Those same directors had just voted non-confidence in Burlingame.
By removing Wray from the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, Nault has effectively turned board members into government stooges and compromised the environmental review process.
According to news reports, even territorial resources minister Jim Antoine wants to know what's going on.
That's not a good situation, especially with oil and gas development pressures headed our way in the very near future.
This board, half-appointed by the federal government and half by NWT First Nations, was struck to provide an independent review of development around the North.
For the board to do its job effectively, it has to be seen as independent. Instead, Nault has shaken public confidence in its ability to do the work. He needs to explain his actions and restore the board's integrity.
If he doesn't, every decision the board makes from now on will have the same stain: are board members reflecting wishes of NWT residents or political power brokers in far-off Ottawa?
Role model, Nunavut hero, idol -- Jordin Tootoo is all that.
As the first Inuk to play in the National Hockey League, Tootoo is adored by hockey fans across Canada -- especially by people throughout the North.
We cheer each shift, every bone-crunching bodycheck, every fight and every point he scores for the Nashville Predators.
He's featured on a poster published by the Nunavut government. He was swarmed by young and old alike in every town he visited in Nunavut and the NWT last summer.
News/North has heaped tonnes of praise on him as well. It's easy, however, to forget there's a person behind all that hero worship.
While Jordin has Nunavut marked proudly on the shaft of his stick, and often acknowledges publicly the support he has received from his home territory, he is ultimately playing for himself.
He set his sights on playing in the NHL. It's him who is out there bumping and grinding every game. He has to play for himself, first and foremost. At just 21 years of age, Jordin has a lot of hockey ahead. We're just happy to be along for the ride.
As Nunavut moves forward it is important that we don't forget about the past and Inuit culture. With more people travelling North it is easy to become caught up in progress, but we must never forget that Nunavut exists because of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (knowledge).
It's the Inuit knowledge and principles that we should listen to and understand. It's important that we find a balance between technology and older traditions.
Last week News/North presented Dr. Mike Ferguson, a wildlife biologist in Pond Inlet, who regularly consults with elders and other residents when he is studying wildlife in the North. For him the Inuit qaujimajatuqangit is an important part of the research process. Without that background, the science wouldn't mean much.
The Government of Nunavut understands the importance of working with elders and other Inuit when it comes to making their laws for the territory. The policies of governments in the past were to pass laws without consulting with the people. Laws that didn't reflect Inuit principals were forced on them. That is starting to change. Input from Inuit hunters was used to draft the proposed Wildlife Act.
On Oct. 2 people from all over Nunavut gathered to go through the bill line-by-line. What they've tried to come up with is a bill that reflects the wishes of both the government and the people.
It is important for us to continue to find that balance. It is the only way to ensure continued progress in the future.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Anyone with the slightest bit of insight into the personality of Jordin Tootoo was not surprised by his decision to dedicate his first NHL game to his brother, Terence.
Before his death, Terence was one of Jordin's biggest fans, and the two siblings spent as much time together as possible.
Jordin and Terence enjoyed almost hero status during their time together with the OCN Blizzard in The Pas, Man., where 'Keep your hands off our Tootoos,' was the fans' rallying cry.
The dedication to his brother is the latest example of why Jordin is cementing his reputation as an all-around class act.
Jordin is the subject of a poster campaign launched by the Nunavut government aimed at encouraging Nunavut youth to stay in school and follow their dreams.
The amount of time he has dedicated to visiting Nunavut schools during the past few years has been impressive, to say the least.
For all the glory that can accompany it, the life of a professional hockey player is a difficult one.
Time off to spend with friends and family, and simply to relax after a gruelling schedule, is closely guarded by many professional athletes.
Jordin is among the select few who take the time to live up to what they, themselves, see as an obligation to the youth of their respective areas.
Feel good story
Al Muir of the sports-collectibles magazine, the Beckett Hockey Collector, hit the nail right on the head when he said Jordin is that rare breed of professional athlete who fans feel good about idolizing.
The press coverage he has received as a fourth round NHL draft pick is unprecedented.
The elements of his story drive sports journalists into a feeding frenzy.
His coming from a small Arctic hamlet in Nunavut, entering minor hockey on natural and outdoor ice, leaving home to pursue his career, defying all odds in realizing his dream to become the first Inuk to play in the NHL, and overcoming personal tragedy combine to produce one of the true feel-good stories of the year.
Jordin's willingness to embrace his role-model status and do what he can to help young Inuit develop the self-confidence to follow their own goals and dreams is but the icing on the cake to this remarkable story.
He is, truly, an ambassador we here in Nunavut can all be proud of.
And, as remarked on by former NHLer and current TV analyst for Nashville Predators games, Terry Crisp, during the broadcast of Jordin's first NHL game -- someday a movie is going to be made about this young man's life.
We can't help but wonder who Jordin would pick to play himself.
Whomever it is, he'll have big skates to fill.
Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum
From the outside looking in, Delta Daze seemed to go off without a hitch -- as it always does -- but looking from the inside out this time, I saw a bit of the immense effort put in by the volunteers.
Hit with the loss of about half their full-time members, the Lions are left with a handful of now very weary members, as are most of the service clubs in town.
While we rarely see the work these clubs do to raise the money that funds everything from computers to hearing aids, we sure would miss it if it was gone.
As funding is cut to programs across the board and across the country, it's these clubs which pick up the slack with their bingos and bake sales, but they don't just happen. They really need help out there.
We all live better from the work they do, but we all tend to take it for granted too.
Time for volunteering, not TV
Granted, our lives are busy ones. Most households have two working parents and single moms and dads struggle just to get by.
It's not easy to get out to regular meetings, but we can all seem to find time to waste in front of the TV.
Rolling off the couch has never been easy for me at the end of a work day, but I've managed to make the effort lately to get to a couple Lions meetings and hope to make it to a few more.
I never feel very good about changing the channel 200 times, but with volunteering, I've always been able to walk away feeling like I put a little back into something that I normally just take from.
In this job I've seen a lot of volunteers. They're usually hidden behind an over-sized novelty cheque, washing cars or sitting on a committee of some sort that would go un-noticed to most of the general public, but not to me.
I've grown to rely on the work these folks to help fill these pages with good news -- something we're often criticized of never having enough of.
The way I see it, if people want more good news in this paper, they should get out there and make some.
Whether it's with Scouts, the Legion or the Ladies' Auxiliary, there are people like you needed out there and they'll make you feel a lot better for your spare time than Oprah or Red Green ever has.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
Ten candidates for mayor and council submitted responses to some topical questions in this newspaper. Six others are conspicuous by their absence.
A candidates' forum seems unlikely. It would have to be hastily arranged because the election is Monday. That is unfortunate because such a forum is an ideal way for residents to interact with candidates.
It's too bad there was no opportunity for public discourse in Fort Simpson's municipal election, other than citizens approaching candidates individually.
The questions posed in the Drum are by no means exhaustive, but timely. Those running for mayor and council would have had to set aside some time to compose their responses thoughtfully. It's OK to admit one doesn't have all the answers; nobody expects candidates to know it all.
Obviously some of the contenders forgot or couldn't be bothered with the interrogative exercise. Regardless, any of them could have drafted their own pamphlets or flyers introducing themselves and their stance on the issues. They could have mailed them out to everyone, gone door to door and delivered them in person, or dropped them off in key locations around town.
So it appears some council hopefuls did nothing other than allow their names to stand upon nomination. That lack of initiative doesn't instill confidence that they will devote the extra time demanded of responsible councillors.
Maybe those people are banking on their reputation or the support of family and friends to push them over the top in the vote count.
In a small community like Fort Simpson, they are probably right, that's quite possibly all they will have to do to be elected.
That's too bad.
It doesn't give unfamiliar voters a chance to hear their opinions on municipal issues.
Some people in Fort Simpson will be standing at the ballot box on Monday marking X's next to the names of those they know best. In other cases, they will avoid voting for incumbents who they do not want returned to council.
If there was a failing of the past council, it was that they didn't communicate well with citizens. There were few public meetings, few chances for the average person to ask questions or state concerns. There were few mail-outs explaining why policy was set as it was.
The new assemblage of councillors -- some of whom may earn a seat without even having publicly outlined their stance on issues -- must be cautious not to repeat that same mistake.
Keeping the public as informed and as engaged as possible is essential.
The Crown prosecutor in charge of the Salamonie Jaw murder trial is Judith Hartling of Whitehorse, contrary to information in 'Jaw will finally go to trial' (News/North Nunavut, Oct. 13, A15). The Crown made an application to change the venue of the trial. News/North apologizes for this inaccuracy.