While McSorley is responsible for his own actions, the problem of hockey violence begins with these same diehard fans because they are the only ones who can influence league management and they like violence.

Rough play is a part of the game. Rough play can kill but the risks are well known, from pee wee leagues to the NHL. Wilfully smacking a player, who does not even have the puck, on the side of the head with a piece of wood is not rough play, it's assault. League sanctions are nothing more than job related consequences of committing a crime while the Canadian justice system demands punishment to deter others and protect others.

The police should act as if the assault took place on the street. And diehard fans, if they really love the game, should think more about the standards of the game and less about the bloody thrills.

The department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) has launched a campaign to promote the teacher-training program offered at Aurora College with that end in mind.

Successful graduates are qualified to teach up to Grade 9. With an additional year at the University of Saskatchewan, graduates can teach high school.

While the program won't answer any immediate crisis in school staffing, training Northern students to be teachers will put one of our renewable resources to work -- Northerners.

As a bonus, Northern teachers would be a role model for Northern students.

The Special Service Medal presentations around the Beaufort Delta varied in size. Tuktoyaktuk's was the biggest because it was combined with millennium relay festivities. The ceremonies in Aklavik and Inuvik were simple and somewhat subdued; reflecting perhaps the humble natures of the men who choose to serve as Rangers.

Of interest, however, was the presence of Junior Rangers both in Tuk and in Tsiigehtchic. Clearly the belief that traditional skills and knowledge serve to build the characters of youth has not been lost in those communities.

Also of note is the fact that while Rangers continue to reinforce Canadian sovereignty, their most important role has been found in search and rescue operations. Just as the Canadian army has evolved into a peace-keeping force so, too, do the Rangers act as source of support in the Arctic.

Follow the leader

The Beaufort Delta Leaders Committee is increasingly making its presence felt. Its initiative for standardized testing was implemented last September and was discussed further at the recent Beaufort Delta Education Council meeting.

The committee is now looking at streamlining the Regional Education and Health and Social Services Board by combining departments that perform the same function. Both moves are positive. The first because it helps determine where children need help and the second because, if carried out prudently, should achieve its purpose of saving money.

The initiatives serve as positive examples of what can be achieved through enhanced regional co-operation.

Walking the walk

An anonymous caller recently appealed for a warning to motorists that they take more care regarding pedestrians, particularly children, walking along or crossing Mackenzie Road. A call for increased vigilance is never a bad thing, and the appeal should be heeded. Pedestrians, however, also share responsibility for taking care when crossing streets that become virtual skating rinks for automobiles when the mercury drops below -25 C.

No, that's not a quotation from someone famous, notorious or revered, by popular definition, but it carries just as much weight in my mind.

How can one not feel captivated by the motivation of a likeable Japanese tourist who travels halfway around the world to feel a connection with people he has never met before? Practically every morning he mounts his bicycle -- an affordable but perilous means of travel during a Northern winter -- determined to make it to the next town to greet and engage local residents during his brief stay.

Each year he works to save enough money to fund the next year's adventure. This time around we were fortunate enough to have him pass through the Deh Cho.

"Every day job, my heart is tired," he explained in his broken English. "People and nature are important."

He has travelled to a number of popular tourist destinations, but said he generally finds city dwellers are not as friendly and inviting as those who live in smaller communities.

"People are warm (here). Why? Very cold country," he asked, as if puzzled.

Whether he really knows the answer to that question, or whether any of us do, he serves us a reminder that our collective genial nature is to be celebrated.

"I enjoy life," Kawaguchi told me.

I'm willing to bet he does.

This job provides me with a wonderful excuse to meet many people that I would probably never have come to know otherwise. This issue of the Drum is rife with examples. In addition to Kawaguchi, there's art teacher Francine Green, who has helped me and others better understand that art is something more than a pastime or something other people "just do." She has apparently inspired some local artists, injecting a needed dose of passion and enthusiasm, prompting them to form an artists society.

Then there is Stephanie Sibbeston, who, against a backdrop of well-wishers and nay-sayers, is attempting to get a recycling program off the ground in Fort Simpson. How many of us can say, without reservation, just because we live in the North, so far removed from the nearest recycling bin, we deserve to be wasteful?

There are those who have already been composting organic waste and thereby saving even more garbage bags full of material needlessly occupying space at the dump. Considering the Earth is composed of finite resources, a recycling program should be a priority. We simply have to want to make it work.

Those are some fascinating people. Who knows who we might meet tomorrow.

It seems like only yesterday complaints were skyrocketing around the Kivalliq about our "ugly" new flag and "strange" coat of arms.

While far too much importance seems to be put on how our territorial symbols look, rather than what they stand far -- it is good to hear the average person complementing the new logo, rather than complaining.

It is evident a great deal of thought was put into the logo and we thought Premier Paul Okalik did a wonderful job at its unveiling.

Of course, critics would be quick to say it's far easier to do a good job when you're selling something you truly believe in.

This might not have been entirely the case during Okalik's attempts at propping up public opinion over our new flag almost 11 months ago.

Elders and youth

It has also been good to see students and a number of our elders playing such a positive role in the legislative assembly's first Rankin sitting.

We still do not advocate the costs involved with bringing the assembly to Rankin, but while it is here, we may as well reap as many of the benefits our MLAs keep talking about as possible.

Lobbying woes

As good as the participation by our elders and youth has been to date, some of our lobby groups must be getting a little concerned over some of the hints being dropped by our MLAs.

A number of them have made it perfectly clear that a fair amount of their time in Rankin is dedicated to "celebrating" their presence.

They dare not infringe upon that time by conducting too much actual business, lest they face the outrage of the community.

Besides, as mentioned before in this space, they have a built-in safety valve for this trip courtesy of Finance Minister Kelvin Ng.

After all, there's no need to spend too much time listening to financial concerns.

The absence of any hard numbers from the upcoming territorial budget prevents them from taking any real action on behalf of community groups any way.

We're not knocking the hockey games, the volleyball matches, the funspiels or any of the other numerous events organizers have staged to help "celebrate" the assembly's arrival.

And while we could not in good conscience proclaim that the circus is in town (this time!), we are somewhat reminded of the showmanship adage, "If you can't dazzle them brains, baffle them with..."