Last year, $27.7 million worth of products were manufactured in the NWT, an increase of eight per cent over 1998. The goods ranged from steel and fibreglass tanks to building supplies and winter clothes.

Now the territorial government is looking for export opportunities in Alaska, pop. 614,000, with plans to open an NWT trade office to promote Northern product and expertise.

A trade office is a good idea, if it's done properly. Who would be better placed to with contacts in the Alaskan market than an Alaskan company or entrepreneur?

Financial incentives, such as a commission on sales realized by Northern companies, should ensure a better return on our investment than a government staffed office. One thing Americans are famous for, it's finding opportunities. Why not put them to work for us?

Now that summer weather is starting to show its face, winter games are no doubt far from peoples' minds.

Behind the scenes, however, delegates from both the Nunavut and Greenland host committees have been meeting to iron out some problems.

And there are problems. The plan so far is to split the games between Nuuk, Greenland and Iqaluit in Nunavut.

One of the hallmarks of the Arctic Winter Games is the heart-warming spirit engendered when athletes from the polar world gather together to compete and celebrate their common heritage.

The opening ceremonies, the closing ceremonies, the cultural events, the championship games all derive their energy from the crowds.

Sharing the experience and exchanging ideas, names and numbers is a big part of the success of the Games.

The 2002 Winter Games will be split because neither Nuuk nor Iqaluit has sufficient facilities to handle the entire event.

Over 1,600 athletes, coaches, cultural ambassadors and chaperons attended last winter's Games, staged in Whitehorse, Yk.

From a community-based event, the Games has grown. Among the participating jurisdictions, only Yellowknife, Whitehorse and Fairbanks can handle the load that comes with hosting the Arctic Winter Games at their current size.

Today the Games is at a crossroads. The organizing committees and overseeing bodies are going to have to decide whether to reduce the size of the event so that smaller locales can accommodate it or be content with awarding the Games to larger centres.

At the pace of growth in the Nunavut, it won't be long before Iqaluit is big enough. As for Nuuk, it remains to be seen.

As it stands now, the divided Games is destined to be complicated, expensive, a logistical nightmare and difficult to promote.

While a two-pronged solution may soothe some politicians, it doesn't serve the participants.

There's a breed of people who grace the planet known only as the coffee people.

They rise at 6 a.m. or earlier and immediately begin to swill caffeinated nectar. Unless, of course, the power goes out, like it did last week in Iqaluit.

While the Northwest Territories Power Corporation worked to restore electricity for two hours, the coffee people scoured the town. But there was no coffee because no electricity equals no coffee.

While their cravings for espresso mounted, the coffee people noticed that their fellow small-town folk, despite having their schedules thrown off course, still offered smiles and warmth.

And then, the coffee people found someone who goes to work earlier than they do, someone who has a back-up generator. Thanks, Carlene.

The Canada Council does a lot of good things for the North.

But when the $100,595 granted to NWT projects only goes to applications that come from six of the largest communities, it's evident a lot is missed.

The North is a unique place, with a culture connection that remains strong, despite the intrusion of southern traditions and practices. That culture needs to be protected and enhanced, a role the Canada Council could fill by ensuring more of its money gets to remote communities.

It must make every effort to get to communities, paying special attention to the distances and costs involved in supporting arts and culture everywhere in the North.

Doing so would also show the people that culture has value and is worth preserving.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association is right in calling for a public inquiry into the killing of sled dogs over a period of 25 years, beginning in 1950.

Taking away a peoples' source of transportation which they use to hunt and provide food for their families, is creating an unnecessary and somewhat unbearable hardship.

The actions demopnstrated a complete ignorance of a traditional way of life. The actions were both insensitive and cruel.

The Inuit, of course, picked up the pieces and continued on, but surely an explanation of more than "rabies control" could be given to explain what appears to be such a thoughtless act.

QIA is right to continue with their efforts.