Fire closes highway

A fire in Wood Buffalo National Park forced the closure of Highway 5 between Hay River and Fort Smith on Saturday. The road was reopened on a limited basis on Sunday, with a pilot truck on site to escort vehicles.

The blaze was burning near Kilometre 159, approximately 105 km from Fort Smith.

Fire conditions in the area remain extreme, according to the Town of Fort Smith website. No fires are threatening the community and no evacuation is anticipated, according to the message on the town's emergency line as of Sunday morning.

- Paul Bickford

Preliminary inquiry for man accused of murder

Dates for a preliminary inquiry were set on June 22 in territorial court for a 66-year-old Hay River man charged with the second-degree murder in connection with the death of his younger brother in February.

On Feb. 5 at 6:04 p.m., the RCMP responded to a call at a cabin south of Enterprise, NWT, near the Alberta border, and found the deceased, Raymond Cecil (Roy) Buggins, 61. Wilfred Laurence Buggins was charged the next day.

His preliminary inquiry is scheduled for Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 in Hay River.

- Terrence McEachern

Water advisory remains in Sachs Harbour

The boil water advisory in Sachs Harbour, first put in place June 14, has yet to be lifted. Residents are still being asked to boil water for everything, including drinking, food preparation and teeth brushing.

The advisory was put in place as a precautionary measure, according to Duane Fleming, chief environmental health officer for the NWT.

Alternatives to boiling water include buying bottled or distilled water, but exclude using Brita water filters.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Flash dance mob in Fort Smith

Nearly 40 youth from across the NWT staged the first dance flash mob in Fort Smith.

The students were part of the inaugural NWT Youth Symposium, hosted by Aurora College, and spent the afternoon of June 16 at the Aboriginal Student Achievement Youth Forum hosted by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Workshops included six stations for students to voice their opinions through methods such as discussion, art and a speaker's corner video. A dance station also taught choreography to the song Wavin' Flag by Somali-Canadian performer K'naan.

The young participants later surprised members of the community at a fish fry with the flash mob featuring the 'Wavin' Flag' dance.

- Paul Bickford

Not your average visitors

Tuktoyaktuk

Mayor Merven Gruben played host to three special guests on June 20 - Jim Thompson, Vic Zast and Dan Johnson - who have gained publicity through their recent road trip from Chicago to Inuvik. The goal: play a round of golf at Road's End Golf Club in memory of their friend Mike Allen, who died two years ago.

Play they did, under the midnight sun June 20 and, at the urging of Inuvik Mayor Denny Rodgers and Gruben himself, they spent a day exploring Tuktoyaktuk.

"They'll never forget this," Gruben said of their visit. "They couldn't get over how nice the town was."

He took them on a tour of the hamlet and then to the Arctic Ocean where the golfers dipped their toes in the water and splashed Allen's urn in the waves.

"It was pretty darn cold," Gruben said.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Making Deline greener

Deline/Fort Franklin

The Deline community garden is full of carrots, lettuce, peas, potatoes and flowers, according to Helena Tutcho, but care for them wanes when the sun's out.

"Everyone wants time on the lake," she said.

Although there's no official garden club in the community, Tutcho said there's always a bunch of people around to help out.

In total they have eight beds of soil, she said, and a harvest is expected in September.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Complaints rise on graduation weekend

Tetlit' Zheh/Fort McPherson

The RCMP in Fort McPherson were kept busy during the June 18-19 weekend due to some rowdy celebrations for the 13 graduates of Chief Julius School.

The police responded to 19 calls on June 17 and 18, up from just nine calls the previous weekend.

Sgt. Chad Orr said they had to detain seven people, most of whom were intoxicated and causing a disturbance. He stressed that it wasn't the graduates who were the main concern, but other residents in town.

"Unfortunately, some of the extended family use graduation as an excuse to let their hair (down)," he said. "When it comes down to it, the kids were really good."

Last year in Fort McPherson, the RCMP responded to 18 calls during graduation weekend.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

The place where people travel

Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour

Nineteen Sachs Harbour residents attended a meeting held by Parks Canada on June 20 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. to discuss the future of Aulavik National Park, which lies approximately 250 km from Sachs Harbour.

Management planner Kevin Lunn said overall there was a positive response from those who attended the meeting,

"It was a good discussion about some of the aspects of visitor opportunities in the park and linking them to Sachs Harbour," he said.

Aulavik, which means "the place where people travel" in Inuvialuktun, comprises 12,000 sq. km of Arctic lowlands and is open for subsistence usage by the Inuvialuit.

Parks Canada is accepting feedback on the proposed management plan until July 11.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Sahtu Day

Tulita/Fort Norman

On Thursday more than 250 people celebrated Sahtu Day in Tulita.

Festivities began at 1 p.m. with an opening ceremony and feeding of the fire and then continued all day.

Residents took part in traditional games, tea-boiling and a feast.

Judith Wright-Bird, executive director of the Tulita Land Corporation, said there was also a traditional fish fry.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Four graduates

Paulatuk

Paulatuk celebrated Angik School's biggest graduating class to date with a graduation ceremony, speeches, dinner and dance on June 19.

Bernadette Green, Lauren Ruben, Rosalie Krengnektak and Georgina Wolki all came dressed to the nines in gowns they ordered online and were escorted by their parents to the ceremony. More than 100 attended the festivities, which started at 4 p.m. and ended with a dance for the whole community.

"It was a big deal," said principal Jessica Schmidt.

-Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Women's drumming circle

Thebacha/Fort Smith

A women's drumming circle is scheduled to be held in Fort Smith on June 28.

The circle, which is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. at the Anglican Church, will be led by traditional healer Aline LaFlamme.

- Paul Bickford

Corridor ratepayers to meet

Hay River

The Hay River Corridor Ratepayers Association will hold its annual general meeting on June 29.

The gathering is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at NWT Centennial Library.

The association represents Hay River ratepayers living south along Highway 2 from the Highway 5 junction to the Enterprise boundary.

- Paul Bickford

Funding for reserve projects

K'atlodeeche/Hay River Reserve

K'atlodeeche First Nation on the Hay River Reserve will receive $275,000 over the next two years from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency for several information and communication technology infrastructure initiatives.

The projects include installing a local fibre-optic network connecting key community organizations, establishing an information and communication technology certification course delivered through Aurora College, and examining options for future broadband connection to southern Canada.

The fibre-optic network will connect the band office, school, health centre, daycare and new adult learning centre.

- Paul Bickford

Help wanted

Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River

Tsiigehtchic is on the lookout for a new senior administrative officer and financial officer.

"It's a hard job. There's no two ways about it," Elwood Johnston, acting SAO for the hamlet, said of the opening for a permanent senior administrative officer.

"We are looking and hopefully within the next few weeks we'll get someone hired," he said.

Johnston said that Carolyn Lennie, former SAO, left her position on June 15.

- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison

Fire causes $4 million in damage

An apartment building fire earlier this spring resulted in just under $4 million in damages, stated the RCMP.

A three-storey apartment building with about 30 units located at building 4100 by the Road to Nowhere in Iqaluit burned down on March 24. No one was injured. All the apartments were occupied by Government of Nunavut employees.

The damage estimate excludes the tenants' personal contents.

"The fire is still under investigation and continues to be treated as suspicious until proven otherwise," stated Const. Stephan Kilabuk in a press release.

"The RCMP have submitted their report to the fire marshall's office and a team of independent insurance investigators have assessed the damage and tried to locate clues as to the cause. The fire marshal's report and the insurance company investigator's report are due some time in the near future."

-Jeanne Gagnon

Bridge closed

A bridge from Cambridge Bay to the community's hunting grounds closed June 24 due to high water levels of the River.

Cambridge Bay Mayor Syd Glawson said the bridge from the community to the hinterland was closed today.

"The snow is all melting very fast and it's running down the river on top of the ice," he said. "It's very high, so we had to close the bridge to prevent any un-needed accidents."

It's still too early to say when it will re-open, he added.

Glawson said in the 32 years he's been in Cambridge Bay, it's the first year the bridge has closed, as far as he could tell.

"We've never had a snow fall like this in a long, long, long time. We had snow everywhere," he said.

-Jeanne Gagnon

Man medevaced after ATV accident

A 19-year-old Taloyoak man suffered life-threatening injuries following an ATV collision in the early morning June 20, stated RCMP.

The 19-year-old, who was a passenger on an ATV when the collision occurred, suffered life-threatening head injuries and was transported to Edmonton for further medical treatment. Police added he was wearing a helmet at the time, as was the 18-year-old driver of the ATV. Another passenger, a 21-year-old female, suffered minor injuries, stated the RCMP.

"Circumstances of the collision are still under investigation and no charges have been laid at this point," stated Const. Stephan Kilabuk.

-Jeanne Gagnon

Speed blamed for death of wildlife officer

RCMP say speed is to blame for the snowmobile accident on Frobisher Bay at the end of May which killed a wildlife officer and left one woman in hospital.

"Both were going at excessive speeds and they both weren't wearing headgear," said Const. Stephan Kilabuk on June 20.

Johnny Nowdlak, 47, was pronounced dead at Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit on May 23 as a result of the collision. He had been a wildlife officer with the territorial Department of Environment for the 11 years.

Courtney Dunphy, 20, was medevaced to Ottawa on May 24.

As of June 14, she had been moved from the intensive care unit to the trauma unit and can open her eyes but does not respond. Family members are by her side.

According to police, one driver was crossing the main trail between Apex and Tundra Valley on the ice less than one kilometre outside of the city while the other was on the main trail coming towards Apex when the collision occurred.

-Emily Ridlington

Honouring five of their own

Kimmirut/Lake Harbour

The students and staff at Qaqqalik School held their annual graduation ceremony this year on June 16.

"We had five students graduate from us," said Chris Wright, principal.

Honoured at the celebration were graduates Rita Michael, Geela Manning, Oleesie Akpik and Adamie Lyta.

Graduate Miliktoo Temela finished in January.

Wright said Temela went voluntarily to Iqaluit and took a couple of courses at Inuksuk High School and was included in their recent graduation ceremony.

"We're very proud of him," Wright said.

Temela plans to pursue a post-secondary education in Iqaluit or in the south.

After the ceremony there was dance with the school chaperoning the event from 9 p.m. to midnight and then the recreation department took over until things ended at 1 a.m.

- Emily Ridlington

Elder mourned

Kugluktuk/Coppermine

Cecile Kamingoak died on June 4 in Kugluktuk at age 88, four months after her husband, Peter, died at age 88.

Family and friends gathered on June 7 for Cecile's funeral.

"She was a very loving and caring mother and she will be very missed by her whole family," said Annie Kamingoak, the couple's seventh child. "We would like to thank all the people of Kugluktuk for their tremendous support and their caring in our time of sorrow."

The couple celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary last October and were honoured with a Commissioner's award for special skills in December for the longevity of their marriage. They have 13 children, 42 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Cadet parade and awards

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

The Rankin Inlet 3019 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps marched away with another successful year under its banner during a final parade and awards ceremony at Rankin's community hall earlier this month.

The Rankin corps celebrated a number of triumphs this year, including a successful visit by the Bluenose 615 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron of Halifax and sending nine cadets for their silver star training.

Commanding officer 2nd Lt. Dorothy Tootoo said 24 cadets took part in the final parade, with five more excused due to prior commitments. She said there won't be much time for the 3019 to catch its breath, as it prepares for its 25th anniversary in 2012.

Tootoo said Cadet Warrant Officer Cassandra Gordon, who turns 18 in August, earned the corps' highest accolade this year, the Leadership Award, and will be sponsored by First Air to travel to cadet camp in Whitehorse, Yukon, as a cadet sergeant major this summer. She has been in cadets since the age of 12.

"It's huge for us to have a cadet stay in our program this long, especially in a leadership role," said Tootoo. "They've never had a cadet sergeant major of Inuit descent at the camp before, so that's really big for our corps."

- Darrell Greer

Graduation time in Pang

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung

Both schools in the community were abuzz with activity the week of June 13 with graduations.

"The whole week is jam packed," said Cathy Lee, co-principal at Attagoyuk School.

At Alookie School, the kindergarten graduation was held on June 15. There were 36 grads. The Grade 5 graduation was on June 16. This means 32 students will move on to Grade 6.

The graduation activities in Pangnirtung were capped off with the high school graduation on June 17. Lee said all the ceremonies were open for family members and friends to attend. The high school students also had a prom. The last day of school for all students was on June 23.

- Emily Ridlington

Top volunteer

Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

Shawn Sivugat was honoured as the community's top volunteer at a recent volunteer appreciation night.

"He is the leading and strongest volunteer," said Clark Kalluq, acting recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet.

Sivugat and other volunteers got thank you awards at an event on May 27. There was a dance at the community hall which Kalluq said was well attended.

"He and others are always willing to help out."

- Emily Ridlington

New gazebo

Kinngait/Cape Dorset

The view is beautiful from Cape Dorset's new gazebo, which has a roof but is open on all sides and will soon have benches installed.

Economic development officer Ikkummak Ivvaluajuk said the gazebo was installed for residents to better enjoy the community and for visitors to mingle with residents.

"The scenery is beautiful from every direction," she said. "The foundation around it is gravel, so there is enough room there for children and adults to be walking around outside the gazebo. The kids are enjoying kites."

Senior administrative officer Olayuk Akesuk said people are excited about the new feature

"We just put up our gazebo .... in one of the traffic areas, where everybody could relax and stop for a bit and see the scenery," he said. "Hopefully, it will attract people to get up there and stay outside with other people."

- Jeanne Gagnon

Dump delayed

Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet

It will be at least two more years before the new municipal dump opens for business in Rankin Inlet. The dump was scheduled to be in operation about three years ago.

Hamlet public works supervisor Arnie Brown said the new site still hasn't been approved for a water licence. He said that won't happen until the hamlet, in conjunction with the Government of Nunavut (GN), has everything in place for its recovery plan on the old dump.

"The plan has to be completed and submitted to the GN in order to get a water licence," said Brown. "We can't really do anything with that right now because of the fact it's about $600,000 for the whole program, and I don't think there's money in place for it to start with.

"So, we're trying to use up the whole old dump."

- Darrell Greer

Canada Day treasure hunt

Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

Golf, basketball, softball, a barbecue, a free swim at the pool, a youth dance and a treasure hunt are some of the Canada Day activities planned in Cambridge Bay.

Recreation co-ordinator Fred Muise said a lot of people come out and enjoy the barbecue and they've added a treasure hunt this year.

"The barbecue is obviously the big hit," he said, adding the treasure hunt will send teams racing around town.

"You're a treasure hunter and an ace detective all in one," he said. "You team up with three other people, so it's a team of four, and I will give you questions like 'what street address has ... flowers going all the way around the house by the Northern Store.' You would go there and you would find out it's 13 Mitik Street. You write that down and it sort of solves clues to tell you where the treasure is."

- Jeanne Gagnon