Chills, fevers, pounding head, raspy throat and creaking joints are all signs that the latest innovation in feeling rotten has hit.

Doctors say that the current bug is a variation of the same old theme and even those who took the precaution of being vaccinated may not be safe.

So, it's back to grandma's advice, which, if we'd followed in the first place we wouldn't be sick: Get lots of rest, drink plenty of sensible fluids (you know what we mean) and take the phone off the hook.

Take comfort in the fact that you are not alone in your misery.

It wasn't all that long ago that drinking and driving was a way of life for lots of people.

On special occasions, such as New Year's Eve, the object of the evening was to not get caught drinking and driving. Calamitous accidents, injuries and death were all part of the experience.

Through the efforts of organizations such as SADD, people are actually smartening up.

Police checks show that fewer people are trying to get away with drinking and driving. We are grateful that the message is getting through, and grateful to the kids of SADD, who keep the message right in our faces, where it belongs.

From Oct. 1, 1998 to Oct. 1, 1999, the territorial population went up by 745 persons to 41,807. The increase is attributed to 208 more people moving into the NWT than moved out, as well as 701 births versus 144 deaths.

With the settled strike, stable gold prices, re-opened and new mines and new mine construction, the upward trend should continue.

The only threat to further growth is the lack of new federal funding for the territorial government.

If the newly elected government attempts to operate with existing funding, strangling social, education and economic programs in the process, we will likely witness an end to the positive trend and revert back to the dismal figures of 1996-98.

This past year was certainly a banner year for the NWT, with events including territorial division in April, the landmark constitutional ruling adding five seats to the legislature and the December election. The NWT has been reborn but is still struggling to find an identity and a way to chart its path in the country and in the world.

Of course, numbers will continue to play an important role, and the territory's small population means its level of political influence in Canada will remain weak; witness Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault's recent decision not to move jobs to the NWT.

This does not mean, however, that the quality of life in the North cannot continue to improve. We are part of one of the richest countries on the planet, a planet that is growing smaller daily through advances in technology. Businesses and schools across the territory are making increasing use of the Internet and the hamlet of Holman has been awarded "Smart Community" status by the federal government. In September the Aboriginal People's Television Network was launched on a national scale.

Renewed interest in resource development holds the promise of both employment and prosperity, goals made easier by progress in land-claims and self-government negotiations.

The theme of recent regional meetings has been co-operation. This is significant, because the many diverse groups and peoples in the Beaufort Delta also share many common goals, including economic development that goes hand in hand with cultural promotion.

Despite the poor financial state in which the new government finds itself, there is no reason that unity and progress can't be part of the new millennium. Despite the ancient roots of the Northern peoples, the "New North" truly represents a young, developing entity.

By learning the lessons of the past and continuing to work together, there's no reason we can't create a bright future.

Just a minute

The end of the millennium also raises a cause for concern. The Christmas season in Southern Ontario underscored for me the fact that Canada is as much a consumer-driven society as it has ever been. The shopping malls were packed, the prices are high and the number of cars on the road daunting.

It took five minutes of grid-lock on the highway for me to realize that Canadians are consuming more than they ever have before.

I make this point because Canada prides itself on being a socially responsible country. For decades, however, Canadians have been aware that we consume a far bigger proportion of the world's resources than our population warrants. Though we make noises about cutting back on the use of energy, we don't seem to be doing anything about it.

On the bright side, in the North there is already constant talk of how best to manage our resources so that both mankind and nature can benefit. Such approaches and solutions may one day serve as examples for the rest of the country, and the world.

We have passed into the year 2000 without any major setbacks due to the highly-anticipated Y2K menace. In hindsight, there's been a lot of talk about how Y2K was all just a bunch of hype in the first place.

Some contend that too much money and too many resources were wasted on prevention measures. That's something we'll never know for sure. If nothing had been done to address the potential problems, things could have been a whole lot worse. It's easy to discard the perceived threat now that we've successfully made the transition to the year 2000. We should be thankful things weren't left to chance.

What the future holds...

There are plenty of interesting questions that will be answered in the coming weeks and months. A crystal ball would be invaluable, but it keeps life interesting to follow events as they gradually unfold. Here are just some of the issues that will be resolved in the near future:

Who will become the NWT's next premier? Will Jim Antoine once again hold that title or will someone else -- Stephen Kakfwi perhaps -- step into the role? Have we heard the last of the investigation into Antoine giving away prizes at a campaign function?

Who will assume the role of mayor in Fort Providence when Michael McLeod is sworn into office later this month?

How long until the territories' teachers settle on a new contract? Will we see a full-fledged strike?

Which company, or companies, will be named the successor to the NWT Power Corporation in Fort Simpson? Will the venture amount to significant cost savings, as was originally hoped? What will be the fates of the local Power Corp employees?

Will there be any real progress between the Deh Cho First Nations' and the federal government on the self-government front? Is there common ground to be found on funding arrangements and interim protection? If not, will talks break off indefinitely?

Will Fort Liard continue to be the only community in the region where natural gas is being developed? I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

A matter of perspective

As the first week of the new year draws to a close, there have undoubtedly been some resolutions broken already.

Obviously, we ascribe much symbolism to the turning of the calendar and the dawning of a new year. It's the time when we resolve to quit a bad habit, start exercising or to improve ourselves in some way. For those who have faltered, don't despair. As the old saying goes, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Just as Dec. 31 gave way to Jan. 1, today will eventually bow to tomorrow, bringing a new day, a fresh start. It's never too late to take another step towards your ultimate goal.

Yes, the challenges awaiting us are plenty.

And yes, it will take every last drop of our internal fortitude and determination for some of these challenges to be overcome.

Yet, make no mistake about it, the challenges awaiting our region and Nunavut as a whole can be met and conquered.

The first steps towards meeting our housing crisis have been taken.

And although Minister Manitok Thompson's plan has its detractors who claim it does not go far enough, 100 units is a start.

The recent municipal elections across the Kivalliq have brought in some new faces with fresh ideas.

While each of our seven hamlets are unique in their own way, they also share many of the same problems and concerns.

Communication and co-operation among our elected officials are paramount to achieving success in making all our hamlets stronger and improving our everyday quality of life.

This message was sounded by our region's adult educators when they met recently in Rankin Inlet.

Their message of co-operation to ensure the best possible education is provided to the people of Nunavut is one easily adapted to a number of different issues facing our various levels of government.

For voters, the key to aiding that vision is to improve our knowledge and understanding.

With the legislative assembly convening next month in the Kivalliq, our region will get a first-hand look at the challenges facing our government and the steps it's taking to address those issues.

It will also provide another opportunity.

Those able to attend will see how the wheels of bureaucracy revolve and should leave with a better understanding of the process involved.

Too often Kivalliq voters perceive issues as being black and white in nature.

The sitting of the legislative assembly in Rankin Inlet should serve to illustrate just how complex many of these issues are.

This is not intended to cut our elected representatives a tonne of slack in making decisions that affect us all. But rather, to point out that what may seem like a simple decision to the uninitiated, often has ramifications and effects on other areas of government. Most often, departmental budgets.

Next month's sitting has its own place on the learning curve of our new territory.

This time, it's the voters' opportunity to learn about their government and the roles our elected officials play in making our system work effectively.

After all, the more we are informed and understand, the better our decision-making abilities come election time.