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Send a message to the squatters
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, Sept 05, 2012
It may seem odd Yellowknifer would come out against further public consultation because, in many cases, government decisions are made without the benefit of adequate guidance from the people most affected.

But in this case, a delay in awarding leases on an additional 35 cabins on Banting, Walsh and Prosperous lakes until next year has the potential to make a bad situation even worse.

The decision by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) to extend a cabin lot freeze until next March to allow for more consultation may encourage even more people to hastily erect squatter cabins.

Lands administration officials met last week with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, whose members had complained about conflicts with traditional land use and the impact cabins and their owners have on the environment.

We're fully in favour of talks with the Yellowknives. In fact, let's go one step further in encouraging the Dene to pursue avenues in which they could generate a stream of revenue for their people from legitimate cabin leases.

That said, the recreational lease policy framework has been in place since 2009. People have seen the writing on the wall and, in some cases, have moved quickly to erect structures before new rules come into force.

Let's get on with it, already. Those who respect the process may well feel cheated by the length of time they have waited to complete their journey through the kilometres of red tape. Is MACA reluctant to act because the controversial policy has become too political?

Not managing the admittedly difficult cabin-lease issue properly is resulting in anarchy, the least desired result.

It leaves the door open for increasing problems created by people who have selected their "choice spot," refuse to leave and are hoping for the best.


Celebrating the rainbow
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, Sept 05, 2012

The City of Yellowknife should be praised for raising the rainbow flag in Somba K'e Civic Plaza on Friday.

It's a welcome boost for the lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, two-spirited and queer community, and the many orientations and identities by which individuals define themselves. The celebrations included their friends and families for the inaugural NWT Pride festival.

The rainbow flag is recognized internationally as a symbol of diversity, visibility and pride, honouring the myriad expressions of love and relationships shared between individuals in society.

Smiles and laughter shared among revelers throughout the three-day event, which included live music, workshops, children's activities and games for all ages at various venues, were much deserved.

Pride has been prominently celebrated with public events in Yellowknife since 1998, after the former advocacy organization OutNorth petitioned city council three times to recognize Pride Day before it was finally approved that year.

OutNorth disbanded in 2007, but not before starting the annual tradition of serving rainbow-coloured cake in front of the post office every summer, which was also a small part of last week's NWT Pride festival.

A lot of progress was made in the past decade, including sexual orientation and gender identity being included in the NWT Human Rights Act and same sex marriage rights becoming recognized across the country. Those victories grew out of a long struggle for equality.

In 1967, the late Everett Klippert, formerly a mechanic living in Pine Point, NWT, was convicted for having consensual sex with another man. After failed appeals to the NWT courts and all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, he was sentenced to jail.

The same year, then justice minister Pierre Trudeau made his famous statement, "the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation."

Yellowknifer applauds the organizers and participants of the first NWT Pride festival, and hopes the initiative will grow into an annual tradition.


I'll take a Bettman
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, Sept 05, 2012

As Kivalliq hockey fans brace for the possibility of a NHL lockout on Sept. 15, they continue to trade opinions on who to blame for the loss of their favourite pastime.

But whether Kivalliq fans place the blame on the owners or the players, they all seem to agree on one point -- Gary Bettman has overstayed his welcome as league commissioner and has to go.

The funny thing is, Bettman rarely seems to mind being portrayed as the bad guy by the NHLPA or the fans. In fact, his main image problem is that he sometimes comes across as arrogant, and always comes across as smug.

Bettman always seems to think there's more people than not who know, deep down inside, their criticism of him is mostly unwarranted.

It's a behaviourial trait that makes players stare, agents roll their eyes and fans grind their teeth in frustration.

But he's right.

Bettman is nearing his 20th anniversary as NHL commissioner, having accepted the post on Feb. 1, 1993.

Players like to portray Bettman as an owner's lapdog who's always trying to take money out of their pockets. They'll never get what they're truly worth with him at the helm. Really?

When Bettman came along in 1993, the average player salary was $450,000.

After nine full years of the evil Bettman trying to pick their pockets, that number tripled and now the average annual salary has hit $2.4 million.

That kind of throws the argument of never making an honest wage with Gary in charge out with the Zamboni.

And, since agents are paid by percentage of players' salaries, their eyes are only rolling towards their financial portfolios every 10 minutes.

While there's a huge difference between revenues and profits, the fact remains the NHL was bringing in $400-million a year in revenues when Bettman took his chair.

It's now $3 billion.

Bettman critics also like to focus on a handful of struggling teams, with Phoenix being the ice dog to kick for the past few years.

He's failed miserably at exposing the game to viewers outside NHL cities and across the U.S.A. in general. And, they add, the NHL can't be taken seriously if it's not on ESPN. Really?

Bettman added six new teams to the NHL during his time in office and -- long the Achilles heel of the NHL -- negotiated TV contracts of $155 million with Fox in 1994, $600 million with ABC and ESPN in 1998, $207.5 million with Versus in 2006 and $2 billion with Comcast/NBC in 2011.

Critics also like to point to how many teams in the NHL lose money annually. This makes the owners giggle because it's the same song they sing when it's time to bargain. The truth is, in the majority of cases, yearly losses don't mean that much.

A club's true worth, and where an owner gets his payoff, is its franchise value. The average NHL franchise value now sits around $240 million, despite a handful being sold for under $200 million.

In fact, the biggest drag on the game's ability to become more profitable and challenge the other top sports is player salaries being at 57 per cent of hockey-related revenue.

As I head home with my three bags of groceries worth $224.21, I can't help but think: I'll take a Bettman!


Appearances are important
NWT News/North - Monday, Sept 03, 2012

When Libby Catling was travelling with her husband at Fort Reliance they were shocked to see a defaced Canadian flag flying upside down at a site maintained by the Lustel K'e Dene First Nation's Ni hat'ni Dene program.

When the flag was still flying upside down a month later, Catling contacted the newspaper, angered that a place maintained by the band and frequented by tourists from around the country would feature what they considered an offensive icon.

News of the flag caused a stir in Lutsel K'e, where the band said it had no previous knowledge of its existence. In response, the flag was removed and disciplinary action was taken against the staff involved.

Ni hat'ni Dene, a program designed to have elders and youth act in unison to watch over the land and provide interpretive services to travellers, is an important and worthy undertaking by the LKDFN. Not only is it a means to reconnect elders, youth and the land, but it also shows the people of Lutsel K'e's commitment to protecting their land and showcasing it to people choosing to visit.

With that in mind, the public face of the program is vital. The flag began as joke by a youth member of the staff at the site and exploded into an all-out controversy. Canadians are not known as the most nationalistic of people, but the flag is a symbol of our nation and a majority of people regard it with respect and even reverence.

It is likely no offence was meant when the flag was put up and LKDFN made a point to say it was not meant as a political statement by the band.

This situation goes to show why it is important to consider public image. Heartfelt testimonials written by youth workers of the Ni hat'ni Dene program are featured on its website. Those words express how important the program is to those involved and emphasize how vital it is for these youth to maintain a connection with the land and their culture.

Hopefully this incident will remind people to consider how one action may affect not only themselves but the people around them and the world they cherish. Ni hat'ni Dene is program that should be viewed with respect and acknowledged for the good it does.

Every member of the community should support its efforts and its staff should ensure its image exemplifies everything the program stands for.


Northern artists continue to shine
NWT News/North - Monday, Sept 03, 2012

Ten years ago Kelvin Redvers was a precocious Hay River student with his eyes on the silver screen.

Not only did he dream of making movies, he confidently proclaimed that people would one day be watching his movies. At 25 his dream is about to come true. His latest film, The Dancing Cop, is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and will also screen at an international film festival in Germany.

Support for the arts is steadily improving in the NWT as the GNWT makes efforts to improve funding. Over the past few years television and film have demonstrated the massive benefits they can bring to the NWT. Not only have shows such as Ice Pilots, Ice Road Truckers and Arctic Air brought money to NWT communities, they have also attracted tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the locations seen on TV.

Redvers hopes that the future of the movie industry in the NWT will be bright but in order for that to happen, more incentives have to be offered to attract producers North of 60.

There is a lot of talent in the North and it is up to people such as Redvers and 16-year-old Joel Evans of Fort Smith, who will be starring in Lesser Blessed, the adaptation of Richard Van Camp's new novel, to pressure the GNWT to attract the film industry here.

With so much untouched wilderness, frontier communities and a multitude of interesting stories to tell, the NWT has lots of potential to appear on the big screen.


Harper's roadshow spreads the word
Nunavut News/North - Monday, Sept 03, 2012

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper lands in Canada's North, you know any proclamations put forward will not magically fix much of the social ailments plaguing the territory: crippling food costs, scarce housing, overwhelming mental health issues.

However, the attention the federal government has paid to Nunavut year after year is a benefit in itself, along with program funding and leaders appointed to new positions.

During Harper's most recent visit, for the seventh year in a row, he offered a fixed dollar figure attached to the new Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Cambridge Bay, a whopping $142 million over six years to develop it, and $46.2 million over the next six years for its science and technology research program.

This translates into employment opportunities, as well as a future resource to delve into the worlds of Arctic science and technology.

And although some might think the expedition to reveal the whereabouts of the nation's only undiscovered national historic site, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, is a waste of money, the marketing value for tourism is enormous.

The appointment of Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq as chair of the Arctic Council from 2013-15 puts a strong leader from Nunavut to bring the issues we face to an international stage.

It is true that Nunavummiut require more assistance from the federal government. That's why this year's focus on resource expansion and job creation was a breath of fresh air from the stale platitudes of Arctic sovereignty.

The attention of the country was focused on the North, not because of high mortality rates, low attendance in schools or stand-offs between community members and the police, but because exciting things are happening here.


Sharing the Land
Nunavut News/North - Monday, Sept 03, 2012

It is easy to be torn when it comes to mining. On the one hand, it is a source of income for those who choose to get involved. On the other, people must adapt to drastic changes on their land, changes that sometimes leave environmental scars.

In a research project being carried out in Rankin Inlet, residents say they realize the industry creates jobs and income for their families. There are more and more of these opportunities being made available to Nunavummiut. The Arviat Diamond Driller's Training Program finished its second class of the program in April and 19 of the 21 graduates had work shortly after.

Although there is the benefit of financial security through these training programs, residents also acknowledge the negative effects on the land and animals associated with mining.

While mining companies invest millions into their projects that provide many spinoffs, they must still prove to residents that they are serious about taking care of the land.

Everyone has something to gain from these developments, and something to lose.


The waterfront challenge
Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, Aug 31, 2012

Four years ago an officer with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Winnipeg wrote an unintentionally funny letter, evoking the authority of Queen Elizabeth II in an attempt to rouse those dastardly rubes who dared to park their vehicles illegally on the shore beside the government dock in Old Town.

"Her Majesty demands that they be removed within 10 days," the letter - affixed to the windshield wipers of derelict and operational vehicles alike - demanded.

Needless to say, like other attempts over the years to clear the government dock of squatters and junk, the order was largely ignored. Vehicles were removed but quietly began accumulating again once the uproar subsided.

Hopefully, now that the city has obtained a 50-year lease for the dock from Fisheries and Oceans, it will have better luck imposing its authority than the Queen did. Because it is quite apparent from those who have commented on the issue over the years that people, including those who have been guilty of overstaying their welcome themselves, want some semblance of order there.

"My tax dollars administer this bloody dock and I don't feel like it just being a public parking lot," said John Alexander, who four years ago used to own the building surrounded by the dock.

"If we don't apply the rules, what's going to happen in 10 years?" asks Elias Saravanja, who operates a garage across the street and acknowledges that he has parked vehicles at the government dock himself.

The city has given people storing vehicles, boats and equipment there until Sept. 20 to remove them or the city will do it for them at the owner's expense.

The ultimate goal, according to Mayor Gord Van Tighem, is to provide short-term parking, picnic space, and waterfront access for visitors - all worthwhile uses.

This will be an important test for the city because the government dock is the primary beachhead in the city's quest to open up Great Slave Lake waterfront to the public. After all, if government can't exercise some level of control over the "government dock," what chance does it have opening up other encroached upon lands along the waterfront?

The problem with the Old Town waterfront, other than that there isn't enough of it, is that even while the government maintains titles over it, people have been putting their stuff on it and claiming it as their own.

After a while it almost seems like the waterfront does belong to them, until they move along and someone else deposits their boats, docks and other possessions on it. Some of these arrangements do have their charm - the Woodyard and its associated boardwalks and boathouses, for example - but too much of it is to the exclusion of everyone else in this city.

That the city plans to bring some order to the government dock is welcome news. It's long overdue.


In support of students
Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012

September is on the horizon and students are returning to school across the Deh Cho.

Education is a topic of considerable importance in the region. The topic is often raised at leadership meetings and comes up in conversations between residents.

Stemming out of education are a number of sub-topics including concerns about ensuring students get the best education possible and making sure that the education they receive is also culturally relevant. The fact that needs to be grasped, however, is that the responsibility of educating the region's youths does not rest with one group alone. Rather, it must be a joint effort if it is to succeed.

Teachers are almost always the first group that people turn to when speaking about education. They are the ones in the classrooms with the students day in and day out.

Educators in the region must be open to learn about the culture of the children they are teaching so they can be more effective in the classroom. Luckily, almost all of the teachers and other staff with the Dehcho Divisional Education Council have been in the Deh Cho for at least one year. This means they have had time to start that learning process.

This is where parents and communities start to come into play. If communities want their culture and values reflected in the classroom, they have to take responsibility to help teachers learn about the place where they are living and working.

A step towards this is already taking place this year as schools collaborate with their local district education authorities to offer localized cultural orientations for teachers for the first time across the region. Having the orientations take place within the communities the teachers are working will only serve to strengthen the ties between the schools and the communities.

Communities, and parents in particular, have to take things a step further and ensure youth attend school regularly. Attendance is an ongoing issue in the region.

Teachers could be offering the best possible curriculum and classroom environment possible but none if it matters if students are not present to learn. People widely recognize the importance of education and they need to translate that understanding into action and make sure students are in school.

Teachers, parents and community members alike need to consider what changes they can make or support they can offer to ensure students have a successful year.


School's back
Editorial Comment
Danielle Sachs
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012

It's the dreaded time of year for students and one of the most celebrated for parents.

The days of cycling around Inuvik and idling away on the playground are coming to an end.

School starts Tuesday and soon students from around Inuvik and other communities will be settling down at their desks and tables ready — maybe not quite willing — to buckle down and get to work.

It's also a brand new school.

East Three will be opening the doors to a new generation of students.

Walking around Jim Koe Park on Aug. 26, some kids were excited about the prospect of a new school year.

Others were complaining about giving up freedom and being forced to sit and listen while the sun still shines.

But the start of the school year is a chance for new beginnings.

The students now have an opportunity to shape the school – and their experiences – by making the most of it.

It's about more than academic learning. You don't have to give up hanging out with your friends.

They'll be at the same school.

There are a lot of new beginnings for Inuvik. East Three is just the start.

Yes, the building initially looked like a prison.

But now colour is starting to pop up. Just as the greenery around town is changing, vibrancy is showing up at East Three.

The awnings have been installed and the landscaping is almost complete.

Construction and delivery vehicles are still moving in and out of the parking lot but they've been joined by other cars.

Teachers and administrators are back. They are ready to start fresh like their students, who are soon to pour through the hallways and fill the building with laughter and soul.

Some said the exterior was too drab and grey. It's a school, it should be colourful and represent the youthfulness of the occupants.

Colour will come from the students.

Each individual passing through the halls will leave his or her own mark.

To the first generation of East Three students, make the most of your school year.

It won't always be easy or fun, nothing can be fun all the time.

But you can use what you learn, both good and bad, to help you in the future.

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