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Monday, November 29, 2004
Veto for the Deh Cho

Once again the Mackenzie Valley pipeline project is brought to the brink of mayhem by the rocky talks between the Dehcho First Nations and the federal government.

As always, Deh Cho leaders want a real say in the project and intend to go to court if they don't get it.

The federal government wants to stay out of court and considers any legal threat grounds to use tactics that range from pressuring individual Deh Cho chiefs to flat out intimidation, with a liberal dose of propaganda thrown in. These are all well-worn Indian agent tricks.

The pressuring strategy was carried out when copies of a letter from the federal negotiator to the DFN's lawyer were sent to all the Deh Cho chiefs. The letter was littered with phrases such as "Canada will not capitulate to this ultimatum". Between the lines, the Deh Cho chiefs were being asked if they really want a war.

The propaganda was launched with the characterization of Deh Cho demands as a "veto" over the pipeline project.

That's a word that can strike fear in the public's heart, as it implies total control in the hands of one group. The fact is many parties involved in the pipeline project have veto powers, starting with the multi-national oil companies.

At any time, Imperial Oil or their partners could pull the plug on the project because of greater opportunities somewhere else on the globe.

The pipeline would not be going ahead if the Inuvialuit and the Aboriginal Pipeline Group did not want it. In October, Premier Joe Handley said flat out the pipeline will not go ahead unless the NWT gets "a fair share of resource royalties."

And of course, most frightening of all, the federal government, through its various agencies and ministries, not only has a total veto over the project but an iron grip on the whole approval process.

Deh Cho leaders want exactly what the oil companies, the Inuvialuit and the territorial and federal governments want --- clearly defined economic benefits, present and future, and an equal voice in negotiations to nail down the final legal and financial details.

One sticking point that must be removed is the link between Deh Cho territorial sovereignty and the pipeline. Such a political process cannot be rushed.

The only rational reason for the Deh Cho leadership to undo that linkage is to win a rich economic benefit package from the pipeline. The cash from that could then be used to finance the expensive business of government to government negotiations.

Making the DFN equal financial partners is the fairest and most efficient way to get the pipeline the green light. It would also mean the Deh Cho leadership would no longer have to depend upon federal loans to formalize ownership of Deh Cho lands.


Training starts at home

In every Nunavut community, most of the jobs are with government -- hamlets, regional or territorial.

These jobs require the right mixture of education, skills and experience. In a perfect world, people who live in these communities would qualify. That's not always so easy, but thanks to the Municipal Training Organization, it's getting easier.

Hamlets have made great strides hiring Inuit, but many of the top jobs continue to go to southerners who come North for a couple of years then return south with a bank account full of cash. The hamlet is left having to hire and train someone new.

The training program, offered by the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators and the department of Community and Government Services, is helping by boosting the skills of Inuit already working in hamlet offices. That makes hamlet workers better at their jobs.

That allows them to advance up the ladder. The end result is long-term stability for local governments and a stronger territory.


Arctic voices needed

The war being waged on the natural world by pollution and greenhouse gas has finally come to the world's attention. The news coming out of the Arctic Climate Assessment released recently in Iceland is bad. Much of the concern is centred on Arctic life.

Are the Inuit of Canada ready to defend the land?

Through time, Inuit and other aboriginal groups have not been consulted on the planet's ills.

But now that the scientists have weighed in, all eyes are on the land and what is affecting it. Inuit must take advantage of this attention and speak up about what they see.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is publicly denouncing the idea of nuclear waste being stored in the Arctic.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. passed resolutions at its annual general meeting to actively press the federal government to develop a Northern strategy with the Inuit and to initiate a Northern Climate Change Program.

They must not stop there. They must work with other aboriginal populations around the North -- in Alaska, Greenland, Russia and Scandinavia -- to beat the drum of change.

Policy makers in Canada, Europe, developing countries and, most importantly, the United States must be reminded that today's decisions will destroy a way of life in the very near future.


Empty ice flooded with good intentions

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News


Being an official with Hockey Canada is almost always a rewarding experience.

There are times, however, when being a hockey referee in the North can be a trying experience.

No, I'm not talking about abuse from the fans, players or parents.

In fact, the rate of such instances in Nunavut has dropped dramatically during the past three years.

Yes, there's still the odd player who uses a certain appendage to let me know I'll always be No. 1 with him.

And there will always be, whether we like it or not, a group of players who, if you leave out all the swear words, never say anything to an official.

That being said, Nunavut has come a long way with behaviour at our arenas.

Actual physical encounters between players and officials and unacceptable personal and/or racial remarks have all but disappeared.

As hockey lovers, that is reason to celebrate, and it is also cause for our zone (Hockey Nunavut) and branch (Hockey North) to continue to back their officials with zero tolerance for such behaviour.

Refs in a bad situation

The frustration comes when directives from the south -- no matter how well-intended -- have to be enforced to the detriment of Northern hockey.

Those who play the game remember all too well the great earpiece debacle of a few years ago.

During that time, officials were put in the unenviable position of telling players in the adult recreation and old-timer brackets to leave the ice if they had removed those little pieces of plastic that came with their helmets.

Have you ever asked an old-timer wearing a leather helmet where his earpiece was?

Shortly after that came the sticker fiasco, when we found out a $100 helmet was rendered useless by applying a 50-cent sticker.

In an area where a number of people -- especially parents with kids playing the game -- have difficulty purchasing equipment, such directives can put a financial strain on entire families, whether the big boys in the south want to believe it or not.

Limiting movement

Now, with all the discussion about the perils of body contact, there are new directives in place aimed at limiting a player's ability to move up an age bracket from, for example, atom to peewee or peewee to bantam.

In small Northern communities, where an age bracket may only have six or seven players, such directives have the ability to doom kids to a year of practice without feeling the joy of competition.

Hopefully, our Northern hockey leaders will continue to make their voices heard at national assemblies to remind those in the south of our unique situation.

As with most topics, dialogue leads to understanding and understanding leads to compromise.

Our younger players have been hit hard enough with the exclusion of peewees from the Arctic Winter Games.

With further restrictions being placed on their ability to play the game, we run the risk of having them skate away from it forever.


New MLA can turn the page

Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum


When Twin Lakes voters go to the polls Monday, to choose their new MLA, there will be a variety of candidates listed on the ballot, each possessing relevant experience to serve their constituents at the legislative assembly in Yellowknife.

For Twin Lakes, this vote represents the final chapter in the saga of questionable conduct by the riding's former MLA and, hopefully, the beginning of a more grassroots approach to governing at the territorial level.

Those who subscribe to the grassroots method know that communication is key.

And this issue of communication -- or lack thereof, as alleged by some Twin Lakes constituents -- was a major bone of contention many had with the former MLA.

Yellowknife is a long way from Inuvik -- both literally and figuratively -- so keeping Twin Lakers abreast of what's going on in the capital, while soliciting questions and concerns from this end, will provide a solid foundation for maintaining good rapport with those in the Twin Lakes riding.

And continuing with the grassroots-style is essential.

Already in Inuvik there are several organizations and loose associations working on a variety of fronts, from dealing with homelessness to addressing the flow of hard drugs into the community.

Twin Lakes' new MLA should work with these groups and point them towards relevant territorial opportunities, and/or initiatives they can tap into, and vice versa. In most cases, there is no need to reinvent the wheel, rather the new representative must channel the energy and enthusiasm already present in the community.

Affordable housing and education must also be on the new MLA's agenda. For far too long Inuvik renters have been at the mercy of market forces.

While it is good to see projects such as Capital Suites come to fruition, it would be even more satisfying if low-income families could enjoy satisfactory accommodations that won't break their banks.

It is hard to swallow a nearly zero per cent vacancy rate in town when there is a new hotel going up at the end of Mackenzie Road and a half-empty executive residence complex just up the way.

In terms of education, several candidates have broached the issue of providing bussing for students.

Money formerly earmarked for this purpose has been diverted into funding the worthwhile full-day kindergarten and maintaining what Inuvik students already enjoy.

However, bussing may be part of the solution for getting kids to school and keeping them there.

As well, our new Twin Lakes MLA should lobby hard to secure more money to address the needs of Inuvik's challenged students.

Leaving them and their parents to fend for themselves is simply not an option.

And last, but by no means least, is the issue of the socio-economic impact of the coming pipeline.

The new Twin Lakes MLA must be a solid proponent of ensuring the region gets its fair share of the bounty and that measures are in place to deal with the fallout of the boom.


Get to the bottom

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News


It's still really murky right now, but the controversy swirling in Fort Liard is hopefully on the road to being resolved.

Acho Dene Koe First Nation has approved an in-depth audit of its financial records -- past and present.

This course of action may not be a saving grace for the current chief and council, who have constantly been under fire, but it should provide band members with some very interesting reading material.

So beleaguered is Chief Floyd Bertrand that in the public announcement posted by the band this week, he acknowledges band members' calls for an early election. He states he and the current council refuse to resign and will remain in power until the next election, on July 17, 2005.

Then again, if the current administration can be redeemed in the eyes of angry band members at all, perhaps this audit will help vindicate them.

The important thing is that the analysis is conclusive and that chief and council continue to keep band members abreast of any developments.

A positive first step was taken by publicly announcing the audit.

There may not be anything discovered. We shall see, hopefully.

A nation divided

Rarely is there a moment without intrigue on the Deh Cho Process file. At one point it looked like it was just the Liidlii Kue First Nation that was pushing for a separate Deh Cho pipeline body to settle the business end of things. Then the ante rose last week with five other organizations jumping on board.

Chief Keyna Norwegian said the time crunch was one of the major factors in forming the Dehgah Alliance Society. The Deh Cho communities are apparently worried they are falling too far behind in negotiating benefits as the pipeline process progresses. Mackenzie Gas Project benefits negotiations are taking place in the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in regions.

However, in the Sahtu, Deline just broke off benefits talks in frustration. Obviously they can't achieve the deal they are seeking and don't feel pressured to sign now.

If there's power in numbers, the five Deh Cho corridor communities should have more clout than Deline. But by forming an exclusive society at a time when other communities were interested in becoming participants in the pipeline working group, the corridor communities, in their bid to secure equitable benefits, have risked severing the backing of their Deh Cho allies.

Whether the members of the society intend to alienate anyone or not, obviously they feel it's a risk work taking.


Corrections

The cutline in the article Northern Dreams on Ice (Nunavut News/North, Nov. 22) should have read Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey received $80,000 in equipment. We apologize for the error. Both Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet received $80,000 in funding, but the presentation in the photo was the donation to Rankin.

Jane Groenewegen is MLA for Hay River South. Incorrect information appeared in an editorial printed in NWT News/North, Nov. 22. We apologize for any embarrassment.