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News Briefs: Monday, September 19, 2011
No doctors in Paulatuk
Paulatuk residents won't be seeing a doctor in their hometown this September after the Beaufort Delta Health and Social Services Authority postponed their monthly visits again.
This past July and August seven Delta communities went without doctors after the health authority faced a shortage of doctors at the Inuvik Regional Hospital.
At the time, former CEO Deborah Tynes said the shortage was due to many doctors taking vacation time in the summer.
Paulatuk normally has a doctor visit every five weeks.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
All-candidates forum
An all-candidates forum for the upcoming territorial election will be held in Hay River on Sept. 19.
The forum will feature candidates from the electoral districts of Hay River South and Hay River North. It will be held in the community hall at the recreation centre from 7-9 p.m. The forum is being sponsored by the Hay River Chamber of Commerce and Northland Utilities (NWT) Ltd.
- Paul Bickford
Hay River seeks to pay
handi-bus driver
The Town of Hay River is looking for ways to help the Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities pay for a full-time driver for its handi-van service.
At its Sept. 12 meeting, council heard that the federal Public Transit Fund, suggested by the committee as a possible source of funding, has been expended.
Council has asked administration to seek more information.
The committee has hired a full-time driver, but can only afford to pay the employee for another six months.
- Paul Bickford
Fort Smith sexual assault
Police are looking for help from the public to locate a Fort Smith man who is accused of sexually assaulting a 25-year-old woman in the community.
According to an RCMP press release, on the evening of Sept. 11, a male broke into a home and sexually assaulted the female resident.
Police have charged 28-year-old Russell Michael Sikyea of Fort Smith with break and enter, sexual assault and unlawful confinement.
Police have been unable to locate Sikyea, but believe he is somewhere in the community.
According to Const. Kathy Law, there is no physical description or picture to provide to the public.
"He is thought to be in the community ... A warrant hasn't been executed yet, they haven't located him."
- Katherine Hudson
One month under their belts
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Students at Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok have nearly a month of school behind them now and, according to principal Chip Bryant, everything is going as planned.
"They're all settled in and good to go," he said.
This year there are10 teachers and approximately 100 students registered at the school, which runs from kindergarten to Grade 12.
The first day of class was Aug. 18, which marks the second year the school has opted to deviate from their regular July to May schedule. Bryant said they chose to adhere to a schedule more similar to other Beaufort Delta schools, and added that it follows the standardized testing schedule better.
So far this year, Helen Kalvak School has already hosted cultural orientation for teachers and a school picnic.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Youth centre talks
to continue
Hay River
At its Sept. 12 meeting, Hay River town council agreed to seek further discussions with the Hay River Community Youth Centre about its future location.
That followed an Aug. 8 appearance before council by youth centre chairperson Glen Wallington, who said the centre should stay on its Woodland Drive lot instead of relocating as the town wants.
Since 2009, the town has been seeking to have the youth centre move off the commercial lot. The Hay River Soup Kitchen, which shared the lot, has already relocated.
Coun. Ken Latour said it had seemed like progress was being made over the last couple of years on the youth centre moving.
"I could be wrong, but it almost seems like we're back to square one on this issue," Latour said.
However, the councillor believes there is still room for dialogue.
Coun. Andrew Cassidy said council should work with the youth centre because it offers a valuable service.
- Paul Bickford
A future Gwich'in government
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
This week the GNWT, the federal government and the Gwich'in Tribal Council will sit down in Fort McPherson for self-government main table negotiations.
From Sept. 19 to 23 chief negotiators from all parties will meet to discuss what the future agreement should look like.
In 2006, the Gwich'in rejected the 2003 self-government agreement-in-principle and in 2007, they agreed on a process and schedule agreement for future negotiations.
The next scheduled main table negotiations will be from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 in Edmonton.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Digital newsletter for school
Hay River
Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River produced its first weekly newsletter on Sept. 13.
The newsletter, called Panther Tracks, will only be distributed digitally in the future. The first edition was also in a paper format to introduce the new initiative.
In an e-mail accompanying the first issue of the newsletter, school principal Geoff Buerger said his intention is to publish Panther Tracks every Tuesday.
The first edition featured a variety of information, including updates on renovations at the school and details on upcoming activities.
- Paul Bickford
A more efficient Aklavik
Aklavik
The Arctic Energy Alliance is nearly done helping to install 10 new wood stoves in homes across Aklavik, according to Donald Andre, regional energy project co-ordinator for the Mackenzie and Beaufort Delta.
The work, which aims to make the town more energy efficient, had been delayed slightly because of difficulties
in obtaining parts from the south.
As of Aug. 1, homeowners can receive rebates of 25 per cent on wood stoves through the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Elks soccer tournament nears
Hay River
The Hay River Elks annual outdoor soccer tournament will be held from Sept. 23-25.
The tournament features many girls and boys teams in various age categories. Plus, teams travel to Hay River from other communities to participate.
The games will be played at fields in three locations - Tri-Service Park, Diamond Jenness Secondary School and Princess Alexandra School.
- Paul Bickford
A surprise visitor
Tuktoyaktuk
Gordon Agnaviak had an unlikely visitor to his boat in the hamlet's harbour on Sept. 7.
As he was checking his fish net, the Tuktoyaktuk elder saw a young polar bear swimming toward him. Luckily, when he started his motor the bear was scared and swam away.
Mayor Merven Gruben said the community is looking into ways to increase their surveillance for bears as the winter approaches.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Abuse prevention workshop to be held in Iqaluit
A series of free seminars in Iqaluit Sept. 26 and 27 aim to help arm parents, teachers and other professionals with the tools they need to prevent child sexual abuse. Little Warriors, an Edmonton-based organization, is offering three sessions at the Frobisher Inn through the support of Nunastar Properties. Attendees will learn how child sexual abuse occurs and how often, why criminal screening is important for people working with youth, and what youth organizations need to do to protect the children in their care.
The sessions are three hours each, and run Sept. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Sept. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 2 to 5 p.m.
Run and berry picking
Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay
Blueberry and blackberry jams and pies may soon fill the homes of many Kugaaruk School students as they headed out on the land for an afternoon of berry picking on Sept. 8.
Principal Michael Bartley said the school decided to hold the event after a year's absence as many teacher stated they like doing the activity with the kids. The students will also get treated to Kentucky Fried Chicken.
"You can't have berries without chicken, I think," he said. "We didn't have a lot of rain so they're (berries) a bit late in coming up."
The whole school will run and walk on Sept. 28 as part of the Terry Fox Run. Bartley said the yearly event will celebrate the cause. The students will also be treated to hot chocolate.
"(We will) celebrate people (who) go for causes like that and hopefully inspire the kids to do the same," he said.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Church construction progression
Iglulik
Construction of Iglulik's new Catholic church is progressing well with the structure expected to be enclosed later this month, said the head of the Churchill-Hudson Bay Diocese.
Bishop Reynald Rouleau said construction of the approximately 650-square-metre church, which will include a community hall separated with a retractable wall, started at the end of June and is on schedule.
"It goes slowly but I think it goes well," he said. "We should finish the roof and all the walls and the siding at the end of the September. I don't think we had any special hardships, like a lot of rain that would delay or would deteriorate what has been done."
Once the structure is enclosed, construction will hold for the winter before the interior is completed next summer, he added. The new church should be finished around September 2012.
"I would have like to do maybe a little more this year but it's not necessary. As long as the walls are well done, the siding and the roof, the rest can wait next year," he said.
Many Iglulik residents are involved with the construction and the hamlet contributed $150,000 - almost 10 per cent of the costs for the approximately $1.5-million project, said Rouleau. An abandoned stone church was demolished to make way for the new one. He said residents are supportive of the project.
"The people seem to accept we did demolish the old stone church," he said. "Some were quite sad about it but now, since we've built on the same lot, we've kept some statues, we've kept some stone from the old church and we will reuse that for a monument with Mary. I think people now are getting quite glad about all that."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Walk to embrace life
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
About 50 Gjoa Haven residents of all ages participated in a walk to mark Nunavut's Embrace Life and World Suicide Prevention days on Sept. 9 and 10.
The event, held on Sept. 9, included a walk, various presentations, including one from the wellness director and the RCMP who talked about bullying, said Solomon Bucknor, a mental health consultant in Gjoa Haven. He added the event concluded with elders drum-dancing and singing.
"It was well-celebrated if you compare to last year or previous years," he said, adding the community is planning for a bigger event next year. "By all standards, I think it was a huge success for the community here."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Polar bear and cub defence kills in Qikiqtarjuaq
Qikiqtarjuaq/Broughton Island
Hunters killed a polar bear and two cubs that had invaded their camp near Qikiqtarjuaq earlier this month, marking the fourth incident of bear-defence kills in the area this summer, the community's hunters and trappers organization reported.
The defence kill happened in the first week of September at Tasialuit, about 50 km south of Qikiqtarjuaq, to ensure the safety of the campers and equipment, said Harry Alookie, manager of the Inuktivut Hunters and Trappers Organization. There are six cabins at the site.
"The polar bear kept returning to the camp and eating the country food, like the Arctic char, and was starting to disturb the cabins."
The kills are for the safety of the camp personnel, he emphasized.
"Once a polar bear arrives to the camp and it's aggressive, there's no way to stop it from disturbing the camp and its property."
There have been four polar bears killed in defence, two of which had two cubs each. The risks to campers increases each year, Alookie said.
"The polar bears are attracted to food, and they're not scared of anything. These ones were put down, and there are more on-site as we speak."
- Casey Lessard
Turbot stocks very healthy this year
Qikiqtarjuaq/Broughton Island
This has been a great year for turbot fishing, the hunters and trappers organization in Qikiqtarjuaq reports.
"The offshore turbot fishing is excellent this year in 0A Division," said Harry Alookie, manager of the Inuktivut Hunters and Trappers Organization. "A lot better than previous years according to the captains of the vessels. The Arctic Fishery Alliance have been fishing in this location since early August, and it's still ongoing."
The AFA, which is comprised of Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay and Qikiqtarjuaq, has been fishing in the area for the last four years, and has previously had problems with lost gear, ice, and a lack of fish. This year, the success rate is about 90 per cent, Alookie said.
Meanwhile, Qikiqtarjuaq will share the quota of inshore (within 20 km of shore) turbot fishing with Clyde River.
"The Inuktivut HTO was successful in obtaining 70 metric tonnes inshore," he said. There were 100 metric tonnes available last spring, and Inuktivut, which had hoped for the entire amount, obtained 70 metric tonnes. The rest went to Clyde River.
Fishermen from Newfoundland and Labrador manage the catch, taking the fish to Nuuk, Greenland, where it is sold to Asian countries. The profits from fish sales go back to the communities, but most of the current revenue goes to pay for the AFA's turbot fishing boat, purchased two years ago.
- Casey Lessard
Pangnirtung goes a week without cable TV
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Save for a few people downtown, most Pangnirtung residents were without cable for the first week of September, resident David Kullualik reported Sept. 12.
Not to worry, though. There are other things to do inside than watch TV.
"It's all right," Kullualik said, noting his preferred alternative. "Browsing the internet."
Except for about 20 houses downtown, the whole town was affected by the outage, he said. Cable service returned Sept. 14, according to hamlet senior administrative officer Ron Mongeau
No one from Pangnirtung Inuit Co-operative, which runs the cable service, was available for comment.
- Casey Lessard
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