Court fight deepens divideNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, July 3, 2017
At one time the Dene Nation was strong enough to stop a pipeline and force the territorial government to hand the reins of power over to a council led by indigenous politicians.
Now indigenous politicians are going to court to fight over the same well-chewed bone while Ottawa and the GNWT lord over a divided people in a divided territory.
This is the impression one might get when contemplating the North Slave Metis Alliance's lawsuit against the feds, GNWT and the Northwest Territory Metis Nation. The Metis Nation is based in the South Slave but also has members in the Yellowknife area, where most of the North Slave Metis Alliance membership lives.
A Metis historian could explain the history of disunity far better than the newspaper can but both groups trace their roots to Francois Beaulieu II - considered one of the founding fathers of the Metis populating the territory around Great Slave Lake in the mid-19th century.
The two groups have many historical ties to Treaty 8 signatories and the Akaitcho First Nation, which incidentally, does not recognize any right-bearing Metis north of Great Slave Lake.
All were at one time part of the Dene/Metis Comprehensive Land Claim, which dissolved like sugar cubes in hot tea when some of the parties tried to renegotiate the signed agreement in 1990. This led the way to more and more regional bartering and horse-trading with the federal government, with some groups signing deals and others - such as the Akaitcho - growing long in experience but short in progress.
This has all become ripe pickings for Ottawa, and now the GNWT, who, with devolution in 2013, can complicate the matter further now that it has a seat at the negotiating table. The lack of cohesion makes it easy for government negotiators to spin in their chairs while smaller and smaller entities squabble over harvesting rights for the few remaining caribou and spend their members' money on legal fees.
North Slave Alliance president Bill Enge is well versed in legal talking points and likely has a case. There is no denying the membership has a rich history in the North and are deserving of hereditary rights enjoyed by other indigenous groups in the territory.
But what's missing in this saga is any sense of desire for harmony, one to be celebrated not only by their group but all indigenous people in the territory.
Alas, the discord has built to a point where it would appear only a costly and lengthy court battle will bring about resolution - a resolution decided by a judge citing case law rather than between peoples with vast mutual interests.
Meanwhile, areas that would benefit all, such as economic development and jurisdiction over land, go untapped and unsettled.
The Akaitcho could reinvigorate its land claim process by finally deciding on a grand chief and showing some unity in the face of a government bureaucracy that would prefer to keep its power instead of sharing it with territorial rights holders.
Acknowledgment of Metis rights, not only by the Akaitcho but among themselves, ought not to weaken their positions but strengthen them.
Unfortunately, as long as there is discord between indigenous groups in the territory the only people benefitting will be the lawyers.
Royal wake up callNunavut/News North - Monday, July 3, 2017
Royalty arrived in Nunavut last week but behind the pomp, circumstance and hundreds of people lined up to take pictures, we would like to know if anything was gained from it.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Iqaluit on June 29, before flying directly to Ottawa for Canada Day celebrations. While other royals have visited since the creation of Nunavut -- the Queen in 2002 and Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex in 2012 -- this is the first time Prince Charles has visited the eastern Arctic since 1972, when he travelled to Pangnirtung.
Things might look a bit different 45 years later.
It's a shame their Highnesses only visited Iqaluit-- Nunavut is a vast territory with a long history, both at home and in connection to the British Empire.
Famous careers were launched and even more infamous stories emerged during Great Britain's hundred-year long obsession with finding a Northwest Passage through Nunavut.
While British explorers, including Sir John Franklin and the 133 men who perished with him on his final expedition in 1845, tramped over ice and snow with heavy sledges in search of this fabled route, they learned nothing of the people who lived here, even after naming most of the seas, islands, and rivers after themselves.
Hopefully Prince Charles had a bang up time in Iqaluit but what we really hope is that he came with a open mind and left with a heavier heart than his sledge-hauling forebearers.
Nunavut could use more champions on the world stage and the future king could make an exceptional one. If Canada, and Nunavut, is really part of a grand commonwealth tradition, the royals need to take a big bite out of some metaphorical (or real) muktuk, and address the dire issues Nunavummiut face.
It would be great if the royals took away not only a sense of the strength and culture of the region but also took some measure of its problems -- from its tragically high suicide and addictions rate to its lack of housing and food insecurity.
With great power -- even symbolic power -- comes great responsibility to shine a light on the issues. Next time, for instance, when a neighbouring country proposes a ban on seal products, or even his own country for that matter, we hope the future king will be a leading voice in explaining why that is bad for Nunavummiut.
The North needs a champion, not just for his subjects who look, sound, and live like him, but for the Inuit who have long had historical ties to his country and were not always treated with respect. Their legacy deserves better.
Perhaps Prince Charles can do his part toward building a more positive relationship as Canada celebrates its 150th birthday.
Homelessness help required Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, June 30, 2017
Dettah Chief Edward Sangris isn't happy about the recent problems on the Bullmoose-Ruth clean-up project.
The Yellowknives Dene First Nation chief is calling for an indigenous oversight group to monitor ongoing work after an inspection report by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) was released stating its lead contractor failed to comply with the conditions of its land-use permit.
Bullmoose-Ruth is a government project to remediate seven former mine sites 60 to 90 kilometres east of Yellowknife. Rowe's Outcome, a joint venture from Hay River, was awarded the contract back in late 2015 after submitting a winning bid of $14.9 million, which INAC said at the time was "less than anticipated." The company also promised it could complete the work a year ahead of its competitors.
The issues listed in the May inspection report include improper storage of fuel drums, equipment leaking fluids without drip trays, creation of an unauthorized quarry, a truck burnt in an unreported fire and a "very large" hydrocarbon spill near the Spectrum Lake shoreline.
None of this looks good for the government, which endured intense skepticism last fall about its ability to protect the land while opening up a winter road to access the mines.
Sangris, one of the skeptics, must feel like he is perpetually sitting on a bruise. He has spoken to Yellowknifer several times about his concerns relating to the Bullmoose-Ruth project - with worries over the winter road construction and lack of consultation with indigenous groups.
To the government's credit, it has demonstrated a commitment over the years to clean up abandoned mine sites and other eyesores and environmental messes. This has led to other issues in some cases, such as its decision to bulldoze a landing strip at the former Salmita Mine, as reported in today's Yellowknifer. More on that in a later edition.
But for the government to fulfill its commitment, it will necessarily need to open up winter roads to access these sites. This inevitably leads to increased traffic - at least for a few years - by recreational users such ice fishers and hunters.
This scenario was all very apparent when the federal government was remediating Discovery Mine north of Prosperous Lake several years ago.
To its credit, INAC did the right thing after releasing its inspection report: it took responsibility, ordered the contractor to fix the issues quickly and agreed to increase its oversight. That the issues were picked up and publicly reported in the first place also show its monitoring and inspection system is working as intended.
Everybody knows what the problem is now and everyone can consider the issues and provide suggestions to avoid these problems in the future.
The department's mistake was not involving Yellowknives Dene more closely from the beginning.
Given the project is on Yellowknives Chief Drygeese territory, their traditional land, it makes sense that the First Nation should have a significant say over how the area is cleaned up.
A couple of community meetings don't provide that. Working with an indigenous oversight group would go a long to building trust in these types of projects and make sure they are done properly in the first place.
Of course Nihtat wants self-governmentInuvik Drum - Thursday, June 29, 2017
Nationalism versus globalism has taken centre stage in international politics the last few years.
But the debate isn't new or limited to entities the size of countries.
The Nihtat Gwich'in Council, which represents Gwich'in in the Inuvik region, appears to want its own self-government agreement separate from the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the territorial body for Gwich'in.
Desire for the most local government is only natural.
If all funding levels were the same, who knows Inuvik better and can care for its citizens more closely, the Town of Inuvik, the Government of the Northwest Territories or the Government of Canada?
The more local the government, the more accountable it is, the more it can tailor its actions to people's needs and the more connected to its citizens it will be.
This idea can be pursued right to its logical end: that the most local government is the one of individual over himself. No one can know better what's right for the individual than the individual.
That doesn't mean the individual is flawless in her decision making but she is the only one who can know her heart and is entirely responsible for her actions and any repercussions they may bring.
The more distant the government becomes, the less responsible the actors are for mistakes and the more blurred their perspective is.
You can have the smartest technocrats in the world but if they're not responsible for their actions, they're working with bad information.
For Nihtat Gwich'in, the debate is whether to take complete control over their own affairs or subject their power to a regional body.
It might not always be a simple decision to go more local.
Perhaps there are benefits in letting the established GTC lead self-government.
That organization has built up its infrastructure to take on the task, and it might just be less of a headache to let the larger authority take control.
We're not talking the International Gwich'in Union here - the GTC would preside over a fairly localized territory already.
What makes sense for the Nihtat may not for the Gwich'ya in Tsiigehtchic.
A designated Gwich'in organization taking self-government into its own hands doesn't mean it is adversarial with the tribal council.
Organizations with different levels of authority and jurisdiction coexist happily all over the country.
The only way it could turn adversarial is if it gains the air of a power struggle.
Even if it does, that's only healthy. These are big decisions being made.
Those who roll over when action is needed deserve their fate.
Good on housing minister CochraneYellowknifer - Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne is correct when he says it's important to get the implementation of new laws right.
There is no doubt the new Mental Health Act, passed in October 2015, is complicated legislation. As Health and Social Services staff tell Yellowknifer, the work includes preparation of regulations to go along with the new law; development of new forms and documents; creation of a review board to hear concerns of individuals held involuntarily; and staff training on the new law.
Previously, Health Minister Glen Abernethy said he hoped it would come into force in January of this year. It's reasonable to think he may have underestimated the amount of work it will actually take to properly implement. That said, 21 months have now passed with no new timeline. As more months pass by, the line between meticulousness and lethargy gets thinner and thinner.
Yellowknifer asked to interview Abernethy and a member of the staff working to implement the act in order to better discern what work the health department is actually doing. Abernethy did not make himself available and the department did not grant an interview. Instead, Yellowknifer received a canned statement assuring residents the department has "achieved substantial progress" with vague mention of the finalization of regulations, training of staff and drafting of forms.
Unfortunately, the department offered no substantial details to back up the substantial progress touted. Why won't the minister speak to Yellowknifer on this issue? Is he embarrassed by the delay? If he is, he needs to move past that and start holding his department's feet to the fire. Same for Vanthuyne. He is in a position where he can ask questions and apply pressure to cabinet on this issue. Instead, he is being very generous in giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Sure, the department needs to get it right but this work also needs to get done. Because every day, every month, every year that passes, the more people continue to suffer under outdated mental-health legislation.
Timing is right for Airbnb taxYellowknifer - Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Two simultaneous things are happening between the city and territorial government.
While the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs works to update legislation to allow the city to implement a hotel levy, the city is reviewing its business bylaw to allow for the regulation of unlicensed accommodation rentals such as Airbnb.
Airbnb allows anybody to create an account and post spaces for rent, kind of like a hotel room. People can peruse listings for any city or area to find accommodation. There are currently 92 rentals available in Yellowknife, according to the Airbnb website.
The city is reviewing its business bylaw in response to business owners in the city who feel as though companies such as Airbnb create an unfair playing field by circumventing business licence fees, inspections and regulations. Meanwhile, the territorial government is just starting to look into updating legislation to allow the city to charge a hotel tax.
It seems like now is the perfect time for both levels of government to be aware of what the other is doing, and make sure Airbnb and similar unlicensed rental sites are included in the new territorial legislation.
To Kivalliq with loveEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, June 28, 2017
For most of my time in the Kivalliq, I've taken my late Dad's advice in trying to keep my eyes and ears open and my mouth shut.
There was so much to learn and absorb, but, in most cases, I grew to understand why some things worked and some didn't.
Understanding is a big thing with me.
It's not enough to know and apply the formula. I am driven to understand how the formula works.
I was driven batty for the longest while trying to understand how an audio CD sent to me from Liverpool, England, would often be in my hands in a week, while a package sent from the Maritime provinces, right here in my own country, would take between two to three weeks to find me.
That led to many hours of reading about, and getting a grasp on, different postal systems, and the effects of privatization, outside contractors, unions, etc., to understand why some systems are inherently better than others.
There are some things about calling Kivalliq home that simply defy logic, and to dwell on them is a recipe for disaster.
Prices, of course, top the list. For a small population base in the big picture, those who set our prices did such an outstanding job of holding us for ransom, that retailers across the country began to take notice.
I still take it personally when I see advertisements for free shipping anywhere in Canada, and then I'm told somehow we slipped outside the Canadian borders overnight.
You learn to deal with companies that, once they realize you're not about to hop into your vehicle and go to their physical location to complain, have a quick drop in customer service.
Then there are the ones that don't have a clue where we live.
After paying a ridiculous amount of money to have new speakers express delivered in an attempt to beat any confrontation between them and -40 C temperatures, I will never, until the day I die, forget the FedEx employee who was ready to swear on a Bible that their truck had been to my home twice that day attempting delivery.
Nor will I forget one year when I had to prove I actually live in Rankin Inlet (you're all aware of that notification, I'm sure), and, while speaking to a representative in Newfoundland, I was asked how did he know I didn't commute to Rankin. Can you imagine?
I can get annoyed, at times, when there's a certain hockey game I want to watch and then, much to my chagrin, I find out I don't actually live in any region of Canada. Access denied!
The only time I completely fell into the trap, and almost drove myself bonkers through frustration, was during the first few years of the program to end all programs, Nutrition North.
My gosh, I'd be listening to someone toeing the party line, defending the program, and telling me it was working exactly as intended, when, suddenly, it would hit me right between the eyes that these people are running the country. Our country! And they dress so sharp, too.
At least now, every time the feds throw millions more at it, it's great fun to think back upon the fact that Canada Post preparing to raise its rates to deliver the old Food Mail program was one of the catalysts behind Nutrition North. That, and some guy bragging about how he shipped his new tires up under the Food Mail program. If I heard a Tory politician tell that story one more time ...
There are still times you have to bite your lip so hard, that you almost draw blood.
Companies up here don't worry about PR because, being almost all monopolies or oligopolies, they don't have to.
Still, while your hand shakes holding the Visa that's about to be dinged two grand for your flight to Winnipeg â•„ and one of the suits with the airline you're flying on is saying publicly they won't even miss the $10-million annual contract they just lost â•„ you tend to swallow hard, if your mouth isn't totally dry with the realization that the fish on the hook is you!
And yet, at the end of the day, there's still nowhere else I'd rather be. Go figure!
