Monday, September 4, 2006
The Akaitcho Territory Government is running the risk of suffering such paralyzing symptoms on both fronts - politics and business - because everyone is pulling in different directions.
Akaitcho Territory Government represents more than 3,100 people living in Deninu Ku'e, Dettah, Lutsel K'e, Ndilo, Salt River and Smith's Landing.
Salt River and Smith's Landing have settled claims but the communities of Deninu Ku'e, Dettah, Lutsel K'e, Ndilo are a long way off.
Without the pressure of major industrial development the scope of diamond or gold mines, or $10 billion pipelines pending, the federal government is in no hurry to fix outstanding land issues. That effectively halts mining exploration and puts most job creation on hold.
There are economic opportunities but little agreement on how to proceed.
Expansion of the Taltson River hydroelectric dam is a $250 million project that could spark more economic activity. All parties are onside except for Lutsel K'e which says it has a separate three-year-old deal with another company to develop hydroelectric projects on other rivers. To date, all Lutsel K'e has accomplished with Regional Power Inc. is to muddy the waters of the Taltson project.
Dettah, Lutsel K'e, Ndilo have negotiated separate impact benefit agreements with the diamond mines but Deninu Ku'e has been left out in the cold. A unified Akaitcho government could have prevented that.
Unlike other tribal governments, Akaitcho communities have different and overlapping priorities. The proposed East Arm park has been on Lutsel K'e's plate for decades, with Deninu in the background. Deninu has a rejuvenated Pine Point mine to worry about. Dettah and Ndilo have mining companies poking the ground close by and numerous land conflicts with the City of Yellowknife, not to mention the problem of the arsenic stockpile at Giant mine.
Is the Akaitcho Aboriginal Government able to deal with all these issues? Why has there been no Grand Chief elected despite an identified need for such centralized leadership in previous assemblies?
A major complaint from this summer's assembly was a perceived snubbing by businesses and governments who sent junior representatives to make presentations and answer questions.
Rather than blaming others, Akaitcho should start by taking their own regional government more seriously.
It comes as no surprise to Inuktitut-speaking Nunavummiut that the language of business in Nunavut is English.
In fact, as the story and pictures in last week's Nunavut News/North showed (Aug. 28, 2006), the language of the Canadian government in Nunavut is also English. It must be also be said that the Government of Nunavut operates mostly in English. Its goal is to have Inuktitut as the working language by the year 2020.
Most business people, federal government employees and upper ranks of the Nunavut government speak English and they have to be able to communicate both by talking and by writing.
The problem is, most of the people the business community and governments serve speak Inuktitut, certainly the majority outside of Iqaluit. Language is the foundation of Inuit culture and identity.
What's to be done?
Nunavut's language commissioner Johnny Kusugak wants tough language laws, not unlike those Quebec has to protect the French language.
The Department of Education is making progress training Inuit teachers. This will increase the Inuktitut curriculum in school and reinforce what students hear from their parents and elders.
Premier Paul Okalik has ordered deputy-ministers to learn Inuktitut or go look for another job. In an earlier editorial, Nunavut News/North wondered if the money wouldn't be better spent on other language efforts rather than staff who may or may not be in their jobs from year to year. Still, it is a welcome sign of the government's resolve.
The main problem for Northern business of course is the cost of translation. Does that mean translators and interpreters are charging too much for their services? No. If anything, translators and interpreters are not paid enough for their highly specialized skills. But they can only charge what businesses can afford to pay.
That's why the government should be making Inuktitut more affordable, along with stiffer laws. This could be done through tax credits or grants, encouraging businesses to use the language where ever possible, from packaging to signage to advertising.
Remember, English is free. How can Inuktitut compete at 25 or 30 cents a word? English dominates the satellite television universe. Inuktitut has no more than a snowflake measure in the blizzard of daily programming.
There are other issues of standardization that must be resolved but availability of the language will ultimately determine its use. It's an old cliche but an apt one: Use it or lose it.
Inuktitut must rule if it is to be more than an interesting display in a future Nunavut museum.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
The debate did not take long to rage after federal Justice Minister Vic Toews indicated he was seriously considering lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 10 from its current 12.
There are two distinct lines of thought on this one.
Some learned professionals believe the cutoff age to rehabilitate a problem child is 12.
To them, the problem is the Liberals replaced the Young Offenders Act with the Youth Criminal Justice Act three years ago and decided youth under 12 couldn't comprehend the consequences of their actions.
To those who hold 12 up as the cutoff to rehabilitation, it's already too late.
On the other side of the coin are those who believe bringing problem youth into the courts at the age of 10 or 11 will serve only to perpetuate their anti-social behaviour.
They believe to put them into provincially-run programs and institutions at the age of 10 will accomplish nothing more than to produce a hardened criminal by age 12.
These are not new arguments, and some of the comments being thrown against the minister's statements amount to nothing more than knee-jerk reactions.
Those who say lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 10 would put us back in the dark ages must believe much of the world still resides in that era.
In fact, the average age of criminal responsibility around the globe is seven.
There are also those who would have you believe Toews is treading towards an unexplored area with his thinking.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's old haunt, the Reform Party, led the charge with a number of provinces about 10 years ago to have the age lowered to 10.
Why should any of this matter to us in the North?
The one thing both sides agree on is that the only effective way of turning problem kids around - whether through a state-run, mental-health or child-welfare program - is by having them entered into structured, multi-faceted programs that address their problems on a number of levels.
Problem youth who find their way into those programs have a chance of developing a sense of self-worth, of comprehending the consequences of their actions while they still care, and allowing their emotional development to proceed on a closer parallel to their cognitive development.
Sadly, there are no under-12 outreach programs run in the Kivalliq by the Child Development Institute.
Under current laws, Kivalliq youth under the age of 12 are not criminally responsible for their actions, and police can only suggest to parents that they be placed in outside care.
Maybe the system Toews envisions wouldn't be so bad for the North.
If the court's ability to place problem youth into rehabilitative programming translates into its obligation to do so - maybe some of our troubled youth actually end up in programs that can make a difference in their lives.
Maybe a second thought on the minister's proposal could lead to a second chance for a kid near you.
Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum
It all came to my attention some time last week. I was out throwing a football at the Boot Lake park when a stray pass flew wildly into the bush. I reached in and grabbed the ball, only to make the startling discovery of a yellow leaf.
I was shocked and amazed at how fast time had gone by. It seems like it was only a few weeks ago that I braved the trails of Boot Lake in knee deep slush and water. Spring had sprung and summer was was blooming.
Now, the lush greenery of the bush surrounding Inuvik is quietly making way for a tinge of yellow and orange. Autumn has begun.
Here in Inuvik, the seasons fly by so quickly I'll bet it's only six weeks before we see snow.
This past summer was a good one in many different respects. The weather seemed to hold up long enough for people to get out on the land and for the people in town to enjoy the events that were scattered throughout our calendars.
Aboriginal Day celebrations, Canada Day, Great Northern Arts Festival and the End of the Road music festival are only a few of the events that come to mind when I look back over the past few months.
Gatherings that encourage friendly interaction in the community are good for morale and make the town a better place.
This past weekend should have reminded us all about the benefits of community gatherings. End of the Road is planned and run solely by volunteers. After months of work, the music festival seemed to go off without much of a hitch.
Kudos to the society for hosting a music festival that appealed to music lovers of almost every age in Inuvik. I had a good time and I'm sure I wasn't alone.
Our various youth day camps and programs offered by the youth centre have been beneficial to the younger generation.
I am taking some time off for a nice vacation next month. I've decided that after such a busy summer and hearing about all my friends going on road trips, I am going to take an adventure or two myself on a bicycle trip down the Dempster.
I will be back in town for most of the month of September and will return to the Drum office in October.
Taking my place temporarily will be News/North reporter Phil Morin. He has been in Inuvik since the beginning of summer. Maybe some of you already know him or have seen him walking around town.
With another busy month of back-to-school events I'm sure he will have no problem getting right into the swing of things. Introduce yourself to him. I'm sure he'll appreciate the gesture.
Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum
Congratulations are in order for the graduating class of Deh Gah school in Fort Providence.
As one of the few schools to hold its graduation ceremony in the late summer, all of the students in caps and gowns can be sure they've officially earned their diploma.
The students who filed into the school gym on Aug. 25 had a lot to be proud of.
Night classes helped produce the class of eight graduates. In fact, all the grads except for one used evening classes to work towards their diploma.
Before night classes, an average grad class at the school numbered four or five. Last year, thanks to night classes, there was a bumper crop of 13 graduates.
Many of this year's graduates needed the opportunity to take night classes because they were returning to school after a long absence.
During her speech at the ceremony Lois Philipp, who is taking this year off as school principal to further her own education, made light of the fact that she entered Grade 1 37 years ago with Nellie Norwegian, one of this year's graduates. Robert Tanche, another successful student, was already a year ahead of them in school.
Philipp congratulated the graduates for the example they've set.
The example is an important one. The graduates have shown that no matter how old you are it's never too late to go back to school if you have the determination.
The desire to finish school can come from many places.
Robert Tanche admitted that it was watching his wife work towards her Grade 12 that drove him back to school the following year. He also wanted to graduate close to the same time as his children. To accomplish this Tanche finished an impressive number of credits in just one year.
Nellie Norwegian wanted to provide a good example for both her own children and other youth in the community.
She puts herself forward as living proof that if you set your mind to something you can accomplish it even if it takes more than 20 years.
Some of the graduates probably also wanted to complete their high school diploma because it's almost a necessity.
In today's world it's getting harder and harder to find jobs with healthy salaries unless you have some form of higher education.
That doesn't mean you need to hurry off to university and get a PhD. Even a high school diploma helps.
But for those who want to go further there is a world of opportunities available in higher education. Many of Fort Providence's graduates are already setting their sights on further education.
One is already in an apprenticeship program working towards becoming a heavy-equipment mechanic. Another is considering a business administrative program in Grande Prairie. One is looking at a career in journalism and yet another is thinking about a career working as either a nurse or an early childhood educator.
If finishing your education is something you have long considered you need look no farther than this graduating class to realize it's possible.
Whether you are already employed, have young children or just have a busy schedule, there is still time to complete unfinished education.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Robert Bourque was incorrectly identified in the story titled "Pride of the Gwich'in Nation" in the Aug. 28 edition. News/North apologizes for any confusion or embarrassment the error may have caused.