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We wonder if the darkened steps of city hall on election night are symbolic of the relationship between the people of Yellowknife and city administration. People pulling into the parking lot can be forgiven for wondering if anything was going on.

Inside, there was a sparse crowd of people gathered to watch the election results roll in and the usual media, with only a handful of council candidates. There was none of the breathless anticipation of past years when apprehensive candidates and excited voters thronged the main foyer, gasping as their favourites won and lost a seat on council.

This was the sorry scene at the end of the 12-year reign of Mayor Gord Van Tighem, probably the most personable municipal leader on the planet, whose door and ear was open to everyone.

Despite the low-key crowd, it was an eventful election. Runner up mayoral candidate Tim Doyle positioned himself as the voice of change. He raised issues people were talking about in the coffee shops and over their dinner tables - the problems downtown, the merits of the geothermal project. Probably the most contentious issue he raised was that of city administration's dealings with ordinary Yellowknifers.

He was not alone in that. Other candidates acknowledged they had been hearing the same thing -- Adrian Bell, Niels Konge -- and both outgoing councillors Lydia Bardak and Amanda Mallon spoke of their own problems with administration.

Even seven-time councillor Bob Brooks freely admitted he had been receiving e-mails and hearing on the doorsteps that city hall was not people-friendly. "First order of business" after the election he vowed.

Mayor-elect Mark Heyck took it all in stride, agreeing communication could be improved but declining to get into more detail or discuss personalities. Judging by his solid win, the majority of Yellowknifers support his steady hand. But that does not mean Doyle and the other candidates were wrong to raise the difficult issues publicly.

Yellowknifer has had its own experience with the wrath of city hall. After extensive coverage in advance of a referendum on the city's desire to borrow $49 million for its geothermal project, including a standalone website bringing together all the information sources and different discussions about capturing heat energy from the defunct Con Mine, Yellowknifer was labelled an opponent of city hall when the voters said no to borrowing the money.

Then there were the recent stories about the floatplane owned by the city's senior administrative officer. It was parked in Old Town close to where administration wanted to put a new floatplane dock. That fact was pointed out by Old Town citizens opposed to the dock and Yellowknifer reported as much and again later on the floatplane's new parking spot at the city public works garage. The city then advised that it would no longer advertise with Yellowknifer or its affiliated publications. During one of the debates, one council candidate repeated a rumour that copies of Yellowknifer have been banned in offices at city hall.

We have to ask: Is it appropriate for a government body to target the free press? In a democracy? What can individual residents expect if they disagree with city hall? We'll let Yellowknifers and the new council decide that.

But it's clear our new mayor has his work cut out for him. In the past, some mayors have considered themselves chairman of the city corporation and felt bound to defend city hall's actions come hell or high water.

A far better business analogy is that the mayor is chairman of the board of city councillors and all Yellowknifers are the shareholders who should and do call the shots, as we see in each election (and referendum).

We hope the newly elected councillors follow through on bringing a new attitude to city hall.

That means shining new light on the dark areas, improving communication with residents and recognizing that the newsroom at Yellowknifer serves its readers, regardless of threats or intimidation.

The past month hasn't been kind to environmentalists who latch onto every report that supports their cause, especially when it comes to climate change and the impact of the Alberta oil sands on the environment.

Today's science wars leave many wondering how so many experts can have such wildlyvarying opinions.

Further muddying the waters are hidden agendas, and those in the scientific community who have become science's version of guns for hire, mimicking the 'expert' testimony one comes to expect at criminal trials and the like.

Even worse these days, scientific studies will often be paid for by an entity with a vested stake in the result.

In fact, many simply dismiss the results of any study funded in such a manner no matter what the results.

And a fair amount of the time they're right to do so, but that's not always the case.

A recent study done on the Alberta oil sands was funded by Suncor Energy Inc., a big-time player when it comes to oil sands developers.

The study says the vast majority of pollution from oil sands operations still remains local, which puts a damper on claims from places downstream of Fort McMurray that oil sands pollution is responsible for contaminating fish and water.

According to reports in such esteemed publications as the Globe and Mail, not only did the study show negligible levels of pollutants from lake bottom sediment samples, but deep drilling into the sediment found many lakes were cleaner now than they've been in decades or centuries.

Of course critics with credentials close to study researchers Roland Hall (University of Waterloo professor of biology), Brent Wolfe (Northern research chair from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and Waterloo vice-president George Dixon were quick to debunk the results.

But the researchers found levels of airborne metals peaked in the late 1950s and 1960s, when oil sands extraction was still a concept, and then began a rapid decline.

They think the reason for the decline could be tied to the move to unleaded fuel and the closure of smelting operations at none other than Yellowknife's Giant Mine, a huge emitter of arsenic.

Then there's International Climate Science Coalition executive director Tom Harris's work claiming language tricks are a prime weapon being used in the increasingly intensive war of words over global warming.

Harris says phrases such as "climate change is real" and "we must stop climate change" are nonsensical: tools for environmental alarmists and those with vested interests to scare people into supporting multibilliondollar schemes.

When it comes to carbon emissions and taxes, Harris suggests a return to the Grade 9 science that taught us carbon is a solid, naturally occurring, nontoxic element found in all living things.

He reminds us pure carbon only appears in graphite and diamonds, and wonders if we should tax graphite pencils or diamond jewelry?

To Harris, it's silly to ignore the oxygen in carbon dioxide (CO2).

He says throwing a pencil into the air could be considered more of a carbon emission than even the CO2 from coal stations.

You can bet somewhere an environmentalist has an eraser out and is holding it in what they believe to be a firm grasp on reality.

Alcoholism, family violence, suicide and floundering graduation rates. Each of those social ills stem from a multitude of factors. However, among aboriginal people, one source is commonly cited as a prevailing cause: residential schools.

It's difficult for non-aboriginal people to fathom the effect these government-run institutions had, and continue to have, on the nation's indigenous population.

Hundreds of years ago, the lives of First Nations and Inuit people were forever changed by the arrival of European explorers and settlers. Later, that contact evolved into colonization and, eventually, forced assimilation.

A vehicle for cultural extermination, residential schools separated children from families and forced aboriginal children into a new way of thinking and gave them values alien to their heritage. Sexual, physical and emotional abuse were rampant, likely because those in charge of the schools perceived their aboriginal charges as less than human.

When students finally returned to their communities, they were, in many ways, strangers to their own people. They had lost their traditional knowledge and even the ability to communicate with their families.

The first residential schools began in the early 1800s, affecting generations by systematically carving away at the roots and future of aboriginal culture, attacking it at its most vulnerable place - its children. In stripping away aboriginal heritage, residential schools deprived children of family values, love and the important life lessons that forge people's character in their formative years.

Later, as adults, these former students were left without the skills to fully form family bonds, optimally raise their own children or develop the coping skills necessary to deal with the raw anger and pain that scarred their hearts and psyches.

Now, with the last of the residential schools closed and many of the survivors having become elders in their communities, it is vital that the legacy of this blight in the nation's past be remembered. Not only has a tool been developed to further help aboriginal people heal, but the residential school curriculum is a way to foster understanding among non-aboriginals about the impact the schools have had on past and future generations.

Many have difficulty understanding the effects of history on present-day events and that can breed insensitivity, resentment and callous attitudes. In that regard, the announcement of the residential school curriculum for Northern social studies classes is welcome. All Northern high school students will now learn the details of this traumatic era and the resulting hurt and harm still felt by some of their classmates.

We hope the result of this learning will foster a greater understanding among both non-aboriginal and aboriginals alike, help to change perceptions and aid in the healing process. We encourage the GNWT to continue to build on this curriculum and its associated resources, and endeavour to make it a model for the rest of Canada.

The impact of residential schools runs deep in the North and that history is finally finding its way into classrooms on a permanent basis.

It's important young Inuit learn how their culture was vilified by the Government of Canada, and how the scars from the abuses committed by school officials are affecting their society today. It's equally important for non-Inuit to learn this, and to understand how this unfortunate era has shaped the Northern society we live in.

A strong vein of ignorance exists today in which many non-aboriginal people do not fully comprehend the damage colonization has done to Canada's original inhabitants. Prevalent problems of substance abuse, and physical and sexual abuse are cyclical and have been passed down through the generations. In many cases, these issues have their roots in residential schools, or in the colonial mindset of which residential schools were an extension.

There is a prevalent, uninformed perception of aboriginal entitlement in today's society, where some non-aboriginal people groan at land claims and priority hiring policies and demands levied at the federal government for better treatment.

If done right, and if taken seriously by educators, the residential school lessons in today's classrooms will stave off these ignorant attitudes before they take root in young minds.

The residential school stories are, in many cases, dark and terrible, and in all cases complicated. The schools were designed to replace traditional practices with what was brought across the sea by Europeans, with a mindset that European culture was superior. Imagine being taught to be ashamed of where you come from and the language you speak. Unfortunately, many reading this don't have to imagine. It was their reality.

There were also people in positions of authority who, abusing their power, took advantage of the students and left physical and emotional scars through sexual, physical and psychological abuse. The damage done by these actions, many of which never reached the justice system, is visible today on the streets of Northern communities.

This will be a difficult course to teach. For some students, the abuses and problems may hit close to home; for others, even trying to empathize with these stories could prove emotional. Teachers must not avoid the tough topics, however. This stark and sometimes horrific narrative is too important to soften.

Hopefully these classes will not only foster understanding, but inspire hope and reparation.

There is a lot at stake as the 2012 municipal election campaign draws to a close: downtown revitalization, making Yellowknife more affordable, preparing our city for the inevitable wind down of the NWT's diamond mines.

The question remains as always, however: will voters play their part in addressing these major issues facing our city over this next three-year term for mayor and city council.

Participatory democracy has long suffered in Yellowknife where voter turnout rarely exceeds 50 per cent - in municipal races or territorial elections. Voter turnout in the 2009 municipal election was 49 per cent, a vast improvement from the miserable 29 per cent reported in 2006 but hardly a figure worth celebrating.

It's too bad more people don't bother voting because a low turnout doesn't just breed apathy among the electorate but politicians as well. We can hardly expect to keep our elected leaders on their toes - particularly incumbents accustomed to winning year after year - when voters don't hold them to account.

The common complaint among disaffected voters is that the ballots cast are inconsequential, that politicians ultimately will just do whatever they want. That myth was smashed last year when voters rejected the city's plan to borrow up to $49 million for district energy even though the majority of city councillors supported it. Even though it was pivotal, turnout was extremely low for that vote as well - 35 per cent - which reinforces the need to get the vote out when issues of importance arise.

The shocking attempt by city administration to do away with referendum votes just one week later with barely a protest from city council is another reminder that voters must be assertive in guarding their rights as citizens.

Our elected leaders must know that if they are not willing to make changes, and go in the direction people want them to, then they will choose someone who will. Voting is your right. Let yourself be heard Monday.

The Union of Northern Workers has created a no-win situation for itself.

At an appeal hearing scheduled to be heard Nov. 5 to 7, a lawyer representing the union is expected to challenge the GNWT rental officer's authority to order an access route for tenants who rent apartments from the union in the downtown UNW building.

Essentially, the union is paying for an exhaustive examination of territorial legislation related to what the rental officer can and cannot do. We are hopeful this will result in the GNWT patching up any holes in the legislation and rightly affirm the rental officer's power to order reasonable access by tenants to their places of residence.

The public, and some members of the union, are troubled and tired of this saga - a long dispute which clearly has pitted the David-like tenants against the Goliath-like union.

Most observers of this dispute would agree that the tenants have a righteous cause, and they scratch their heads while trying to understand the union's position. Why wouldn't a landlord want to provide a safe method for tenants to get into their apartments?

No amount of parsing regulations in court will change the fact that the union is in a lose-lose situation. Even if a judge rules in the UNW's favour by determining that the rental officer overstepped his authority, the court of public opinion will remain on the side of the tenants.

The UNW is spending an exorbitant amount of money to fight an unrighteous cause. If it loses, which seems likely, it will look even worse.

It's about time for Fort Simpson residents to head to the polls to decide what councillors they want to represent them, but before voters put pen to paper and check those ballots it’s important to know about the candidates and the issues important to them.

In this election there are 15 people running, each with a varying amount of political experience. Over the past two weeks Deh Cho Drum spoke to the candidates and found out what issues they plan to focus on if they’re given a seat on council.

Some of the topics discussed were a lack of youth activities, more roadwork needed, property taxes, economic development and riverbank erosion. All the issues brought forward are undoubtedly valid but with the GNWT tightening the purse strings to avoid hitting its $800 million debt ceiling and an unemployment rate of 8.6 per cent across the territory according Statistics Canada the new council will have to be smart about what issues they decide to tackle in the upcoming years.

On everybody's radar should be riverbank erosion. If left unchecked, the village could lose important infrastructure -- the Northwest Territories Power Corporation facility, the water treatment plant as well as the village's water intake pipe – to the river. Currently, the village has commissioned an engineering report on the state of the bank to find out how serious the situation is. From there, Fort Simpson will need to appeal to the territorial and federal governments for help financing a solution for this problem. Governments aren't known to move fast on anything and there is no doubt someone will want more reports done on the state of the bank before any work is started. For that reason, it's important that council be on top of this issue and not let it fall to the wayside.

Property taxes are another issue council should be looking at tackling for obvious reasons. No one likes giving their hard-earned money to the government but taxes are needed to help pay for services in the community and it's only fair that everyone contribute. Last year the village decided to get aggressive about recovering the $600,000 it was owed in overdue property taxes and that attitude should continue.

Finally, instead of committing to build new infrastructure, councillors could start by looking at current services and how they can be improved. One suggestion a candidate had was for the village to find ways to improve the rec centre to ensure that the facility is used more. This could be a good place to start.

In any event, there are a number of other items and problems council will have to prioritize. If residents want the issues important to them at the top of the list then they'll have to find the right councillors to represent them.

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Help shape future, one vote at a time
Editorial Comment
Danielle Sachs
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012

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Checking in with as many municipal candidates as possible was interesting. Even more interesting was the varying responses when asked what the biggest issue facing Inuvik is right now.

I expected the same response from everyone – energy costs. But, while flipping through some of the answers, it seems there are a lot of different things on people's minds.

Sure, the natural gas issue came up often. But there was also vandalism, homelessness, security of the elderly and infrastructure (including the Inuvik-Tuk Highway).

Once you went away from the candidates and spoke to people on the street, the issues became even more varied, including bridging the gap between what Inuvik was and what it is becoming.

I can't talk about what Inuvik was and we can only speculate on what it is becoming, but it was an interesting thought.

Even in the past three months Inuvik has changed. There was an influx of Canadian Forces members who set up for Operation Nanook. They spent money in local businesses, bars and restaurants. They bought souvenirs from local artisans and helped with different projects around town.

Then they left.

But that's OK. As more than one candidate mentioned, Inuvik is a resilient town and filled with people who will survive through hard economic times and good economic times.

Residents need this reassurance. It's easy to think dark thoughts, especially when the days are getting shorter and the snow is piling up.

The community has to know that there can only be so many bad days and uncertainty on the horizon before things do get better.

This is why the all-candidates forum is important. Think of it as less of a debate. There are only two mayoral candidates, which historically get the most attention. But town councillors outnumber the one mayor.

What they have to say is equally important. But what you as a resident have to say is even more important.

It's easy to think about what's going wrong. But think of all the things that go right. Everyone has a wealth of information and different areas of expertise. Look at what the community has done in the face of trouble. Even just recently a citizen patrol group has started and a food drive is around the corner to help the food bank get up and running again.

Think of the candidate's forum as a roundtable discussion. It's another chance, besides casting your ballot, to have your voice heard.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.