Women are not punching bags. Nor are they sex toys or a man's housekeeper.

Most of us agree with all three statements, but the courts remain filled with tales of battered women, sex crimes and bitter divorce.

Agencies established to support women and children struggle to make ends meet.

According to the most current statistics, 12 per cent of adults in the North have experienced spousal abuse during the previous five years.

In 2004 alone, an estimated 274 women were victims of spousal assault. In 2003-2004, 354 women and 368 children sought shelter at Alison McAteer House. Dozens of children wait for quality daycare, where staff get by on poverty-level wages.

Politicians get up all the time to talk about equality and women's rights.

Yet there are only two women elected to the legislative assembly, neither of whom are in cabinet.

City council has the highest number of women in years -- winning two of eight seats in the October election.

And some of us laugh at allegations that a federal cabinet minister calls an opposition Member of Parliament a "dog" in the House of Commons.

People scoff that the remark was only aimed at Belinda Stronach, but our reaction shows the prevailing male attitude that calling a woman derogatory names is okay.

Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. It's a perfect time to reflect on these issues and examine how far we've come, and how far we still have to go.

We mark the day because on Dec. 6, 1989 a man walked into L'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal and gunned down 14 women, blaming "feminists" for all his troubles.

We will not name that man here because to remember him and not the 14 dead is an insult to the memories of all the victims of violence.

In each edition since Nov. 10, Yellowknifer has profiled agencies that provide a variety of services to women and children.

They could do so much more but are hamstrung by limited budgets. They are only able to do as much as they do thanks to the energy of dozens of volunteers.

These groups need our support because they provide vital services.

The YWCA offers low-cost housing and safe refuge for women and children.

The Centre for Northern Families exists on a shoestring budget, while its government-owned building crumbles.

The Native Women's Association and Status of Women's Council help women into training for better paying jobs and stand up for women's rights. Victim Services volunteers are ready to help targets of crime through a trying legal system.

So when you go to the vigil, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at Northern United Place today, say a prayer of thanks for these groups and vow to write a letter to your MLA and MP demanding the groups get the funding and support they need to do their very important work.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

Some MLAs have been singing the blues since Premier Paul Okalik announced Rankin Inlet as the site of Nunavut's $37 million jail.

To their way of thinking, this was a back-room deal they never saw coming.

Far be it from us to unjustly criticize any of our political leaders, but any MLA who never saw this coming just wasn't paying attention.

Okalik had stated many times during the past year that Rankin was on the short list to house the facility.

I know this to be a fact because he expressed that very thought to yours truly while in Rankin to announce the new trades-training facility many months ago.

Any MLA who still harboured hopes of their community being announced as the site for the new jail should have noticed that big red flag waving over Rankin.

And, they should have started lobbying Okalik long and loud on the virtues and/or benefits of housing the facility in their community.

To come forward now crying foul amounts to little more than sour grapes as far as we're concerned.

Ditto the complaint there are more pressing issues in Nunavut than a new jail.

Yes, we desperately need more money for health, housing and education.

But the territory's justice system and ability to harbour our own inmates at the same standards as the rest of the country cannot be ignored.

Okalik is right when he says money given to Ontario and the NWT to house our overflow would be better spent in Nunavut.

But, all that being as it may, this could just as easily be a "careful what you wish for" type of scenario.

While we hope they never manifest themselves in Rankin, there are risks involved with being home to a new jail.

The benefit of job creation may outweigh them, but they do exist.

To begin with, the vast majority of people in jails are there for good reason.

And, for some of them, their criminal behaviour won't change simply because they can no longer go for a walk when they want to.

Even jails in small Northern communities can be breeding grounds for crime.

Ultimately, crime that takes place in a jail counts against the community where it's located.

It might not be long before Rankin moves up the chart as one of Nunavut's crime-leading communities once the jail opens.

Secondly, as Mayor Lorne Kusugak has alluded to, some inmates decide to seek a fresh start in the same community that houses the jail once they're released.

We don't have to point out the problems that could be associated with that, should it ever come to pass.

There is also the risk of politicians being too sensitive to local hires and a jail opening with a very inexperienced guard staff.

Finally, even in facilities that house two-years-less-a-day inmates, there is always the chance of escape.

While we support Rankin's decision to house the jail, only time will tell if that decision is the right one.

If not, some politicians may be trying to flee the same coop as the inmates.

Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum

I don't know about all of you, but I can remember a fair amount of my dreams. Lately, my dreams have taken a twist.

My thoughts in the night are not imaginative fantasies.

They don't involve cloud cities. I don't slay dragons or drive a Ferrari. It might sound lame to some, but my dreams are of a better life -- not just for me but for everyone in the North.

I don't want to see homeless people on the street. I don't want to report on cases of spousal abuse.

I wish people would gain control over their addictions, but I cannot control any of that.

I wish for development. I want a good future for your kids and my family.

I'm glad that the people at the Department of Justice are also looking at new means to keep the peace.

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, a controversial piece of proposed legislation, targets illegal operations such as crack houses, gambling houses and prostitution rings, hopefully shutting them down for good.

When I first heard about the new act, it raised warning flags in my head. The whole process seems like it could infringe on many privacy rights.

While I agree that shutting down illegal operations like the ones mentioned above should be a priority for Northerners, we should make sure we know what we are getting into.

The new act authorizes government investigators to use their own methods to gather information on suspected offenders.

These people will not be police officers or wear proper uniforms. Using video surveillance, talking to neighbours and working with the RCMP are a few of the methods outlined.

I want to know where the investigators will draw the line.

I was told that wire taps would be illegal, but the investigators could operate undercover, as in Saskatchewan, where the law has been in place for two years.

The burden of proof under this legislation is much lower than that of the Criminal Code. That means the investigators would need less evidence to evict you from your property than police would need to charge you with a crime.

I guess the only way to stay clear of undercover agents and private investigations is to keep away from any illegal activity.

If we choose to use this as a tool to free our communities from the grip of crack cocaine, gambling and bootlegging, we should all be aware of the program.

Nearly a dozen people attended the meeting in Inuvik last week.

Justice Minister Brendan Bell said that meetings were held in regional centres, but I think that more communities need to be informed about the proposed law before any decisions are made.

If you have a problem with the proposed legislation or have any questions about the process, contact your MLA.

I'm sure they would love to hear from you.

Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum

Hockey season has begun in Fort Simpson and will soon be spreading its way across the Deh Cho as ice is finished on more rinks.

This great Canadian sport has been a mainstay of life in this country during the winter for many years. Although on the surface it's all fun and games, it doesn't matter if it's a pick-up game on an outdoor rink or an organized game between adults in an arena, there's lots of lessons to be learned on and around the ice.

For the younger players and the ones new to skates, one of the quickest and most obvious lessons is how to pick yourself up and keep trying after you fail or fall.

Watching the initiation or novice players can almost be painful.

One minute they're skating along then they will start to lean one way as their skates go the other and almost in slow motion they land with a thud on the ice. Most quickly learn to pick themselves up and start skating again like nothing ever happened. The old adage of if you fail try, try again comes to mind. Luckily the padding must take away some of the sting.

Gathered around the boards looking through the plexiglass while bundled up from the cold arena air are members of another group who are teaching lessons.

At the start of hockey season parents and guardians begin the ritual of preparing youth for hockey practice and games.

It's often parents who show their support by looking after the hockey equipment, ensuring it gets to the practice and making sure it's washed at appropriate intervals.

A lot is involved in being a hockey parent.

If their child has one of the earlier practice slots, supper needs to be ready to go on time. Parents arrange rides to the rink and often stay to watch their children.

If a family has more than one child in hockey it can mean being at the rink from 5:15 p.m. to sometime after seven. Try doing that three times a week for a few months. Now that's dedication.

Parents also have a lot to teach hockey players about behaviour that is acceptable at hockey games.

Luckily hockey here is still mainly untainted by some of the hockey parent scandals that have happened in the south. Parents often have a way of getting too caught up in the competition and losing sight of the simple joy of playing.

In some southern communities parents have been banned from arenas because they get out of hand.

Sportsmanlike conduct is something that everyone can benefit from learning and following.

Hockey also has the obvious lessons to teach about teamwork, fair play, respect and playing by the rules.

Entire books have probably been written on life lessons that can be learned in hockey, but in the end it's really just a great game.

So this winter get out on a rink, have fun and keep your stick on the ice.