit Sambaa K'e in the morning and Jean Marie River in the afternoon.
The following day, the entire NWT cabinet will be in Fort Simpson. On Oct. 6, Cochrane, Abernethy and Moses will be in Wrigley in the afternoon.
Each community visit is expected to include a tour of the community and schools as well as a public meeting, with Fort Simpson's visit including an open house.
- April Hudson
Substitute teachers agree to deal
NWT
Long-term substitute teachers in the Northwest Territories could be paid according to the regular teacher salary grid after a collective agreement in principal was accepted on Sept. 27.
The Northwest Territories Teachers' Association announced in a news release teachers had accepted the agreement in principle that had been negotiated between the NWTTA and the Government of the Northwest Territories.
- Kassina Ryder
Veterinarian policy gets paws up
Liidii Kue/Fort Simpson
Councillors were all in favour for a policy that would see the village contribute money annually to a spaying and neutering program that would bring a vet to Fort Simpson.
Until recently, Mackenzie Veterinary Services held twice-yearly vet clinics in Fort Simpson.
In a recommendation to council, senior administrative officer Beth Jumbo said she has contacted the Yellowknife Vet Clinic, which is willing to discuss options. The biggest concern of the clinic is making sure people keep appointments and pay for services they receive.
- April Hudson
Orange Shirt Day
Northwest Territories
On Orange Shirt Day, many people remembered their parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers who were taken from their families to live in residential schools.
"The annual Orange Shirt Day recognizes the need for taking legal responsibility for former residential school students, it also shows an obligation to the view that every child matters," said Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus, adding it's is a way to speak up for children by advocating awareness of the detriment that occurred in Indian Residential Schools.
On Friday, Sept. 30, the Dene Nation joined all other First Nations across Canada, by committing to take control of education for their children.
Erasmus said that the Dene in the NWT are seriously concerned that children and youth get the opportunity for high-quality relevant education adding that there is value in restoring Dene languages in each community.
Erasmus said that while some of the former students endured and are now in a process of healing, sadly countless of them never returned home.
- James O'Connor
Big numbers for Car-Free Day
Hay River
World Car-Free Day had good participation in Hay River on Sept. 22.
About 20 people signed up to bike or walk to work or school on that day, a marked increase from Hay River's first involvement in World Car-Free Day last year when only a few people participated.
The event was promoted by Ecology North.
This year's numbers don't include any children and teenagers who may have been walking, biking and skateboarding to and from school on Sept. 22.
- Paul Bickford
Vets to visit Fort McPherson
Tetlit' Zheh/Fort McPherson
Arctic Paws is hosting a surgical clinic in Fort McPherson on Oct. 15, according to the organization.
The vets, Dr. Michelle Tuma and Dr. Monica Kovaks, will be at the community's recreation centre.
Services will be subsidized and include spays and neuters, as well as vaccinations.
- Kassina Ryder
Business workshop in Ulukhaktok
Ulukhaktok/Holman
The Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization is hosting a five-day business workshop in Ulukhaktok, according to information from the organization.
The Essential Business Skills Workshop and Training was scheduled to begin on Sept. 28 and run until the end of the month, plus workshops on Oct. 1 and 3.
Topics were scheduled to include an introduction to tourism workshop, cruise ship preparedness and how to package and price artwork.
Workshops were expected to take place at the Ulukhaktok Community Centre from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Kassina Ryder
Animal shelter trotting along
Hay River
Town council has been told that necessary items are being replaced at the Fort Smith Animal Shelter after the municipality took over operation of the facility at the beginning of the month.
The town then hired a contractor to replace the Hay River SPCA in operating the facility. Prior to the turnover, the SPCA removed some of its property from the site.
"We have replaced most of the stuff that was in there," Ross Potter, the town's director of protective services, told town council on Sept. 19.
"We still have some fencing to do around the outside of it also to build the pens back."
Potter said the shelter is coming along fairly well.
- Paul Bickford
Workshop for youth in Fort Resolution
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
Deninu Ku'e First Nation in Fort Resolution will host a life skills and overcoming barriers workshop for youth.
The First Nation has arranged for life skills coaches from B.C. to come to the community to facilitate the program.
The workshop - which will be held from Oct. 7 to 12 - is designed to help youth learn basic life skills, and will also cover peer pressure, identity, spirituality, bonding, communication skills, addiction and suicide prevention, coping skills, self awareness, employability planning and goal setting.
The workshops will be held at Mission Island.
- Paul Bickford
Meeting on daycare proposal in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A public meeting will be held in Fort Smith on Oct. 4 to discuss plans for a daycare in the community.
The meeting - which will begin at 7 p.m. in the theatre of the Rec Centre - is being hosted by the Fort Smith Daycare Society.
The daycare is being proposed for children up to six years of age.
- Paul Bickford
Arts fair approaches
Inuvik
The Great Northern Art Fair is right around the corner and organizers are seeking people to rent tables.
The three-day festival runs Nov. 18 to Nov. 20 at the Midnight Sun Complex.
Table rental is $100 per table and participants are expected to have someone at their table at all times from opening to closing each day. Tables will be assigned based on needs and products, with artists accommodated first.
For more information, contact the Great Northern Arts Festival Society.
- Stewart Burnett
Free business skills training workshop
Inuvik
Free business skills training workshops start in town Oct. 4, at the community lounge upstairs in the Midnight Sun Complex and run until the end of Oct. 6.
The workshops are free and open to anyone. All those interested in exploring business opportunities or building skills are invited to attend. Snacks, lunch and learning materials will be included.
The event is put on by the Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization.
Contact Jackie Challis, Inuvialuit CEDO project coordinator, for more information.
- Stewart Burnett
Inuvik strategic plan
Inuvik
The Town of Inuvik is looking for residents' input on its draft strategic plan for 2016-2021, which is available on the town's website.
The plan gives a full 'SWOT' assessment, which stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Strategic priorities listed include diversifying and strengthening the economy, addressing the cost of living, promoting and showcasing Inuvik, enhancing operations within the town and strengthening partnerships.
The town wants to hear if it is going in the right direction, if its priorities are workable and what actions would make a positive difference for residents.
A survey can be completed at the town"s website and an announcement of discussion dates about the plan will be released sometime in the near future.
- Stewart Burnett
Community hall opens to fanfare
Ka'a'gee Tu/Kakisa
Kakisa is celebrating the opening of its new community hall with an afternoon of events, including guest speakers, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a feast and a talent show.
The event was to have taken place at 1 p.m. on Sept. 30. News/North will have coverage of the event in next week's edition.
- April Hudson
Visitor Centre funding
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
John Holman, supervisor for the village's Visitor Information Centre, said in a Sept. 15 report to council a request for proposals was being drawn up in order to apply for funding from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
The funding sought is in the amount of $25,000, and would go toward a Tourism Strategy and Community Plan, a document that would have an expected completion date of August 2017.
Holman said the 2016 tourism season had a focus on historical literature and included two visitor mixers at the village campground and two presentations from the centre regarding traditional Dene culture.
That was a part of the centre's partnership with Liidlii Kue First Nation, which endeavoured to have visitors learn directly about Dene culture.
"There were many returning visitors, one from over 40 years ago, and it was clear they had an emotional connection to the land," Holman wrote in his report.
- April Hudson
Open house showcases seniors complex
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation held an open house on Sept. 27 in Fort Liard for its new seniors independent complex.
The building has nine units, eight of which are expected to be occupied by seniors, with the ninth reserved for caretakers.
- April Hudson
Pool reopens
Inuvik
The Midnight Sun Complex's pool was set to open again Sept. 28.
Some changes to swim times have been made, so it's recommended people visit the swimming pool to pick up an updated schedule.
One noted change was the removal of the parent and tot swim during swim lessons, which was made to provide the best possible learning environment for swimmers. Lessons begin Oct. 5.
- Stewart Burnett
Large jet diverted to Iqaluit
Iqaluit
A medical emergency Sept. 27 prompted a large Boeing 777-300 with a passenger capacity of about 340 people to be diverted to the Iqaluit Airport.
The Air India flight landed in the capital at approximately 7:30 on its way from Chicago, Ill., to New Delhi, India.
Iqaluit airport director John Hawkins said a woman was taken to hospital and the flight departed again shortly after 10 p.m.
Such diversions are not unusual, although they vary from year to year, said Hawkins.
"Maybe five to 10. Some years, none."
Passengers would not normally disembark but, should they need to in future, the new Iqaluit airport terminal will have a designated international area where that could be done.
- Michele LeTourneau
Qikiqtani elections coming up
Qikiqtaaluk
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association announced last week that Lissie Anaviapik of Ayaya Communications will serve as the chief returning officer for its upcoming elections, scheduled for Dec. 12.
Positions to be filled are vice-president, secretary-treasurer and community directors for Arctic Bay, Cape Dorset, Grise Fiord, Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq and Resolute Bay - all four-year terms.
The call for nominations begins Oct. 24 and nominations close Nov. 7. Eligible candidates must be an Inuk in the Qikiqtani region, 16 years of age or older, has lived in the electoral community for at least 12 consecutive months and is a current resident of the electoral community.
A person is not eligible to be nominated or stand as a candidate if the person works full time for Qikiqtani Inuit Association or its controlled organizations, is an election officer, has been convicted of a corrupt practice or has been convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment of five years or more within the three years immediately preceding election day, or whose imprisonment as a result of the conviction terminates within the three years immediately preceding election day, states the QIA website.
- Michele LeTourneau
Botulism scare ends
Sanikiluaq
Nunavut chief medical officer of health Kim Barker has lifted an advisory issued to the community of Sanikiluaq related to seal meat.
The Department of Health issued the health advisory to residents Sept. 12, who were advised not eat fermented seal. Public Health investigated reports of people becoming ill with botulism after eating fermented seal.
The environmental health officer investigated and the suspected meat was destroyed, according to the department.
There have been no more reported illnesses, and people who were ill are recovering.
- Michele LeTourneau
Doris North mine OK'd
Hope Bay
TMAC Resources Inc. announced on Sept. 26 that it has received an amended project certificate from the Nunavut Impact Review Board for the Doris North Gold Mine project.
The mining company is still waiting for approval from the Nunavut Water Board. A water licence is expected by the end of 2016.
The NIRB certificate is the next step towards opening another gold mine in the territory, in Hope Bay, located south of Cambridge Bay. The company will be now provide annual reports to the review board.
The mine required additional review by NIRB when it increased the size of the mine, tonnage extracted and operational lifespan to six years.
- Beth Brown
Canada's birthday coin features artist
Nunavut
Mathew Nuqingaq, a drumdancer and artist originally from Clyde River who now lives in Iqaluit, will be featured on one of a 13-coin set celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary.
The photograph of Nuqingaq was taken by professional photographer Michelle Valberg.
"As Canada prepares to mark its 150th anniversary, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to partner with Canadian Geographic to bring you this historic, 13-coin series that celebrates the incredible diversity and beauty of Canada's provinces and territories. Each coin is inspired by a photograph from the magazine, reproduced with exceptional detail and colour on 99.99 per cent pure silver," stated a news release on the mint's website.
Subscribers will receive one coin each month.
- Michele LeTourneau
Polar bear caught near hamlet
Qausuittuq/Resolute
Residents of Resolute are on the lookout for polar bears.
One male bear was caught last week across the river from the hamlet by Mason Simeonie.
"We could see right from our town where he caught it," said Nancy Amarualik, manager of the hunters and trappers organization for the hamlet. "And it was really skinny."
Amarualik said lots of multi-year ice has come in from the west, which sometimes means the bears will leave, but it can also bring more bears in.
"There is another small one around. We chase it away but it keeps coming back," she said. "We have to tell our kids and adults to watch out when it gets dark and when the dogs are barking."
She said it is normal for bears to be around the hamlet up until December, or even into January, so residents should be cautious.
- Beth Brown
Audition workshop for performers
Iqaluit
Qaggiavuut, an organization dedicated to training emerging and established Arctic performing artists, will offer coaching and professionally filmed auditions for Inuit actors.
The sessions will be held in the evenings Oct. 17 to 21 in Iqaluit and is geared to film and television.
Qaggiavuut will provide the same opportunity to actors in other communities and all three regions once the Iqaluit sessions are completed.
"We are building capacity for actors to find work in theatre, film and television," said Qaggiavuut chairperson Vinnie Karetak.
"In the south, actors have training and access to services that we don't have up here. We want to ensure our actors have the chance to get the parts they deserve."
Actors will receive coaching on how to audition for roles in film and television. Participants will film an audition, a standard part of a professional actor's resume.
- Michele LeTourneau
Tiny homes in community plan
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Housing options might get smaller in Cambridge Bay.
The 20-year community plan being developed by the hamlet includes an option for developing tiny homes.
The miniature and efficient houses are being looked to as an innovative and effective way of creating accessible housing options in the Arctic.
Marla Limousin, senior administrative officer for the hamlet of Cambridge Bay, said the plan is focused on affordability.
The tiny homes will not be public housing, but are intended for residents looking to become homeowners who are not financially able to enter the housing market in the territory.
"We've got a lot of young people that are starting out, that have jobs, that are leaving the community because they can't find housing. They don't want to live in overcrowded units with their parents," said Limousin. "Most of the housing types they are building for lease are three or four bedrooms, they're really quite large."
The housing market starts around $360,000 to $400,000 for a new home in the hamlet, said Limousin.
"If we could make a smaller lot price then I think those young people coming out of school or single people that don't want a big home could live within their means."
The hamlet has started to create a proposal and has been speaking with architects and contracting companies about the potential for prefabricated units.
"You could pop 10 units on a barge next year on the sea lift and bring them up," she said.
Houses would have to be altered for use in the North, with space for a heated water tank, and be elevated above the permafrost.
"We've had a number of calls from architects. Contractors are excited to have this potential. If we work with them to make it easy to access, we could get a really unique development going on."
The hamlet has 12 individual lots available for the project and two that could be a strata or condominium type of lot, with many units on them.
"We're looking for innovation," said Limousin. "And tiny homes notoriously bring environmental considerations."
The units could incorporate wind and solar energy, as well as composting, to decrease the environmental footprint and climate impact that is already a high priority for Arctic regions.
Alternative housing is not a new concept for the North, and residents are already talking about options like seacan housing. But this is the first time the hamlet has acted on the idea, said Limousin.
"We want people to work with us, the municipality, and be experimental."
- Beth Brown
French school commission calls out Quassa
Iqaluit
The Commission scolaire francophone du Nunavut (CSFN) located in Iqaluit is calling out Education Minister Paul Quassa, saying for the third year no Grade 9 student in Nunavut will be enrolled in a French-language secondary school curriculum.
The commission says this is because of lack of infrastructure.
"Let's be clear, the current system does not promote French first-language education, but rather the assimilation of francophones. Our students and parents are reluctantly leaving the French-language program for the English-language one when the children turn 13 or 14. Keeping Grade 9 students in a multilevel class inside an elementary school that doesn't have a gymnasium, a science lab, a music or theatre room or even a shop or art class is unthinkable," said president Luc Brisebois.
This past summer, Quassa stated Grade 9 students could join the French-language secondary program hosted in a classroom at Inuksuk High School, which is managed by the Iqaluit District Education. The minister then reversed his decision after the district authority filed an application for an injunction with the Nunavut Court of Justice to bar the French Grade 9 students from the high school, according to a news release.
According to the principle of substantive equality in education, francophones are entitled to the same facilities as those in English-language schools in the same attendance area, states the release.
"This is far from the case in Iqaluit. It's an unacceptable situation that must be addressed urgently to avoid hampering the CSFN's growth," said. Brisebois.
Since it was founded, the French school in Iqaluit, Ecole des Trois Soleil, has seen its student population more than double.
- Michele LeTourneau
Food drive fills elders van
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
The Wellness Centre in Cambridge bay filled the community elders' van with donations in its first ever food drive.
On Sept, 23 the van travelled throughout the community collecting dry goods and monetary donations.
Kendel Aknavigak of the Wellness Centre said more than $3,000 was raised for the food bank and donations will be used to start preparing Christmas baskets to be distributed by the centre.
The vehicle is a 12-passenger wheelchair accessible van, so filling it was truly a food-feat.
"We were able to fill up all the chairs and the aisle to where you walk to the back of the bus," said Aknavigak.
The food drive was incorporated into an existing annual food bank collection organized through the cadet program.
Aknavigak said that per month the food bank serves between 40 and 50 households - which is usually around 300 people.
"This time of year we have a lot more people coming in for the food bank. Because they are seasonal workers they are coming off the summer season and it is just a little bit harder to find the funds and the financial means to buy groceries and pay rent and all the bills associated with living in public housing."
She said hunting activity slows down, too.
"The animals have changed their migration routes around this time of the year, they are further out and it's harder for hunters to go out."
Talia Maksagak of the Wellness Centre, also known as Miss Petite Nunavut for having won fourth place in a national beauty pageant, was along with her crown and sash.
It was Aknavigak's birthday that week. "My wish for my birthday was that we were able to fill the van. When we completed everything on Friday I said, 'My wish came true and the food bank was successful.' "
- Beth Brown
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