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News Briefs: Monday, July 25, 2011
Crime rates up
Crime rates and severity have dropped everywhere in Canada except the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Newfoundland and Labrador, according to Statistics Canada. Police-reported robbery rates have also risen in the NWT. Historically, robbery rates in the North have been among the lowest in the country. Youth crime also declined across Canada, with the exception of Nunavut and the NWT, which both showed small increases.
-Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Boil water advisory in Tulita
The chief environmental health officer of the NWT issued a boil water advisory for Tulita July 21, due to problems with the hamlet's water treatment plant.
The advisory is just a precautionary measure at this point. No related illnesses have been reported in the community.
All water used for drinking, preparing food and teeth-brushing must be boiled. It is still safe to shower and bathe, but residents should avoid swallowing the water.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Society to meet again
A second organizational meeting has been set for the new Thebacha and Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society.
A meeting on July 21 attracted three people, but five others called organizers to let them know they couldn't attend.
The next meeting has been set for Aug. 16.
Until then, Mike Couvrette will be interim chair, Larry Nixon will be interim vice-chair and Tim Gauthier will be interim secretary-treasurer.
Couvrette noted there were a number of other events happening in Fort Smith on July 21 which may have impacted the turnout.
- Paul Bickford
Assault with body spray
Assault with a weapon took on a curious meaning in Hay River territorial court on July 20. A man was sentenced for assaulting a woman with Axe body spray as the weapon.
The woman had fallen asleep while drinking at the man's residence on March 12 and awoke on a couch. The man was beside her and the victim thought she was being burned on the back of her legs.
The court was told it was not particularly clear what exactly had happened, but the scratches may have been caused by the spray can and the contents had caused skin irritation.
The man was accusing the woman of stealing the spray.
The 32-year-old, who had pleaded guilty, received 30 days for the assault with a weapon. The sentence was credited to remand time he had spent in custody on that and other charges.
- Paul Bickford
Eight teams compete in handgames tournament
Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope
Eight teams from Fort Good Hope, Colville Lake and Tsiigehtchic competed in a traditional handgames tournament and skills competition from July 15 to 17 in Fort Good Hope.
"The Young Guns" from Fort Good Hope won the top prize of $3,600 and Tsiigehtchic's only team went home with second place and $3,000.
There was also a youth fashion show on July 16, featuring traditional clothing made from animal hide and stroud. Shalina Gully of Fort Good Hope won for best outfit.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
His Royal Highness tours the Sahtu
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
Prince Andrew was scheduled to attend "Celebrate Sahtu" events in Norman Wells on Saturday, on the heels of his fifth river trip in the North since 1977.
The Town of Norman Wells, North-Wright Airways and Canoe North Adventures hosted events over the weekend to promote paddling and hiking in the region.
"So many people have wilderness experience in the south," said Lin Ward, co-owner of Canoe North. "But I think everyone has a little dream in the back of their mind of going on something bigger."
The goal of the weekend events, she said, was to show people what a safe and positive experience they can have reaching that goal in the Sahtu. On Friday night hikers, paddlers and residents were to gather at the Royal Canadian Legion. On Saturday afternoon there were tours of local adventuring facilities, including the Canoe North outfitting centre.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Nature walk to observe plants
Hay River
The Hay River Nature Club is presenting a walk this week to learn about the traditional uses of local plants.
The walk will begin at NWT Centennial Library at 7 p.m. on July 28, and proceed along the Kiwanis Nature Trail on the banks of the Hay River.
It will be led by Robert and Elaine Lamalice, two elders from the Hay River Reserve.
Participants are encouraged to bring their cameras and plant books.
The Hay River Nature Club is an initiative of NWT Centennial Library.
- Paul Bickford
Visitors from the Netherlands
Hay River
A group of 14 people from the Netherlands were scheduled to arrive in Hay River on July 24 for a week-long visit hosted by the Friendship Force of Hay River.
The visiting Friendship Force members will have a full itinerary of activities during their July 24 to 30 visit, including stops at the Hay River Heritage Centre, Fisherman's Wharf, the Hay River Beach, West Channel and more.
They will also take trips to Fort Smith and Wood Buffalo National Park, Enterprise and Fort Providence.
"People are always anxious to come North," said Nancy Makepeace, the exchange director with the Friendship Force of Hay River.
In September, a group from California will also be visiting Hay River and area.
- Paul Bickford
Peel River Ferry shut down three times
Tetlit' Zheh/Fort McPherson
The Peel River Cable Ferry, just outside Fort McPherson on the Dempster Highway, was temporarily closed July 16, 17 and 21 because of high water.
Gurdev Jagpal, regional supervisor for the Department of Transportation in Inuvik, said debris pulled from shore by the high water, and the high water itself, made it impossible to run the ferry at those times.
The ferry usually runs daily from 9:15 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. and operates on demand. It is not unusual for it to be delayed or shut down because of high water or soft, slippery and rough landings on the highway.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Summer games at Shingle Point
Aklavik
Last weekend Aklavik was set to host the Shingle Point Summer Games.
On Friday a harpoon throw competition and scavenger hunt were scheduled for the morning, followed by a wiener roast and marshmallow cook-out.
On Saturday there was a full schedule of events, including ring toss games, foot races, balloon busting and a nature call competition. On Sunday there was time reserved for hunting and socializing. Any games that didn't conclude Saturday were to be carried on to Sunday as well.
The first Shingle Point Summer Games were held in 1998 and have continued with the help of volunteers.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Yearly whaling underway in Tuk
Tuktoyaktuk
The beluga whale harvest is underway in Tuktoyaktuk, although work has been delayed because of bad weather.
The harvest was supposed to begin July 1, according to the local hunters and trappers committee, but didn't start until two days later. Since then, whale monitors have had to delay work to wait out the weather on a handful of occasions.
The whale harvest runs until the end of August.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Water still unsafe to drink in Sachs Harbour
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Residents of Sachs Harbour are still observing a boil water advisory, six weeks after it went into effect.
The precautionary advisory was first put in place June 14 because of problems with the hamlet's water treatment plant. Residents in town say the advisory is tedious, but still pales in comparison to the eight-month-long advisory residents were asked to follow in 2009.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Dog off-leash areas created
Hay River
The Town of Hay River has established three unfenced dog off-leash areas in the community.
At its July 18 meeting, town council approved the three areas - Oxbow Trail, the green space behind Lipstick Park and Lagoon Road.
Three other areas are being considered for fenced off-leash areas - 553 Park, the old Federal Day School property, and an area between the Visitor's Information Centre and Tri-Services Park.
Council agreed to further consider those proposed fenced areas, including the exact boundaries and the cost of the fences.
- Paul Bickford
Golf pro put to good use
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Golf pro Todd Keirstead put on a show for Ulukhaktok residents and visitors July 17 during the Billy Joss Open celebrity golf tournament.
Using Wayne Gordon, chair of the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, as his prop, Keirstead demonstrated an array of trick shots to a group of players and residents gathered at the golf course.
One of the crowd favourites was when Keirstead made Gordon lie down on the green and act as his tee.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Meeting on narwhal dispute
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. met with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans last week in Iqaluit for the first of two scheduled meetings as part of alternative resolution measures over the government's restrictions on the international trade of narwhal tusks, according to a July 21 press release from NTI.
NTI stopped legal action against the government in June in order to try to resolve the matter. The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 10-11 in Iqaluit.
-Terrence McEachern
Nunavut man dies in custody
A Nunavut man died in his cell at the Kingston Penitentiary on July 6, according to a press release from the Correctional Service of Canada.
Charlie Nakashook, 51, was pronounced dead at about 12:50 p.m. on July 6, after correctional staff found him unresponsive in his cell at the Regional Treatment Centre, a psychiatric institution within the penitentiary that houses inmates with mental illnesses, sex offenders, and inmates with psycho-social problems.
Staff performed CPR but were unable to revive Nakashook, the press release stated.
Nakashook was serving a four-and-a-half year sentence in the federal prison for a 2008 conviction for sexual assault, trafficking narcotics and breaking-and-entering.
"The evidence would suggest it was hanging," said Dr. Peter Clark, regional supervising coroner for the eastern region in Ontario. "There is going to be a mandatory inquest.
-Jeanne Gagnon
Community hall re-opens
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
Some 200 residents gathered to celebrate the grand re-opening of Hall Beach's newly renovated community hall July 8.
Recreation co-ordinator Lena Kautaq stated via email that RCMP Cpl. David Ferguson and Const. Mitchell Perry, dressed in their red serge, held a red velvet ribbon for Ruth Siakuluk, the community's oldest resident, to cut.
This officially re-opened the hall following a 10-month closure. Kautaq added Hall Beach Mayor Ammie Kipsigak spoke briefly before the ribbon was cut.
Following the ceremony, people gathered in the hall for refreshments, snacks and boiled caribou meat.
"The celebration would not have been complete without a hearty helping of country food," stated Kautaq.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Exchange promotes learning
Arviat
Michelle Malla and Wendy Shamee of Arviat are taking part in a Canadian Roots exchange program being held in Moosenee and Moose Factory, Ont., this month.
The gathering sees two groups of diverse indigenous and nonindigenous youth aged 30 and under living, learning, working and sharing together throughout the threeweek program.
Canadian Roots is a handson educational experience involving workshops and teachings by elders and educators, participation in local projects, and discussion and engagement with youth and community organizations in the area.
- Darrell Greer
Pond Inlet hires new SAO
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
The Hamlet of Pond Inlet has promoted Daisy Nuqingaq to the position of senior administrative officer, replacing Richard Van Horne, who left the position in early June.
Nuqingaq took over as SAO on June 6. Nuqingaq was the hamlet's officer senior administrative officer prior to accepting the new position.
She said that so far the position has been challenging and a good learning experience.
- Terrence McEachern
Petition launched to keep Baymaud in Cam Bay
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Residents of Cambridge Bay have started an online petition to keep the half-sunk ship Baymaud in the community after its Norwegian owners announced they plan to move the shipwreck to Norway.
Vicki Aitaok of the Keep the Baymaud Committee started the petition and it has garnered 39 signatures to date. The petition calls for the federal government to keep the Baymaud in this country by denying "any and all requests for export permits.."
"While we don't deny the importance of the Maud to Norway, one also cannot deny the fact that she is a Canadian archeological site that has been here since 1930 and should not be removed," reads the petition in part.
Aitaok plans to leave the petition online for a "few weeks to start," hoping for 200 signatures, she added.
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, the first person to successfully cross the Northwest Passage, tried drifting across the North Pole with the Maud in 1918 but was unsuccessful.
The ship was sold by creditors to the Hudson Bay Company in 1925. Renamed Baymaud, it became a floating warehouse and wireless radio station outside Cambridge Bay before it sank in its moorings in 1930.
The Hudson's Bay Company sold it to people in Asker, Norway, for $1 in 1990.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Cruise ships expected in Pond Inlet
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
Pond Inlet is once again preparing for the annual arrival of cruise ships to the hamlet.
The first ship is expected to arrive in Pond Inlet on Aug. 4, said Cecelia Killiktee, manager of the Nattinnark Visitor Centre.
She said the plan will be to divide the estimated 250 passengers into two groups that will take turns watching a cultural presentation and taking a tour of the hamlet.
The cultural presentation is scheduled to be performed by the local Tununiq Arsarnitt Theatre Group, led by Sheena Akoomalik. Killiktee said a total of five cruise ships are expected this year.
- Terrence McEachern
Nunavut Day barbecue
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Hundreds of people came out to enjoy Nunavut Day activities in Rankin Inlet earlier this month.
The event was sponsored by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. with help from the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet and other volunteers.
Mayor Pujjuut Kusugak was one of the volunteers behind the barbecue at the event.
Kusugak said they went through 500 hot dogs and 500 hamburgers during the afternoon.
He said while the crowd may have been down a bit from 2010, everyone seemed to have a great time.
"The crowd may have been a bit smaller than last year, but with such beautiful weather, I'm guessing a lot of people took advantage of the long weekend out fishing or at their cabins," said Kusugak.
- Darrell Greer
Community cleanup
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
Garbage, papers and other pieces of litter are off the ground in Kugluktuk after the community held a cleanup late last month.
Recreation co-ordinator Jessica Van Overbeek, who participated in the event but was not involved with its organization, said the cleanup coincided with National Aboriginal Day June 21. The community looks "100 times better," she added.
"It was pretty bad. Trash (was) flying during the windy days. There was quite a bit of trash so it definitely made a difference doing the cleanup. It was all worth it."
The 75 to 95 people who participated picked up more than 100 garbage bags worth of litter, said Charlene Beanish, one of the organizers.
"The community looked really good afterwards," she said. "It was really nice to see everyone out."
- Jeanne Gagnon
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