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Prospectors have been given one less reason to take up their rock picks as the territorial government has axed its grubstake program. It's bad news for independent exploration and for the NWT.

The program had offered financial support to prospectors since 1962. It was beneficial to an economy reliant on the mining industry.

Originally a federal funding initiative, the program was taken over by the GNWT in 1995. Last year, the program's funding was slashed to $50,000 from $150,000. Now, with the GNWT reporting waning interest in the program over the past few years, the money has been taken off the table entirely.

Because the program was not used often during the dizzying heights of a financial boom doesn't mean there is no longer a need for this funding.

As the world struggles to cope with an economic downturn, we should not forget that it was independent prospectors Chuck Fipke and Stewart Blusson who gave rise to our diamond riches by founding the Ekati mine. They saved our economy as the gold-mining era tapered to an end.

Our neighbours in the Yukon see the value in funding "the little guy." In February, the Yukon government bolstered its mining incentive program by a whopping $1.1 million, bringing its total up to $1.8 million annually.

Our government -- which has $54,000 for MLAs and bureaucrats to travel to Scandinavia in the name of energy research -- has gone the opposite direction and will suffer for it.

Yellowknife RCMP have prided themselves on being tough on drugs. With that in mind, the slow response from the police earlier this month after a Frame Lake resident reported 97 suspicious baggies littering neighbourhood yards is nothing short of discouraging.

The suggestion from a dispatcher and a staff sergeant that police officers were too busy to show up, especially given it was Super Soccer weekend, isn't adequate.

Building confidence in its police force is essential to a strong community, which in this case has been dealt a blow, at least for the Frame Lake woman who said she feels she was "blown off" by the RCMP.

Most police officers are hard working, dedicated professionals. They should be given credit for creating early awareness around the dangerous drug ecstasy, blamed for the deaths of a few teens in Alberta in recent months. Recognizing that drugs which are a problem in Alberta often find their way to the NWT, police were quick to get the word out to the public here last week.

So they have a handle on the "proactive" part, which the RCMP likes to emphasize. Now they have to improve on the responsive end. The next time a call is made about suspected drug paraphernalia, it shouldn't take two days to get a response.

Every year groups of students from around the Deh Cho are taken on trips to locations in southern Canada. In some cases the trips are for members of a graduating class while the smaller schools often take most, if not all, of their students along.

These trips are much-anticipated rewards for a year of dedicated schoolwork. They also serve to open the students' minds to what the world has to offer beyond their own backyards.

Recently, 14 students from Fort Liard completed the second half of an exchange when they visited Bella Bella, B.C.

The purpose of the exchange was to bring students from two small communities together to provide a better appreciation and understanding of their community, said Diane Nelson, the teacher who organized the exchange.

Often people just complain about their community. The exchange helped them realize there are also good things they can share, Nelson said. This remark illustrates one of the important functions of school trips and exchanges.

Travelling to communities in the south opens students' eyes to different ways of life. The trips often take students to places they might not visit otherwise where they get to see how other people live.

While students come away with the realization that larger centres mean more stores, more shopping and more entertainment options they also see what is traded off for those extras. Students witness the traffic jams, compacted living arrangements, smog and pollution.

They also see how very different the developed landscape is compared to the nearly-unending wilderness that surrounds the communities they come from.

School trips allow students to see the things they don't have, but also give them more of an appreciation for the things they do. It's much easier to be grateful for something after you realize not everyone has it.

The trips also show students there is a broader world and other places they could strive to go if they wanted to. During the trips students take in a variety of educational activities and sights. Older students are often introduced to different careers and the colleges and universities they could attend in order to achieve those goals.

The experiences and memories the students develop while on the trips stay with them well through the summer and into the next school year.

Planning exchanges and school trips, however, isn't easy.

The trips are a challenge both logistically as well as financially. Each year the trips require a lot of work and dedication by teachers, parents and students who all work together to fundraise in advance.

The people who make the trips possible deserve recognition. On the surface the excursions are just a fun thing for students to be able to do. On a deeper level, however, the trips also instill in students an appreciation of what they have and a recognition of the choices they can make for their futures.

I don't know Vince Sharpe at all, but on the rare occasions I have met him he struck me as a level-headed, friendly guy.

So when he showed up to my office a little more than a week ago raving mad about his fight with the territorial government, my instincts told me something had to be wrong. It didn't take long for me to feel some sympathy for the man.

He'd be fighting the government to pay for a $3,000 piece of medical equipment - yes, you heard me right, $3,000 - to be installed in our hospital so his wife Lena could get treatment here instead of having to travel to Edmonton while she's dealing with a serious disease of the lymph nodes.

By the time Sharpe started his fight, the territorial government had already spent an estimated 10 grand covering her plane tickets back and forth to Edmonton. Confused?

Turns out the government didn't want to pay for the treatment because it's the federal government's responsibility to purchase such a piece of equipment.

So now it's a little easier to see why Sharpe was furious.

Rather than waiting for the endless tangle of bureaucracies to unravel, he boarded a plane to Yellowknife on May 6, where he had every intention to handcuff himself to the legislature's entrance if the government continued to stall.

His plan worked.

The government was forced into doing the right, honourable thing. I know it all sounds so desperate. But I wonder where our local MLAs stood on this issue and why it seems no one stood up for Sharpe. Since the health minister, and everyone else in the government, refuses to talk about the case for confidentiality reasons, we're going to have to go with Sharpe's explanation.

That is the GNWT didn't want to give in to his demands for fear that it could start a chain reaction. Then anybody would be beating on the door begging the government for one medical treatment or another. Well that's reassuring.

I hope if another case such as this one arises, in which a citizen feels the need to call our politicians out, demanding justice and common sense to prevail, then they'll actually do it. The last I heard the underpinning of any democratic government rests on the notion that it's built for the people by the people.

Frankly, the territorial government should be beyond embarrassed that it stalled as long as it did over a measly $3,000, especially if you look at some of the tabs our local MLAs appeared to have run up during a recent visit to China.

Sharpe mentioned he was grateful for the local support he received throughout his battle. It's pretty hard not to support such conviction and passion. He provides a perfect illustration of what one person can achieve in a democracy, despite the fact that he went to the pains he did to achieve his goal.

With the community's support and pressure from the press, he was able to shame the GNWT into doing the right thing.

It just seems sadly ironic that a department that's supposedly committed to the health of every Northerner would subject any taxpayers to so much needless suffering and agony for the sake of a few thousand bucks.

Developing Phase VII of the Niven Lake subdivision was one of city council's first big tasks following the 2006 election, and so far the results have been less than stellar.

Many of the current councillors were elected based on pledges to reform development in the city, a major sticking point with residents who were appalled with the slash and build, plunk down a trailer - actually modular homes, but who can tell -- approach to Niven Lake's Phase VI. Affordability, as always, was also an issue.

Their response was Phase VII, a pedestrian and environmentally-friendly neighbourhood with smaller lot sizes, hidden garages, natural landscaping and an option to exclude the driveway from the building plans.

The first 30 lots went on sale last October. Only five have been sold since. Yellowknifer's editorial from April 4, 2007, predicted it would be a tough sell and so it remains today.

On Monday night, council voted down an amendment developers say would make it easier to build and sell homes at Phase VII. The trouble rests with the rules that garages must be set back from the main entrance, and that basements -- necessary on some lots where the grade drops substantially and foundations are needed - are included in usable floor space calculations, which isn't appealing to some potential homeowners. Limiting floor space is intended to prevent enormous homes, which is understandable, but it would be wise for council to show some degree of flexibility depending on the circumstances.

The council majority argued, however, that changing the rules now would make the city appear too hasty, too flippant. They want to see what shapes up with the upcoming building season first.

We'll make another prediction: a precious summer will pass with still few lots sold at Phase VII, and city construction will remain at a standstill.

It's hard to understand why council is so hung up about these minor requests.

The natural landscaping will still be part of the zoning requirement, a minimal number of modular homes will be allowed, and lot owners can still build their homes without driveways and walk to work if they so wish. There is little danger of Phase VI rearing its ugly head again.

Some may argue that the city is in a recession anyway so why hurry, but that's no excuse to wrap up what little development there is in unnecessary red tape.

Council's vote Monday only assured that there will fewer construction jobs this year, and that affordable homes in the city will remain scarce.

Living in the North, we often get caught up in our own insulated lives, only concerning ourselves with regional issues that tend to influence our daily routines.

It's perfectly logical, given our location, cultural diversity, and the many challenges we face in our attempts to maintain some level of normality in our lives.

Yet, rest assured, what's happening in the rest of the country slowly, but surely, finds its way here and burrows into our collective conscious.

People will talk about the hazards of smokers lighting up in their vehicles while their children are with them, or while walking down the road with their baby tucked safely in the back of their amauti.

Disgusting, they'll murmur. Something should be done because we can't ignore this type of behaviour any longer.

Meanwhile, in the background, an ATV slides around a corner with a 13-year-old at the controls and four young passengers hanging off in every direction with nary a helmet among them.

They disapprove in the grocery store as someone goes through a checkout with a couple of plastic bottles full of water, wondering openly why that person isn't doing their share for the environment.

Then they purchase a large box of disposable diapers to take home to their grandson, whose future they constantly worry about because people no longer respect Mother Earth.

And, of course, they argue for hours over the potential eco-disaster that awaits if they let mining into their region, blissfully unconcerned with the fact Nunavut already has an enormous carbon footprint.

Such is the power of special interest and lobby groups, which have an endless supply of powerful mediums to influence opinions on hot button topics they create.

Below the subterfuge these groups create to attract public attention, a far more sinister force works to create policies that may soon find their way into our lives.

Such is the case in Alberta -- still a working partner with Nunavut in education -- where a section of the proposed amendments to the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act could put teachers squarely in the crosshairs of any parent less than enamoured with the classes they teach.

Parents would have the right to have their kids "opt out" of classes which deal with religion, sexuality or sexual orientation.

And it gets much, much better.

Should teachers or principals fail to notify parents about any part of the curriculum the parents feel they would have withdrawn their child from, the teachers could find themselves dealing with a human rights complaint.

There are precious few topics more wide-reaching than religion.

Should this become law, a teacher could, conceivably, be forced to defend himself against a human rights complaint for mentioning there once was this guy named Charles Darwin, and he had this theory about evolution....

Special interest groups make a lot of noise on today's airwaves.

But, sometimes, when you listen closely enough, you'll hear a message worth discussing.

And, sometimes, the realization sets in that the only message that noise truly wants you to hear - is its own!

A report by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has confirmed what Northerners have been saying for years: the food mail program is flawed.

Graeme Dargo, the report's author, points to breakdowns in the program that span everything from ordering and delivery to administration and financing, to promotion and accountability.

As a result, there is a serious mistrust and lack of understanding about the program. Costs have also skyrocketed, nearly doubling over the past four years.

Dargo's recommendations range from a short-term overhaul of the program to its eventual replacement.

Although completely replacing the program may seem like overkill, the federal government's failure to effectively manage and monitor the program has made it necessary. While recognizing the importance food mail plays in providing affordable healthy foods to Northerners, in his report Dargo states, "I feel that modifying the existing program will not be sufficient or affordable."

One of the most significant proposed changes is the elimination of personal orders, a recommendation with two schools of thought.

Presently, personal food orders account for less than 10 per cent of all food mail orders - but more than 18 per cent of the budget. Dargo states in his report that Northern organizations told him, "the shipment of personal food orders is unfair and favours privileged individuals." The program requires the use of a credit card for purchasing and access to a vehicle to transport goods, both of which put it out of reach for some people.

Dargo continued to say that personal orders negatively affect the Northern economy by reducing the purchasing power of Northern retailers. That means fewer options on store shelves and increased prices, he stated.

On the flip-side, many argue that personal orders keep prices low in communities with only one grocery retailer because the store is then forced to compete with southern retailers via the food mail program.

Although people will always be able to purchase goods in the south cheaper than in the North, the government's lack of required accountability for the food mail program has caused many to distrust Northern retailers. Dargo states that individuals and organizations doubt the government subsidy is being passed on by their local retailer.

There's a simple reason for that: retailers have no obligation to report how subsidies are applied.

However, Dargo's report insists without the program prices would - in some cases - more than triple. Dargo cites the following example, "if the program was eliminated, a 10-pound bag of potatoes would increase from $18.29 to $64.49 in Pond Inlet." However, he recognizes that without public trust the evidence is moot.

Eliminating personal orders only makes sense if some fundamental changes are made, changes that Dargo proposes. First, the program must regain public trust. Stores must be required to demonstrate how the subsidy is applied, the cost breakdown of goods and the savings realized by the customer. Although prices will still be considerably higher than the south, consumer confidence may ensure people remain loyal to the Northern economy.

Second, the government should negotiate direct agreements with Northern retailers. Direct control over product delivery may allow retailers to find savings in shipping costs.

Eliminating personal orders combined with the two above recommendations would mean more money for Northern retailers and, if done properly, would translate into cheaper groceries and increased merchandise.

It's worth doing. Healthy food should not be luxury.

Seeka Veevee Parsons stirred up a hornet's nest when she told a New Zealand newspaper she was offended by the country's popular marshmallow "Eskimos" candies on a store shelf.

The pastel-coloured treats, shaped like people in hooded parkas, come in a package bearing the cartoon image of a grinning, round-faced Inuk in a fur-rimmed parka gesturing towards an iglu. The iglu has a transparent window through which the candy "Eskimos" can be seen.

They're not exactly culturally-sensitive, to put it mildly, but there may not have been any malicious intent behind their creation back in 1955. However, companies don't make candies out of a people or a culture they regard as equals.

In an ironic twist, Parsons herself was accused many times over by angry New Zealanders of disrespecting their people through her criticism of one of their favourite treats, which many of them seem to feel is integral to their cultural identity.

Parsons had every right to speak out, and her experience serves as a reminder why taking a stance publicly takes courage: because many people aren't going to be happy with what you have to say, especially when it involves attacking cultural icons and stereotypes.

Inuit culture has inspired marketers around the globe for at least a century. If it's not candy, it's ice cream cakes, or the name of a Canadian football team, or inuksuk mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympics, or a bunch of students in the U.S. turning snow goggles into club wear.

The line between inspiration and exploitation is fine, and blurs, depending on which side you're looking at it from. What offends one person delights another. What infuriates one person makes someone else laugh.

Jessica Patterson's line of Eskimofo designs, featured in last week's Nunavut News/North, reclaims some of the stereotypes with a playful edge, such as labelling a picture of a whale as "snack" or that of a seal as "yummy."

A Patterson-type response to "Eskimos" candy might be to suggest an updated version, where the iglu on the package gets replaced by a matchbox house, and the candies come with marshmallow accessories such as TV sets, computers, satellite dishes, snowmobiles and some tasty marshmallow seals for the "Eskimos" to hunt.

Despite the furor Parsons' complaint unleashed in New Zealand, by speaking out she showed residents there that Inuit are people, not caricatures. They live in the modern world, read newspapers, send e-mails and take vacations overseas.

New Zealanders continue to eat "Eskimos" but one hopes the candy doesn't sit as well in the stomach as it once did.