The Aurora Arts Society has largely hit the mark with "Where a Golden Past, Meets a Brilliant Future," its 65-page cultural tourism report.

Some local artists -- an iconoclastic and independent bunch -- are reportedly and rightly skeptical of adding a layer of bureaucracy to the local arts scene. But a start has to be made somewhere, and this report does that.

While the aurora borealis can be counted on to draw 14,000 Japanese tourists or more in a good winter, is that all there is to visiting Yellowknife? Are we a one-note, winter-only tourism destination? What about the summer?

The time is now to nurture cultural tourism.

The report says as well as the aurora borealis, Yellowknife tourism should build on the booming diamond industry. It also advocates establishing a new winter music and performing arts festival, targeting Japanese tourists, but open to all.

In fact, the report suggests Yellowknife could be doing a lot more to cater to Japanese tourists. What do they do after they see the Northern Lights?

The report also sets a goal of increasing the time of visitor stays in Yellowknife by 50 per cent which will hopefully increase their spending by 60 per cent.

While some of Yellowknife's tourism drawbacks are obvious -- think remote location with cold winter temperatures and clouds of summer mosquitos -- the problems of getting folks to stick around once you lure them with natural attractions isn't unique.

New Brunswick for years was known as Canada's 'drive-thru' province. Visitors from Ontario and Quebec were spending one night in New Brunswick -- on their way to Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island. In the late 1980s, then Premier Frank McKenna's government developed a strategy to offer cultural tourism -- and New Brunswick has become a 'destination' rather than a drive-thru. A summer visitor could easily enjoy the spectacular Hopewell Rocks, home of the world's highest tides in the morning, and be in a play at Le Festival Acadien de Caraquet in the evening.

The Okanagan Cultural Corridor Project in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley markets everything it offers as a collective effort -- from wineries to art exhibits.

To make cultural tourism work in Yellowknife, Bernie Hughes, president of the Aurora Arts Society, says an alliance must be formed between local artists, businesses and government.

He's right. It's time they overcome their mutual suspicion of each other and work together.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

It was interesting to hear Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) president Tongola Sandy say the KIA will intensify its lobbying efforts to have the Nunavut government hire more Inuit.

The resolution is either an attempt to prop up the KIA's sagging public image, or, is yet another example of an organization hopelessly out of touch with the socio-political climate of the day.

Sandy should be more than a little aware of the tremendous competition in Nunavut for skilled Inuit workers, especially when it comes to the filling of mid- and upper-level management positions.

Head-hunting has been rampant among the GN, the various regional Inuit organizations, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., etc. during the past few years.

In short, highly skilled and educated Inuit employees are in great demand and their services aggressively sought after in every professional field.

We applaud the government's efforts to step up specialized training in an effort to fill positions with homegrown talent.

However, lawyers, accountants and business specialists, just to name a few, take years of training.

As such, we are still a few years removed from reaping the benefits of these training programs.

On the surface, it would appear the KIA has still not received Premier Paul Okalik's message that the vast majority of government jobs still vacant require highly-skilled workers.

It is not in anybody's best interest to hire people for these positions simply to fill a self-imposed quota.

The KIA, itself, went out and brought in a non-Inuit to get its financial house in order, along with that of the Sakku Development Corp.

We can only surmise the organization tried, and failed, to find a qualified Inuit business professional before making its hire.

There are few who call Nunavut home who don't want to see the Nunavut government increase its number of Inuit employees as it approaches its second term.

That being said, one would like to think the vast majority of Nunavummiut also want to see their territory grow and prosper.

That's not going to happen if our government and top-ranking organizations hire workers based solely on their cultural background, rather than their qualifications.

We're confident the GN will reach the point where 80 per cent or higher of its workforce are Inuit.

We're also confident the GN will stay the course and continue training programs to ensure when that day comes, the workforce will be highly-trained and qualified to perform the tasks its members were hired to perform.

Ultimately, that is the only course of action which will lead us down the road of prosperity.

Editorial Comment
Tara Kearsey
Inuvik Drum

Dogs, dogs, dogs. Everybody's talking about them. Just check the Inuvik Drum answering machine or fax machine if you doubt that.

The phone calls started coming into the office last Thursday evening and didn't stop until Monday.

Angry pet owners are marching up to me in the streets, calling me "cruel" and accusing me of being a "dog hater."

One caller, after confirming that I am new to Inuvik, told me she didn't want someone as hateful as me living in her town.

So let's clear up a few things. I do not hate dogs. I am actually quite fond of them. I don't care that much for cats though; they are a little too feisty for me.

In last week's opinion piece, I was simply giving council a few suggestions about where they could spend $200,000.

The same woman who said she didn't want me in her town also said that Inuvik teens are spoiled and the town should not spend any more money on them. She said it would be a waste and young people don't deserve anything because they are all "bad."

Making this matter even more confusing is that the local SPCA asked town council for $83,000 to pay for a share of a new pound that the SPCA would run.

It seems the town wants to have its own pound, with Inuvik taxpayers paying the cost. At the very least, mayor and council should let the public know why the SPCA proposal is unacceptable.

Hopefully that answer will come out at a public meeting planned on the topic.

Badge is confusing

Yes, the town's bylaw officer is also a supernumerary special constable for the RCMP, and does some work for them. So, yes, he does deserve to have an RCMP crest on his jacket.

On the other hand, he works full-time for the Town of Inuvik as a bylaw officer.

Long-time residents may know that he is the bylaw officer, but visitors or newcomers may be confused by the RCMP crest on his winter jacket.

I believe he should have a Town of Inuvik badge on his winter jacket, which he currently does not. If he wants to keep the RCMP badge on it, then that's fine. Two badges are better than one, right?

Good times to bad

Frustrating is the only way to describe how to feel after Premier Stephen Kakfwi's state of the territory address.

The premier wants everyone to work together to resolve their differences and Mayor Peter Clarkson says that means rough financial waters are ahead. The territorial government just doesn't have the money to do what needs doing.

It's too bad Ottawa doesn't understand that it holds the key to unlocking the North's economic potential.

Without their help, our good times will be bad times.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

One community Wedges are being driven in Fort Simpson.

Coun. Betty Hardisty hit the nail on the head at Monday's village council meeting. She said the Liidlii Kue First Nation should have been consulted from the outset about the village's decision to lift liquor rationing in Fort Simpson.

It's true that there are specific matters that fall under the village's jurisdiction: garbage, sewage, numerous bylaws and the mill rate are among them. Liquor rationing, however, is a grey area. Although Finance Minister Joe Handley referred to liquor rationing as a "municipal matter," he wisely chose not to grant village council's motion without first checking with the LKFN.

The outcome of this decision will affect everyone in the village and surrounding communities. For that very reason, prior to passing a motion, the village should have informed the LKFN and the Fort Simpson Metis Nation of its intentions. Better yet, village council should have invited a response from those bodies.

The village cannot allow all of its business to be paralysed with indecision and slowed to a crawl by awaiting feedback on every issue. Yet there are some matters that most definitely require broad scrutiny. Liquor rationing -- whether the current rationing system is effective or not -- is one of those matters.

Now we've reached a stage where the LKFN is planning its own plebiscite among its own membership. The village is considering a separate plebiscite open to all Fort Simpson residents.

To put a label of "transients" on those outside LKFN membership, as Chief Rita Cli has done in an interview and in correspondence, is only inflaming the issue. Some non-aboriginals have lived here all their lives. They have raised children here. They, too, will die here. Why should they have a lesser voice?

Other "transients" are teachers, nurses, police officers, volunteer firefighters, coaches, foster parents and adoptive parents. They may not live in Fort Simpson the rest of their days, but they are trying to make the community a better place in which to live.

Cli's point cannot be dismissed, though. An influx of "outsiders" would quickly make the Liidlii Kue First Nation a minority in the community.

There are people in all communities who are essentially "passing through," making a temporary stop. Even the village has its limits in that regard. Those who are eligible to be candidates or vote in municipal elections must have lived in Fort Simpson for at least a year.

The concept of aboriginal self-government is still being defined in the Deh Cho. There's still a possibility that long-time Fort Simpson residents -- Dene, Metis or otherwise -- will be included in local governance.

As we continue down the road to Deh Cho self-government, there are bound to be many more issues that will twinge the raw nerve of discrimination. Keeping relations civil will require great diplomacy. Whether our ancestors were here from time immemorial or not, we're all living here now. Let's try to understand and respect each other.

In "Get a job, judge tells thief" (Yellowknifer, Jan. 24), the story should have read Pudlat pleaded guilty to break-ins, not Judge Bourassa as reported. Yellowknifer apologizes for any confusion this may have caused.

In a photo on page 12 of the Jan. 22 edition of Yellowknifer (Student raffle raises a bundle), Breanne Grayston was misidentified. Yellowknifer apologizes for any confusion this may have caused.

In the story "She's lucky to be alive," (Yellowknifer, Jan. 8) Gisela Vielhauer said a stranger kept slapping her face to ensure she remained conscious after her car accident. Vielhauer meant to convey the man lightly touched her face.