Monday, January 16, 2006
With diamond mines, oil and gas developments sprouting up across the North, the government must determine once and for all the true health of the caribou herds roaming the Territories.
As important as these industries are to our economy, ensuring caribou herds remain healthy is vital for the well-being of aboriginal communities, not to mention the world.
Government surveys suggest several herds are in sharp decline, but skeptical hunters have been slow to accept that.
The fact that Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger wants to re-do last year's survey of the Cape Bathurst and two other herds shows the government isn't all that sure about their research themselves.
A wide-scale, comprehensive study, including one for caribou predators, is needed - something Miltenberger says he intends to do. The result could well be quota reductions on non-aboriginal and sports hunters, plus no-shooting zones on winter roads. There could even be a quota imposed on the aboriginal hunt, providing they agree.
The government is right to do this. You don't have to look any further than depleted cod stocks off the Newfoundland coast to see what can happen to our caribou if the early signs of trouble are ignored.
Hunters should remain patient in the meantime. It won't do anybody any good to harvest unlimited caribou today, with no
Todd Burlingame's unexpected resignation as chair of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board is a reminder of the distance between Ottawa and the Northwest Territories.
Indian Affairs minister Andy Scott appointed Burlingame over three candidates recommended for the post and stirred a hornet's nest of Northern indignation.
If voters reject Ethel Blondin-Andrew's bid for re-election in the Western Arctic, some will list Burlingame's appointment as a contributing factor.
In an interview with News/North after he announced his resignation, Burlingame characterized his appointment as "ham-handed." But even those who protested the minister's methods thought Burlingame performed well as chairman.
Willard Hagen, chair of the Gwich'in Land and Water Board, said Burlingame was "excellent" in the post, and brought in a uniform set of rules that will streamline the regulatory process in the Mackenzie Valley.
The board will advertise for Burlingame's successor and send a recommended list of candidates to Scott's successor, who would do well to pay attention. Northerners have had enough of ham-handed methods.
Youth in Arctic Bay have decided they can make a difference.
They are holding meetings and taking an active role in dealing with issues that affect them.
A rash of break-ins at the school was a hot topic in town. About 60 youth gathered to talk about the community's strengths, weaknesses and what they would like to see improved. They didn't shy away from serious issues and they didn't just gather in an informal setting, talking about the problems and leaving it at that. They paid attention to the basics of organizing meetings, setting up agendas and taking minutes, and are using that to make things happen in their community.
That organized structure creates a good understanding of how the business and political world works.
It also creates a strong foundation for the future of the community.
There are five people in the Nunavut territory who are asking you for your attention.
They are willing to answer your questions, willing to take your problems and make them theirs.
They are the candidates for the upcoming federal election next week. All you have to do is let them know what your concerns are, and then go out and vote. If you have questions, call them up, talk to them.
They want to represent you in Ottawa as a member of parliament.
The Canadian capital may seem far away, but your voice can still be heard.
All you have to do is take time out of your day on Jan. 23 and vote.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
I stopped going to church a good many years ago when, in my opinion, it started getting far too involved with politics.
To me, the church overstepped its bounds in trying to impose its will on people, rather than passing on the Word as it was intended.
In fact, the greatest gift the Lord bestowed upon humanity is free will.
The laws were etched in stone, the Word is told and the consequences of not following the rules during your time in this life are well documented.
Yet, when all is said and done, the choice for how you live your life is yours and yours alone.
All that being said, I still consider myself a good Christian and am not the least bit ashamed to admit it.
I am also a proud Canadian, and take every opportunity to trumpet the fact we live in the greatest country on Earth.
Why then, were there times this past month when I felt guilty over wishing someone a merry Christmas or celebrating the birth of our Lord?
The answer, unfortunately, is all too clear.
I fell into the trap of being overly conscious of being politically correct at the cost of my own true beliefs.
Yes, I've been told so often that I have to be so sensitive to the beliefs of others that I put their beliefs ahead of my own.
What's even worse, I put those beliefs ahead of those who gave their lives for my country and my sins.
I've been wishing people a Merry Christmas for 47 years with a smile on my face and now, suddenly, I'm told I've been wrong all these years and should be saying happy holidays in case there's someone within earshot who gets offended because they don't believe in the birth of our Saviour.
Hey, in my line of work, being sensitive to the beliefs of others is second nature, but enough is enough.
I would hazard a guess I'm like most Canadians, or Christians, in that I scratch my head and wonder how did we ever let it reach the point where we're made to feel guilty in our own country for expressing our pride and beliefs.
Well, I've made a New Year resolution: I'm not going to pay attention to such silliness anymore.
I believe in God and I believe in the birth of the Saviour Jesus Christ.
I believe Canada is the greatest nation on Earth, and I know it was built on the fundamental foundation of Christianity.
I often get upset with those who confuse the difference between religious beliefs and human rights.
However, I've never been as upset with anyone as I was with myself for feeling guilt over wishing people a Merry Christmas this past month.
I was ashamed deep within myself for feeling that way, however fleeting it may have been.
I am Canadian and I am a Christian - and I will never allow anyone to make me feel guilty about my values or beliefs again.
That's one New Year's resolution you can take to the bank will never be broken.
Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum
After watching federal party leaders duke it out in the nationally televised debates, I couldn't help but envy Quebec's position within the federation.
Here's a province that gets sound representation in the House of Commons by the Bloc Quebecois and its leader Gilles Duceppe.
For a long time, Canadians have been hearing about the distinctiveness of Quebec's society and how the rest of the country needs to recognize it as such. This song and dance has been going on so long now that the rest of the country has seemed to accept this 'distinct society' notion as gospel.
Meanwhile, the distinct society that is the Northwest Territories carries on in relative obscurity. For most Canadians, the expression "heading North" means packing up the minivan and driving to Uncle Buck's cabin somewhere way south of 60, yet situated in dense enough forest and beyond the glow of city lights as to lull visitors into thinking they really have come to the land of White Fang and wildcats.
The idea that Quebec is more distinct than anywhere else in the country, the North in particular, is just a load of hogwash. Yet, Quebec has its own federal party that lobbies for its needs and no one else's. It's difficult not to envy those in Quebec come federal election time. If I were living there, I'd probably vote for Duceppe too. So here we are in the Northwest Territories, a landmass on par with Quebec's, but considered a constituency all by itself. Campaigning in this place is not a simple matter of going door-to-door and great expense must be taken by those wishing to make a serious go at winning that single seat. (Quebec has 75 seats).
At the end of the day, we can yell from the tallest building in Yellowknife about how distinct we are here in the North and how Ottawa should listen to us, but the reality is that Ottawa will listen when it wants to and will employ selective hearing when it doesn't.
The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board chair appointment by the feds earlier in the year which ruffled so many feathers was a perfect example of Ottawa taking the selective hearing approach.
So when politicians talk about devolution and how important it is for the NWT and how close it seems we are getting to a deal, one must wonder how close the territory really is if its federal masters won't even consider the territories' chair choices for an environmental review board. The fact that the Western Arctic Liberal incumbent claimed we were days away from a deal just goes to show how gullible the current government thinks residents here are.
But there's natural gas under our feet, which is something the feds are very interested in, what with all the royalties to be had. All the candidates vying for the Western Arctic riding Jan. 23 will make assurances that those revenues will go towards benefitting the North, but it's something we've all heard before.
Talk about the same old song and dance.
Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum
In Fort Simpson the debate surrounding the upcoming liquor plebiscite has raised a timely issue.
One of Chief Keyna Norwegian's concerns with the plebiscite is that it won't reflect the wishes of First Nations' people because many don't vote in village elections. Norwegian even admitted that she hasn't taken part in village elections in the past.
Revelations like this about voters choosing not to participate are not as shocking as they should be. Across the country people have become complacent with low voter turnout at elections, federal or otherwise.
While voting to remove or keep liquor restrictions at a local level and choosing a person to represent the Northwest Territories in Ottawa are two very different things, on Jan. 23 they will coincide.
Village council purposefully chose to hold the liquor plebiscite on the same day as the federal election to take advantage of voters who would already be out.
Maybe the reasoning should have been the other way around.
People in the community clearly have some strong views on the current liquor restrictions. While individuals might never feel the effects of changes made by a new federal government, changes to liquor rationing would be visible daily in the community.
If there are already signs that people won't be turning out to have their say on an issue that could affect them directly, what hope does the federal election have?
In our society there seems to be a growing number of people who feel that the outcome of an election is already fated and their vote won't do anything to change it.
This attitude remains despite recent elections that were closely matched. Take the American election campaign between George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000. Or closer to home, remember the 53 votes that separated Ethel Blondin-Andrew from Dennis Bevington in the last federal election.
Imagine how different the past years would have been if more people had exercised their rights to vote in those elections.
People are getting killed for the right to vote in other countries, Fort Simpson Mayor Raymond Michaud pointed out. People in communities across the North should come out to vote, if only for the right to say that they tried to make a difference.
At the risk of sounding like the television ads that run during every election, on Jan. 23 go out and vote. Ensure your voice is heard.