Editorial

Yellowknife is no exception. Postering downtown streets is the easiest, cheapest way to advertise, whether it be for a music concert, a garage sale or a charity fundraiser.

For those groups not supported through government or corporate advertising budgets, it's often the only way to get their message out.

It's for that reason, most cities turn a blind eye towards postering. Slapping posters on utility poles and streetlights is illegal or restricted in many areas yet anti-postering bylaws are rarely enforced.

City officials, however, have recently cracked down, saying that too many are staying up too long and when they are removed, they tend to leave behind a disgusting residue of shredded tape and glue.

This isn't a new issue. In the mid-1990s the city launched a similar crackdown after poles began sporting rings of crumbling, yellowed tatters of tape and paper.

Their solution was a pair of three-sided boards - one at 50th St., the other by the post office - to house everybody's postering needs.

The outcry at the time was that it wasn't enough just as the situation remains today.

It's clearly time for the city to provide more resources for street posters. Council has started to look into it, but this shouldn't be a difficult issue to resolve.

As proponent Daron Letts advised, "skirts" around designated poles is an option. They're easier to clean up than bare street standards.

Businesses can also get into the act and affix poster boards to the outside of their store.

They would attract people to see what's going in the city, plus to the store itself.

For its part, the city should require people to affix a date and contact number to posters or face immediate removal. Those who are late taking their posters down can get a friendly little reminder from City Hall.

Leashes keep dogs safe

Dogs love the outdoors.

But two recent incidents at Cameron Falls, our area's most popular day hiking trail, serve as a reminder that our territorial parks are not giant off-leash areas for pets.

In the first incident, an unleashed dog attacked another dog. In the second incident, a dog chased a black bear into the bush and the family pet has not been found.

Many dog owners in Yellowknife appear to be allergic to leashes. Sure, they can be a hassle. They leave you with only one free hand. They get tangled, especially if you have more than one dog.

But they're handy things when it comes to keeping dogs under control. A leash makes it easy to prevent dogs from attacking children, adults, other dogs and wildlife.

Territorial park regulations say dogs must be on leashes at all times.

There's a good reason for this, beyond courtesy to others. No matter how well trained a dog may be, a verbal command may not be enough to keep a pet under control if a bear happens by.

A leash not only keeps a dog safe, but also keeps an owner safe by preventing the pet from wandering off, engaging a bear or a cougar and then running back to its owner with a predator hot on its heels.

Before heading out for excursions on the Ingraham Trail, dog owners should remind themselves where they live, and take appropriate precautions.

Different scale of thought

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

There are two sides to the common perception among Kivalliq's working class that the Nunavut Housing Corp.'s rent scale acts as a disincentive for some people to find employment.

Corporation president Peter Scott is bang on when he says that contention is more of an excuse for people not to work than an actual perception.

However, Scott is not necessarily bang on for all the right reasons.

The examples Scott gives that encourage work are preaching to the converted.

How many in the working class wouldn't like to have five to eight years of working full-time and only paying $100 a month in rent?

The point Scott is missing, is how attractive the public housing rent scale is to those who are less ambitious than most.

Personally, I don't know what I'd do with all the free time, but that's mainly because I start climbing the walls if I don't have a purpose to my days. But even I have to admit, those in public housing who are on social assistance have a pretty good deal going.

Basically, all they have to pay for is their phone, cable and food.

Being the president of the Housing Corp., Scott has to come across like everyone's a straight shooter, despite the fact he readily admits many tenants show a discernible lack of math skills when reporting their total income to the various housing associations.

Just like we all know every food industry and hospitality worker in Canada reports every dime they make in tips at income tax time -- we can take for granted those in Nunavut on fixed incomes never bring in a little extra under the table (wink, wink).

And, those in public housing who know how to work the system can, basically, stay at the low end of the rent scale by only working every second year.

Talk about great vacation benefits!

When you understand the system, you realize the public housing rent scale does give some in our communities an excuse not to work, or, at least, not to work too much.

Water and sewer costing Scott's department as much as heat and power combined is staggering.

When you throw in the elimination of housing costs for elders, and the break at the fuel pumps being absorbed by the Nunavut government, you can't help but wonder how long territorial coffers can support this method.

It may be time to, at least, consider a time frame for those in public housing who are capable of working to have to do so, at least occasionally.

Even having to work one year out of five to maintain control of their unit would have them contributing something to the community.

Couple that with a wee rent hike WHILE they're working, and the perception of those who punch a clock every day may soften a bit.

Of course, homeowners who pay for a mortgage, insurance and full service bills on their utilities may take more convincing.

But, who knows, at the end of the day those who join the workforce may get used to that weekly paycheque or, at the very least, feel a bit better about themselves for contributing once in while.

Now there's a scale of thought for the government to tweak with a bit.

Learn from past mistakes

Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum
Friday, June 1, 2007

The sun is bright and it won't go away. That means later nights and more outdoor activities for everyone in the community.

Taking a walk past midnight is fun because you see the whole town in a different light. There are tons of people out with their dogs and enjoying the warm weather.

Of course, every sword in this town has a double edge, so with great joy must come responsibility. If you want to be outdoors this season, leave the bottle at home. I know it seems warm and all, but partying outside is a bad idea.

I have a message for the Samuel Hearne grads who are reading this and those people who care for the safety of the young people who will take to the streets and party this weekend.

Now, you might say it's a "dry grad" for more money and that's cool. My graduation was designated "dry" but seriously, who adheres to that?

A whole horde of young people are going to graduate on Saturday afternoon and they will have much to celebrate that night. I have already heard that the RCMP is sponsoring a grad party at the pool. Hopefully it deters some drinkers.

Let's not be naive here. I drank on my grad night. It seems like a rite of passage for a graduating youth to slam back a few brews and have some fun.

In my few years attending parties like the annual grad bash, I have noticed one recurring theme: the outdoors. Yeah it's a beautiful time of the year and you want to drink outside with everyone, but there are still many hazards to watch for this time of year.

The ice is still there and is breaking up. I know that skipping on ice can be exhilarating, but there is a serious down side, which is hypothermia.

Have a few drinks and anyone feels like they could jump any distance and lift any weight. Just because you feel stronger doesn't mean your balance improves. Steer clear of ice and water.

If you do end up drinking this weekend, be safe. I don't want to come off like someone's parent, but I have concerns for the young people in town. It's not good when you have to escort someone to the hospital because they didn't follow the rules.

Maybe the big guy who you just beat at foosball is someone who thinks highly of himself. Maybe you shouldn't have teased him because he doesn't know any better. Either way, cross the line with that lummox and you'll regret it.

To the people who will be supervising the parties and watching the youth at play, be swift in your actions. If you need to get involved and cut someone off, or stop a party, then do it.

I've seen too many parents drive through outdoor parties and not stop to talk.

I know it may seem awkward but show your presence.

I feel like Martin Prince in The Simpsons. It almost feels like I'm wearing a sash that reads "Hall monitor." Well whatever, balk at my concerns and say what you will. I know where I am when I wake up and I don't get into scuffles. I guess that makes me safe.

Also remember that the RCMP are working extra hard on weekends like this one. Keep them in the loop and use some tact. Being lippy will get you nowhere.

With summertime dawning on us, how about we start this one off right with no casualties of a party gone wrong.

Embracing history

Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum
Friday, June 1, 2007

It's hard to judge what will capture the attention of youth.

While members of the younger generation more often known for their attraction to video games and endless hours of television, a recent event in Fort Simpson showed that this isn't always the case.

The Territorial Historica Showcase brought together 41 participants from around the territory. Gathered in Fort Simpson, the students proudly displayed their projects on a variety of historical events, figures and cultural activities.

Topics with a traditional bent included Tlicho foods, moosehide tanning and Dene medicine. More modern topics were seen in projects on the Canadian Forces and Yellowknife. For historical figures there were displays on people like Alexander Mackenzie and George Back. These are all subjects that students found interesting enough to devote a whole project to.

While parental guidance could be suspected, the students made it clear that they were the driving forces behind their projects.

Even a bit of time spent in the Bompas elementary school gym where the projects were on display over the weekend was enough to reveal the depth of passion many of the students felt about their projects.

At a display on Tlicho food, a Grade 5 student from Behchoko was ready to offer interested parties a piece of dry meat before launching into a speech on how today's junk food is nothing like traditional foods from the past.

The student went on to explain how he researched his project by speaking with this grandparents who have taught him about traditional foods and how to do things like skin a wild chicken.

Other students with strong ties to their project were just as eloquent.

One of the most impressive presentations came from two students from Inuvik. The boys researched a hand game that has almost died out.

Between them they spent their time after school finding elders to speak with who could tell them about the game. The students then made their own game piece and started practising.

Not only did the students make an engaging presentation, but they have also taken on the cause of the game. They've decided to work together to introduce it to as many people as possible so it will live on.

Such passion about historical subjects almost seems out of place in people who are so young.

This type of dedication in students, however, is enough to fan the flames of hope that the variety of cultures both aboriginal and non-aboriginal found the Northwest Territories won't be allowed to die out.

Students at the Louie Norwegian school in Jean Marie River recently showed some of the same interests.

The students were exposed to aspects of their culture during a Slavey Immersion Storyteller's camp.

When given the chance, students were more than happy to cook bannock over a fire and feast on moose meat and fish that were cooked in the same way.

Later, students sat mostly still as they listened to stories told by elder Leo Norwegian. They were particularly interested in stories about they're school's namesake, Louie Norwegian.

It's almost impossible to force a student to take an interest in a topic, especially one like a historical tradition, but when the student is exposed to the activity and takes it up on their own there's no telling how passionate they could become about it.

Corrections

An article appearing in the May 16 Yellowknifer contained wrong information ("Grad finds her way"). Brenda Stevenson has not yet graduated high school. Also campaign spending for prospective candidates in the Oct. 1 territorial election can begin June 2, not June 1 as was reported in Wednesday's Yellowknifer ("Prospective candidates start your spending," May 30). Yellowknifer apologizes for any confusion or embarrassment caused by these errors.