It's deja vu all over again in Rae. A year ago, there were accusations of corruption among band members. Last month, similar suspicion was being raised following the leak of several letters, apparently from the former band manager, to current Chief Eddie Paul Rabesca. Now, council has cancelled a public meeting and a petition is circulating in the community to have the chief removed.

Corruption claims and calls for an audit have been greeted with general silence from elected officials. Didn't Rae Band leaders, including Chief Eddie Paul Rabesca, learn a year ago that closed meetings and secret documents only lead to suspicion, not satisfied band members?

When constituents demand answers, even the innocent look guilty when they remain silent -- or worse, cancel meetings rather than face a possible angry mob.

The meeting was tentatively re-scheduled for, Feb. 25. We hope this one is not cancelled.

Last year, an audit cleared the air, though it did leave some questions about salaries and travel expenses unanswered.

The chief and council must answer questions regarding how the money is spent.

If nothing nefarious is happening, all the better.

We hope clamouring for an audit doesn't become an annual event, but clamming up is not the right response at this time. The chief and council must answer the questions from the people they govern.

On the other hand, if the current elected officials -- and those who were acclaimed, such as Rabesca -- do not respond, those who are complaining now must not stand silent during the next election.

People must have the courage to run and, if elected, be as open in office as they demand of those who are in power now.

Good news for harvesters in Nunavut is good news for the territory.

The Government of Nunavut proudly reported a rebound in the sealing industry earlier this month with prices at a 10-year high. Good news? Of course.

The prices for fur today are comparable to what they were back in the early 1970s, before animal rights activists came forward with concerns. People on Baffin Island and the rest of Nunavut have been trying to overcome that negative publicity ever since.

It's taken time, but the GN's message to European consumers, the largest buyers of seal skins, that aboriginal hunts are community-based and have tremendous traditional values, beyond the income the skins generate for harvesters has hit home.

The seal skins may be fashionable for style-conscious Europeans, but the seals remain important to everyday life of many Nunavummiut. The meat helps keep us fed and the skins help keep us warm.

Seal skin prices at the annual Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. in North Bay, Ontario averaged less than $20 in the mid-1990s. Today, an average Ring Seal pelt goes for about $63. The 300 per cent increase, sometimes more than that, is giving the government hope that the industry will start bringing in money instead of sucking it up.

The GN lost large amounts of money purchasing skins in the late 1980s and early 1990s for $30 apiece.

Today, skins are graded and priced accordingly. Seal hunters generally sell their skins at the end of the season to government.

By sticking with the program to promote the sale of seal skins, the GN may soon see their efforts paying off.

They have invested a lot in the promotion of seal pelts holding fashion shows, and creating marketing brochures.

Important now is to keep up the campaign, to keep reminding consumers and designers that Nunavut's seal hunt is integral to Inuit culture and should not be given a black eye by well-meaning but ill-informed southern environmentalists.

To do that, hunters have to maintain a practise that does not threaten the existence of seals and continue to make use of the entire animal.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

And, in some cases, what appears to be a desperate measure is, in reality, a calculated risk.

There will be more than a few political pundits maintaining that Jack Anawak got lucky with the fallout after Premier Paul Okalik removed his portfolio last week.

We beg to differ.

What happened last week was evidence of one more ace up the sleeve of a veteran political warrior.

And, politically speaking, it was a stroke of pure brilliance.

Two weeks ago, outside of Anawak's last stronghold in his Rankin Inlet North riding (local elders), the MLA's popularity was at an all-time low among his constituents.

During the past week, petitions have been started in support of Anawak, with everyone from Mayor Lorne Kusugak to potential election foe Tagak Curley having voiced their displeasure over Okalik's decision.

In one fell swoop Anawak has gone from being almost off the political radar screen, to being the most talked about politician in Nunavut.

Make no mistake about it, Anawak knew very well what the ramifications of speaking out against the PPD's move to Baker Lake from Rankin would be after that decision was reached in cabinet.

He's been around far too long not to have realized it, especially with the somewhat strained relationship he and the premier have been enduring for the past while.

He also knew, if he played his cards right, he would be viewed by his constituents as a champion of the people -- the old warrior rising up to defend their dreams for a different type of government against a power-hungry premier.

Anawak must now work hard to hold onto his regained popularity until it's time for voters to go to the polls.

As for the premier, he's busy lobbying behind closed doors to have a non-confidence motion tabled against Anawak when the legislative assembly reconvenes March 4.

If he doesn't get the 10 necessary winks to oust Anawak from cabinet, the premier will face an in-house crisis of his own.

Anawak has taken a potentially career-ending situation and turned in into a political rejuvenation.

His title, be it minister without portfolio or MLA, for the rest of this government is immaterial.

In fact, he would be better positioned to voice the concerns of his constituents simply as an MLA for the rest of the term.

What matters most to Anawak is that he positions himself for another election win so he can continue to voice those concerns.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

Denny Rodgers didn't wear work boots, running shoes or even moccasins to unveil the Town of Inuvik's 2003 budget.

Instead, he wore a pair of Hush Puppies, to quell the voices of residents for and against the town's proposed new dog pound. Mincing few words, he explained this initiative was not going to be the SPCA's, but the town's, and the figure of $200,000 was not cast in stone.

While tempers flared and people voiced their opinions, the public was, overall, respectful. The situation the town is faced with cannot be solved with a proposal from any one interest group, however well-meaning and passionate about their cause.

Bylaws and town initiatives cannot be written or planned on the sometimes fleeting or transient wishes of one group, one person.

Linda Eccles has done so much for the animal population of Inuvik and it is appreciated, but the town cannot simply hand over a cheque or the keys to new building on that basis. Procedures have to be followed in spending tax dollars. A request for proposals regarding a contract is issued and anyone can bid on that contract. Likely Eccles is the best person to run the shelter, but what happens if she moves?

Last year, the town had to buy a street sweeper, because the previous contractor decided he didn't want to sweep streets anymore.

Street sweeping is one thing, but protective services is quite another and the town has to look out for the interests of the public for the long haul.

Pipeline HQ in Yellowknife

It was three years ago that DIAND Minister Robert Nault promised to bring DIAND jobs North from Ottawa-Hull.

That's yet to happen, but perhaps putting the new pipeline office in Yellowknife might be a bit of a payback for the folks in the capital city. Certainly the experiments of decentralization have failed miserably in the North, but that's not what this is about.

Putting a pipeline office in Yellowknife is tantamount to putting a wheat pool in Inuvik, but try and convince DIAND of that. They've been running the North (or is that ruining?) from Ottawa-Hull for years and that's not about to change.

This new office for Canada's pipeline will run from capital to capital; siphoning off the revenue of the Delta to a few bureaucrats in Yellowknife on the way to Ottawa or Hull.

Cloudy cafes

The smoking petition seemed to draw a pretty favourable response from council. It all but looks like a done deal and I think that's a good thing. While on vacation, I was on a plane that had still had ashtrays on the arm rests. The guy next to me and I got to talking about how attitudes have changed over smoking.

I remember standing over fresh produce in the grocery store with a stinky smoke hanging from my mouth and we both recalled when the whole plane was a smoking section.

It's a metamorphosis that's long overdue in public places, but I think council should leave the licensed establishments alone.

Going to a bar is a choice made by adults. They know that drinking and smoking are not healthy lifestyle choices, but it is their choice. If I were a bar owner, I would certainly take offence to government telling me how to run my business.

Prohibiting smoking in bars will only drive drunks onto the streets and I think we get quite enough of that here already.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

The Mackenzie Regional Youth Conference was a lot of fun.

Many students, not surprisingly, were preoccupied with catching the eye of members of the opposite sex. There was plenty of posturing and giggling.

Yes, there were a few students who wandered off when they should have been in a session. There were a few others who didn't pay much attention to the presenter(s). But there were also many youth who gained new knowledge, skills and self-confidence.

In particular, the girls who took part in the modern dance workshop with Jennifer McLeod seemed absolutely enthralled as they learned a choreographed routine. The whole scene resembled a pop band video or one of those "we're going to make you a star" television shows.

The majority of the sessions wisely had the students involved as active participants rather than just sitting and listening. They built cardboard sleds (or chariots), skied, played soccer and made masks and necklaces.

The conference didn't go without a hitch, but it was surmounted. Friday's keynote speaker, author Myron Wolf Child, cancelled at the last minute due to illness. Principal Jane Arychuk asked Grand Chief Michael Nadli to stretch his opening remarks into a keynote address. Nadli acquiesced and the beat went on.

Timely reminder

Dennis Nelner's tour of Deh Cho communities to discuss an impending Mackenzie Valley pipeline should turn community leaders' thoughts into actions. Although still years away, the project may seem distant but it will be upon us in a relatively short time.

Political and business battles remain to be fought. The formation of a Deh Cho Economic Corporation has been a logical step, but so much more remains to be done.

Smoke no more

One aspect that never arose in the Drum's three-part series on smoking and butting out was weight gain.

Many people who throw away the cigarettes wind up packing on the pounds. Dr. Peter Selby pointed out that nicotine is indeed an appetite suppressant. In addition, many ex-smokers feel strong impulses to reach for a sugary substitute to cigarettes. Dr. Selby advised that low-calorie, low-fat snacks such celery sticks are the best alternative. Starting or continuing an exercise program is also important, he said.

He added those who use nicotine-replacement methods, such as nicotine gum or the patch, generally experience less weight gain than those who do not use those products.

So the argument that excessive weight gain, at some point, becomes a greater health hazard than smoking need not exist. If enough willpower and discipline can be summoned, both battles can be fought at once.

Before closing on the smoking issue, my thanks to all who took part in the series.