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The NWT's economic output dropped 5.5 per cent in 2011, the only part of Canada to see a decline.

The decrease was led by a decrease in diamond mining, according to Statistics Canada, after a diminutive 1.3 per cent increase in 2010.

Output of mining and oil and gas extraction declined 13 per cent, however "support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction posted a 21 per cent gain, supported by higher exploration activity," according to the data. Construction at new mines increased but was offset by a decrease in commercial and institutional building leading to a general construction decline of 5.3 per cent.

Nunavut saw the greatest increase in gross domestic product at 7.7 per cent, down from a 11.3 per cent increase in 2010. Nationally, GDP rose 2.6 per cent in 2011 after increasing 3.4 per cent in 2010.

- Katherine Hudson

Power rate interveners

There are now 10 communities, associations, bands or companies listed as interveners to make comments on the Northwest Territories Power Corporation's general rate increase. The NWT Power Corporation has submitted a general rate application to the NWT Public Utilities Board requesting a 29 per cent increase to power rates to be phased in over the next four years.

Currently, the list of interveners consists of Hay River, Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Norman Wells, Deninu Kue First Nation, the NWT Association of Communities, Northland Utilities and a new joint force of Inuvik, Fort Simpson and Fort Providence titled Thermal Generation Communities.

The opportunity is still available for interested parties to be interveners.

- Katherine Hudson

Most ice crossings closed

All ice roads are closed aside from the Tsiighetchic and Fort McPherson ice crossings on the Dempster Highway. According to Earl Blacklock, manager of public affairs and communications with the Department of Transportation, most roads in the Beaufort Delta closed a bit earlier than usual due to warmer temperatures. Blacklock said the rest of the areas of the territory were within the normal range of closure.

- Katherine Hudson

Gwich'in election

The Gwich'in Tribal Council is asking for nominations for the positions of president and vice-president.

Nominations must be delivered to the chief returning officer personally or to any one of the seven deputy returning officers by Friday, May 18 at 5 p.m. The election is scheduled for Friday, June 22.

- Katherine Hudson

Aklavik hosts Kiddies Carnival

Aklavik

The annual Kiddies Carnival was held both inside and outside of the Sittichinli Recreational Complex from April 23 to April 26.

"It's a carnival for the kids," said recreation co-ordinator Dean McLeod. "There's everything from a jigging contest to outdoor games."

The carnival kicked off with the crowning of the prince and princess, followed by a jigging contest on April 24, said McLeod.

Activities such as foot races, egg and spoon races, nail driving and log sawing competitions were scheduled to take place on April 25.

Instead of the usual snowshoe race on the carnival's final day, this year's event featured a rubber boot race as many kids in the community don't have snowshoes of their own, McLeod said.

All activities were free and prize money for the events totaled $6,000.

- Kassina Ryder

Tons to do in Tsiigehtchic

Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River

Chief Paul Niditchie School was the place to be in Tsiigehtchic last week, thanks to a variety of activities, including the Heritage Fair.

Principal Cynthia Wagner said students were outside the majority of the day on April 24, helping to set up an 18-foot tall teepee. Students also played traditional games such as spear throwing, axe throwing and archery.

April 25 was scheduled for the school's winter carnival and the Heritage Fair was to take place April 26. The public was invited to the fair, which included a presentation on traditional clothing from Kindergarten to Grade 3 students.

"They're actually going to do a bit of a fashion show," said Wagner. Wagner said the fair would also include a traditional medicine workshop and she was hoping to get fiddlers and guitar players to participate as well.

- Kassina Ryder

Mangilaluk School sends teams to Manitoba

Tuktoyaktuk

Three teams of students from Mangilaluk School will compete at the National Aboriginal Youth Business Plan Competition at the University of Manitoba next month.

Teacher and guidance counsellor Alex Storino said only one team from the Northwest Territories has ever participated in the competition, so sending three teams from Tuktoyaktuk is a great achievement.

"The NWT has only ever sent one team and our little town is sending three," he said.

The Flex Plex team consists of Darcie Bernhardt and Hayden Stuart, with a fitness and nutrition business plan.

The Snack Shack, by teammates Trey Yakeleya and Sacha Nogasak, is a proposal for a late-night snack shop.

The final team is made up of Theresa Cockney, Martin Pokiak and Preston Dillon-Lucas with their idea for a mobile hair salon service called Cold Cuts.

The teams will head to Manitoba on May 13.

- Kassina Ryder

Career Fair at Angik School

Paulatuk

Students at Angik School got a chance to learn more about their job options after a Career Fair was held on April 24.

Principal Russ Hancock said the annual event was held in the gym and hosted approximately nine different booths.

"It entails a number of organizations that set up booths in our gym," he said.

"They'll be available to talk about occupations and careers."

The school was also scheduled to participate in a fishing trip to Thrasher Lake.

Angik School is also home to a new telehealth video conferencing system, which is currently being used by students requiring speech therapy, Hancock also said.

- Kassina Ryder

Celebrating Gwich'in Day

Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson

The community of Fort McPherson was busy celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement the week of April 22.

The agreement was signed in Fort McPherson in 1992 and the community, like all others in the region, holds an annual celebration, said Nina Francis, receptionist at the band office. The event was scheduled to include a community cookout and games.

"It's just a fun-filled day for everybody to get together and enjoy each others' company," Francis said.

- Kassina Ryder

Skills on the strings

Iglulik

Iglulik student violinists learned new pieces and skills earlier this month when a musician from Ottawa delivered lessons at the Ataguttaaluk elementary and high schools.

Greg Brown, a musician with the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, visited both schools in Iglulik from April 9 to 13, delivering violin lessons in collaboration with the schools' music teacher David Jeffrey. Grade 7 students performed the new music they learned during the school's monthly assembly on April 13.

Elementary school principal Jeela Allurut said the students enjoyed the visit.

"They were very co-operative and he was able to teach them the new tune and they played in our assembly," she said.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Commissioner and military visit

Qausuittuq/Resolute

Qarmartalik School was set to host the commissioner of Nunavut and members of the Canadian Forces on April 24.

Principal Jennifer Borden said Edna Elias will explain her role as territorial commissioner to the students, even quiz them, and talk about the Diamond Jubilee medal, which was created to mark the Queen's 60-year reign and is being given to 60,000 Canadians. Borden said the Canadian Forces will do a show-and-tell so students can learn their different roles, such as cook and mechanic, and see the equipment they're using. The community is invited to come check things out.

"We're going to have all students come in, even the younger ones, because they will be very excited about seeing the equipment. Specifically, too, for the older kids, just so they can get an idea of careers in the military," said Borden. "Since there is such a military presence in Resolute Bay, that might be something they're interested in once they graduate school. It should be very interesting. We're all excited about it."

- Jeanne Gagnon

An afternoon of activities

Kinngait/Cape Dorset

Elementary students in Cape Dorset will enjoy a Friday afternoon of activities on May 4.

Sam Pudlat School principal David Webber said the school is holding its second annual fun day on May 4 with 12 country fair-type activities - for example, students will be testing basketball hoop skills, and carrying an egg on a spoon. He said students receive tickets if they succeed, which they can then redeem for prizes.

"Now the days are getting longer, people are wanting to get out on the land and not necessarily come to school," said Webber. "So we find having something every week or at least every two weeks - some major activity - helps to keep kids wanting to come to school."

- Jeanne Gagnon

Medal haul from Toonik Tyme

Rankin Inlet/Iqaluit

Hockey teams from Rankin Inlet returned home with five medals after participating in the annual Toonik Tyme minor hockey tournament in Iqaluit earlier this month.

The Rankin Rock bantam and peewee squads both struck gold at the event, while the atoms took silver and the midgets and female teams each earned bronze.

- Darrell Greer

Standing up for the Arctic environment

Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet

Students from the Environmental Technology Program at Nunavut Arctic College in Pond Inlet were in Montreal last week for the International Polar Year conference, which ran April 22 to 27.

Students Terry Kalluk, Randy Quaraq and Enookie Inuarak and instructor Shelly Elverum met with dignitaries, including the president of Norway's Saami parliament, and the director of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program.

"They were all so impressed with the success that ETP has had in Pond Inlet, and want to keep in touch to discuss science policy in the Arctic," Elverum said.

More than 2,500 people attended the conference, she said.

- Casey Lessard

Nattaq back in deputy mayor seat

Iqaluit

It's deja vu for Simon Nattaq, who was selected to serve as Iqaluit's deputy mayor until the fall election three years after he was chosen to do the same thing heading into the 2009 elections.

Councillor Romeyn Stevenson nominated Nattaq to replace the late David Ell, who passed away March 26.

Mayor Madeleine Redfern, speaking by phone from the International Polar Year conference in Montreal, told council many community members asked her to nominate former mayor Jimmy Kilabuk, but Kilabuk declined the nomination.

The vote for choosing Nattaq was unanimous.

- Casey Lessard

Discussing Mary River's effects on residents

Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet

Baffinland hosted a meeting April 24 to discuss the effects of the Mary River mine on socio-economics in the community, economic development officer Colin Saunders said.

"When I first started as EDO, my thoughts about economics was just generating income," Saunders said. "But the broader perspective includes health and social well-being, to ensure a community runs. We're looking at both the positive and the negative."

He hopes the company will put a strong emphasis on generating work for community members, who he said have a great sense of pride that this work is being done in Pond Inlet.

- Casey Lessard

Fishing derby

Arviat

Fishers will be taking to the ice in Arviat this coming month trying to land a brandnew Yamaha Rhino 500 when the community hosts the annual cod fishing derby from May 19 and 20.

- Darrell Greer

Kiggavik still on track

Baker Lake

Areva Resources has announced plans for the Kiggavik uraniummining project near Baker Lake are still proceeding on schedule.

Concern on the project's viability had been raised since the price of uranium dropped to $51 per pound following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

Prices had been at $66 per pound before the disaster.

Areva is expected to submit its detailed mine plan to Nunavut regulators this week, and still hopes to have its Kiggavik mine operating by 2017.

- Darrell Greer

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