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Earlier this month, Grand Chief George Mackenzie found himself embroiled in controversy as three of the four sub-chiefs on his executive council tried to force his resignation. The three chiefs who were demanding his resignation were Behchoko Chief Leon Lafferty, Whati Chief Charlie Jim Nitsiza, and Gameti Chief Henry Gon.

At a meeting of Tlicho residents, the sub-chiefs' strategy failed and the people there showed substantial support for the Grand Chief.

It was a shining moment for Mackenzie yet he missed a perfect opportunity to prove he is the bigger man and respects the political process.

Instead of trying to work with the dissenting chiefs, Mackenzie has suspended the executive council. The move effectively eliminated the only official forum the five members could use to work out their differences.

The Tlicho government is still in its fledgling years. There are bound to be disagreements as members and politicians determine what kind of government they wish to have.

Communication is key, and whether or not you agree or disagree with the sub-chiefs' approach to the situation, their actions were spurred by what they saw as poor communication by the Grand Chief.

The emergency session re-opened lines of communication and Mackenzie had a golden opportunity to demonstrate he was willing to keep those lines open,

But, in a move that can only be seen as vindictive, he eliminated the chance at any more talks that could heal the rift between the chiefs. Most troubling, the move could further prove the point of the complaint Mackenzie wasn't being accountable.

The right to criticize leaders is the foundation of the democracy. If Mackenzie hopes to succeed as leader of his people, he must demonstrate an ability to face criticism head on and prove he can be accountable to the needs and wishes of the people who elected him.

A new summer camp could help put more women into positions of leadership in the North.

The Taiga Adventure Camp is a aimed at young women between the ages of 12 and 17.

The first of its kind in the NWT, the intent is not only to involve young women from all NWT communities, but to hold it in a different place each year, starting with Fort Smith the first year and Inuvik the second.

Associated with the YWCA, the territorial vision of the camp organizers should draw widespread support. They are going to need it. At a projected cost of $400,000 annually, fundraising is going to be a major task, especially after the novelty wears off.

But the pay off from the emphasis on self-esteem and productive lifestyle should be immediately apparent. There are many capable women in the territory now blazing new trails in the trades, politics, business and with such role models, young women need to know they can do the same.

A tight labour market is bringing down gender barriers and creating new opportunities. The timing of such a camp couldn't be better.

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The Government of Nunavut has a serious math problem.

It has an estimated capital budget of $23.4 million for the Department of Education in 2007-08. Yet not one dollar is earmarked for repairs to a dismal Kugluktuk high school or Inuujaq school in Arctic Bay.

Students and teachers in Qikiqtarjuaq can look forward to $200,000 worth of work on their school, but that won't happen until 2009.

The situation at Kugluktuk's school is most pressing.

There, close to 100 students pass through the doors every weekday to enter a dingy building badly in need of a paint job.

Windows are boarded up and there are holes in the walls.

As principal Gary Kennedy describes it, it's far from a bright, lively, vibrant learning atmosphere. It is, we're afraid, an environment that can only breed a lack of respect for the building.

That's particularly a shame at a school that has worked so hard to promote its Kugluktuk Grizzlies sports programs as a healthy alternative for its youth.

Even worse, following a September inspection, Nunavut's fire marshal identified 37 items that needed to be fixed for fire prevention and safety by the end of this month.

How things have been allowed to deteriorate to this point is hard to fathom, but the problem can't be neglected any longer.

Kugluktuk MLA Joe Allen Evyagotailuk made a stand in the legislative assembly, tabling pictures of the despicable conditions at Kugluktuk high school.

He can't let up. He must be relentless in getting support from his colleagues and forcing the Minister of Education to take action.

Evyagotailuk could use support from home, however.

Having community members rally behind him, by way of letters or a petition, could only aid the cause. Remember, the mould-ridden Sakku school in Coral Harbour was believed to be the cause of allergic reactions in young children last year.

It was only after protests by parents that the issue was addressed. An additional $3.15 million has been allotted to Sakku school in 2007-08.

Over in Cambridge Bay, students at Kiilinik high school are finally able to use the facility's industrial arts equipment after the government had the school rewired in time for the school's opening in the fall.

But that same equipment sat idle for a year until the rewiring was completed.

The pre-trades teacher, tired of waiting, resigned in frustration in June.

Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson had been vocal about the problem in the legislative assembly.

Although Peterson proved that getting upgrades done is possible, it appears that making a lot of noise is a necessary tactic to get the GN's attention.

There's nothing like a good dose of cold weather to get people in the North antsy.

If the stereotypes about Canadian winters are to be believed everyone hunkers down in their houses with a big pile of wood for their stove and are not seen again until the snow melts. But while some people don't enjoy winter a lot of people welcome it.

Maybe this is something that is unique to the North.

There seems to be a widespread feeling that if winter is going to arrive it might as well hurry up.

If the onset of winter means anything in the Deh Cho it's the dichotomy between freedom and isolation.

On one side are the communities where falling temperatures and water levels lead to ferry closures. In places like Fort Simpson and Wrigley you can drive around your community but unless you are springing for a helicopter ride or a plane ticket you can't go much farther.

On the other side, taking advantage of the winter, are locations like Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake, which finally get the opportunity to have road access to other communities. Sure you can still move in and out of these communities over the rest of the year but there's nothing quite like having a road.

So with winter closing its fingers around the Deh Cho and getting a good, strong grip, part of the population is hoping for cold weather so ice bridges will form while the other part is urging the mercury down so winter roads can be finished.

In how many other places in Canada can you hear people talking about how they hope it will get colder soon and stay that way?

Winter around here is expected to bring snow and cold temperatures in a timely manner.

The first to benefit from winter's snowflakes are the snowmobilers. As soon as there's just enough snow on the ground people are out zipping around. Not wanting to be left behind in the winter activities, this is the time of year that people set up a 24-hour watch on local skating rinks.

While ice for an ice bridge is one thing, ice for a skating rink is almost as important, if not more. With only so many months to pack their favourite winter sports into, hockey players, speed skaters and figure skaters are all eyeing the edge on their skates while curlers can't wait to feel the heft of a rock.

It's the smaller communities that often luck out in this race. With simpler outdoor ice rinks that don't require a whole building to cool to the right temperature, ice is on the ground faster.

Nahanni Butte is a poster child for ice creation this year. With snowmobilers already making their way across the river, a newly-constructed ice rink is drawing out most of the community. With pickup games happening almost every evening, the rink is the place to be right now in Nahanni Butte.

Winter just isn't right in the North without ice. So while the rest of Canada shivers through the onset of winter, Northerners are waiting for colder temperatures and ice with impatient arms.

If you've been to the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex lately, you've probably seen posters advertising an appearance by Rick Mercer.

Let me confirm it now. Yes, it's true.

The cheerful and sarcastic CBC comedian will perform two nights of standup in June as the main headliner at this year's eighth annual Petroleum Show.

So is Inuvik becoming more popular?

Has the petroleum show become big enough to attract "A-List" Canadian talent?

Not exactly.

Rick Mercer is coming to town because council is paying him $50,000.

(I guess once you bring Prime Minister Paul Martin to Canadian Tire on television, your get to charge whatever you like.)

Inuvik Mayor Derek Lindsay - himself a quick-witted comedian, as you all know - thinks it's a good investment.

He said Mercer will bring in more delegates, more attention and attract bigger sponsors.

And since the town's budget for the petroleum show is about $300,000, he it's not disproportionate to spend one sixth on a headliner.

"This will subsidize itself 100 per cent," he said on Nov. 19.

While I am a big fan of Mercer's comedy, I am surprised at the dollar amounts involved.

I mean, $50,000 for two nights? What's being planned for the 50th anniversary, Led Zeppelin?

While I look forward to Mercer's jokes, I think it's important to consider what else $50,000 could buy.

Could we have not paid for an extra recreation co-ordinator or a street cleaner to remove graffiti?

Maybe we could have spent the money on addictions counselling or assistance to local elders.

Whitehorse has some beautiful painted murals, how about one here?

If the petroleum show had to be scaled back a little bit and we hired the North of Normal theatre group instead of Rick Mercer - I think people would understand.

While Mercer will probably be hilarious in June, he'll be back in Toronto before the laughter dies down.

I just hope his appearance will have been worth the money.

- Inuvik Drum editor Dez Loreen is on vacation and will return in early December.

Premier Paul Okalik has become Nunavut's version of the little Dutch boy and he's run out of fingers trying to plug the numerous holes in the territory's political dike.

And more holes seem to appear every day.

Okalik has more than his share of political slugs at his disposal, but they leave a slimy trail on everything they touch and don't have the consistency needed to stem the rising tide of dirty water.

Much like a desperate general trying in vain to prop up his crumbling front lines, Okalik has taken to ordering his reserves to the front in hopes they may somehow figure out a way to close the flood gates left open by a string of bad decisions.

But the most Okalik's captains will be able to do for their general is buy him some time, and time is quickly running out on this government.

Okalik, in addition to being premier and the MLA for Iqaluit West, also holds five different ministerial portfolios.

He simply cannot spread himself any thinner and, behind closed doors, probably came to the realization long ago that he has taken on too much to be effective on all fronts.

So, the premier continues on with his high-stakes game of Risk, moving the director of Nunavut's devolution division, John Lamb, up to replace the former executive assistant to Finance Minister David Simailak, let go after the top blew off the simmering pot of financial goo referred to as the Nunavut Business Credit Corp.

Not a bad move, really, considering Simailak has certainly shown he's in definite need of an extraordinary assistant, and the feds aren't prepared to enter into serious devolution negotiations right now anyway.

Okalik also moved four deputy ministers onto the Credit Corp's board to see if they can work a little magic during the next year to clean up the mess left behind by their predecessors.

Then you have the humour of House Leader Ed Picco jumping to defend embattled Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, as at least two MLAs called for her resignation.

Picco shivers every time Okalik looks in his direction because he has no desire to reclaim his old portfolio of Health minister, so it's far safer for him if Aglukkaq keeps her position.

Equally humorous was Aglukkaq scolding members for hinting that a minister might show a bit of favouritism for their own riding.

Like that's never happened in the history of Canadian politics.

And, of course, while all this plays out, Community and Government Services Minister Levinia Brown keeps her head down and thinks to herself: Been there. Done that.

All that was missing from Iqaluit's political version of Barnum and Bailey this past sitting was an election on the horizon.

Were that the case, Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley would most certainly have stood in the legislative assembly, flashed his charming smile at Okalik and politely asked, "Ready for our rematch?"

Sadly, being so busy with all his fingers plugging holes in Nunavut's crumbling political dike, the premier wouldn't even have been able to give Curley his reply.

Errors appeared in the November 19 edition of News/North in the business brief entitled "What Stress?" The owner of the J's Bed and Breakfast is Jeela Larocque. She has a four-year-old son.

Also in the same edition on page 15 the story "Fundraising effort begins for summer camp for NWT girls." The initiative called the Taiga Adventure Camp is affiliated with the YWCA.