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News Briefs: Monday, January 30, 2012
Four candidates penalized
Candidates in the 2011 territorial election were obligated to file financial reports by Dec. 2.
However, four of the 47 candidates had not filed with the chief electoral officer as of Jan. 26. They are Mary Clark (Mackenzie Delta), Eddie T. Dillon (Nunakput), Glenna Hansen (Mackenzie Delta) and Bertha Norwegian (Nahendeh).
The chief electoral officer sent letters to the four candidates at the end of December requiring they pay a penalty of $250 and file an accurate financial report within 30 days of receiving the letter.
Candidates who fail to pay the $250 fine and file an accurate financial report within 30 days may be subject to prosecution. Failure to comply with the financial reporting obligations is punishable by a fine not exceeding $5,000 and/or one year imprisonment.
- Paul Bickford
Bitter weather
Residents in Tuktoyaktuk were advised to stay inside and take precautions after another winter storm brought bitter wind chill temperatures to the region.
Environment Canada recorded temperatures dropping to -51 C with the wind chill for the most part of Jan. 22 and 23.
The warning was lifted Jan. 24.
- Sara Wilson
Hearing set for reserve
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada will hold a community hearing on the Hay River Reserve on March 7 and 8.
Members of K'atlodeeche First Nation (KFN) are being invited to participate, along with residents of other communities. That includes Fort Resolution, Fort Providence and Kakisa, and the northern Alberta communities of Meander River and Assumption.
People who wish to share their experiences are being encouraged to pre-register with Victim Services at the KFN.
- Paul Bickford
Bright lights
On Jan. 24 Mother Nature treated Northerners to a special event - spectacular and more dynamic Aurora Borealis.
The show was thanks to a geomagnetic storm that originated from a solar flare eruption on Jan. 22 that ignited a strong solar wind to travel towards Earth.
Last Tuesday's geomagnetic storm was the strongest on record since 2003, but was less powerful than originally predicted.
Countries around the globe such as Britain and Wales - where viewing of the northern lights isn't common - were also treated to their own show of the natural phenomenon.
- Sara Wilson
Three jewelry workshops
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Three enamel jewelry workshops will be held in Fort Smith from Feb. 10 to 12.
The workshops at Northern Life Museum will be instructed by Jean VanBrederode of Pennsylvania.
In the first workshop on Feb. 10, participants will make an enameled pendant necklace.
In the workshop on Feb. 11, people will learn how to make an enameled charm bracelet.
Finally, the third workshop on Feb. 12 will show how to make a broach that can be worn as a pendant.
Contact the museum for further details and fee information.
- Paul Bickford
Wellness fair in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A community wellness fair 'Passport to Healthy Choices' will be held in Fort Smith on Feb. 1.
The fair will run from 1 to 7 p.m. in the gyms of the Rec Centre and Paul William Kaeser High School.
It will showcase the many resources and supports for health and wellness offered in the community.
There will be interactive booths, and people will receive a 'passport' they can get stamped and have their names entered for prizes after answering questions about each booth they visit. The participating organizations include Sutherland House, the South Slave Divisional Education Council, Public Health, the recreation department of the Town of Fort Smith, the Fort Smith Wellness Centre, the RCMP, and the Department of Health and Social Services.
At 5:30 p.m., there will be a launch for the Fort Smith version of Not Us, the NWT anti-drug campaign.
- Paul Bickford
New history class
Beaufort Delta
A new history course showcasing Inuvialuit history will debut in high schools in the Beaufort Delta this week.
"This course will be taught for the first time in the second semester beginning in late January or early February so the students have not yet seen the course," Roy Cole, Superintendent of the Beaufort Education Council said. "This course will be taught only to high schools within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (Aklavik, Inuvik, Paulatuk, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok)."
The exclusive course will focus on connecting students to their cultural routes, through insights into the regions history.
"This course is important as it focuses on Inuvialuit culture, history and events that Inuvialuit experienced to get where they are today," Cole said. "It provides insight into Inuvialuit culture for both members and non-members of the IFA."
- Sara Wilson
Road still closed
Beaufort Delta
The Department of Transportation is reporting that the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk and the Junction to Aklavik ice roads are both temporarily closed due to blowing snow and blizzard conditions.
In addition the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road from Norman Wells to Fort Good Hope, and from Fort Good Hope to Colville Lake is temporarily closed.
Transportation officials are urging motorists to wait 24 hours after the road has been reopened so crews can safely clear the highways. Environment Canada issued a wind chill warning for Tuktoyaktuk area early Monday morning, residents were advised to lookout for adverse weather conditions and take necessary safety precautions.
- Sara Wilson
Winterfest comes to Aklavik
Aklavik
Students at Aklavik's Moose Kerr School are counting down the days till this year's Winterfest celebrations.
The students will take part in a week's worth of activities that promote school spirit and getting active.
Organizers putting the finishing touches on the festivities and are trying to out do last years event.
"We try to keep it fun and exciting," Florence Greenland, organizer said. "It's a week worth of fun."
- Sara Wilson
'Reel' campaign hits territory
NWT
NWT students can submit their best anti-tobacco ads as part of this year's pan-territorial Smoke Screen initiative.
The Northern-wide competition is encouraging grade 6 to 12 students to film and edit a video-campaign highlighting the dangers of smoking tobacco.
Students will be able to view their submissions, along with other student submission from across the three territories as well as the international television ads that make up the program.
Material for submission has been sent out to schools in the Beaufort Delta and throughout the territory.
- Sara Wilson
Promoting the environment
Aklavik
Students at the Moose Kerr School in Aklavik will be taking place in an environmental Stewardship program.
Gerry Kisoun from Parks Canada will be teaching the two-day course on Jan 30 and 31.
"He talks about on-the-land practises and the environment," said Olive Pascal, a Grade 3/4 teacher. "The course also covers the food chain and how to keep the environment clean."
The annual course is a favourite among the 21 students, according to Pascal.
After the two-day course, students receive a certificate for the participating.
"The kids looks forward to it, and participate and have fun," Pascal said.
- Sara Wilson
Decadent evening
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A Decadent Dessert Evening will be held at the Anglican Church Hall in Fort Smith on Feb. 18.
The annual event, which is set for 7 to 10 p.m., will feature delicious desserts, specialty coffee and tea, and a silent auction.
The evening will be hosted by the Fort Smith Ski Club.
- Paul Bickford
Celebrating literacy
Beaufort Delta
Schools throughout the Beaufort Delta prepared special events to celebrate Literacy Day - a national awareness initiative annually held on Jan. 27. The Tuktoyaktuk Public Library scheduled events on Jan. 26 and 27 to encourage everyone to fall in love with reading.
The Angik School in Paulatuk planned to celebrate on Jan. 27 with a family breakfast, then different activities such as board games, storytelling, house team events, reading aloud and making crafts.
- Sara Wilson
Paatsaali students can pick classes online
Sanikiluaq
Students at Sanikiluaq's new Paatsaali High School can now register for classes online through the school's new website.
"Students can pre-register for classes by submitting a form on the website," said principal Tim Hoyt, noting he will then discuss the students' choices with them in person. The second term starts Jan. 31.
Visitors to the site can also download the school calendar, the emergency lockdown procedure and other documents.
"We're trying to use it to keep parents and students informed about what's going in at the school," said Hoyt. "We have messages for the community up there inviting people to use our skin room for polar bear skinning since polar bear season started Monday, and we have a request up there for donations of caribou meat."
The site received about 1,000 page views in its first 10 days, Hoyt said.
- Casey Lessard
Arctic Bay workshop helps heal anger
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Residents of Arctic Bay who struggle with anger can attend a community healing workshop this week with two elders.
The workshop, held at the youth centre, started Jan. 26 and ends Feb. 2, but no registration is needed and all are welcome, community justice committee member Valerie Qaunaq said.
Leaders Meeka and Abraham Arnakaq will be at the centre afternoons from 1:30 to 4:30 and evenings after 7 p.m.
"They will teach the workshop on how to live life without anger," Qaunaq said. "People who want to talk about their problems, they're welcome to do that."
Saturday was reserved exclusively for youth aged 13 to 25.
"Lots of teenagers are more angry," she said, "but this workshop will help them."
Anyone attending the workshop is invited to a feast and games during the Feb. 2 session, she said.
- Casey Lessard
Grise Fiord students start culture program
Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord
Students in Grise Fiord will be spending Friday afternoons with elders and other community members as the Umimmak School culture program is renewed in the second school term.
Students from all grades will rotate in four groups through stations that will include sewing, woodworking, cooking, carving and other projects, principal Leslie Turpin said.
Once light returns to the hamlet, the program will move out onto the land for older students. All students will take part in land-based activities in May and June, she said.
- Casey Lessard
Emergency plan in the works
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
An emergency landing of a plane flying on a single engine earlier this month highlights the importance of Hall Beach updating its emergency plan, according to a hamlet official.
Senior administrative officer John Ivey said the hamlet is examining other communities' plans as it works on its own draft, looking at possible scenarios and listing the roles of the different agencies that would be involved in an emergency. The final version should be approved by council by the end of February.
"Basically, all the agencies reported properly - the fire department, the airport staff, the RCMP, the health centre," he said, referring to the successful emergency landing of a charter plane. "It's just to get those responses, those planned activities to an emergency on paper and have them exercised and everybody knows what they're supposed to do. That could have been a crash - it wasn't. That's just the reason why we've got to be prepared."
A Keewatin Air charter from Arctic Bay to Iqaluit carrying 15 passengers and two crew landed safely on Jan. 12 in Hall Beach after one engine failed.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Suicide prevention training
Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay
Some 40 people, including the staff at Kugaaruk School, will undertake a suicide prevention program following a difficult December for the community.
Principal Michael Bartley said he approached the school superintendent following two suicides and other deaths late last year.
The territorial government agreed to offer the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training on Feb. 2 and 3 at Kugaaruk School with half the program taught in Inuktitut and the other half in English. Bartley said the training will allow the people a chance to heal and give them tools to deal with anyone that has suicidal tendencies.
"They sort of help promote community healing because we had some tragedies here before Christmas," said Bartley. "They felt this is something that can help our community heal and move forward and be able to prevent some of these tragedies in the future. We're looking at an event that should have a lot of healing for everybody."
- Jeanne Gagnon
New Year's baby
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
As of press time, the earliest Kivalliq newborn arrival of the new year was a baby boy born to Johnny and IgaMolly Ugjuk of Rankin Inlet.
Jarrod Ugjuk was born on Jan. 1 at 1:54 p.m., weighing eight pounds 11 ounces.
- Darrell Greer
Hamlet building delayed again
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
The Hamlet of Taloyoak is still waiting for the final touches on its new hamlet building before moving in, a move the community hopes will be in February, some three months behind schedule.
Senior administrative officer Chris Dickson said the hamlet is currently waiting on NorthwesTel to install the phone system, which has been rescheduled for Feb. 6. Then the IT department will set up the phones and faxes. He added the hamlet is anxious to move into the new building, which is located behind the existing hamlet office. The new office is a two-storey structure with about three times the office space of the existing one. The mayor and Dickson's offices are currently in the old council chambers and council meets in the original fire hall.
"We've run into some issues," said Dickson. "At times, it's a little frustrating but we know that it's inevitable. It just happened. If there are parts missing, we just have to wait for parts. It's part of construction in the North, I guess, whether you're waiting for skilled technicians to do their portions or there's parts that are missing we can't purchase locally. So, we've run into those two snags."
There will be a grand opening sometime in the spring, said Dickson. Following the move, renovations to the existing hamlet office will be finalized, hopefully this year, he added.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Business course offered
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
The hamlet of Rankin Inlet will host a small business course from Feb. 1416.
The course is aimed at entrepreneurs looking to expand or improve their current business, or those looking to start a new business.
Among the topics the course will cover are common pitfalls that often put new companies out of business and how to avoid them, cash flow analysis and budgeting, financing options for startup capital, insurance and banking, and taxes, payroll and business registration.
The goal of the business program is to have participants leave the course with a clear understanding of what is required to start a new business, and feeling confident about their abilities to run it successfully.
The program will be facilitated by Chris Cowx at the Rankin Inlet Fire Hall, running from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
daily.
Seating is limited and interested persons are encouraged to apply for the course through the local economic development officer at the hamlet office.
- Darrell Greer
Straight shooter
Salliq/Coral Harbour
Coral Harbour hunter Henry Gibbons was the toast of the hamlet when he brought down a beautiful nanuk on the land near his community earlier this month.
- Darrell Greer
Police seize 67 grams of cocaine, two pounds of pot
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
A Cambridge Bay resident faces three drug-related charges after police found drugs in two packages, according to an RCMP press release sent out Friday.
Canada Post inspectors intercepted two parcels destined for the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay on Jan. 10.
The two packages contained 67 grams of cocaine concealed in two modified soda cans and about two pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $54,000, stated the RCMP in a press release.
David Nakashook, 55, of Cambridge Bay was arrested for three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance. He was released on a promise to appear in court in March in Cambridge Bay.
- Jeanne Gagnon
New top management for Kitikmeot Corp.
Nunavut
A former long-term Nunavut public servant is now heading the Kitikmeot Corporation.
David Omilgoitok has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the Kitikmeot Corporation, the company announced on Jan. 23.
"I am pleased to be joining a very dynamic and exciting organization that works for the benefit of the Kitikmeot," Omilgoitok stated in a press release.
He left the territorial government on July 1, 2010 as one of the longest-serving public servants, including 10 years as the deputy minister. Omilgoitok, 53, is also a former senior advisor with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada in Cambridge Bay.
Kitikmeot Corporation chairman Wilfred Wilcox stated in a press release the company is happy Omilgoitok agreed to sign on. The corporation is the development arm of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Marijuana seizure leads to charge
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
A man is facing one drug-related charge after RCMP seized marijuana in Hall Beach.
Hall Beach RCMP executed a search warrant on a residence on Jan. 24 and seized 18.9 grams of marijuana with a street value of $1,134, police stated in a press release. Police also seized $260 cash and various items related to the distribution and sale of cannabis marijuana.
Philip Siakuluk of Hall Beach was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. Siakuluk has been released and is scheduled to appear in court in Hall Beach on March 8.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Iqaluit councillors call for loitering crackdown
Iqaluit
Iqaluit needs to put an end to loitering at local grocery stores, city councillors told chief bylaw enforcement officer Kevin Sloboda Jan. 24.
"Some of the activities connected to that loitering are illegal," Coun. Romeyn Stevenson told Sloboda. "The loitering is something I'd like to see addressed."
Coun. Steven Mansell agreed.
"This is something this council should do before our time is up," Mansell said. "There are loitering bylaws in many communities to keep people moving along."
Not in Iqaluit, though, Sloboda said.
"I don't think the city has a loitering bylaw," he said, a comment that was supported by Mayor Madeleine Redfern. Stores have the power to request officers to move people along using trespass laws, though. Sloboda said his officers would enforce a bylaw if it were enacted.
"This is something where council would have to give us direction and I'd be happy to follow council's direction."
- Casey Lessard
Judge gives deVries seized funds to pay lawyer
Iqaluit
Iqaluit marijuana activist Ed deVries will have access to $41,945.65 seized in three arrests so he can pay his lawyer, Justice Earl Johnson ruled on Jan. 25.
The funds will be used to pay defence lawyer Alison Crowe, who successfully petitioned for what Johnson called "a very reasonable" hourly rate of $200 - almost double the highest rate of $117.30 allowed by legal aid.
Johnson agreed with her argument that there were precedents for the higher rate.
In an affidavit filed Jan. 16, deVries said he did not have access to legal aid because of the funds being held by the Crown.The Crown alleged the funds were the proceeds of crimes deVries is accused of committing, namely
drug possession and trafficking.
The charges stem from three raids, one in August 2009 on the Church of the Universe sanctuary at deVries' home, one in January 2010 at the Qikiqtaaluk Compassion Society, a medicinal marijuana society, and another in September 2011 at his home.
Johnson dismissed Crown concerns that Crowe would step down after deVries' funds were depleted, noting that she has already served many hours for free, and accepting her statement that she would not step down.
The judge dismissed concerns that funds may run out, noting some of the legal cases may be resolved "in the near future."
- Casey Lessard
Frostbitten woman lucky to be alive
Iqaluit
A 59-year-old Iqaluit woman is lucky to be alive after she was found face-down in snow in a parking lot early Jan. 25. The woman is in stable condition in an Ottawa hospital after suffering severe hypothermia and frostbite.
Police were called to the city's 500-block at 2 a.m., where they found the woman semi-conscious.
She was taken to Qikiqtani General Hospital for treatment before being transported to Ottawa.
Police advise residents to dress for the weather, and to ensure others are physically able to get home safely.
- Casey Lessard
Dejaeger makes brief court appearance
Iqaluit
A former Iglulik Catholic priest facing close to 40 charges will be indicted next month, after the Crown told the Nunavut Court of Justice on Jan. 23 in Iqaluit it was not yet ready to file the papers.
Eric Dejaeger's charges include some 30 that are sex-related, one count of failure to appear in court, two counts of assault and three counts of use of violence to prevent reporting of suspicious activity.
The 64-year-old accused is also facing one count of indecent assault and gross indecency in Alberta. Dejaeger was supposed to be indicted during his Jan. 23 court appearance in Iqaluit but Crown prosecutor Scott Hughes asked the court for a delay because the Crown was still collecting statements. One year ago, Dejaeger was returned to Canada from his native Belgium. He was arrested upon his arrival in Canada on a 2002 warrant for three charges of buggery and indecent assault for incidents alleged to have occurred between 1978 and 1982 in Iglulik. In 1990, Dejaeger was convicted on eight counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault in Baker Lake and was sentenced to five years in prison.
The accused waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the latest charges during his Jan. 9 court appearance. A trial date will be set during a subsequent court appearance sometime in March. The court indicated his trial will be held in Iqaluit.
Dejaeger's next court appearance is schedule for Feb. 6 at 1:30 p.m.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Humane society fails to win Aviva funding
Iqaluit
Despite strong support in the first round of voting and a top five showing in its semi-final category, the Iqaluit Humane Society fell short of receiving part of a $1 million pot of funding available from the Aviva Community Fund competition, which announced funding recipients Jan. 25. The humane society was vying for $150,000 to go toward establishing Nunavut's first permanent animal shelter.
Strong support in the first voting round put the humane society first among all of the projects vying for funding, but surges from other projects in later rounds left supporters wondering if the shelter would receive funding.
"We're disappointed," society president Janine Budgell said. "We're still going to continue functioning with the program of sending animals south."
Among the events planned are the Puppy Love Valentine's Day semi-formal event Feb. 11 at the Francophone Centre, and the Puppy Luck St. Patrick's Day social event in March.
- Casey Lessard
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News desk 
