Editorial page

Monday, March 4, 2002

Name change needs rest

Political leaders sometimes take a long time to learn a lesson. That became abundantly clear after the latest bid to find a new name for the territory.

In the 1996 push to rename the NWT, 6,100 out of about 6,700 people said status quo was the way to go. Flash forward to 2002, and we didn't even make it to the voting stage because the people didn't want to go there.

Our leaders should put the idea to rename the territory to bed, at least until all self-government negotiations are settled. Better yet, wait until the people of the NWT give the word that it's time for a name change.


Paying our own way

The NWT's booming economy is paying cash dividends for the federal government.

That's even if you don't count resource revenues that fill federal coffers and leave the territorial government scrambling to keep programs afloat.

The GNWT expects to get just $441,532,000 from Ottawa in 2002-2003, far below the $615,481,000 received just two years ago. The reason? Soaring corporate income tax revenues. In 2000-2001, corporations paid $102,726,000. This year, corporations are expected to generate nearly three-times that, or $263,937,000.

But it's too early for the feds to start rubbing their hands and counting their extra cash. To fully take advantage of the North's economic promise, more investment is needed. We need better highways and other infrastructure -- including a road up the Mackenzie Valley. Only the federal government has the cash for that. And they'd better belly up to the table with cash and land to settle outstanding land claims.


Falling far short of a passing grade

The fact that only one person from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region showed up Feb. 18 at a public meeting in Inuvik to hear consultants present a report on economic measures, including education, speaks volumes about the extent of the problems noted in that report.

Eighteen years after the 1984 Inuvialut Final Agreement was signed, consultants Lindsay Staples and Rosemary Wallbank found that dismal education outcomes in the Delta are likely to doom Inuvialuit to low-end, menial jobs, boom times or no.

In 1999, high school graduation rates in the Inuvialut Settlement Region stood at 23 per cent, compared with 28 per cent in Nunavut, 40 per cent in the rural Northwest Territories and 98 per cent in Yellowknife.

"Problems start early," the consultants note. "ISR children in Grades 3 to 12 are well behind scores for children in other parts of Canada. Each year the children of the ISR get farther behind."

Inuvialuit beneficiaries may want to use this report to ask themselves some hard questions about where they've gone since 1984 and where they're going now.

Some may be lulled into thinking a good economy means jobs for everyone. If so, they can disabuse themselves of that notion. The same report points out that, economically speaking:

"The ISR got a high mark of 95 per cent compared to 100 per cent for Canada in 1999. However, in 1984 the economy of the ISR did better than for Canada as a whole ... it did not perform as well in 1999 as it did in 1984.

Also, the economy of the ISR has lost ground compared to its neighbours in the North between 1984 and 1999."

As a snapshot of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, this report paints a picture that merits a very close look.


Good intentions don't excuse Nutarak

Jobie Nutarak, MLA for Pond Inlet, recently said during session that many women who go to women's shelters use the opportunity to party and sleep around. He thinks women don't take shelters seriously.

But it is Jobie Nutarak who isn't taking family violence seriously. Despite his criticisms, Nutarak has never even been inside a women's shelter. Shelter staff asked him to visit, but he couldn't find time.

Last week, MLA and former social worker Rebekah Williams reminded the assembly how horrible family violence can be.

Williams has seen women thrown naked outside on icy cold winter nights.

Still, Mr. Nutarak told News/North that both men and women need counselling because both hurt in the same way.

It's true that abusers need help too. Counselling programs for abusers are crucial. But abusers and survivors of violence do not hurt in the same way. How can they when one is humiliated and tortured and the other isn't?

Abusers who have suffered abuse in the past still make a choice to attack innocent people. Past abuse isn't a ticket to demean and brutalize loved ones.

We do realize that, despite his ridiculous accusations, Nutarak has good intentions. He is concerned about families and wants to see both men and women resolve their problems. But he doesn't seem to realize that women stay in shelters because they are literally running for their lives.

So we can't excuse Nutarak's comments. Elected officials are supposed to be informed about major social problems like family violence. After all, they are charged with looking out for us.

Nutarak isn't looking out for women. Whether he realizes it or not, what his comments really do is blame women for being abused.


Toward independence

Warnings from Ottawa's auditor-general about the dangers of debt should be welcomed as an opportunity for Nunavut's leaders to plot a self-sufficient future.

As we detailed in last week's News/North, Sheila Fraser's recent report on the territory's finances suggests there is much to be done before we can claim our economy is efficiently and reliably managed. Financial reports are late and not enough experts are on staff to make sure our affairs are in order.

Under all the bureaucratic jargon is an important message: we cannot afford to rely on federal generosity to balance our books.

Although this week's news from New York and Toronto is upbeat, there is always the risk -- an inevitable certainty, even -- that the national and global economies could fall into a tailspin. In that event, Nunavut and the rest of the North will have to tighten its belt.

If, however, we can reduce our reliance on Southern sources of food, fuel and other expensive necessities, we should be better able to weather out the bad times that afflict those more closely tied to the global marketplace.

For example, there is enormous potential in the Arctic to replace diesel generating stations with wind power and other renewable sources of energy. The guarantee of long-term savings from bringing an end to refueling flights and sealifts will more than make up for heavy short-term expenditures.

Similarly, increased development of local food supplies in the waters around Nunavut can help reduce our reliance on Southern imports.

Maybe the next time Canada's chief financial watchdog offers us words of advice about relying on the South, we could reply: "We're already on the case. In fact, we're way ahead of you."


Hands off the referees!

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

While the inaugural Avataq Cup memorial hockey tournament was a resounding success, it was marred by yet another case of a hockey player physically attacking a referee.

This blatant abuse of officials is reaching epidemic proportions in the Kivalliq -- across Nunavut for that matter -- and has to stop. During the past few years, hockey referees in Nunavut have been punched, speared, endured racist remarks, spit on and even assaulted in their change rooms and in an arena parking lot.

These actions not only endanger the safety of the officials, they show a total lack of respect for the game itself.

If these incidents are not soon brought under control, the already low numbers of those willing to referee ice hockey will be further diminished.

This is not even to mention the terrible example it sets for our youth in the arena who view these acts of violence against authority figures.

The solution to this on-ice crisis is threefold.

Although by this stage of the game, hockey players should be well aware of the possible ramifications of their actions, more information must be available when teaching them respect for officials.

The governing bodies, in this case Hockey Nunavut, must hand down severe penalties in these incidents to deter future infractions and protect their referees.

Finally, peer pressure must be levied on these players by others in their community who play the game.

In virtually every tournament, teams are provided with rules that clearly state alcohol and official abuse will not be tolerated. When a team knowingly lets a player go on the ice when they're under the influence of alcohol (as was the case in Rankin with a Whale Cove player who struck two officials on the ice), that team should also be reprimanded by the tournament's organizing committee.

Banning the offending team from competing in the next tournament may prompt those who play within the rules to lean on those who do not to clean up their act.

Co-operation must be achieved between all affected parties in handing out swift, substantial punishment when an official is abused. This is true for all sports, not just hockey.

It's time to put sportsmanship back into our favourite sports. If this is not done quickly, there will be no one left to officiate our sports.

With the end of officiating, comes the end of the games themselves. And, were that scenario ever to unfold, everybody loses.


Lots of spirit

Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum

The Midnight Sun Recreation Complex arena was the place to be Sunday evening.

Not only were the "A" and "B" finals of the IRC Native Hockey Tournament exciting, but the hundreds of fans provided great atmosphere as well. Loud cheers for both sides rang out, which was good to see, and it's fairly safe to say all those present had a good time.

Congratulations to the organizers and, of course, to the EGT team, who captured the "A" title for the third straight year.

Golden moment

Speaking of great hockey, Sunday's Olympic men's hockey final was terrific.

The game was superb, and the ending ideal.

Many Canadians were not even born the last time this country snared the Olympic gold medal in this event, so most would agree it was high time to do so again.

Delta fans were among those caught up in the anxiety leading up to the game, and they shared in the ensuing excitement. Many agree the event is quite significant for the sake of the pride of Canadians, and for the sake of the sport too.

It provided one of those moments Delta residents will be able to recall and cherish for decades, along with other Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Farewell

It has been a fun ride but it is time for me to sign off as editor with The Drum.

Since I came up here in June 2000, I have covered lots of meetings and games and conducted quite a few interviews.

I have visited Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic and, in the summer of 2000, journeyed to Tuktoyaktuk to cover the visit there by the St. Roch II.

For the first time I have experienced what it is like to have sunlight around the clock, and then go a long stretch without it.

That has been quite interesting, as have been the various situations where I have learned about the cultures and unique ways of life within the Delta.

What I will remember most about my time with the paper, though, is the people I have met along the way. Many have been quite helpful and while I can not thank you all individually, I wish to express my appreciation nonetheless. You made my job a lot easier.

Mussi cho.

Special week being marked

Local youth are helping to mark Scout/Guide Week.

Both are very worthwhile organizations, and there are clubs spread out all over the world.

From the time I have spent around the local groups, the youngsters seem to learn a lot of useful information while having a lot of fun along the way.


What price for leadership?

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

Having committed and effective chiefs comes at a price, but how much is too much?

First Nations in the Deh Cho have a finite number of dollars, obviously. How those dollars are earmarked is up to each band.

It is true that leaders of small communities still have fundamental issues to deal with such as education, power, water, medical services and on and on. Chiefs in larger communities, on the other hand, often have staff assigned to oversee such issues. However, chiefs in larger communities have more demands placed on their time by the greater number of band members with various concerns.

If First Nations leaders opt to create a salary grid and divide community funding in a way they find more equitable, so be it.

The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is increasing band-support funding by 20 per cent over the next four years, freeing up more funds. In that time, the Deh Cho will continue to move closer to self-government and, ostensibly, self-sufficiency.

What appears questionable is paying salaried chiefs $300 daily indemnities to attend DCFN leadership meetings when expenses such as travel and accommodations are already covered. That indemnity money must come from funds that could be applied to other programs and services in Deh Cho communities.

How much will First Nations band members stand to bear?

Not a bad idea

Granted, the timing stinks, but the idea of renaming Virginia Falls after Pierre Elliott Trudeau is worth serious consideration.

Unfortunately the suggestion comes on the heels of a failed effort to arrive at a new name for the Northwest Territories. At this point, the mention of renaming anything is generally met with the rolling of eyes or the shaking of heads. However, if aboriginal people do not object (and that's a very important factor), it's a proposal that has some merit.

Although his legacy has been debated, Trudeau, the flamboyant leader of this country for nearly 16 years, has earned a place in the hearts and minds of most Canadians. That become obvious with his death in Sept. 2000. He had a real affinity for Nahanni country. Naming the falls in his honour would be an appropriate gesture.

Antoine is right, the publicity generated by the deed would surely translate into increased tourism, likely thousands of extra people. Of course with park restrictions on the number of visitors per season, tourists would have to plan carefully if they were all bent on touring Nahanni.

It would not be a tourism panacea. There is still much work to be done to promote the Deh Cho properly, but renaming the falls would result in a good return on what little it would cost to file an application. And, just as importantly, it would be a tribute to a man who helped preserve a magnificent natural wonder.