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It's a lesson Dogrib leaders should learn from. There is nothing to be gained from closed meetings, secret documents, or even tossing the media out of meetings.
All of the above create suspicion, which fires the imagination and in the end undermines any good work that is being done.
Did Dogrib people get the whole story? Probably not. The band council still needs to explain why they spent about $668,000 on salaries, honoraria and travel, an issue raised by North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty.
Such questions only require honest answers and public policy guidelines and people have a right to ask them. That's what self-government is all about.
The restructuring plan for health and social services announced last week by minister Michael Miltenberger will not be released until March. At this point however, there are at least a couple of areas where it looks like we'll save money -- staffing and advertising.
The cost of running ads around the country is high.
Consider then, the annual costs associated with nine NWT regional health boards each spending a portion of their budget to place ads in newspapers all over Canada to recruit workers for their individual region.
Recruitment costs alone must have been sucking up hundreds of thousands of dollars from the department's annual budget, which is about $203 million.
But the number of ads should drop substantially because two new committees will now be doing all recruiting and retention of staff for every community in the NWT. That means health boards will no longer have to compete for valuable workers.
Other responsibilities of the committees include staff training and ensuring a standard financial accounting system for the entire Northwest Territories
Miltenberger did what his predecessor Jane Groenewegen seemed to fear: changing a health care system that everyone knew wasn't working. Thankfully, he didn't spend any more money and time studying the issue. He finally took action.
We still do not know how all the changes are going to shake out. And the big question that remains to be answered is what role community health boards will play.
It's about time real steps were taken to curb Nunavut's bootleggers.
Sure, when the police seize bottles at the territory's airports, it helps cut down on crime, alcohol abuse and the illegal sale of liquor. But drying up the river of booze at its source is the best way to stop the problem.
Nunavummiut have each other, as well as the Nunavut Liquor Board and the RCMP, to thank for the recent bootlegging crackdown.
In 2001, the liquor board met with police and community members around the territory to seek advice on how to develop a Nunavut-friendly Liquor Act. The resounding answer from those consulted was to change the way liquor permits are handled.
Just like magic, the government listened and changes were made. They came into effect earlier this month.
Primarily, the shelf life of import permits was drastically reduced. Individuals who want to import alcohol now have just 21 days -- as opposed to one year in Iqaluit and three months in all other communities -- to bring in booze.
The result, police and government say, is that bootleggers won't be able to use the permits over and over to bring in alcohol to sell illegally.
Amendments to the regulations also led to changes in special-occasion permits. The days of ordering an ocean of alcohol for small, private parties are over. The amount of alcohol to be purchased is now based upon the number of people who plan to attend. Surplus alcohol goes back to the liquor warehouse.
Again, bootleggers are no longer able to use the system to break the law.
Police say it's too soon to note any change, but they're adamant the amendments will cut into the bootlegging business.
It's true that the changes do little to address the problem of alcoholism in Nunavut. But at least the Band-Aid solution covers a wide area of skin.
Among the more challenging tasks regularly facing our politicians is figuring out which services are essential and which ones the people can do without. The problem is, the definition of what's essential keeps changing.
In the 21st century, "essential" means more than just nutritious food, clean water, a roof over one's head and a source of heat. Recent events across the territory highlight just how difficult sorting out who needs what has become.
For example, Nunavut, as a democracy, relies on an informed population. Education and access to information are therefore essential, but just how much education and information do Nunavummiut need to manage their affairs and plot their own future?
Some, including until recently the federal government, believe Internet access is vital. We agree. Arctic Bay, which just lost its only Net provider, should not be forced to do without it.
Then there's schooling. The new $1.8-million addition to Umimmak school in Grise Fiord is certainly something the young people of the community needed, but many other communities still have long wish lists when it comes to elementary and high schools. And yet education officials believe post-secondary education in law is important enough to warrant the creation of the Akitsiraq Law School. It's a worthy project, but not as "essential" as improving appalling high school graduation rates.
Even housing offers its own set of complications. Are single-family homes essential? Perhaps Nunavut should build more apartment blocks, which are more energy-efficient but offer less privacy, or even explore multi-family, shared housing.
It's not easy, but reconsidering what constitutes "essential" should be part of the job description for every politician in Nunavut. Sometimes that means spending more money on new projects. Sometimes, it means spending more on old ones.
You hear about it all the time: a project goes over budget and a hamlet goes cap in hand to the territorial government.
Not so Paulatuuq. Obviously used to having to be self-reliant, the Arctic Coast community of 323 has proved that where there's a will there's a way.
Faced with a $212,000 shortfall in buying a new tractor, instead of throwing up their hands in resignation, hamlet councillors rolled up their sleeves.
Council members will forgo their honoraria for the next two months and 21 hamlet employees will each take one day off a week. Although two workers had to be temporarily laid off, the hamlet will get by with help from volunteers and a spirit of co-operation.
It's a lesson in making do with what you have. It's a lesson all of us could take to heart.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
The committee members for the Rankin Inlet Men's Recreational Hockey League are to be commended for their decision to dedicate February's 16-and-older tournament to the four brave souls who perished aboard the Avataq.
The members are also to be commended for following the book and seeking permission from family members before announcing the dedication.
Hockey tournaments dedicated to the memories of loved ones, popular community figures or sports heroes from a particular town are popular right across this great nation of ours. A tournament bearing the name, or preserving the memory, of those who were highly thought of by their peers often rises in stature above similar gatherings.
But the biggest point being made by dedicating February's tourney to those four brave men is this: it lets them know they may be gone, but they'll never be forgotten.
Ringing up sales
While we're on the topic of a job well done, congratulations to Brian Schindel and the rest of the staff at Kivalliq Arctic Foods for topping the $1-million mark in gross sales this past year.
One of the best stories surrounding Schindel and Nunavut Development Corp. president John Hickes' trip to L.A. can't be told due to security constraints.
However, we can say it was a good move on the company's part to only send two representatives to L.A. because, as we all know, too many cooks can often spoil the broth, even the most well-connected ones.
Chester needs facility
It will be interesting to see how the meetings (negotiations) play out in Chesterfield Inlet this week concerning the St. Theresa long-term care facility.
Chester cannot afford to lose St. Theresa and, hopefully, the major players will be able to work out a deal to keep everyone involved happy. That includes the good bishop, who extended his contract last year and is looking forward to moving on to different challenges after April 1, 2002.
That being said, we do hope the bishop is sincere in listening to any pleas the developers may pitch to have the diocese stay on through a short transitional period.
Such a transitional phase would go a long way toward ensuring the quality of care to which the residents have grown accustomed receiving does, in fact, remain the same.
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
The Beaufort Delta Education Council's decision to try to hire up to 15 teachers early this year is a good move.
In the past the board has not made any offers before March 15, the deadline for teachers within the region to forward transfer and promotion requests.
The problem with this approach is that by March 15 many potential candidates, especially university students polishing off their teaching certificates, have already been approached by other school boards and may even have job offers.
BDEC is competing with school boards across the country and has problems enough luring teachers up to the Delta, what with its high cost of living and other factors which candidates might consider drawbacks.
Making some offers early will make it a little easier for BDEC to cope with its high teacher turnover rate, which last year was about 50 per cent.
Starting hiring earlier might also make a difference as summer approaches. When the idea of the recruitment drive was brought up last October, one issue mentioned was that a lot of hiring takes place in the summer.
It was pointed out this is inconvenient for district education authorities to form interview teams, plus not filling key positions until early or even late summer makes it hard on officials and candidates alike.
Starting early could well save a lot of time and aggravation down the road. This time saved can be better used in ways that fulfill the board's mandate, namely providing quality education to its students.
Curling up a storm
The Dave McLeod rink out of Aklavik swept to success over the weekend, winning the "A" qualifier in the NWT Curling Association's Men's Playdowns. Now they'll see if they can advance to the national championships.
Curling can provide plenty of exercise and enjoyment. This is true whether it's a low-key game between friends or a truly competitive match.
Congratulations are extended to the McLeod rink, as well as the best of luck as they seek to advance further.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
Revitalizing the Dene language is of utmost importance to some Deh Cho residents.
There will come a day when it's evident how many or how few people are willing to send their young children to an isolated location to learn the Dene language and aboriginal traditions and customs.
In forging ahead with seasonal Dene language camps and a Dene immersion school, we must be careful not to create a cultural divide. Some would argue it already exists, but it could be exacerbated by separating students, sending some to camps while others remain in a classroom setting.
This is, obviously, a very delicate issue.
Tolerance of others' culture and traditions is vital if we are to go on living together. The school system has been trying to integrate Dene programming over the years, through cultural camps and Slavey language classes. While the existing approach may be lacking in the eyes of some, it is attempting to bridge the gaps.
If a more concerted effort is to be taken on, it must also involve a commitment to speak Slavey in the home and in public.
A real challenge lies ahead in trying to reinforce the Dene language. It's a question of whether the will truly exists to turn things around.
A balanced view
Fort Liard's oil and gas review, after repeated delay, is expected to be released next month. That study will help piece together all of the good, the bad and the ugly that has come with industry. Of course, it will be more comprehensive than any single article about Fort Liard, such as the one that has angered Chief Judy Kotchea and honorary chief Harry Deneron.
It seems development has given rise to some insidious problems, but to what extent it's really unknown.
In last week's Deh Cho Drum, Shane Parrish and Al Harris, both managers with Beaver Enterprises, reflected on some of the drug and alcohol problems that exist in the oil and gas camps and in the community. The same problems are occurring in the Beaufort Delta, where oil and gas is also flourishing. However, cocaine has also made its way to Fort Simpson, where development has not yet been welcomed.
In some communities, home brew is the drink of choice. In extreme cases, such as the remote Newfoundland communities of David Inlet and Sheshatsheits, gas and glue sniffing is rampant.
Social problems are deep-rooted. We must examine them carefully, offer support and work together to stave them off.
In last week's edition of News/North, Timoon Toonoo's name was spelled incorrectly. We apologize for the error and any inconvenience it may have caused.