Monday, March 19, 2001
If territorial governments needed evidence that there's money to be made in tourism, just look to a new report.
It has a long, unwieldy name -- Economic Benefits of Outfitted Hunts for Barren-Ground Caribou in the Northwest Territories -- but the numbers it contains are ammunition for MLAs and people looking to develop the tourism industry in the NWT and Nunavut.
In 1999, just 10 outfitting companies generated $3.1 million for the NWT's gross domestic product. That's a 63 per cent increase since 1993.
A more meaningful number is the 109 jobs the industry created for seasonal workers.
That shows that hunters are coming North for caribou trophies and they're dropping a lot of money in the communities while they're here.
Much of this growth has come without much government help. People have found a tourism market and are making the most of it.
What's important now is that governments in the NWT and Nunavut put greater attention on this renewable resource.
And there's more to offer.
In Holman, polar bear hunters provide jobs for 92 people and spend up to $10,000 for a 14-day hunt. It was the same in the Kitikmeot but concerns over the bear population have resulted in that hunt being decimated.
In the NWT, watching the Northern Lights has proven to be extremely popular.
The North is a land of adventure, and southerners are willing to pay big bucks to experience it.
Now that individuals have planted the seeds for a viable adventure tourism industry, governments east and west must carefully nurture it with money for promotion and incentives for businesses that see new opportunities.
"Another school shooting," splashes across the front page of every major newspaper and on television screens in North America.
People were shocked the first time it happened, but now it seems that same headline appears too often and people walk away muttering, "another one."
At the Helen Kalvak school in Holman, a group of students learned skills that could one day save lives. If a student is upset and angry, 19 students in Holman can now help them cope with conflict, hopefully, before violence results.
This kind of learning should be part of our schools' daily curriculum. Kids usually know before adults what other kids are planning. If we teach them to intervene, it could save them from becoming another statistic of school yard violence.
For some, fame means money, the adoration of fans, and sometimes the chance to thumb your nose at the rest of society.
Not so for Susan Aglukark.
She gained fame thanks to her songbird voice, but Aglukark knows there's more to being successful in life than selling records and making money.
True satisfaction comes from an ability to move and motivate people, especially children. Heaven knows there are few enough positive role models in today's society.
Many athletes come across as spoiled brats, demanding tens of millions of dollars for hitting a ball or catching a piece of pigskin.
Movie and music stars are driven into hermit-like lives by hordes of paparazzi looking for the latest dirt and screaming fans hoping for a lock of hair or a shred of torn clothing.
Not so for the North's biggest music star; Aglukark doesn't consider herself a star. She is uncomfortable with being placed on a pedestal.
But she understands the positive impacts celebrity can have.
She is to be congratulated for going home to Kivalliq recently, meeting with children in six of the region's seven communities. Sure she sang, but her message that kids share the same problems no matter where they live was even more special.
Her words that success mean being "happy with who you are and what surrounds you" are words of the wise.
In a territory struggling to build itself, dealing with economic problems, social issues and more, a role model like Aglukark is something to be treasured.
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
School books aren't collecting as much dust as usual.
At least, not those belonging to students within the area governed by the Beaufort Delta Education Council.
The BDEC has decreed that all its schools develop policies so that homework is assigned to all students, every day. Their directive, passed last June and reiterated in October, took effect at the beginning of January.
This may sound to many kids like their worst nightmare come true, but the policy is actually a positive one. Nothing can reinforce what's covered in class like doing work in that area that evening.
There can be fewer distractions at home, plus students are better able to take the time it takes to go through material until they really know it.
This holds true whether the assignment is 50 math sums, or 50 pages to read.
If it means cutting down a bit on the amount of television watched or video games played, the sacrifice will be worth it the next morning, when students head back to class armed with a better and fresh understanding of yesterday's lessons.
Local educators express support for the policy and report that implementation has gone smoothly for the most part.
To put it another way, practice makes perfect. A fellow by the name of Wayne Gretzky would probably agree with that, as would many other people who became successful at something because they worked long and hard at it.
Darts and drummers
A good example of practice paying off would have to be Vince Schlachter.
Over the weekend Schlachter placed first among men at the 2001 NWT Territorial Dart Playdowns.
Very impressive, especially considering Schlachter finished 33rd at last year's event, and has only played the sport for three years.
Schlachter explained that he accomplished this feat partly through steady practice over the past few months. So steady, in fact, that he's worn down a spot in the carpet where he practices.
The carpet may be slightly the worse for wear, but hard work helped Schlachter score a bull's eye of sorts.
Congrats are extended to Schlachter, as well as the other men and women who earned the right to represent the NWT at the dart nationals in Edmonton this June.
Incidently, last Friday's opening ceremonies were quite entertaining. All the different communities represented marched in, complete with banners. They were assisted by members of the 2749 (Signals) Inuvik Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps.
And kudos to the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers for putting on a performance.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
Another Beaver Tail Jamboree has come and gone, but what a week it was.
The talent shows are always a lot of fun. A few of the competitors admitted how nervous they were performing in front of a large crowd. It's a common fear, but they worked up the nerve to overcome it.
The "most unusual talent" is always a crowd pleaser. Mary Jane Nayally and Nick Sibbeston had people roaring and applauding over their Slavey songs. What is it about George Jones' tunes that lend themselves so well to the Dene language?
The Dene hand games were a great addition this year. The concept of the game is rather simple, but the drumming, movements and facial expressions make them delightful to watch. Hopefully, hand games continue to build momentum in the region and become a regular feature at carnivals.
The weather was a little chilly over the weekend, but there have been much colder Beaver Tail Jamborees. Maybe because it's considered a spring carnival, Mother Nature insists on reminding us that we shouldn't be celebrating another season too prematurely.
Nobody went hungry during the week. There was plenty of food to go around at the pancake breakfasts, free lunches and the community feast.
The snowmobile races are always another highlight of the carnival. The high speeds, wild jumps and the element of danger are the core of what excites racing fans of all kinds. With paramedics, volunteer firefighters at the ready, the prospect of a serious injury is existent, but, fortunately, didn't come to pass over the weekend.
There are lesser injuries with which almost all snow cross riders have to contend. After absorbing the impact of landing from heights of a metre or higher, their backs, knees and arms take a bit of a beating.
The races attract more experienced riders from Hay River, Yellowknife and B.C. They have an advantage with "souped up" machines, which run faster than an average model. They also have many races under their belts, so they know many ways to give themselves an edge.
Some riders from the Deh Cho are apparently talking about starting up a racing circuit within the region. A series of races would be held over the winter (with a point system) to try to even the playing field a little bit.
Troy Bradbury said some local riders get discouraged by the disadvantages they face against these experienced racers. The prospect of spending a lot of money to enhance their snowmobiles isn't something some people want or can afford to do, either. However, he said he tries to look at it as a learning experience. By watching them in action and talking to them, there are plenty of tips to be gleaned.
There were legions of volunteers who made all of the aforementioned events possible. Hats off to them.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
It will be interesting to see how insurance rate hikes threatening to put a serious dent in hamlet budgets unfolds during the next 17 days.
One thing is certain, if hamlets are hoping to be cut any slack by an insurance company, they're in for a long wait.
The Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM) is currently seeking financial assistance from the Nunavut Government to help alleviate some of the impact to the hamlets.
And the impact is substantial, with a typical non-tax-based community looking at an overall increase of about 30 per cent.
The NAM works in partnership with the NWT Association of Municipalities to provide group general insurance to municipalities in both territories.
Right now, the expected premium increases will total more than $1.1 million between the two territories.
With premiums based largely on population, the bigger the community, the higher rate hikes it will have to endure.
The deaths which resulted from a tainted water supply in Walkerton, Ontario, have had a profound affect on the insurance industry.
While it is understandable many insurance companies are moving away from municipalities, the fact hamlets are being forced to deal with numbers given in one quote out of 20 requests is disturbing.
Before providing any financial assistance to the hamlets, the Nunavut Government would be well advised to force the NAM to show it's been pounding the pavement seeking further quotes.
In fact, with the major fires the North has seen during the past few years, pounding the pavement for a more obliging insurance company should be a Northern art form.
Many Canadian organizations have faced similar periods in the past, where insurance scales were tipped against them, and had to go beyond our borders to find a policy they could live with.
If every avenue has been exhausted, we would expect the NG to absorb some of the financial impact the hamlets are about to feel.
However, the onus should be placed on the NAM to show it has explored every option before approaching the NG with hat in hand.
With our recent deficit budget just delivered, every level of government and territorial organization must ensure it does its utmost to shoulder its share of the financial load.