On a recent visit to the North, broadcaster and author Peter Gzowski compared the North's relationship to the rest of the country to Canada's relationship with the United States.
In doing so, he paints a picture of the North as a place largely unknown to other Canadians. Gzowski wondered why.
Recently, southern media has focused its attention on division, although most of the attention has been devoted to the east and the creation of Nunavut. The bowhead whale hunt this past summer in Pangnirtung created a fuss in some parts of the world and the opening of North America's first diamond mine at Lac de Gras also drew the spotlight briefly.
By and large, however, events in the North go by unremarked on by outsiders.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing. One of the appealing things about life in the North is that it is different than life south of 60. Events tend to move along at their own leisurely pace here. Weather is always factor, if only for its fierce unpredictability. People here lean towards a more relaxed view of the world, one that isn't quite so self-centred.
As Canadians, it is easy to look south to the USA and see what doesn't work. Northerners can do the same thing from our frigid perch at the top of the country.
There is no need for us to live in isolation, nor function in a vacuum. But there is a sense of freedom in being outside the often pointless pressures that southerners seem to thrive on.
If people from outside the North want to come up and find out for themselves what we do here, they are more than welcome. In fact, thousands come up as tourists every year.
The trouble starts when people who don't know anything about the North show up to fix it. Like Canadians who resent American intervention in our national affairs, Northerners resent being poked, prodded and diagnosed from the south.
Maybe that's the explanation Gzowski was looking for.
It was promising to hear the RCMP's new Western Arctic commander Dave Grundy's recent comments about community policing.
Grundy's reference to the RCMP becoming known as the legless policemen -- a period where a we-always-know-best thought process drove the RCMP -- was a sign that the times are indeed a-changin'.
More interaction with the communities they serve and protect and a willingness to listen to public concern is a positive step.
We are hopeful Grundy's vision will become the RCMP's policy of the future.
A number of Northern schools are to be commended for their participation in pen-pal programs which bring their students in touch with kids from around the globe.
Understanding and gaining an appreciation for various cultures and lifestyles promotes brotherhood, provides fuel for further education and an appetite for exploration and success.
Parents should strongly encourage their kids' participation in these worthwhile programs.
Editorial Comment
Glen Korstrum
Inuvik Drum
SAM school students and their parents are to be commended.
At higher-than-85 per cent attendance last year, the elementary school's attendance rate was much higher than many other areas in the North and Canada.
This year, it is even higher at 91.6 per cent and principal Bernie McLean says involvement from parents has been the best way to encourage attendance in school.
The school's policy of involving parents while implementing a system of incentives and consequences is a good one.
The consequences directly motivate students and can keep parents on their toes too.
Many elementary school children love taking part in extracurricular activities -- something they will have to forego if they are late a third time without notice.
Detentions are, similarly, a dreaded exercise and one effective at motivating the students.
But, consequences are also directed at parents.
If a child is missing four days without notice within a 20-day period, the school sends a memo home with the student with a reply expected.
In case that memo never arrives in the parents' hands, the school keeps up communication with phone calls to ensure the parents are aware of the problem.
Meetings, investigations and the extreme possibility of a court summons await parents who deliberately act to keep their kids from the benefits of being able to read and write.
Fortunately, this course of action has not been needed in Inuvik.
The preferred way of encouraging attendance involves benefits because it is most effective.
For kids, that means extra gym periods, free coupons for games at carnivals or half-price admissions to school dances.
For parents, that means feeling the satisfaction of playing a positive role in helping and preparing kids to achieve goals in later life.
Samuel Hearne school attendance figures are not as convenient to locate until the school's new attendance software system is in place.
Once it is, attendance figures can be watched more closely to help administration and the new District Education Authority develop much-discussed pending attendance policy changes while keeping the system of consequences and incentives.
Recycling for sustainability
There is news of Gordon Campbell leaving Inuvik for much of the winter and the closure of the North Star recycling depot.
Campbell deserves to relax more as he turns 70 years old. And what his retirement means is a new market niche opens up for a budding entrepreneur.
Whomever steps in to fill the void may also cast a thought to the viability of filling some of the empty trucks that leave Inuvik with newspapers and starting a newspaper recycling program.
Bottles may be more profitable than other recyclables, but a well-rounded program including newspapers and pop cans could help keep the ever-warming Arctic environment sustainable.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
The issue of alcohol rationing is one that won't seem to go away.
It's now being portrayed as an issue of democracy. It seems the current rationing system was dictated to residents of Fort Simpson nearly two decades ago. Without question, that has rubbed more than a few people the wrong way. Now, they are demanding their say in the matter.
Not everybody is in favour of a vote, though. Liidlii Kue First Nations Chief Rita Cli has made it clear her people are opposed to a plebiscite.
At last week's council meeting, she said the graveyards are full of native people who waged a battle against alcohol and lost. Businesses may be pressuring village council to hold a plebiscite, but liquor is a source of social problems, she noted.
Many of her people are passionate about the issue. Their views, even if they prove to be the minority, should be respected.
It's true, there are plenty of ways to sidestep the rationing process. Bootlegging from Hay River and Fort Nelson seems to be a fact of life, albeit an illegal one, for some people.
Even within the community, there's really nothing stopping a person from making a purchase at the liquor store and then crossing the street and buying an equivalent amount of alcohol through off-sales.
Rationing liquor is merely a nuisance in some people's minds. When a last- minute get-together takes place, the host can't take a spin to the liquor store and purchase enough alcohol to serve everybody a "festive" portion.
Daily, people in Fort Simpson have to cope with being restricted to a bottle of spirits, a couple of bottles of wine or a 12-pack of beer. Therefore, every second person at the party would have to cram into the liquor store to bring back all the booze desired.
Some have pointed out that tourists don't appreciate having to abide by such restrictions. Personally, I don't think any significant number of visitors come here primarily to drink. Rationing may prove somewhat of an inconvenience, but they will likely manage to survive until they return home or reach their next destination.
Others have noted the community is losing out on revenue because tourists can't spend more money. In reality, there is practically no money made from liquor sales at the municipal level. The territorial government reaps those profits.
Whatever the outcome of this continuing debate, there is something that both sides seem to agree on -- an alcohol problem exists in this community.
At last Thursday's council meeting, Tom Wilson, a councillor and longtime Fort Simpson teacher, said there are more students with suspected fetal alcohol effects now than ever before. Wilson characterized drinking while pregnant "one of the greatest tragedies" that can occur. A program must be created to deal with that, he said.
Mayor Norm Prevost suggested the government should be lobbied for more alcohol and addictions counselling. That would truly go a long way towards addressing the scourge of alcoholism.
For all we know, as we sit at home reading this newspaper and contemplating whether rationing should be put to a vote, there may be a woman bloodied and battered by a drunken husband next door. There may be a teenager too scared to go home passing by our front door.
Those situations aren't going to disappear by marking an "X" on a ballot.