The weather is mild and the days are longer. People are anxious to get outdoors and to go places to which only a snowmobile can go. This spring's snowmobile season, however, is proving to be treacherous.

Overflow is being reported on just about every lake and river around Yellowknife. The hazard has been connected with two deaths in the NWT over the last week.

On several recent occasions, Yellowknife residents had to be rescued when their snowmobiles got stuck after running into overflow.

Yellowknife Search and Rescue warns snowmobilers to be prepared by ensuring fire-making materials, extra warm clothes, and mobile phones are brought along when making a trip.

This is not the season to break new trails because overflow is often hidden under snow and not visible until one is right on top of it.

The safest approach is to stick to the beaten trail and never travel alone.

According to Stephen Kakfwi, the only persons entitled to express an opinion on Northern issues are those directly affected.

The former premier said as much in the Great Hall of the legislature when he chided Premier Joe Handley for noting the slow progress in settling the Akaitcho land claim.

"It's not his place to criticize the Akaitcho for the amount of time they're taking to negotiate a deal," Kakfwi said.

"He's not from here, he doesn't know them, he doesn't know the land, the struggle they put into it, why it's so important."

Transferring some federal powers

The issue came up when Deninu Ku'e vice-chief Diane Giroux suggested transferring some federal powers to the territories be delayed until land claims are settled.That would be reasonable - if an agreement was close.

But after 10 years and $10 million, Akaitcho leaders are nowhere near a deal. Every month that passes without an agreement on devolution costs the territories millions in lost resource royalties. It takes meat from every table in the Northwest Territories.

Premier Handley has made his home here, raised a family here and devoted the best years of his working life to the Northwest Territories. If he's disqualified from expressing an opinion, where does that leave the rest of us?

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

Those who understand the wonderful world of broadcasting can't help but feel a bit of sympathy for the dilemma facing the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).

While in no way are we endorsing the path APTN has chosen with dubbing, we do understand the decision.

At the centre of this storm are concerns by Iglulik filmmaker Zach Kunuk, who opposes APTN's request that his films must be available in more than just Inuktitut, and have versions in English or French and another aboriginal language.

In a perfect world, a network such as the APTN would be able to pay aboriginal filmmakers handsome licensing fees and broadcast their finished works in the same format as they were produced.

Alas, the world is far from perfect and the APTN, like every network outside the realm of public television, needs advertising revenue to survive and prosper.

And therein lies the dilemma.

In order for the APTN to gain more revenues, it must attract more lucrative advertising.

In order to do that, it must escape the niche-market label often attached to it and reach a wider, more mainstream audience.

Welcome to the world of demographics and the target audience.

For advertisers to open their cheque books, they must be confident the target audience they've identified for their product is being reached. It wouldn't make much sense for a beef producer to pitch its product during a show aimed at vegetarians.

And exact demographics walk hand in hand with the number of viewers a network attracts.

The wider the audience you appeal to, the higher your potential for attracting advertisers. It's not exactly rocket science.

However the film gets more than a little grainy when a network is expected to appeal to the wishes of a particular segment of the population, as is the case with the APTN.

We don't believe for a second aboriginal filmmakers and show producers would be content to remain a fringe element as long as they never had to relinquish artistic control of their work.

And, if every production was as well made as Atanarjuat, the bickering over dubbing and subtitling would all be a moot point.

But this is the real world and, as in all differences of opinion, common ground must be reached for the APTN and the aboriginal artistic community to move forward harmoniously.

Interest in aboriginal lifestyles, heritage and culture - as well as accurate depictions of history - has never been higher amongst the non-aboriginal population.

The APTN and its show producers have to take advantage of that interest if they are to take their craft to the next level.

Although there are varying opinions on how that can best be achieved, dubbing may just be the most viable method of attracting a larger viewing audience at this particular point in time.

And, if the only thing standing between higher licensing fees and bigger production budgets is the odd bad kung fu movie, everyone can take solace in the fact some of the best entertainment writing is done with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum

When people ponder the achievements of modern society circa 2005 -- likely in a time when fossil fuels will be scorned as much as cigarette smokers are today -- what will stand out as the hallmarks of urban planning?

For the Romans, their aqueducts kept cities in the empire from going thirsty. For us, perhaps it will be the ubiquitous gas bar -- relieving the insatiable thirst of our motorized chariots.

In some cities and towns across North America, it is nearly impossible to drive more than a few blocks without passing the florescent glow of yet another multi-pump, full-serve gas station, complete with three kinds of gasoline and 30 kinds of chocolate bars at the till. Though not recommended, it is quite possible for man to survive most anywhere on the continent with nothing more than a vehicle and a gas card.

Tired of pizza pops? Then gas up and go for a microwaveable cheeseburger.

While their plans aren't on the scale of some fuel-cathedrals found down south, The North West Company is intent on building a gas bar in the parking lot across from the north entrance of Northmart.

In an area already considered 'high traffic,' this project is certain to create even more activity on a route kids use to get to and from school.

The $500,000 project, according to a company executive, is good for consumers as it will create more competition.

Arguments against rezoning the land to accommodate construction plans include the safety factor and the point that another gas station will do nothing in the way of consumer relief for high prices at the pumps. Certainly, there may be some savings for motorists but they would most likely be negligible.

The price of french fries in Inuvik never seems to waver, despite the fact every restaurant in town serves them.

As far as this reporter could tell from the special public hearing regarding the issue, held at council chambers Monday evening, the middle ground would be for the company to provide a sidewalk for pedestrians in the event the gas bar gets the go-ahead.

One refreshing thing about living in the North is that people here seem to take special pride in the fact life in these parts is not like life in the south. However, as time goes on, this notion seems to be the ideal rather than reality, at least as far as urban sprawl is concerned.

And soon, we could have another gas station smack in the middle of town to prove the point.

Ah, but what a glorious thing it would be to have fuel pumps right next to the grocery store -- a nearly-one-stop-shopping coup.

Perhaps when the Education, Culture and Employment consultant returns to Inuvik for more focus groups about the new elementary school, a true one-stop facility could be suggested. Combine the new school with a gas bar and while we're at it, why not add a drive-through daycare? Then the town could really claim some uniqueness.

Imagine the promotional ads... "Drive through chapels? Those are so yesterday. In Inuvik, we've got drive-through day care and you can get gas, too."

Modern living. Don't you just love it?

Editorial Comment
Andrew Raven
Deh cho Drum

Residents of Fort Simpson were greeted Monday morning by notices posted at various locations around the community announcing the health centre would be closed -save for emergencies and pre-booked appointments - for the next 10 days.

The restricted services began Monday morning, meaning most residents had no advanced warning of the plan.

This despite the fact a spokesperson in the Department of Health and Social Services conceded officials knew at least a week in advance they would be short staffed for Spring Break, with one nurse on vacation and another manager in Yellowknife.

"Bloody bad management" is the way councillor Bob Hanna described the situation and the Deh Cho Drum agrees.

While staff shortages will always be a problem in smaller communities - especially during peak vacation times - the Department of Health and Social Services needs to do a better job of keeping the public informed.

To simply tape notices to bulletin boards, arena entrances and the door at the post office is not nearly enough.

Health care is an essential service - not a 1992 Chevy Cavalier for sale.

The department could begin by telling village officials of any impending service restrictions.

One councillor was rightfully upset when he found out about the partial closure while getting his mail.

The Department could also print off pamphlets and hand them out door to door - a procedure that in a town of 1200 would take about an afternoon.

It could have taken out and advertisement in the newspaper or placed a notice on its homepage.

After all this in the information age - not the middles ages. There are other ways to spread the news besides nailing it to the church door.

Hockey Stars

Kudos to the National Hockey League Players Association for bringing their Goals and Dreams program to Fort Simpson this year.

With the season cancelled and no prospect of NHL hockey on the horizon, Nashville Predators forward Scott Walker, Chicago Blackhawk great Steve Larmer and NHLPA official Devon Smith could have easily skipped the trip.

Instead they gave a group of 30 young hockey players the experience of a lifetime - even if the youngsters were pre-occupied with asking Walker about his Nashville teammate Jordan Tootoo.

But perhaps the ones who enjoyed the Saturday afternoon clinic the most were the village old-timers, who suited up against Larmer, a five time 40 goal scorer and one of the top players in the league during the 1980s and early 1990s.