Monday, March 20, 2000
A far cry from the days when the territorial commissioner ruled, the job today is a ceremonial one.
Now we have a premier and legislature to make the important decisions, but that doesn't mean a commissioner has no place.
It has evolved into a job that is given as a reward for service, to honour someone for all they have done. Because of that, the decision of who will be named commissioner should be a made-in-the North decision.
MLAs should be given time to recommend worthy individuals and then the cabinet should forward the selection to the DIAND minister who would then formalize the appointment.
What happened in the rush to replace outgoing commissioner Dan Marion -- with MLAs given just 24 hours to make nominations -- should not happen again.
The staff of Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary school in Rae should be very proud of the work they've done promoting reading with their students.
The DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) program has sparked a new attitude in students who now find reading fun, where they used to think it a chore.
Rewarding little readers with stickers and pencils has given students a reason to read, but the kids are now enjoying stories in both English and Dogrib.
After just one school year, students have shown marked improvements in both reading ability and comprehension.
It's encouraging to see innovations in education are evolving to better train the minds of tomorrow and these educators should be recognized for their fine efforts.
The Inuvialuit have opened some of their lands for exploration. How the oil and gas industry responds will be an indication of what's to come.
When the cost of oil goes up dramatically, tapping Arctic reserves becomes a viable option. March 7, crude oil prices hit a high of US $34 per barrel. As with the oil crisis in the early seventies, exploration comes first. Then, if prices stay high long enough for the industry to raise billions of dollars needed for wells and pipelines, Arctic gas may flow.
In the North's favour is the huge appetite the United States has for energy. Alberta and British Columbia, with substantial oil and gas reserves, may soon have difficulty meeting the demand.
The North is next in line as a major supplier but with unpredictable global forces at work, another Beaufort oil boom is years away.
People who are out of work are encouraged to attend the Job Readiness Program offered at Kitikmeot Arctic college campuses as a means of getting a jump on workplace skills.
The program, initiated in part by the Kitikmeot Economic Development Council, is designed for people who either haven't held a job in some time or have been out of school for awhile.
In its second semester of operation, the program is off to a good start. However, there is a high drop-out rate, mainly because students are adjusting to balancing family and school pressures.
Once the program is established and people see the benefits of taking part in the free classes, the community as a whole will benefit.
It's important that teachers and principals in Nunavut's education system be allowed to maintain their level of freedom once the regional education boards are abolished.
Taking place at the end of July, the education councils will be replaced by the GN's department of education.
That decision was made by a government still cutting its teeth and it remains to be seen whether or not the choice was a wise one.
What is important however, as we watch and wait and assess the GN in its new capacity, is that we ensure the creative thinkers in Nunavut's education system be allowed to implement new programs and solutions when they see fit.
Take Stuart van Oostveen for example.
As the principal of Nasivvik high school in Pond Inlet, van Oostveen was in the perfect position to notice a recurring cycle. He repeatedly saw so-called problem kids act out in class, get sent to his office, receive a suspension and return to school a few days later only to go through the cycle again.
van Oostveen wanted to put an end to it so he brought in Star Quest, a Baffin Divisional Education Council initiative that teaches students problem-solving skills and processes for conflict resolution during an in-school suspension period.
Several weeks later, a moderately large group of students have gone through Star Quest and van Oostveen said the signs of success are already on the table.
While his decision to bring in the program had to go through the appropriate board channels, it still went through -- funding request included -- in a relatively short period of time.
It's important then that Nunavut's communities, via the district education authorities, closely monitor the department when it comes into power. Someone needs to watch the bureaucrats and the DEAs are in a keen position to do so.
It is through such elected bodies that Nunavummiut can ensure their children won't be lost in a sea of red tape in the new system.
Team effort The Arctic Winter Games have come and gone for another two years. Team NWT, drawing from a freshly divided territory, did us proud.
However, the Winter Games are about more important things than medals; they are about participation and celebrating culture.
The diversity of language, music, dance and costume doesn't change the fact that there is a common ground in sharing the experience of living North of 60.
While the competition in the sporting events is stiff, the spirit of the games is one of celebration of Northern living.
Seeing the joy at the opening and closing ceremonies, you know the Games are worth the effort.