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There are a few things that summers in the Deh Cho and the rest of the Northwest Territories are particularly good for. One of these items is construction.

As soon as warmer weather rolls around, construction projects ranging from home renovations right up to entire buildings kick into gear. With only so many suitable months available in the North, contractors donÕt waste any time getting down to work.

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Around the Deh Cho, construction projects are blooming like flowers. The largest is arguably the Deh Cho Bridge project on the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence.

The progress being made on that site can be seen daily as heavy equip- ment and workers set the stage for the construction of four piers.

In Fort Simpson work is ongoing on the new territorial government building. There is also a giant trench working its way down 99 Street and around to 100A Avenue as the village tackles its major summer project of replacing sewer mains.

In other Deh Cho communities there are undoubtedly other projects also underway. With all these construction pro- jects on the go, the summer is also a very good time to recognize the importance of training Deh Cho residents to work in the trades.

Construction projects canÕt move forward unless they have skilled trades people ranging from electricians to welders, carpenters to plumbers.

The importance of training in the trades is being recognized by the Deh Gah GotÕie Koe First Nation in Fort Providence.

The band is taking steps to ensure that its members have every opportunity to apply for the jobs on the Deh Cho Bridge project.

Many of the jobs, however, require skilled labourers including welders and carpenters. Most of the band members who have that kind of training already have jobs in other areas, said Moe Barriere, the economic development officer for the band.

Barriere said heÕs trying to convince some members who live out- side of the community they could return and live in Fort Providence for three years while the bridge is under construction.

The shortage of tradespeople is also evident in Fort Simpson. With so many projects underway at once the smaller ones are finding it difficult to attract the workers they need.

Anyone who is looking for a career path with a bright future neednÕt look any farther than the construction projects in the Deh Cho. While the Dehcho First Nations talk about building capacity to manage selfgovernment, the whole region also needs to consider promoting the trades.

The Deh Cho needs to build its capacity in this area so that residents can reap the benefits of job opportunities on projects being built in their communities.

How much can one take before being pushed off the edge of rationality? Only days after writing an editorial about irresponsible kids and their spray-can habits, I'm hunched over a keyboard, sweating out my frustrations about the state of this community.

Last week, I actually read online that people were being shooed away from coming to Inuvik because of the reckless behaviour of our kids. Samuel Hearne secondary school was hit again by a group of unknown vandals.

This time, the damage is in the neighbourhood of $50,000. That number is an early estimate and I'm sure the final tally will be staggering.

If you haven't seen what those criminals did to the shop class, music room and foyer, be thankful. For someone who grew up respecting that institution and eventually graduated from there, it honestly hurt me to walk through the school after the damage was done.

When I got in, there had already been three days of cleaning crews in and out of the site, taking out debris and trashed materials. What a bloody shame, that we have a community so keen on development and growth, but it has such a pathetic foundation of family values.

I took a drive down by the school a few weeks ago, when the crews were busy boarding up the windows for the summer -- a safeguard against broken windows and unlawful entrances.

Poor Samuel Hearne, why do you have such a bum rap? Maybe the youth of today, armed with their wikipedias and online information, don't like what Sam Hearne did with his life and are taking it out on his namesake school.

Probably not, though. I think we've got some kids with some real issues that might not end so quietly next time.

Our community is celebrating its 50th anniversary next week and we're wasting resources on cleaning up after some juvenile delinquents? Just like the workers who spent all week scrubbing paint stains, or picking up shattered glass, I'm extremely upset about this situation.

I shuddered when I walked into the new music room at the school, because I covered the story when they got all their new instruments in from the south. Now, what will become of the community band, or the coffeehouses or the music course?

It's a shame for those who were actually getting good at their new skill, because now it's most likely delayed or even worse, cancelled. I'm sure the school board is going to be reluctant to purchase all those expensive pieces again.

Going deeper into the problem with our misguided kids, I keep coming back to the feelings of resentment and jealousy. The kids responsible for this need some serious help with their growing social issues.

Town council was going to look at revising the curfew at its meeting on Wednesday night.

Something has to be done.

There was a lot of misplaced frustration taken out on poor old Sam Hearne school this month.

For shame, Inuvik, for shame.

Teenagers Randy Leisk Jr. and Michael Luzny died one year ago and we still do not know how their untimely demise could have been prevented.

It is a certainty that measures could be adopted at traditional healing camps to help ensure similar deaths are avoided.

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The obvious question that must be answered is what level of qualifications does a supervisor need.

The lifeless bodies of those young men - Luzny 18 years old and in charge, Leisk age 15 - were found near North Arm Park after their boat ran out of gas on Great Slave Lake and they decided to swim for shore.

The power to call an inquest lies with coroner Cathy Menard, chief coroner Garth Eggenberger told Yellowknifer last week.

While it is a shame 12 months have passed without word on what steps need to be introduced for added safety.

The ongoing police investigation has been holding things up, Eggenberger said. It is a relief that the door hasn't been closed on an inquest.

If there is an upside, it is that this delay has given the coroner and chief coroner more time to reflect.

Eggenberger should cast back 10 years and he will recall why an inquest is in the public's best interest.

It was a decade ago that an inmate from what was then known as the Yellowknife Correctional Centre drowned at Long Lake while on a picnic.

He and several other prisoners earned the outing through their community service. Eggenberger was the coroner on called in the case.

Four months later, a group of jurors recommended the correctional centre offer swimming lessons for inmates.

The jurors also wanted the City of Yellowknife to post signs warning of the dangerous waters in the area and urged that a public awareness campaign on aquatic safety be launched.

As well, there were recommendations for improved equipment for government departments involved in underwater rescue.

These recommendations may or may not have been carried out but the fact they were made after a public discussion by itself raises safety awareness.

This is the same sort of process Darlene Leisk, Randy Jr.'s mother, needs to have her questions answered. It is a process the public needs too.

Dene healing camps are a commendable idea. They offer a form of alternative justice for youth in trouble, providing guidance while reinforcing cultural values and traditions.

But when something goes awry, as it did last year on Great Slave Lake, a full airing of the facts leading to recommendations by an informed group of jurors can reduce the chances of tragic history repeating itself.

While there's still a way to go before Oct. 27, there are some interesting rumours floating about concerning Nunavut's upcoming general election.

And there are some skirmish lines already drawn.

Legendary hockey coach Toe Blake once said, "Predictions are for Gypsies," and that quote often holds better for politics than sports.

That being said, the political dominoes could fall in such a way this coming October that Nunavummiut will remember 2008 as the year a group of female candidates took control of a number of major positions within the territorial government.

As with most organizational conjecture, there's no better place than at the top.

The rumour mill is running red hot with speculation concerning Iqaluit Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik's designs on earning a place in history by becoming Nunavut's first female premier.

I'd be the last person to suggest Premier Paul Okalik would shy away from a fight.

But not knowing which riding Sheutiapik may be considering, her potential candidacy could be the reason behind the rumours of Okalik leaving the Iqaluit West riding and running in Pangnirtung.

Things won't be any easier for Kugluktuk incumbent Joe Allen Evyagotailak if Millie Kuliktana decides to seek his seat in October.

The executive director for Kitikmeot School Operations has 20 years of experience in the field of education, and is renowned for her organizational skills and straight-forward approach to dealing with issues.

Keith Peterson in Cambridge Bay is another male incumbent who may be in for a tough battle if Michelle Gillis decides to throw her hat into the territorial battle.

The first female to be elected as Cambridge mayor, Gillis has strong connections to the New Democratic Party (NDP) through serving on its federal council representing the Nunavut riding and helping in the formation of the NDP Aboriginal Commission.

Closer to home, the worst-kept secret in the Kivalliq this past year was Rankin Inlet Mayor Lorne Kusugak's plan to contest Levinia Brown's riding of Rankin South/Whale Cove.

If that battle does come to fruition, it may be one of the more interesting ones.

Brown has held a number of important profiles during her tenure and is widely respected among Nunavut's female population.

Rankin voters who support Premier Okalik would also, in all probability, support Brown through association.

Kusugak, on the other hand, is one of the most popular mayors in Rankin history and is highly regarded by both the working class and the community's elders.

The deciding factor in this riding could very well turn out to be the Whale Cove vote.

On the ghosts of elections past front, Jack Anawak is rumoured to be looking at Steve Mapsalak's Akulliq seat, while Joe Kaludjak has not ruled out running in one of the two Rankin ridings.

And to top it all off, one John Todd has apparently been approached about returning to Rankin and offering his services in the October election.

All in all, Nunavut's 2008 election could turn out to be one for the ages.