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News Briefs: Monday, August 15, 2011
Attempted murder charges
Fort McPherson RCMP are investigating an attempted murder following an incident that occurred Friday night in the community of approximately 900.
"We have a 39-year-old man in custody who will be charged with attempted murder," said Sgt. Chad Orr.
The RCMP won't be releasing the name of the victim, as he is just 17 years old, but will be releasing the name of the accused at a later date.
"By all accounts the victim is doing fine and will make a full recovery," Orr said.
-Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
No injuries in Lutsel K'e fire
A fire in Lutsel K'e on Aug. 9 destroyed an abandoned building.
Several community members extinguished the blaze with fire and water trucks at about 7:30 a.m., according to an RCMP news release.
Heat from the fire caused minor damage to a nearby residence and storage building.
There were no injuries as a result of the fire.
- Paul Bickford
Funding needed for handi-van driver
The Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities is seeking help from the Town of Hay River to obtain funding to pay a full-time driver for its handi-van.
Lillian Crook, chairperson of the committee, asked town council on Aug. 8 to seek funding through the federal Public Transit Fund.
Crook said use of the handi-van has grown since it was obtained in 2008 and the service can no longer be provided by volunteer drivers.
The committee has already hired a full-time driver, but can only afford to pay the employee for another six months.
- Paul Bickford
Deputy health minister resigns
Paddy Meade, the deputy minister of health and social services, has resigned.
She will stay at her position until Sept. 23, at which time Debbie DeLancey will take over as interim deputy minister, according to a press release.
DeLancey's past experience includes acting as deputy minister of human resources and deputy minister of municipal and community and affairs.
After the territorial election on
Oct. 3, the next premier will be able to appoint a permanent replacement.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Walking to raise money and awareness
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Carol Norwegian's cancer walk-a-thon ended in Tsiigehtchic last week.
Along with her sister, brother, son and daughter, Norwegian walked 125 km from Inuvik to Tsiigehtchic to raise funds for the Alberta/NWT branch of the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of her mother, Therese Remy-Sawyer.
They planned to arrive in Tsiigehtchic Thursday night, where delegates of the Gwich'in Annual General Assembly, as well as community members, scheduled a feast and dance to celebrate.
On their first day of walking, the group of five covered 36 km - one less than Remy-Sawyer walked during her cancer walk-a-thon five years earlier. She was 67 years old at the time, and had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
On Monday night they camped overnight at Gwich'in Territorial Park, where Norwegian's son, Mark Ansdell, caught a fish.
On Tuesday night they camped at Caribou Creek and shared the fish for dinner.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Art festival begins in Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Summer Splash Art Festival is underway in Fort Smith.
The festival began Aug. 14 and will run until Aug. 21.
It will feature a variety of events and workshops for all ages.
Among the many fun activities throughout the week are life-size Monopoly in which a person can become a playing piece, kids' summer crafts, bike decorating, a photo scavenger hunt, tying and dyeing, and more.
Workshops will offer instruction on linocut, monotype printing, indigo dyeing and other crafts.
The festival is sponsored by the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre, and the Town of Fort Smith.
- Paul Bickford
Community talks caribou
Whati/Lac La Martre
Around 20 Whati residents attended an information meeting on the Bathurst and Bluenose East caribou harvest hosted by the Tlicho government Aug. 8.
The main goal of the meeting was to inform members of the community about harvest limits.
This year, Tlicho residents are allowed to harvest 150 Bathurst caribou, with priority given to Wekweeti residents. Members of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation have a limit of 150 as well.
Meetings were also held in Gameti Aug. 9 and Behchoko Aug. 10. There is another meeting scheduled for Wekweeti Aug. 18.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Council seat to remain empty
Hay River
A vacancy on Hay River town council will remain unfilled until the next municipal general election in 2012.
Councillors discussed what to do about the vacancy at an Aug. 8 committee of the whole meeting.
"I would suggest we leave the seat vacant," said Coun. Kevin Wallington, adding it would be in the best interest of council cohesion.
Deputy Mayor Mike Maher noted, by the time a by-election could be held, there would only be about a year left in council's term.
The only word of caution came from Coun. Andrew Cassidy, who noted one fewer councillor might make it more difficult to make quorum for meetings.
Wallington responded that, while making quorum might be an issue in the summer, he hopes it won't be an issue in the fall.
The council consensus will be voted on at its Aug. 22 regular meeting.
Aside from leaving the seat empty or holding a by-election, council could have appointed a councillor based on the results of the 2009 election.
The council seat became vacant when Reiss Kruger resigned on July 11.
- Paul Bickford
Sahtu and NWT residents gather
Deline/Fort Franklin
The 20th annual Deline spiritual gathering is scheduled to wrap up tomorrow.
Events have been taking place in the community since Aug. 11 and included drum dancing, bannock making, feasts and hand games.
In addition, elders offered spiritual guidance and people gathered to share stories and remember the teachings of Prophet Ayha, Prophet Andre, Prophet Naedzo and Prophet Bayha.
Traditional spirituality, philosophy and healing were celebrated.
The gathering is held every year on Prophet Ayha's birthday.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Properties in need of numbers
Hay River
A report from Hay River's bylaw officer has noted many properties in the community do not have posted address numbers, or have numbers in colours that blend into the background.
Dave Ryan noted in the written report to council on Aug. 8 that unposted or poorly posted addresses delay responses by emergency personnel and also make it difficult for others trying to locate the properties.
Ryan suggested amending the relevant bylaw to require civic addresses be posted on every property within the town, be on the front of the properties, be clearly visible from the road, and be in a colour contrasting with the background. The individual numbers would be a minimum of six inches high and three inches wide.
Coun. Kevin Wallington said there are a whole host of reasons why the issue is important, including emergency personnel trying to locate properties.
"I think this is a long-standing issue and it needs to be addressed," he said.
However, Wallington said he doesn't want anyone to have to go door-to-door with a tape measure to make sure the house numbers are the proper size.
- Paul Bickford
Dentist on tour
Tetlit' Zheh/Fort McPherson
Dr. John Arnold has been in Fort McPherson for just over a week, and he's keeping busy as the only dentist in town.
"We saw maybe a dozen people (July 8)," he said.
Arnold is from Toronto and is currently on a tour through the region, visiting communities that don't have a full-time dentist.
While in Fort McPherson, he said he will do everything from cleanings to root canals.
"We do the full spectrum of work," he said.
Prior to arriving he was in Tsiigehtchic, and on Aug. 15 he heads to Inuvik to pick up more supplies and charts, then will begin work in Aklavik until Aug. 25.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Nordic walking in the North
Ulukhaktok/Holman
NWT Recreation and Parks is holding Nordic walking workshops in Ulukhaktok Aug. 20 and 21 at 3 p.m.
The first session will be for walking leaders and the second is for the whole community.
Since 2008, the NWT Recreation and Parks Association has worked with recreation co-ordinators and health centres in Yellowknife, Ndilo, Behchoko, Whati, Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik, Fort Smith and Fort Simpson to create Nordic walking clubs.
To date, the association has trained more than 50 leaders and 100 walkers.
This month, workshops will also be held in Norman Wells, Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson and Fort Liard.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Paulatuk elder remembered
Paulatuk
The hamlet of Paulatuk gathered Aug. 5 to remember the life of Mary Evik Ruben.
Ruben turned 86 on March 28 of this year and had always been active in the community. She died Aug. 1.
In 2004 she was one of eight elders to contribute to the book The Paulatuuq Oral History Project: Inuvialuit Elders Share Their Stories.
Her funeral was held at the Catholic church at 6 p.m. All of her relatives, as well as most of the community, attended.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Hands on science in the heart of the Delta
Aklavik
The University of Alberta's faculty of engineering is hosting a science camp in Aklavik Aug. 22 to 25 at the Sittichinli Complex.
Students from Grade 1 to 6 are welcome to attend the four-day DiscoverE camp, which organizers promise will include tons of hands-on activities, experiments and games.
According to the university's website, participants last year made dry ice, rock candy, periscopes, propeller-powered cars, solar cookers and fossil moulds. At the end of the week, students took all the experiments home with them.
DiscoverE camps are also being held in Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
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