 |
No milk? No eggs? No bread? Anyone who spent Christmas in Yellowknife faced shortages of perishable foods that simply shouldn't have occurred in the last week of 2002.
Giselle Botani, an Extra Foods shopper, saw parallels with when she lived in communist Hungary in the 1950s. "People lined up for food. It was like that." A long-time Yellowknifer used a more recent historical parallel: "It's like living in Kosovo," he muttered.
Exaggeration? Well, of course. But exaggeration born out of profound frustration.
No ferry, no ice bridge at the Mackenzie River crossing at Fort Providence, 315 kilometres southwest of Yellowknife. For five days Yellowknifers had their vital Highway 3 road link with Edmonton and points south cut off.
Winter freeze-up and spring break-up on the Mackenzie are part of the reality of Northern living. Planning for either is never easy.
But it's also not impossible. Last spring, the ice bridge closed April 23 and the ferry didn't run until May 22, one of the longest and latest break-ups in 35 years. Yet, there were no serious shortages of perishables.
The difference between break-up and the start of freeze-up? Air transportation plans were already in place in the spring. This time it took until Dec. 27 when Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op flew up a $13,000 tractor-trailer load of perishables to start the re-supply.
We need a bridge across the Mackenzie River. But until it's built, grocers must realize the cultural shift that has taken place in Yellowknife. This is no longer a frontier mining town relishing privation as some may still nostalgically glorify it to be.
Nope. Those days are gone. Look at the grocery cart beside you -- and your own -- the next time you're in the supermarket. We live and shop like Southerners. Many of us might even admit to having been Southerners. We don't live on powdered milk, Spam or sardines -- unless we chose to spend Christmas 2002 in Yellowknife.
When a dog roaming the land outside city limits gets caught in a trap, it's a shame.
When a dog inside the city gets caught in a trap, it should be a criminal offence.
In mid-December, a dog had one leg caught in a trapper's snare 10 kilometres outside Yellowknife. The wound was so bad the leg had to be amputated.
Unfortunately for Roxy and her owner, trapping remains a big part of the NWT's economy -- $477,365 worth of pelts sold in 2000-2001. It's something pet owners must realize when they let dogs run free outside the city.
On Dec. 18, this time in a wooded area behind Sir John Franklin school, a dog died after it was caught in a Conibear trap.
Yes, the dog should have been on leash, but whoever set the trap broke a city bylaw. This trap looked like a birdhouse and a curious child could just have easily stuck a hand in the hole.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
A famous NHL coach once said, "Predictions are for Gypsies."
Although Toe Blake's remark would be viewed as politically incorrect in our modern age, the warning contained in the statement still holds water today.
To stick one's neck out with a bold prediction concerning matters one has no control over, often does little more than leave egg on one's face and a swath cut out of their credibility.
However, there is something to be said for beating the odds.
After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
The Nunavut government has been letting rumours leak out to all who care to listen that Premier Paul Okalik will not be calling an election in 2003.
It's a good pitch, especially with all the built-in rhetoric of MLAs riding year-end spending to victory in April 2004.
A good pitch, but we're not buying.
I don't think we risk letting the cat out of the bag by saying Okalik is less than enamoured with the performance of a few of his cabinet ministers.
In fact, one or two have come dangerously close to ending up as ministers without portfolios during the past few months.
The problem Okalik faces is the thin talent pool he has to choose from in handing over any of the three portfolios he'd rather see in other hands.
At this point, lobbying MLAs behind closed doors to bring forward a non-confidence motion against any of the current ministers is not an option.
That leaves the premier with but one choice, call an election in 2003 and hope the voters see things his way.
The next few months should prove themselves more than a little interesting as potential candidates position themselves to throw their hats into the political ring -- and there will be some surprises.
It's looking more and more as though a number of current MLAs will re-offer in new ridings during Nunavut's second territorial election.
And, Okalik may not be the only one envisioning defeat for a number of current MLAs in the next election.
The capital rumour mill has one or two high-ranking personalities cutting their ties with current ministers in order to run in the next election themselves.
Call it an executive decision.
We'll go way out on a limb and get you to mark two months on your calendar.
In March, Okalik will inform members of the legislative assembly that he's going to call a 2003 election.
That election will be held around mid-October.
If not, the yolk's on us.
Editorial Comment
Tara Kearsey
Inuvik Drum
Looking back through the news of the year, it was a pretty bumpy ride, but that's the way it goes when you're breaking trail.
There is so much going on here, that's never been done before, and we should take some real pride in what's being accomplished here.
I spend a lot of time filling this space with what's wrong with our corner of the world and maybe not enough congratulating the ones who have made positive changes here.
The town's mayor, Peter Clarkson ran unopposed in last October's election and it's not a wonder. This guy works so much, I wonder sometimes if he has a clone.
While the job is only paid for half a position, he does the work of three.
Peter is everywhere, all the time. I run into him at all the places he should be, like council and at the usual ribbon cuttings, but he's also selling tickets, working on the greenhouse or showing tourists around town.
Nellie Cournoyea is another who works tirelessly for her people and for the entire Delta.
Nellie was instrumental in getting this giant pipeline deal moving and it can't be easy to wake a giant who's been asleep for 25 years.
Nellie worked hard and long days on that deal and many others and she's still at it. When you dial the IRC after hours, it's always Nellie answering the phone.
When a feast is being held, organizers call on Nellie for a couple of char or some muktuk. When she travels out, she returns laden with fabric, beads and notions that can't be bought here.
The pipeline is a huge deal and sewing notions maybe not so huge, but knowing that she gives her time and energy to make someone happy makes them all seem equal.
Fred Carmichael is another omnipresent force here in the Delta.
Another who is there for all the stately functions that go with the job, I've also seen Fred behind the scenes, sharing his time to celebrate a birthday or visit with an elder. Taking over from Nellie on the pipeline has been a courageous gesture on Fred's part and he was thrown a curve ball on his first pitch from federal Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal.
He's shrugged it off and soldiers on, as he has had to do with other controversies that erupted last year, but Fred's been a rock.
I know there are times when he'd much rather be on the stick of his Cessna than fighting with DIAND or calming quarrelling chiefs, but he perseveres for his people, because that's what good leaders do.
These are the traits that history writers look for in the pages of their books and all the bickering back-biters are always forgotten.
Selfless sacrifice is what good leaders are made of and we have three in this town, but we have dozens of others whom aren't recognized as leaders, but certainly do more than their part in other areas.
The precious handful of people running our sports programs and volunteer agencies are equally important and their hours are long.
I'd love to thank them all here, but I'm running out of space.
You know who they are and make sure you let them know how much their efforts are appreciated.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
The Acho Dene Koe First Nation is about to up the ante in the oil and gas game.
The Liard band wants royalties.
For the past several years, multi-nationals and junior companies have extracted enormous volumes of natural gas from the Liard area. That's not to say Acho Dene Koe (ADK) has received nothing in return. With the advent of industry, the First Nation has supplied a steady supply of jobs and training for its people. It has built businesses and joint-ventures (ADK Holdings reported $38 million in revenues in 2000). Admittedly, there has been a learning curve as well.
Oil and gas companies have also been tapped for all kinds of donations, such as a $50,000 contribution to Echo Dene school's literacy program a few years ago.
Now, more than ever, the Liard band realizes the value of the abundant natural resources within its traditional lands. The ADK is demanding a percentage of the federal government's oil and gas royalties. But why should it stop there?
The federally levied royalties in the NWT are among the lowest in the world. The ADK should not only fight for its fair share of those royalties, but a profit-sharing deal directly with industry. The band can't drive the price too high for fear of driving away the bidders, but there surely must be room for the wealthy oil and gas companies to negotiate.
That additional money could be used to bolster existing ADK businesses and create new ones. It could be applied to housing, education or health and social services. Although these sectors are largely the responsibility of the government, it makes sense for aboriginal peoples to enhance existing programs wherever possible. It's their own people who will gain.
When it comes to royalties, let the free market bear what it will.
It's a long ride
Let's hope Deh Cho and federal negotiators are right when they say that few people attended some of the consultation sessions because they're already in tune with what's going on.
Self-government decisions being made today, even in these initial stages, will have a profound impact on the Deh Cho.
There is a long way to go in Deh Cho Process negotiations, but now is the time to get involved.
Happy holidays
Merry Christmas to all readers. Hopefully you enjoy warm, joyous and relaxing holidays.
Please try to keep in mind those who are alone or who have lost family members. By extending an invitation to share in your festivities, you may not be providing a solution to their problems but it might be greatly appreciated.
The next edition of the Deh Cho Drum will be on Jan. 2.