Editorial

Drinking trends in the NWT are always a sensitive subject and trying to make heads or tails out of addictions reports and what they actually mean can be tricky business.

However, it does appear that attitudes, at least in some areas, towards alcohol in the North, are beginning to change.

According to the latest stats, the number of youth - aged 15 to 24 - drinking has declined compared to the last study period in 2004. The same holds true for the number of women drinking.

Another report, put out by the NWT Liquor Commission, indicates fewer people are drinking in bars and are instead opting to stay home. The choice of alcohol has also seemed to shift away from beer and hard liquor to a more refined taste -- more people are choosing higher end wines.

The addictions survey also suggest fewer people are binge drinking. In 2004, 40 per cent of the population drank five or more drink each time they consumed alcohol, compared to 36.2 per cent in 2006.

What does it all mean? Well, maybe nothing. But, it could suggest NWT residents are maturing in their attitudes towards drinking. The positive, it appears fewer young people are drinking, although communities like Aklavik, who just held a meeting to address young drinkers, may contest that point. As well, fewer bar goers may mean a decrease in drinking and driving, while fewer women drinking may mean a decrease in FAS.

Stats are tricky business and we are under no illusion that drinking and its ramifications do not continue to be a serious problem in the North, but, perhaps, the reports indicate a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

This is cause for optimism, but it doesn't mean the NWT's battle with the bottle is won. The government must continue to address addictions through education and treatment.

Congratulations graduates

Across the NWT, high school graduates are taking their first steps toward independence. Each year more and more students in the NWT are choosing to stay the course and earn their high school diploma.

More grads mean more opportunities for higher education and for a more skilled workforce. Whether future aspirations are a university degree, a college diploma or trades training, the North's ever-growing need for skilled labourers isn't going to change. Youth seem to be learning that a high school diploma is the ticket to developing the NWT.

There is a great need for educated people in the NWT. New governments are emerging through land claims negotiations, new job opportunities are becoming available as resource development continues and the need for teachers, doctors, nurses and other professionals continues.

We need Northerners to continue their education so they can come home to put their skills to use in their communities; Emerging jobs in the resource sector need to be filled by Northerners, not lost to Southern workers.

Personal satisfaction of earning a high school diploma aside, there are many reasons to stay in school and none better than the opportunity to contribute to making the NWT a better place to live.

Breaking trail

There are times in life when we feel that we could do a great job, if only given the chance.

Fortunately we live in an age when our society is increasingly viewing women as all-around capable individuals who have as much right to be involved as men. Although there is still a ways to go to reach equal representation in some fields - politics among them - many barriers have successfully been broken.

Stories of women who achieve in traditional and non-traditional roles have been featured in the pages of this newspaper over the past few weeks.

For example, the first person across the finish line in the arduous 400-kilometre Nunavut Quest dog sled race from Iglulik to Repulse Bay was Denise Malliki. The 19-year-old was the only female out of 15 competitors in the event. Her success may very well inspire more female racers to hit the trail.

A few weeks later it was Dorothy St. John's turn to demonstrate her speedy prowess. The difference was that St. John wasn't taking part in a traditional dog-sled race, but a motorized contest aboard snowmobiles. She placed atop the women's division in the Kablutsiak Bravo Challenge in Arviat.

Racing is an area where some women are proving they have an abundance of talent.

Away from the track, in the nurturing environment of the classroom, Taloyoak's Kublu Tucktoo has been an influential figure for children in their formative years for more than three decades. The kindergarten teacher will retire this summer, but she can do so knowing that she has given such young students an introduction to school life and grounded them in the fundamentals of learning.

In Clyde River, Jukeepa Hainnu has taken her own learning to a higher level. She earned her masters in education from the University of Prince Edward Island on May 12. Already possessing a bachelor of education degree and having already risen to principal at Quluaq school, she said she continues to thirst for knowledge.

"The more you learn, the more you understand, the more capable you become," she said.

Wise words indeed.

These women are just an small sample of those who have earned our respect.

All we ask of them is to please keep passing on their admirable skills, traits and values to the next generation, whether formally or informally. We'll all be better off for it.

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.