SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
With 2016 already in the rear view mirror, people across the territory are looking to the new year as a fresh start. News/North talked to residents and leaders to see what they hope to achieve in 2017.
Frederick Blake Jr.
The Mackenzie Delta area has faced challenges getting new housing units into its communities, according to the region's MLA Frederick Blake Jr. It's an issue he hopes to work on this year to prevent overcrowding and discourage residents from moving away.
"They've been doing a lot of replacement of units but to actually add units would be a big help," he said, adding many communities have wait lists for housing.
"There's a big demand."
Blake Jr. hopes both the territorial and federal governments will provide funding for housing in 2017.
Bringing long-term care services back to the communities is something he plans to push in the legislature as well.
"Right now it's mostly in the regional centres ... Like in Inuvik, for example," Blake Jr. said.
Bringing it to places like Aklavik would keep families together, he said.
Brandon Lee Thom
Brandon Lee Thom, an 18-year-old university student from Fort Providence, is hoping to spend 2017 working toward his exercise and wellness degree at Camosun College in Victoria, B.C. and improving his
fitness. He said he worked at the local gym for a few years, something that helped him lose about 85 pounds. Now he wants to bring the skills he will learn from his degree back to his community so other Fort Providence residents can lead healthy lives.
"It started off as just for fun, and now it's my life," he said.
Last year, he taught kids activities at the gym, such as basketball, soccer and "everything in between," he said. He even showed friends how to start a workout routine.
"And I'm still learning a lot myself," Thom said.
Daniel McNeely
As representative of the Sahtu region, MLA Daniel McNeely hopes this is the year his community will be brought out of isolation.
He wants to see action on the Mackenzie Valley Highway extension, including the creation of an all-weather road from Wrigley to Norman Wells.
"It not only takes us out of isolated bondage for the Sahtu region but in the process of constructing this all-weather road, it brings a wealth of opportunities such as economic, employment and training," McNeely told News/North.
He hopes the federal government will provide funding for the project in 2017.
Improved delivery of government services is also on his wish list - from junior kindergarten to housing and student financial assistance and health care, he said.
Gladys Norwegian
Jean Marie River First Nation chief Gladys Norwegian hopes her community will make healthy choices in the new year, whether around nutrition, exercise or social well-being.
Last January, the community hosted a health fair that taught residents about things such as healthy eating and diabetes, she said.
"That really encouraged people for a bit," said Norwegian.
"And we're going to be doing that again this January."
She said she wants people to approach the new year with a positive frame of mind and "reflect on some areas you can improve in," Norwegian said.
"There's always room for improvement."
Tom Beaulieu
Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Tom Beaulieu said he has spent nine years in government trying to bring smaller communities' employment rates up to par with larger centres in the territory - something he'll strive for again this year.
"What I'm hoping for in 2017 is that the government creates a possibility of employment in the communities," said Beaulieu, who represents Fort Resolution, Lutsel K'e, Dettah and Ndilo.
He believes there is room to open up jobs constructing access roads, creating health centres, and working in environmental protection and land monitoring, among other things.
Beaulieu said the employment rate in small communities can be as low as 30 per cent.
According to the NWT Bureau of Statistics, the territory's average monthly employment rate hovered around 70 per cent in 2016. The employment rate is a measure of anyone over the age of 15 who is working, according to the bureau.
"That is something that I think will be the cure to all our social ills," Beaulieu said.
Kate Powell
Principal Kate Powell of Deninu School in Fort Resolution said her staff and students met last week to come up with New Year's resolutions related to the four sections of the medicine wheel: mental, spiritual, emotional and physical well-being.
"What our program support teacher has done is she has put together a medicine wheel on the wall in our foyer and it's got photos of all the kids being involved in activities around those four sections," Powell said.
Around each section of the wheel is a description of how to achieve those states of well-being, such as getting enough sleep, drinking enough water and exercising, she said.
Teachers were asked to share what their goals are from January to March, she said.
Students will also come up with personal resolutions for the new year and will share their reflections on those goals in their report cards later this year for their parents to read.
Powell said the school borrowed the medicine wheel idea from another school in Fort Smith.
"I think in the new year, it is always about having a new start and thinking about the whole person, not just concentrating on one specific thing ... but having an appreciation that we're rounded people," Powell said.
