Features

Hydro power may be the future of NWT electricity generation. Expansion of the Taltson Hydro station has been looked at by the GNWT in its Greenhouse Gas Reduction strategy as a way to reduce the territory's contribution to global warming.

That same report predicts territorial greenhouse gas emissions will more than double in less than a decade's time. The primary sources of the predicted emissions are mining, oil and gas companies.

With the Mackenzie Gas Project still a dream on the horizon, mining activity remains one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases, North of 60.

Hooking mines up to the Taltson Hydro Station could benefit both the environment and the economy.

If mines used hydro power it would reduce their reliance on diesel generated power, a major contributor to greenhouse gases.

Using Diavik as an example, on an annual basis approximately 45 million litres of diesel is hauled to the mine for power generation. If hydro power was able make up even half of the mine's power needs, that would be a reduction of more than 20 million litres of diesel the mine would need to haul via truck or aircraft. The result would be a reduction in gas emissions caused by both power generation and transportation.

Considering the cost of oil and the assumption those cost will remain high, Dan Grabke, managing director of Deze Energy, is confident Taltson can provide the mines hydro generated electricity cheaper than the diesel generated energy.

The catch is the daunting $300 million capital cost involved in setting up the system and more than 600 km worth of transmission lines, which will stretch across the barren lands.

The mines worry such a transmission line will be too much of a risk. But the gamble could pay off in reduced costs and longer mine life, meaning longer employment for Northerners.

Of course the gamble is worth the savings to the environment. It is time for the world to move passed its oil consuming mentality. The only way to prove the technology will work is to use it and sooner or later we will have to work the kinks out anyway, so we might as well start now.

Unfortunately, the GNWT has no authority to force the mines to change the way the generate power and the feds seem unwilling to make changes that could affect resource development.

A commitment from the mines to hook up to the Taltson Hydro station would ensure the project's success. It would also pave the way for a greener NWT.

Governments may be unable or unwilling to legislate mining activity in the NWT, so maybe it's time the mines demonstrate some environmental stewardship on their own.

A recent McAllister research poll indicates 90 per cent of Northerners put environmental protection as a higher priority than development.

With that in mind, it seems eco-friendly industry should be more of a priority for our elected officials, that is if they want to keep their jobs.

The work of elders and biologists in surveying polar bears in the Davis Strait should give American politicians pause for thought.

A three-year study now in its latter stages is showing that the animals are actually increasing off of Baffin Island's southern coast. This research, a combination of science and traditional knowledge, confirms what many Inuit hunters and elders in the area have been saying all along.

In an interview last week, Nunavut biologist Mitch Taylor said, "We are seeing high densities of bears in great shape."

Before the U.S. breaks into a full charge with its proposed legislation to ban the import of all polar bear sport hunt trophies, it must consider this latest data.

If the Americans are concerned about worldwide polar bear populations - a topic that is receiving reams of speculative cataclysmic press in light of climate change - then our southern neighbours ought to concentrate on animal populations that are clearly shown to be in significant decline or poorly managed.

Sports hunts in Nunavut, on the other hand, are closely regulated. They are also a crucial source of income for hunting guides and those who sell their sport hunt tags.

This study of Davis Strait polar bears is the first in close to 20 years, and its only one of several polar bear populations in the territory. While the Government of Nunavut can't hang its hat on one survey - and it should commit to more frequent and thorough monitoring of polar bears in light of a changing climate - it is about to gain enough evidence to hopefully make American legislators take a step back and reassess a premature and reactionary move.

Students in Arctic Bay are being cheated of the education they deserve. Why? The Government of Nunavut isn't providing staff housing, and a consequent shortage of teachers has left Inuujaq school short of the educators it needs.

Two teachers didn't report for duty this year because they couldn't find a place to live while another left last year due to the same problem. This is unacceptable. While government bureaucrats - themselves facing the prospect of having their subsidized housing taken away over the next few years - can sit back and count the dollars saved from the elimination of staff accommodations, communities like Arctic Bay, Chesterfield Inlet and Hall Beach have greater difficulty attracting qualified professionals.

This is a short-sighted policy; one that might mean a savings in the short term, but will cost communities in the long run through complications such as larger class sizes and less attention to individual student needs.

When it comes to emergencies you can never be too prepared.

In Fort Simpson a measure of the community's preparedness was taken during the live emergency response exercise held on Sept. 13.

During the event that ran for approximately three hours, a variety of organizations and departments had to deal with a scenario as if it were happening in real life. The scenario involved a mid-air crash of two airplanes.

One airplane carrying 17 passengers crashed alongside a runway at the airport while the second with three passengers was discovered shortly afterwards at a location down the highway. Emergency responders arriving at the site were met with victims: high school students given a variety of injuries to act out.

Things became more complicated when the second crash sparked a forest fire that moved towards the village, threatening inhabitants. To make a bad situation worse the smoke from the fire led to a closure of the highway cutting off victims from the health centre.

While parts of the scenario such as the forest fire sound a bit far fetched the reality is that any part of that mock disaster could happen, and when situations go wrong they often do so spectacularly.

Although no one wants to see what a real emergency situation of this kind would look like, residents in Fort Simpson can be comforted in the knowledge that the village is well prepared.

Throughout the entire event responding agencies ranging from airport staff to the members of the volunteer fire department acted in a professional manner treating the scenario like it was actually happening. All the organizations involved deserve a round of applause for the effort and energy they put into the exercise to make it as realistic as possible.

But even with evaluators judging their performance, responders managed a few lighthearted moments revealing their comfort level in their skills.

At one point a volunteer firefighter asked high school students pretending to be crash victims what was supposed to be wrong with them. When he heard the answer (impaled by shrapnel from the plane), he smiled warmly at the student, who was by then strapped to a spinal board, and commented that that was pretty serious. Having filled the momentary pause in the action, the firefighter helped lift the student onto a stretcher and into an ambulance to be taken to the health centre.

The village is fortunate to have so many qualified people who are committed to ensuring the safety of residents and willing to spend half a day away from their other duties to practise their responses. All participants gave valuable efforts whether they were in the field or in offices.

Russ Head, a security and protective services officer with the airport division, made a valuable observation about the importance of having the whole village pull together to work in the exercise. Small communities in the North need to be able to count on their own resources because in the case of a real emergency outside help will take time to arrive.

The emergency response exercise showed that while the village still has a few areas to smooth out where responsibilities overlap, overall they are just as prepared to handle an emergency as any southern community.

Residents should be proud.

I don't mean to pick on those who are obviously already down, but we need to curb the temptation to light up and start smoking cigarettes.

I was walking through the halls of Samuel Hearne last week when a student came up to me and told me he wanted to see something done about the high number of cigarette smoking youth in town.

It's true, we have a situation on our hands. Somewhere down the line, our kids started smoking and now the habit is too much to put aside any longer.

Luckily, I haven't started the filthy habit of cigarettes, I hope I never do. All I need is the support given to me by my closest friends. They all smoke and I feel good for not being in their club.

Tobacco tried to get me at the young age of 13, but I steered clear with the help of some concerned family members.

As adults, we need to set a good example for the youth of tomorrow.

There are a lot of young people in this town who don't light up and they seem fine. Almost ahead of the game I'd say.

There are posters and ads all over that attempt to stop the smoking fad in our younger people.

Information is given at young ages about the dangers of smoking. Maybe it's working. I feel good because I know a large group of young students who don't even think about stupid things like cigarettes.

I applaud those young learners and the people around them. Obviously something good is happening, now we just need a way to expand the good word.

All this talk about cigarettes reminds me of the region's number one anti-tobacco campaigner; Alfred Moses.

Moses is not living in Inuvik any more, but he was always seen waving the flag for the good guys. He would talk with youth and set up signs, information kiosks and other events.

He is one of the best examples for a role model I can think of. Stopping smoking by reaching out and connecting with the young people is what needed to be done.

Generations of people in this region smoke and it's been that way for a long time. Maybe a pack of cigs were the first item handed off by early explorers who made contact with the locals here.

With tobacco being a part of aboriginal traditions, it's hard to banish the leaves without stepping on sacred toes. I don't think the traditional uses for tobacco abuse the substance. Feel free to light those peace pipes, just not in our school yards.

While I was doing an interview with a student at my alma mater, the vice principal came out the door and shooed some smokers from the doorway.

I don't blame the schools, because this was a problem before them and it will probably continue to be a problem for years to come.

Push the unsightly smokers away, to the back of the building. It makes the place look nicer, when there aren't a massive pile of butts on the ground.

I don't understand what keeps people going, but I guess we all need something to get us through the day.

You cannot tell your kids that smoking is bad in between puffs. Show your kids that you care for their wellbeing and your own. Butt out the smoke and chew some gum.

When you feel that craving, just don't reach for the pack. I could be wrong, but I don't think people have died from not smoking. Just stay strong and one day, you can join the others who have quit too.

There has been some anger expressed during the past week over Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand's decision to vote against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

The declaration was supported by 143 countries.

Whether the Conservative Government changes its mind and supports the declaration will not change the reasoning behind its original vote.

And that reasoning has far more to do with cost than it does with respecting human rights.

Whether they admit it publicly or not, their fear is that the declaration will open the doors to more lawsuits, and fuel demands for increased federal funding to aboriginal people.

That cry for increased federal funding is being issued again and again in Nunavut.

And, in almost every instance, it's a cry for help that translates into a plea for further social dependence.

It is a symptom of the disease itself -- federal handouts that ease the strain of a present situation, but come with a vision for the future that leads to self-dependency.

It's an insidious trap known all too well by First Nations people across Canada, and one Nunavut could find itself hopelessly snared in if our leaders aren't careful.

There is plenty of blame to go around for the state of Canada's aboriginal people, but the time for pointing the finger to acquire more federal funding out of shame and guilt has past. The time has come for a banner of Just Do It to be flown over the quest for aboriginal independence.

The bearer of that banner may well be one of the most articulate, intelligent and thought-provoking aboriginal voices to emerge in Canada in quite some time.

Calvin Helin is an aboriginal lawyer, businessman and author of the book, Dances with Dependency.

A book which should be mandatory reading for every government personality and aboriginal student in Canada.

Helin, while not granting absolution to anyone for the mistakes of the past, puts economic independence at the top of the aboriginal priority list.

He sees the coming strain on Canada's social programs with millions of Canadians set to retire during the next few years, and realizes the government will not be able to sustain current funding to an aboriginal population growing at seven times the national rate.

In fact, Helin has had harsh words for aboriginal leaders who focus on nothing more than keeping the federal handouts coming.

He sees the keys being a return to the traditional value of self-reliance, and a renewed and vigorous focus on education, training, and economic development.

To Helin, federally funded self-governance is a meaningless mirage.

Federal handouts are about to come crashing down and aboriginal leaders must help their people become economically dependant.

If not, not only will they watch their own societies tumble, they may drag down Canada's economy too.

Helin's message should be heard by every Canadian -- and it's one we hope is heard in Nunavut so our future will be part of the solution, not the problem.

An error appeared in last week's News/North ("Mines consider hydro power," Sept. 20). The partners involved in the Deze Energy Corporation's Taltson River hydro project are the Northwest Territories Energy Corporation, the NWT Metis Nation, and the Akaitcho Energy Corporation.

News/North apologizes for any confusion caused.

An error appeared in last week’s News/North ("Mines consider hydro power,” Sept. 20). The partners involved in the Deze Energy Corporation’s Taltson River hydro project are the Northwest Territories Energy Corporation, the NWT Metis Nation, and the Akaitcho Energy Corporation.

In the Sept. 10 edition of News/North in the story "On a more personal note…” it was stated that The Johnnys’ new album was produced by Urban Indian Productions. The album was in fact mastered at Urban Indian Productions, but produced by Dave and Veronica Johnny and engineered by Veronica Johnny.

News/North apologizes for any confusion caused.