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News Briefs: Monday, November 7, 2011
Nominees for chief
The candidates have been announced for a byelection to choose a new chief for Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith.
They are David Poitras, Henry Beaver Sr. and Connie Benwell.
Nominations closed on Nov. 3. The nominees have until Nov. 9 to withdraw their names.
An advance poll will be held on Nov. 22 in the Seniors Room at the Fort Smith Rec Centre. On election day, Dec. 6, voting will again take place there and at the Ramada Inn on Kingsway Avenue in Edmonton.
- Paul Bickford
Professor to speak
Parks Canada-Aurora College Speaker Series is presenting a talk in Fort Smith by Dr. Alistair Bath of Memorial University of Newfoundland's Department of Geography.
Bath's speech is titled 'From Win-Lose to Win-Win: The Role of Human Dimensions Research in Wildlife Management'. It will discuss successful wildlife management.
The presentation will take place at the Wood Buffalo National Park theatre on Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.
- Paul Bickford
Union negotiations
Negotiations will begin soon between the Town of Fort Smith and the Union of Northern Workers. The union represents about 25 full-time permanent employees of the town, along with about the same number of casual part-time workers. The current three-year agreement is set to expire on Dec. 31.
- Paul Bickford
Dangerous offender
Dennis Sassie is set to appear in Supreme Court on Nov. 23 for a continuation of his dangerous offender hearing.
After Crown and defence lawyers present their final submissions, the judge will decide whether the 41-year-old Fort Liard resident should be classified as a dangerous offender. If that is the case, he could be jailed indefinitely.
Sassie has been in custody since Nov. 14, 2008 after sexually assaulting a 65-year-old women. He was also found guilty of sexual offences in 1991 and 1998.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Ferry out for winter
The Louis Cardinal Ferry at Tsiigehtchic is now closed for the season. The last day of service for the ferry was on Oct. 30.
Gurdev Jagpal, regional supervisor for the Department of Transportation in Inuvik, said the ice road crossing will likely open in the third week of November.
The Peel River Cable Ferry near Fort McPherson on the Dempster Highway is still in operation. It will run on demand from 9:15 a.m. until 12:45 a.m. until further notice, although delays because of icy conditions are expected.
-Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Lifesavers in Deline
Deline/Fort Franklin
Five Deline residents were honoured with lifesaving awards last month.
On Oct. 5 Dave Taniton, Brent Taniton, Kieron Takazo, Const. Kirk Hughes and Const. Scott Carr were presented with Territorial Lifesaving Commendations by the community of Deline and St. John Ambulance.
The five men were nominated for the award after they successfully rescued a youth drowning in Great Bear Lake in July.
Hughes co-ordinated the lifesaving effort while Takazo and Carr entered the water and Dave and Brent Taniton went out by boat.
"It just shows what kind of community Deline is," Hughes said.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Ladies night to return
Tuktoyaktuk
Tuktoyaktuk's Ladies Night Out was such a huge hit that a second event is now planned for Nov. 18, according to Charo Lloret, recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet.
"It was so much fun," she said, adding that many participants lost their voices from laughter.
Around 70 women of all ages attended the inaugural event on Oct. 28, which included a limbo competition and musical chairs.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Book launch in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Fort Smith launch of a book by a local author will be held later this month.
The Nov. 18 launch will be for 'Justice Miscarried: Inside Wrongful Convictions in Canada' by Fort Smith writer Helena Katz.
The event will be held at Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre, beginning at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18.
- Paul Bickford
Professor visits Behchoko
Behchoko/Rae
Michael Ungar, a professor of social work at Dalhousie University, gave a presentation at the Behchoko Cultural Centre on Nov. 2.
Ungar spoke on what it takes for children and youth to thrive, as well as factors that influence whether students attend school or not. Around 200 people attended the event, which ran from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Three-day Halloween a success
Aklavik
By all accounts, Aklavik's annual Halloween celebrations were a success this year. Around 90 elders and preschoolers took part in a costume contest on Oct. 27, according to Dean McLeod, recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet.
In addition, more than 70 youth attended a dance and costume contest on Oct. 28 and more than 150 adults attended a similar event on Oct. 29.
First place in the adult costume contest went to an Aklavik resident dressed as a midget, McLeod said, while second place went to a man dressed as a grandmother with curlers in her hair.
Third place was awarded to a man dressed as the villain from the horror film Saw.
"He had all the women screaming and running around, "McLeod said.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Youth and coaches preparing for the Winter Games
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
More than 70 Fort McPherson residents have applied to attend the 2012 Arctic Winter Games, according to Joyce Storr, recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet.
Approximately eight coaches and chaperons have applied to travel to Whitehorse, where the games will be held from March 4 to 10, as well as around 66 athletes.
"It's probably the most we've ever had," Storr said.
Liz Wright, who coaches the Fort McPherson snowshoe team four times a week, said 26 athletes from the local club have applied to attend the games, although the territorial snowshoe team will only have a roster of eight.
In preparation for the games, the club will continue to meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m., as well as on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Community gathers for Halloween
Paulatuk
Nearly the entire community of Paulatuk gathered at Angik School Oct. 31 to celebrate Halloween.
Regular classes were held in the morning, but at lunch students headed home to prepare for the costume parade at 1 p.m.
The school's gym was filled with community and family members, as well as the local preschool class. Five judges, including representatives from the RCMP, Parks Canada and the breakfast program, gave out 13 prizes of $25 each for the scariest, funniest and best homemade costumes.
After the parade, students split up into their four house teams and took part in various Halloween-themed activities.
- Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
Fort Smith Ski Club AGM
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Fort Smith Ski Club will hold its annual general meeting on Nov. 8.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the organization's clubhouse.
- Paul Bickford
Family Lego Day returning
Enterprise
Family Lego Day will be returning to the Enterprise Community Centre later this month.
The popular event - featuring the famed toy building blocks - will be back on Nov. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m., and will continue every third Saturday of the following months.
It was last held at the centre at the beginning of the past summer.
- Paul Bickford
New head bureaucrat in Hall Beach
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
Attracted, he said, by polar bears, John Ivey headed to Hall Beach to become the new senior administrative officer.
Ivey spent the last two years working as the SAO in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., and another couple of years prior also as an SAO but in Cape Dorset.
"I was out of Nunavut for just about two years. I wanted to get back up," he said. "I am looking forward to the challenge and the people. I like the people up here."
He said he has talked to the mayor about the hamlet's priorities and issues. Ivey said he made a commitment to stay three to five years. His first day on the job was Oct. 31.
"It's a beautiful place. More hills to climb; I like that," said Ivey. "I wanted to move back east, so I did. I just find this more relaxing. It's a little bit stressful in this position but the people are nice."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Record crowd
Arviat
Record crowds came out to see students perform a special Halloween production at John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat late last month.
The performance was highlighted by a showstopping rendition of Michael Jackson's Thriller routine which left the audience screaming for more.
- Darrell Greer
Elders gathering and land trip
Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay
About 30 elders from the Kitikmeot region will gather in Kugaaruk the week of Nov. 7.
Kugaaruk School principal Michael Bartley said students will perform for the elders and the community will host a feast on Nov. 10.
As well, in mid-November, a number of junior and senior high school students will spend a week out on the land participating in various activities.
"We try and get as many of these trips as we can," said Bartley. "This time, it's mostly just camping and learning with the elders and a little bit of fishing and things like that."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Qikiqtarjuaq opens larger airport terminal
Qikiqtarjuaq/Broughton Island
Those travelling to Qikiqtarjuaq will no longer have to squeeze through the airport terminal now that a larger one has opened.
The new terminal started accepting passengers in mid-October, community economic development officer Leelee Kakkee said.
"The terminal they used to use was a very small building," Kakkee said. "On busy days, it was full all the time. Now there's lots of room and it's a better place for passengers."
The terminal's ceremonial grand opening is Nov. 22, Economic Development and Transportation Minister Peter Taptuna told the legislative assembly Oct. 31.
- Casey Lessard
Youth centre in the works
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
Table tennis, billards and foosball are some of the activities Kugluktuk youth could be able to participate in once the new youth centre opens next year.
Recreation co-ordinator Jessica VanOverbeek stated the proposed youth centre, set to open by March of next year, will be in the community centre so it can take advantage of the complex's kitchen, hall and arena. Through suggestions from youth and a 10-person planning group, a preliminary plan was drawn. It proposes the youth centre have a table tennis table, two foosball tables, arcade games, billiard table, a lounge, a quiet room, a kids play area including a jungle gym, and a multi-function room for arts and crafts and meetings. The community received $75,000 from the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth to start the project.
"The youth centre is extremely important to the community as there is currently few places for youth to go to socialize, learn, express themselves or just to relax," stated VanOverbeek in an e-mail. "We hope to have programs such as computers and typing, cooking classes, sports, arts, and even media for the youth to participate in."
The community has been without a youth centre for more than a year, after the previous funding ran out, she added. VanOverbeek said the hamlet will continue applying for funding but expects this youth centre will cost less than the previous one as it will be within the community centre.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Port work ends for winter
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Work has ended for the season on Pangnirtung's new small craft harbour. Crews were dredging the harbour this summer, and will do six to eight weeks of dredging next summer to finish the job. "The dredging machine and all of the barges are wintering in Pangnirtung," hamlet senior administrative officer Ron Mongeau said. "Next summer, we will look at the construction of a 90-foot permanent dock and all of the floating docks for all the community residents."
If all goes as planned, the project will be finished by the end of summer 2012, and the harbour will be ready to use starting in the spring of 2013.
- Casey Lessard
'Christmas' on Halloween
Sanikiluaq
Furniture for the new high school in Sanikiluaq arrived Oct. 31, and staff are working their way through the new equipment.
"We're still unpacking," said Paatsaali School principal Tim Hoyt. "It's like Christmas here today. We're still trying to figure out what we have."
The furniture included including desks, chairs, filing cabinets, and shelving for the library. Since school started, the school has been using furniture from the old school, Hoyt said.
- Casey Lessard
Commission visits
Gamanittuaq/Baker Lake
Kivalliq residents are reminded the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing in Baker Lake on Nov. 15 to hear from former residential school students and their families.
There are reported to be more than 50 former residential school students living in the Baker area.
Commissioner Marie Wilson is slated to be present for the hearing.
- Darrell Greer
A visit from down under
Arviat
A group of eight Australian tourists were impressed by what they saw during a visit to Arviat this late last month.
The group took part in a number of traditional and cultural performances, sampled Inuit cuisine and were treated to a Halloween performance at John Arnalukjuak High School when a flight cancellation forced them to overnight in the community.
- Darrell Greer
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