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Monday, April 3, 2017
Mapes mopes about flight costs
Hay River
Mayor Brad Mapes thinks it is simply too expensive to fly in and out of Hay River.
The high cost of air travel hurts the community's economy, especially tourism, he said.
"The problem that I see is the flight costs to get in and out of our community are way too high," he told News/North.
Mapes - speaking for himself, not town council - said the cost of flying to the NWT's air travel hub of Yellowknife is excessive.
And he believes the cost of flying is higher than it should be because GNWT travellers - employees or medical travel - are able to pay the high prices. Mapes said he has talked to the GNWT about the problem.
- Paul Bickford
Winter roads only open at night
Tlicho
Warm weather in the Tlicho region prompted the Department of Transportation to stop daytime travel on winter roads in the region, information from the Tlicho Government said.
As of March 30, the roads were be open at night between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m.
The winter road to Whati was open to vehicles of up to 45,600 kilograms, with motorists being warned to watch out for overflow at kilometre 2.3, 5 and 6.5 at Marian Lake.
The winter road to Wekweeti had load restrictions and travellers were cautioned that there was only single-lane traffic south of Basler Lake.
The winter road to Gameti also had load restrictions. Motorist warnings were issued to watch for construction vehicles and workers.
- Kassina Ryder
Health minister meeting postponed
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
While a public meeting with Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson and representatives from Health and Social Services went forward on March 27, Health Minister Glen Abernethy was unable to attend due to illness.
Thompson said Abernethy has committed to another meeting in Fort Simpson and will be visiting the community from May 8 to 10.
- April Hudson
Ekati workers vote yea
NWT
Unionized workers at the Ekati mine voted to ratify the tentative agreement with Dominion Diamond Corporation.
The new collective agreement will expire on May 31, 2019. The Public Service Alliance of Canada reached the tentative deal in February, after 30 months of negotiation.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Mackenzie Valley link completion will mean better Internet after June 1
NWT
The Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link is complete and is expected to be switched on June 1, the GNWT announced last week.
"Right now we're just working towards finishing the commissioning of the system," said Sean Craig, an analyst in the department of finance.
Craig said the fibre link is state-of-the-art telecommunications technology that stretches 1,154 kilometres between Inuvik and High Level, Alta.
It is expected to improve bandwidth and high-speed internet access in communities in the Mackenzie Valley and Beaufort Delta regions.
The Inuvik Satellite Station Facility will also benefit from the project.
The station gathers data related to weather, geography, climate and surveillance, among other things.
- Kirsten Fenn
Bill 16 means less class time
NWT
The MLA leading a review of a bill to reduce class time across the NWT says legislative changes will likely come this spring in order to kick off a three-year pilot project between the GNWT and teachers' association.
"The bill will be either passed or not passed ... at the end of May or beginning of June," said Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson, who is also chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development.
That's when MLAs head back to the assembly after the latest budget session that ended March 10.
If passed, the Bill 16 will set the minimum hours of instruction time for students in Grades 1 through 12 to 945 a year.
Current legislation requires at least 1,045 hours of class time for students in Grades 7 to 12 and 997 hours for students in Grades 1 to 6.
Bill 16 would also reduce the required age for kindergarten students from five-years old to four, in order to make way for the territory-wide implementation of junior kindergarten this fall.
The committee is scheduled to meet with residents in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Hay River from April 7 to 12 to get their feedback on the proposed changes.
"Anybody who is not able to attend those three locations is able to submit a written submission to us," Thompson said. "We're trying to hear the concerns they have."
- Kirsten Fenn
'One of the best lithium districts in the world,' near Hidden Lake says geologist
Somba K'e/Yellowknife
Exploration company 92 Resources Corp. may be sitting on one of the best lithium deposits in the world, according to a geologist working with a new exploration project near Hidden Lake.
The Vancouver-based business got the go ahead from the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to move to the next phase in its search for the metal element 40 kilometres east of Yellowknife.
Jody Dahrouge, consulting geologist for the exploration project, says this area has potential.
"It could be, believe it or not, one of the best lithium districts in the world," said Dahrouge.
Prices for lithium are booming, thanks to more electronics - such as tablets, smartphones and laptops - relying on lithium-ion batteries.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
First time in North for national touring Franklin exhibit
Thebacha/Fort Smith
An exhibition on Arctic exploration, particularly by Sir John Franklin, is opening later this week at Northern Life Museum in Fort Smith.
Echoes in the Ice: Finding Franklin's Ship was to be launched on March 31.
The national exhibition by the Canada Science and Technology Museum will be on display for the first time in the North.
Using artefacts, images, audiovisual presentations and art, Echoes in the Ice: Finding Franklin's Ship examines Arctic exploration past and present.
It also profiles the explorers involved in the search for the Northwest Passage, and decodes the mysteries of the Franklin Expedition of 1845, when an entire crew vanished in the Arctic during an ill-fated voyage.
The exhibition runs through June.
- Paul Bickford
Junior high handles 'bloodbath'
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
The sight of blood will never make anyone from Thomas Simpson Secondary School's junior high classes queasy again.
After a month of first-aid preparation, students from Grade 7 to 9 have spent the past few weeks taking part in hands-on training.
On March 16, a simulated mass-casualty event hit the high school. Students were given the task of responding to a plane that had a hard landing in Fort Simpson - or being one of the victims injured during landing.
As one student put it, there was blood - and lots of it. At least, of the fake variety.
"Everybody was screaming," said Elizabeth Meesters, who simulated having a dislocated shoulder and an open fracture in her leg.
Students took to their roles with vigour, simulating different injuries and yelling for help. Students who played the roles of first responders were given the task of providing emergency medical treatment.
Teacher Steve Nicoll said one of the major tasks students had to carry out was rescue carries - that is, getting victims away from the scene.
"By making it as realistic as possible, the students are better prepared if something does happen," he explained.
As a member of Fort Simpson's volunteer fire department, Nicoll said he planned a surprise training exercise for firefighters based on the training the students had received with the help of teacher Caitlin Blyth.
On March 22, during the department's regular biweekly training session, Nicoll arranged to have two calls firefighters had to respond to. That included Meesters, who pretended her finger was cut off, and Mike Athey, who had been scalded by spaghetti.
"The fire department had no clue. It was a secret," Nicoll said, noting the movie make-up used to simulate the injuries was so realistic some of the firefighters thought it was real at first, he added.
- April Hudson
Keeping indigenous languages alive
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
When a language dies, so does part of one's identity.
The NWT Literacy Council has dubbed March as Aboriginal Languages Month. Fort Simpson's Sharon Allen, who recently became a member of the council, says the pressing need to grow and revitalize indigenous languages is more important than ever.
Allen helped to organize an afternoon of language learning and games at Aurora College on March 24 in honour of the month.
Having taught Dene Zhatie to students in Fort Simpson in the past, she is no stranger to beginners who are just starting to learn the language and has developed her own techniques and games to help them along.
On March 24, she invited participants to partake in memory-based card games, games of Go Fish! and songs translated into Dene Zhatie.
For Allen, being fluent in her language is a way of putting pride in who she is. That, she said, is something she wants to see flourish among indigenous communities - and that doesn't just mean Dene Zhatie.
"That applies to all indigenous languages," she said. "Not having that means you're missing a huge part of you."
- April Hudson
CF-18 to perform at air show
Hay River
A touring air show set to make a stop in Hay River in July will feature at least six civilian aircraft, and one very special military plane - a fighter jet.
"The CF-18 demonstration jet painted in the beautiful Canada 150 colours ... will be performing in Hay River," said Nancy McClure, executive director and one of the founders of the Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour 2017.
The tour will stop in Hay River on July 8 for an air show at the airport.
"The aerobatic routine being done by an F-18 jet is something that your community will be quite in awe of," McClure said.
She noted residents may have seen a CF-18 flying over the community in the past.
"But they will never have seen it doing solo aerobatic manoeuvres above their heads," she said.
The CF-18 will also be performing in Yellowknife on July 9.
- Paul Bickford
Easter egg hunt in Gameti
Gameti/Rae Lakes
A youth and children Easter egg hunt is expected to take place in Gameti on April 17, said recreation co-ordinator Juanita Bekale.
The hunt is scheduled to begin around 1 p.m. at the Tlicho Community Government of Gameti office, but the afternoon will include other activities as well. Bekale said she hopes to have arts and crafts and small games to entertain children until about 5 p.m.
The event is open to anyone under the age of 15.
Gameti is also expected to hold its annual spring carnival the weekend of April 21, Bekale added.
- Kassina Ryder
Springing into fun in Tulita
Tulita/Fort Norman
Tulita's annual Spring Carnival is scheduled to run from April 17 to 23, said recreation programmer Kelsey Dayler.
The carnival is expected to include some sports events, such as a youth and adult volleyball tournaments and adult broomball games.
Other activities are expected to include a family fun night, youth dodge ball games and a big prize Bingo game.
There will also be a youth carnival which will include a bubble gum chewing contest, an egg race and a pudding-eating contest.
There will also be adult games, including a three legged race and an egg and spoon race.
Dayler said the carnival will close with a talent show and a drum dance in the evening of April 23.
All events will take place at the arena and in front of the Hamlet of Tulita office.
Dayler said she hopes both Tulita residents and members of other communities will participate in the events.
"Just come out have a good time and there will be prizes for all of the games," she said.
- Kassina Ryder
Spring Fling big event in Norman Wells
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
The annual Spring Fling in Norman Wells is scheduled to take place the weekend of April 7, said recreation manager Daniel Lamar.
The Town of Norman Wells declared April 7 a civic holiday so families could enjoy the day off together, Lamar said. Events are expected to include a family scavenger hunt and cosmic skating at the Ray Perrson Arena.
"We dim the lights and we're going to have strobe lights in the arena," Lamar said.
The evening will finish with a fireworks display at about 10 p.m.
April 8 is scheduled to begin with a pancake breakfast at the Royal Canadian Legion branch 287 followed by a Ski-Doo race. The day will also include a snow sculpture contest before an adult dance in the evening at the Norman Wells Community Hall.
The final day of the carnival will include Northern games competitions, such as nail pounding and log cutting, as well as a community cookout. Lamar said food is expected to include fish, moose and caribou.
"We're definitely open to having volunteers coming out and helping," Lamar said.
- Kassina Ryder
Behchoko readies for carnival
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo
Recreation staff are looking for volunteers for next month's Spring Carnival in Behchoko, said recreation manager Jesse Bierman.
Preparations are already underway and the carnival is scheduled to take place from April 28 to 30. While activities are still being determined, staff are working on a roster of events that could include a dance and bingo games, as well as a cribbage tournament.
Events for young children could include a pie eating contest and other activities, Bierman said.
Volunteers will be needed for a variety of roles, including running the different stations for children's activities and helping to organize games.
All events are expected to take place in and around the Khon Go Cho Complex.
Anyone wanting to volunteer can contact Bierman.
- Kassina Ryder
United Way NWT funds good causes
Hay River
The United Way NWT is supplying $170,000 in total support for organizations across the territory.
Some of that financial support will be going to two Hay River organizations - the Hay River Soup Kitchen and the Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities, stated a news release.
The support is coming from the United Way NWT's Community Investment Fund.
- Paul Bickford
Price to rise for plots in community garden
Hay River
The cost of a plot in the Hay River Community Garden will be rising as of March 31. Until then, memberships for plots will cost $25 in the garden and $5 in the greenhouse.
After March 31, the price of a garden plot will be going up to $30.
- Paul Bickford
Youth learn canning
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Youth in Sachs Harbour have been enjoying a new program this year teaching them canning and meat processing.
A program since December has involved youth in a number of projects, recently including canning.
"We're going to be making lots of jams, we're going to do some fish," said Doreen Carpenter, recreation co-ordinator.
During the last weekend of March, youth and adults were to be learning dry meat making and meat processing.
Carpenter said about 10 people are involved in the program, which is pretty good for a community the size of Sachs Harbour.
The program was a first this year thanks to funding from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.
Carpenter hopes to be able to do it again in future years.
"It's really nice to teach our youth a lot of different skills," she said.
Carpenter added she's just starting the planning process for the community's jamboree, which will be held the first weekend in May.
- Stewart Burnett
Deninu School student wins regional science fair
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
Deninu School's Laney Beaulieu won the regional science fair held in Fort Resolution on March 30, said principal Kate Powell.
The Grade 12 student's project on alcoholism earned her the top spot, which means Beaulieu will now move on to the Canada-Wide Science Festival, which is scheduled to take place in Regina, Sask. in May.
The regional fair included projects from students across the South Slave region and was held in the Deninu School foyer. Judging took place in the afternoon.
Other projects included both experiments and research projects, such as looking at which types of bridges hold the most weight, the study of dreams and the ingredients in drinks popular with youth and children.
The Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) sponsored the fair.
- Kassina Ryder
Funding announced for land programs
NWT
The NWT On The Land Collaborative has announced it will be distributing more than $600,000 to 35 projects
in the territory to promote on-the-land programs.
Although a comprehensive list of programs receiving funding was not available at press time, a media release from the collaborative states one of the programs receiving funding is a land-based youth mentorship project being co-ordinated by the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation.
The average amount given for grants is a little more than $18,000.
This is the second year the collaborative has given grants to programs in the NWT.
- April Hudson
Greenhouse readies for spring open
Inuvik
The Inuvik Community Greenhouse will be holding a couple of information sessions for new and returning members next week.
The facility will be opening in mid-April with an open house, pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 15.
Before then, new and returning members can attend two information sessions April 4 and 6 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Inuvik Centennial Library.
- Stewart Burnett
Spring break is here
Inuvik
Students at East Three School will be off for spring break as of Monday, April 3.
Both secondary and elementary sides of the school will be back in session Tuesday, April 18.
- Stewart Burnett
Career fair planning underway
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Dates have been set for career fairs in Fort Liard, Fort Simpson and Fort Providence, which are being planned by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
With a theme of Jack and Jill of All Trades, the career fairs will feature information on steps needed to complete an apprenticeship.
Career development officer Jocelyn MacLean said in an e-mail the dates for the fairs will be May 10 in Fort Liard, May 17 in Fort Simpson and June 1 in Fort Providence.
- April Hudson
NorthWords seeks writers, storytellers
NWT
NorthWords NWT is seeking anyone interested in participating in the 12th-annual NorthWords Writers Festival from June 1 to 4.
That can include published writers with new books or recent magazine articles, self-published writers, new writers, storytellers, or literary performers.
Some will be selected to participate in the festival alongside guest authors.
NorthWords will select its northern authors on April 4.
- Paul Bickford
Parks Canada seeks
Aklavik Inuvialuit
Aklavik
Parks Canada staff are looking for Inuvialuit beneficiaries from Aklavik to join on a coastal monitoring boat trip in July.
The week-long trip will explore cultural sites along the Ivvavik coast.
Parks Canada staff are seeking Inuvialuit beneficiaries to share traditional knowledge of coastal sites and participate in monitoring fieldwork, including taking photographs, measuring artifacts and sites and making recordings.
Anyone interested can contact 867-777-8819.
- Stewart Burnett
Birders eye owls for survey
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The annual Nocturnal Owl Survey is taking place in the Fort Smith area.
The survey actually happens on two days - one between March 20 and April 10, and the other between April 11 and May 5. It will take place on six road-based routes. Each route has 10 stops that are 1.6 kilometres apart. At each stop, participants play owl calls and listen for a response.
The survey starts a half-hour after sunset and takes about two hours to complete.
This is the time of year that owls are establishing territories and mating.
The survey will involve staff from Wood Buffalo National Park, plus volunteers from Fort Smith.
It aims to identify trends in owl populations in NWT and Alberta sections of the park as part of an Alberta-wide study involving Environment Canada, the province's Ministry of Sustainable Resource Development, and Beaverhill Bird Observatory.
- Paul Bickford
Graduates at last
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
A group of seven high school graduates from Cape Dorset finally got their cap and gown day on March 25, a year later than expected.
"These students were supposed to graduate in June of 2016," said principal Roy Cole. "A lot of things got in their way."
The class ceremony had been held up in the aftermath of a 2015 fire that burned down Peter Pitseolak School.
Cole said the change in class schedules and moving to different buildings made planing a graduation ceremony difficult, and some students needed an extra semester to catch up on delayed studies.
"It was all due to the fire that things didn't work in their favour."
Natasha Reid was class valedictorian.
"It was excellent," said Cole. "We had a beautiful ceremony, dinner and fireworks. It was very well attended by the community."
- Beth Brown
Dresses for days
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Kiilinik High School students Pearl Howard and Baeily Evetalegak have organized a penny sale, or raffle, of formal dresses.
Around 60 dresses were donated to the school for graduation by the Newfoundland boutique Ever After.
Grads have first dibs at a dress of their choice and the remaining dresses will be available at the sale.
The event is a fundraiser for the girls' summer participation in the Northern Youth Abroad program.
The sale will be held at the high school on April 6 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Winners will be announced on the community radio station at 7 p.m.
- Beth Brown
Long-held dream coming true
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
The community of Kimmirut is gearing up for the grand opening of a new space.
In mid-March, community members gathered for a bit of anticipatory celebrating, as the new Kimmirut Healing Centre is almost ready to open its door.
Senior administrative officer Rikki Butt said the event included draws for a food hamper and cash prizes. Food items were also tossed to attendees and only one gentleman received a minor injury.
Kimmirut council donated food items for draws, and Butt and her daughter donated cash prizes.
"Elders, men, women, youth and children will all have access to this facility," said Butt. "To me it's not just a building ... it's a beginning. The community has come together and we are all working very positively together."
- Michele LeTourneau
Sealskin sale busy
Iqaluit
In a joint project with the fisheries and sealing division of the Department of Environment, the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association (NACA) held a sealskin sale at Iqaluit's Qayuqtuvik Food Centre March 25.
More than 300 sealskins of different sizes, grades and colours, including natural sealskins, sold for between $50 and $140.
When NACA staff travel to communities, those sales are offered there, as well as at events staff attend.
"The fisheries and sealing division has a program called Nature's Edge where they buy sealskins from local hunters and send them to be processed in southern Canada, then bring them back to Nunavut so sealskin is available to Nunavummiut," explained NACA interim executive director Justin Ford.
"NACA helps with the distribution of these treated skins. We recently did an art market and sealskin sale at the 2017 Kitikmeot Trade Show in Cambridge Bay. Artisans are always grateful for this opportunity as it can be difficult to find dressed skins in Nunavut, as most that are sent south for processing don't make their way back north and stay in the southern market."
- Michele LeTourneau
Making mittens
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Pre-trades students at Nunavut Arctic College in Taloyoak took a break from exam prep to make some traditional sealskin mittens, called pualuuk, March 16 to 18.
The eight students were instructed by elder Koonook Oleekatalik, her daughter Martha Paniloo and NTEP student Corrine Boisvert.
The students cut patterns out of sealskin and lining material, and sewed the parts together with sinew.
"The group enthusiastically battled blowing snow, cheap coffee, and GN closures for nearly two and a half days in order to finish," wrote Brys Stafford of the college.
She said many of the students showed a real talent for the artform.
"If you find yourself in Taloyoak in the near future, keep your eyes peeled for some eye-catching new pualuuk!"
- Beth Brown
Certified for safety on the land
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
A team of seven Kugluktuk residents are newly certified in wilderness first aid.
The group completed traditional first aid training with an added outdoor component, instructed by the Yellowknife-based group Narwhal Northern Adventures.
"It was preparing ourselves for if there was ever an emergency out on the land," said participant Joe Allen Evyagotailaktook Sr.
He attended the course to update his certification for work he does taking men out on the land through Department of Justice programs.
The group made shelters from canvas and snow, learned about safety and communications equipment and how to signal airplanes when stranded.
Evyagotailaktook, who has been working on the land since childhood, said the changing Arctic environment makes safety especially important.
"The wind picks up faster these days than it did back in the '60s. You have to be more prepared," he said.
Paired with a small vessel operators course, the training allows residents to act as tourism guides, without liability concerns, said Myste Anderson of Arctic Vision Bed and Breakfast.
She often has customers looking for cultural experiences while they are in the hamlet. Anderson said she would like to see more residents trained to share their traditional skills.
"It's a matter of getting up to speed with tourism organizations. We have a lot of talented people ... drum dancers, carvers, and people who are amazing on the land, however there is nothing organized as far as tourism."
- Beth Brown
French business community celebrated
Iqaluit
The second Gala des entrepreneurs du Nunavut was held in Iqaluit March 24.
"More than 65 guests were welcomed to a networking event, complete with cocktails and appetizers, followed by a special ceremony where they witnessed the lighting of the qulliq," stated Carrefour Nunavut executive director Valerie Helene Gagnon. Carrefour Nunavut is the Francophone community's economic development organization.
"Awards were then presented to local Francophone business leaders and organizations who have succeeded in their industry and have distinguished themselves in our community over the past two years."
The winners are: Iqaluit Chiropractic Clinic, Emerging Business; Inukpak Outfitting, Service Organization; Daniel Hillman, Francophone Personality; The Grind and Brew, Community Builder Award; and Saimavik Studio, Business of the Year.
Atiigo Media won the Coup de Coeur Award and took home a crystal heart presented by Carrefour Nunavut president Anny-Emilie Pasalic.
- Michele LeTourneau
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