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So next time you think about "small changes" to airline incentives like Aeroplan, think about this: a "short haul" from Iqaluit is a trip to Ottawa or Montreal.
Because the distances are so great in the North, please don't impose made-in-the-South solutions. It may be a small change to you, but it makes a big difference to us.
"Suicide is painless, it brings on many changes," goes the lyrics for the theme song from M*A*S*H, the popular American television sitcom on the Korean conflict that ran from 1972 to 1983.
It's an interesting, if controversial, sentiment that we ignore at our peril. Suicide is painless in the sense it ends the pain for the suffering individual. The pain is for those left behind and the larger community. If any public good can come out of these last private tragic acts, it is they may bring "on many changes."
In a matter of days, Percy Kinney, the chief coroner of the Northwest Territories, will officially release his annual report. The numbers from the section on suicide, already released by Kinney, might at first glance seem like nothing more than a continuing litany of despair.
"Suicide rate twice the national average" is the headline we used last week.
A secondary headline noted that substance abuse was involved in less than half of the suicides last year, "What is really scary is six (of 10) did this stone cold sober" -- according to post-mortem toxicology screens, Kinney notes.
The problems leading to suicide are complex -- the isolation of the North, a legacy of what some would describe as cultural genocide against aboriginal peoples and economic disparities -- to name but three. But Kinney offers a caution and a glimmer of hope. The caution is that while expressing suicide rates as a percentage in the NWT makes for a good headline, with a population of 42,000, the overall real numbers remain small: 10 suicides in 2000, down from 16 in 1999. So far this year, there have been eight suicides in the NWT.
The glimmer of hope is what Kinney sees in the suicide prevention and intervention work of people like Fort McPherson's Hazel Nerysoo, honoured with a national award last month, and Yellowknife's Sandy Little, a mental health consultant in the Department of Health and Social Services' community wellness programs.
"We need to talk about this," Kinney says.
Indeed.
It's not easy figuring out how much we should give our MLAs for living expenses. Those who don't represent Yellowknife have to spend at least 12 weeks in the capital, each year -- more for cabinet ministers and committee members -- and still maintain a permanent home among their constituents.
For that we offer them up to $17,000. Some say it's not enough, given Yellowknife's tight and expensive housing market.
On the other hand, we shouldn't be doing anything that discourages MLAs from sticking close to home, where they belong most of time.
Perhaps there's another option. At least three of the city's apartment complexes rent out some of their units as hotel suites. Something similar might be just the ticket for MLAs who need something less expensive and more personal than a hotel room, but not as long-term as a full apartment.
What we're talking about is a kind of political dormitory. If nothing else, it would take the pressure off MLAs who are having trouble finding just the right place to crash.
It seems like hardly a week goes by that someone, somewhere, isn't asking for a government grant or a generous loan.
We at News/North make no apologies for supporting many of those requests on this page, but we can see how the same old story might begin to sounds a little tired to the bureaucrats and politicians who hear the demands. Why, the argument goes, should government support a commercial endeavour the private sector wants no part of?
Because the private sector often doesn't have the imagination to see the value of new ideas. In that event, government has a role. The Kitikmeot's hunters and trappers' plan to set up a qiviut-harvesting factory is a good candidate, and it shouldn't take too much to get one off the ground, so to speak.
Muskox wool is a sustainable, high-value resource that, with the proper marketing, could support dozens of long-term jobs. At the very least, the project will be worth close consideration. We wish the developers luck, and hope their proposal finds it way to a supportive desk.
Joe Handley's visit to Iqaluit last week was a strong signal that while the business of division continues apace, it need not interfere with well-established ties between the NWT and Nunavut.
The NWT finance minister sat down for the first time in the Nunavut legislature and signed an agreement to continue operating a joint Workers' Compensation Board -- indefinitely.
It's a win-win-win-win situation. Together the NWT and Nunavut enjoy economies of scale that would evaporate if they were running separate boards. Employers benefit from the lowest premiums in the country. Employees can sleep easier knowing that if, God forbid, they are incapacitated on the job, they'll still be able to provide for their families.
For years, Nunavummiut rightly complained that government in Yellowknife was too remote and too out of touch with their needs and aspirations. Division has handed Nunavummiut many of the levers of power to control their own destinies.
Still, that doesn't mean we ought to be dogmatic about division. Both Handley and Kelvin Ng, his counterpart here, pointed out that there is no real justification for having two separate boards.
"We're both too small," Handley said. He's right. Provided the WCB has meaningful input from both territories, there's no reason to mess with a good thing. To split the board up just for the sake of having both an NWT and a Nunavut board would be a little like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
The joint WCB is an idea to be watched closely. With a board from both territories overseeing it, and the aforementioned economies of scale, it's not too much of a leap to suggest both governments should look at where else they can pool their resources. Both territories will end up being better off (and stronger) if we have division where necessary, but not necessarily division.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Ask anybody involved with team preparations leading up to the Arctic Winter Games, and they'll tell you Sport Nunavut's higher officials are mystified over the controversy surrounding the roster rule.
We here at Kivalliq News have decided to take the time this week and enlighten them as to what the problem is. For those of you who may not know, here is what the controversy is all about.
The roster rule makes victorious coaches drop, cut, kick off or otherwise dispose of three of their own kids who have busted their butts for the past year or two to make their team a success.
Then the coach must turn around and select three different kids from other teams to join his for the AWG.
The reasoning is that stronger players from weaker teams will make our Nunavut team stronger. After all, they're better players, so they deserve the chance to play. Right?
First, the fact we call them team sports should be a dead giveaway that this isn't as black-and-white an issue as it may first appear.
Better and better does not always add up to the best in team sports. Just ask any New York Rangers fan.
So, is there a solution to this problem? Yes. A perfect solution? No. A better solution? Definitely.
Give the coaches the choice to change the three players or keep their own.
Coaches, for the most part, know when the chemistry is right on their team or when it can stand a bit of tinkering. And, whether the folks who make these rules believe it or not, the majority of coaches will seek input from their players.
What's the good of adding three players to your hockey or basketball team if the rest of the players are upset over their friends being cut?
The terms "chemistry" and "bonding" are overused in sports, but a magical transformation can take place with young athletes on championship clubs. A sense of common purpose develops, one of teamwork, dedication and devotion to the person sitting next to you.
It's that feeling all athletes -- young or old, pro or amateur -- all miss the most when they hang 'em up for the final time.
Our kids and their coaches work painstakingly hard for the opportunity to represent Nunavut at the AWG. Let them decide who goes with them on their team.
And, who knows? When they look across the room at a friend short on talent, but tall on heart, some might even decide there really are things more important than winning. Could any medal top that?
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
Some powerful words echoed off the walls at Ingamo Hall on Sunday afternoon.
The occasion was the Sober Walk, which kicked off National Addictions Awareness Week.
The true costs of addictions were revealed. Some spoke who had personally struggled with addictions, and explained how they lost touch with family and friends as they got more and more involved in their habit -- whether that be alcohol or drug abuse, or gambling.
Also brought up was the pain felt by those who have lost friends and family members who struggled with addictions.
The point was made that addictions within homes can lead to a vicious circle, where children grow up and develop problems of their own, thinking such behaviour is normal.
It all adds up to a lot of time and money wasted, plus a lot of sorrow.
The Sober Walk and other events taking place this week perform a useful service by bringing attention to a truly international problem. The messages sent out Sunday and during this week need to be repeated again next week, and beyond that, so that the true costs of addictions are realized by more and more people.
Match more than just a game
The hundreds of people who saw the Legendary Hockey Heroes play at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex witnessed more than just a fun-filled game.
It also served as a reminder of so called "simpler times" in the National Hockey League, when by and large players played for the love of the game, as hard as they could, every shift.
That attitude perhaps is not as common within the NHL now as before, with well paid players often squabbling about terms of their contract, or publicly asking to be traded.
Some of those players, as well as local young people, could learn something from the Hockey Heroes. Even though their NHL days are behind them, it was clear these players still can not get enough of their sport, and they also did not mind signing autograph after autograph.
The game also allowed people to meet their idols, some for the first time.
Whether watching the pros battle it out on television, taking part in matches at the local arena, or practicing in the backyard rink, the good old hockey game still creates lots of great moments and memories.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
If a 50-50 royalties sharing agreement were signed between the Deh Cho First Nations and the federal government tomorrow, the First Nations would derive nothing.
That's right, zero, at least initially. Reason being, there's currently no development occurring outside of Fort Liard, which has made it clear it doesn't intend to share royalties from its oil and gas with the rest of the region.
However, the 50-50 proposal would seemingly provide plenty of incentive to open up some land for development. Fifty per cent of royalties would be extremely lucrative.
Even if the deal were signed, it wouldn't necessarily be a permanent arrangement. With a Deh Cho government (acting as a regional public government) eventually assuming power, enough revenue would have to be flowing into the region to ensure programs and services are viable. It's uncertain whether splitting royalties alone would be adequate to run a regional government.
The individual subject matters have yet to be negotiated as well. Will the Deh Cho oversee education, health care and transportation, and how? Those variables will be sorted out in the years to come. The land and resources matters have to be settled first. It's a daunting task in itself, but if it can be done it would allow some economic development to occur. At least that would grease the wheels for the rest of the lengthy negotiations process.
Gambling rarely pays off
A Fort Simpson resident wins $30,000 on a scratch ticket and it's a story in the newspaper. Why is it a story? Well, the answer is because it's extraordinary.
What's not featured in the newspaper are the hundreds of people who have spent a pile of money on lottery tickets and never won a thing. It's been several years since another community member won $10,000 on a lottery ticket. In between there have been many people redeem tickets for $2, $5 or $10, but the vast majority have walked away empty-handed.
This is National Addictions Awareness Week. It tends to conjure images of alcoholism, but let's remember that gambling is another form of addiction -- and that would most certainly include bingo.
Every individual has the right to plunk down some of their hard-earned money on lottery tickets in hopes of hitting the jackpot. And many people enjoy playing bingo, win or lose, for its social aspects. The problem arises when basic needs are neglected in favour of buying tickets or bingo cards.
After all the scratching, dabbing number picking, gambling is a losing proposition.