Any time you change the rules, you're bound to end up with problems.

That's likely to be part of the reason why so many First Nations -- half of all bands in the NWT -- didn't complete their required audits for DIAND. For the first time, the federal department has required all bands to list salaries, honoraria and travel expenses and is being extra vigilant to ensure the audits are completed correctly.

It adds up to late filings and inadequate information, but it can also end up being an important exercise for First Nations on the verge of self government.

When they are finally fully in charge of their own affairs, aboriginal governments should be prepared to spell out to their people exactly where the money is going.

Let's hope bands are using the situation to build open and accountable methods of reporting spending.

Before commenting on the what the territorial government should be considering in its proposed tourism strategy, let's look at a few figures from Opportunities North 2000, an annual business publication of Northern News Services Ltd.

Tourism in the NWT generated over $25 million in 1998-99. Only $10 million remained in the North. About 70 per cent of the 45,000 visitors to the NWT in 1998 were Canadian, with 18,500 on holidays, a similar amount on business and 8,500 visiting friends and relatives. The remaining 30 per cent of visitors was split between United States and Europe.

One of the most interesting facts is that while game hunters make up only four per cent of the total, they are responsible for 30 per cent of tourism income.

There are further figures but a few basics are immediately apparent.

Too many tourism dollars are leaving the NWT but the potential is obviously there. The largest market is North America, especially the United States. It has 10 times the population of Canada, they're rich and they're close.

The message must get out that the NWT is a desirable location. That means putting together products offering an array of destinations and activities and backing them with advertising dollars in the low millions.

What do we want tourists to think of when they hear the words Northwest Territories? The Yukon's gold rush and dance hall fame is known worldwide, light years ahead of us in this regard.

Of course the big controversy is the government's proposed hotel tax. Chances are good it's going to happen no matter what the hotel operators say. So be it.

On the bright side, the territorial government, which has neglected and mismanaged the tourism industry for too long, may be coming to the realization it's been missing the pot of gold.

The Japanese tourism boom in Yellowknife is largely due to the target marketing and packaging skills of one operator - Bill Tait of Raven Tours.

That's the blueprint. Government simply has to follow it. The industry should ensure that it happens.

Levi Barnabas should get some common sense. Two weeks ago, Barnabas stood in an Iqaluit courtroom and pled guilty to sexual assault.

Immediately after his plea, Barnabas told reporters he wasn't stepping down as MLA for the Quttiktuq region.

Last week, the Government of Nunavut asked him to "reconsider" his choice. He resigned on Aug 23. But the next day, he was talking about running in the byelection.

His constituency wants him, he said. We say ignore the plea and stay home.

Barnabas was given a 12 month conditional sentence and told to seek counselling for alcohol and stress management. He blamed his position in government for the stress that drove him to drink and eventually sexually assaulting a woman while she slept.

Now he wants the stressful job back. That doesn't make sense.

The Government of Nunavut is partly to blame for his bizarre choice. The male-dominated Legislature has been strangely silent over the issue. One would expect a tougher stance from the government of a territory which recorded 754 sexual assaults in 1999.

Instead, they waffled, wavered and resorted to spin-doctoring. They asked Barnabas to "reconsider." They should have told him to quit.

The government had a golden opportunity to take a stand against violence directed at women. Their silence trivialized the severity of Barnabas' crime.

Barnabas has every right to run again. His constituency has every right to vote him in again. This is a democracy after all. But if Barnabas steps back into the MLA's chair, the effects will be felt beyond the Quttiktuq region.

The grand chief of the Dogrib First Nation should be any Dogrib citizen in the NWT who produces effective results.

Where they live does not matter.

When negotiating land claims with the federal government, will anyone care the chief's home is not in Dogrib territory? No, they will be hoping the elected leader effectively meets the needs of the community.

So it's understandable many Dogrib citizens are upset about the draft constitution prohibiting them from being chief if they live outside Dogrib territory, unless for medical reasons, education, or incarceration.

That means you could be still be voted in as grand chief if you were serving jail time but not if you are a nurse in Yellowknife.

The draft needs to be amended. A great leader should never be hindered by geography.

It is as simple as that.

Mothers are constantly being reminded to breastfeed their newborn babies.

That message is a sensible one as there is no healthier alternative for babies than breast milk. Unfortunately, that is not the case in the North.

Studies have shown the number of harmful contaminants found in Northern women's breast milk is nine times higher than the safety standards set by Environment Canada.

The problem stems from harmful persistent organic pollutants (POPs) contaminating Northern food and water.

Federal Environment Minister David Anderson recently announced a $20-million initiative to stop the POPs worldwide. Canada is the first country to commit money to the project and Anderson expects other nations to follow.

The money will be used to deal with the POPs but let's hope they set aside a big chunk to educate people in developing countries on how to safely dispose of harmful chemicals. Otherwise, we will just be spending millions of dollars to clean up an ever-growing mess.

In a few years, maybe Northerners can once again say breast is best. And this time it will be true.

It seems the bigger the community, the harder it is to establish youth centres and programs.

Many smaller communities have organized ongoing youth centres and programs, and the kids make good use of them.

In Iqaluit, with a population nearing 6,000 -- Rankin is the next biggest with a population of about 2,500 -- there are no youth programs to speak of.

Strange, because Iqaluit has an indoor pool, basketball court, movie theatre, restaurants, coffee shops and a library with free Internet access.

So keeping young people busy doesn't depend upon the facilities available, it's a matter of encouraging the youth to take advantage of them.