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The psychiatric assessment to determine if a Hay River man charged with second-degree murder is fit for trial and could be held criminally responsible has been completed.

Richard Deleeuw, 25, is still being held in an Edmonton hospital, however, in territorial court Friday in Yellowknife, Crown prosecutor Marc Lecorre requested the case be postponed until Dec. 11 so all parties could review the assessment.

"It will take a little bit of time to digest," said Chief Judge Robert Gorin, in agreeing with the request.

Deleeuw is charged in the Sept. 24 death of his mother, Linda Lafferty.

- Katherine Hudson

Byelection for chief

The nomination period closes on Dec. 3 for a byelection to choose a new chief for Smith's Landing First Nation. If there is more than one candidate the byelection will be held on Dec. 17. The vote became necessary with the resignation of Cheyeanne Paulette in October.

A candidates' forum is set for Dec. 10 at Pelican Rapids Inn in Fort Smith, beginning at 7 p.m.

A new chief will serve out Paulette's term and an election for chief and council is to be held next June.

- Paul Bickford

Runoff vote for council

A runoff vote will be held on Dec. 5 to choose the final councillor for Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith. In an election for six councillors in September, the count on election night determined Judith Gale collected 99 votes for sixth place and Jeannie Marie-Jewell had 98.

However, a recount later determined Gale and Marie-Jewell had actually tied with 99 votes each, which resulted in the runoff vote.

- Paul Bickford

Stabbing in Yellowknife

A 44-year-old man is in hospital in stable condition after suffering stab wounds at Fort Gary Apartments in Yellowknife last week.

Yellowknife RCMP members arrived at the apartment complex on Gitzel Street at 2:26 a.m. on Nov. 29. According to a press release, the victim sought help at a neighbour's apartment.

"There were a number of stab wounds," said Staff Sgt. Brad Kaeding.

Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to Stanton Territorial Hospital. The victim remains in hospital but has been able to speak to investigators.

"I can say that the individuals involved were known to each other. We don't believe that this was a random incident," said Kaeding.

Kaeding wouldn't say whether any arrests had been made as of the afternoon of Nov. 30, but said progress has been made in the case

- Katherine Hudson

Fort Smith-born Carney to lead Bank of England

Thebacha/Fort Smith

Mark Carney, arguably Fort Smith's most famous son, has increased his international profile.

Carney, the governor of the Bank of Canada, has been appointed to a five-year term as governor of the Bank of England, effective July 1, 2013.

The appointment was announced Nov. 26.

In a news release, Carney stated he is honoured to accept the important and demanding role.

"This is a critical time for the British, European and global economies; a decisive period for reform of the global financial system including its leading financial centre, the City of London; and a crucial point in the Bank of England's history as it accepts vital new responsibilities," he said.

Carney, who will become the first foreigner to lead the Bank of England, will continue to serve in his current position until June 1.

"It has been a privilege to serve as the eighth governor of the Bank of Canada," he said. "I am proud of the bank's contribution to the resilience of the Canadian economy throughout an unprecedented period of global turmoil. The bank is helping to lead the reform of the global financial system."

Carney was born in Fort Smith in 1965. His father was an educator in the community, where the family lived for three years before moving to Yellowknife and then to the south

- Paul Bickford

Lights competition returns

Tsiigehtchic

Homes in the community have already started lighting up for the Christmas as residents get set to compete in the annual Christmas lights contest.

The contest has gained popularity over the years, according to Tsiigehtchic recreation co-ordinator Bobbie Jean Van Loon, who said last year more people decorated their houses with Christmas lights, scenes, trees, igloos and Santas.

"Last year I noticed more people putting up lights and having their lights on more," Van Loon said.

"It gets everyone into the Christmas spirit. The Christmas lights contest is really popular."

Judges are to be selected next week to decide on the best decorated homes, with the top five winning $100 to $500 each.

- Thandiwe Vela

NWT groups attend forum on delta

Fort Chipewyan, Alta.

Representatives of aboriginal groups in the NWT participated in a Nov. 6 and 7 meeting in Fort Chipewyan, Alta., between traditional knowledge holders and scientists leading monitoring programs in the Peace-Athabasca Delta, which is largely located in Wood Buffalo National Park.

The forum, titled Making Connections, was hosted by the Peace-Athabasca Delta Ecological Monitoring Program.

The NWT organizations represented included Salt River First Nation, Deninu Ku'e First Nation, K'atlodeeche First Nation, the Hay River Metis Government Council, the Northwest Territory Metis Nation and the Fort Smith Metis Council.

The meeting focused on how to measure and assess current conditions and changes in the delta as a result of regional development.

- Paul Bickford

Craft sale to kick off seasons activities

Aklavik

The community's annual series of Christmas activities was scheduled to kick off last Saturday, with a craft sale at the Sittichinli Recreational Complex.

The event will kick off the Aklavik Christmas and New Year Activities, which will go on until Jan. 1.

All kinds of activities will be going on during the season, McLeod said, adding that schedules will be posted around the community and available at the hamlet office, starting Dec. 1.

- Thandiwe Vela

School spirit high

Tsiigehtchic

Attendance and school spirit are high at Chief Paul Niditchie School, principal Darcy Douglas said.

The school wrapped up its first term on Nov. 23, with report cards going home Monday.

"The term was good. Attendance was good. We're working on lates but school spirit seems high," Douglas said.

The school will celebrate positive achievements at its good news assembly, which will take place on Spirit Day, Dec. 11.

"Anything that's positive in the school we reward it," Douglas said.

Students are encouraged to wear a sports team shirt on Spirit Day.

"Everything is eligible to wear, except the Maple Leafs shirt," Douglas said, joking.

- Thandiwe Vela

St. Nicholas Day festival in Fort Smith

Thebacha/Fort Smith

St. John's Anglican Parish in Fort Smith will hold a special event on St. Nicholas Day, which is Dec. 6.

The St. Nicholas Day Family Festival will take place that day at the St. John's Church Hall, beginning at 5 p.m.

There will be prayers, games, activities, songs and dinner.

Bishop David Parsons, the next bishop of the Diocese of the Arctic, will be attending.

St. Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop who was the real-life model for Santa Claus.

- Paul Bickford

Students go jiggling in Fort McPherson

Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson

Chief Julius School students hit the ice for some jiggling earlier this month.

Students from Grade 7 to high school took part in the ice fishing adventure July 27, July 28 and July 29 as part of the school's Leadership and Resiliency Program (LRP).

"With our Leadership (and) Resiliency Program we have three components: adventure, service learning and resiliency groups," said Norma Snowshoe, team leader for the LRP program. "Taking the students out jiggling would cover our adventure for the month."

- Thandiwe Vela

Police investigate possible homicide

Iglulik

Police are investigating a possible homicide in Iglulik.

Iglulik RCMP found a deceased woman in a residence when they responded to a call of a disturbance in the evening of Nov. 29, stated police. The RCMP's major crime and forensic identification sections in the community to help the Iglulik detachment investigate the homicide, according to a news release.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested, police said Friday.

"The Iglulik RCMP would like to advise the public this appears to be an isolated incident and there is no current risk to the community members of Iglulik," stated police.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Cabinet portfolio shifted

Nunavut

Premier Eva Aariak shuffled the responsibilities of two cabinet ministers last week.

Minister Monica Ell will become the minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation in addition to being Human Resources minister.

Minister Lorne Kusugak will keep his remaining portfolios, namely government house leader, minister of Community and Government Services and minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.

"This move will help to better balance workloads between ministers," stated Aariak. "Minister Ell is looking forward to taking on this new challenge."

- Jeanne Gagnon

French and Inuit languages funded another year

Iqaluit

Nunavummiut will receive $2.7 million through Canadian Heritage to help strengthen and promote French and Inuit languages, Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq announced last week.

The Canada-Nunavut General Agreement on the Promotion of French and Inuit languages will provide $1.45 million for the French language through Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority Language Services, and $1.1 million for Inuit languages through the Aboriginal Peoples' Program, with an extra $150,000 accompanying the agreement for an art support program for cultural productions. "This agreement will greatly benefit the development of our communities by providing them with language and cultural resources in French and Inuit languages," said Aglukkaq in the release.

Nunavut's Official Languages Act will come into action in the new year, and this funding will aid the "preservation, maintenance and enhancement of the Inuit culture and language through community-based projects," stated the release. "It will also support the development and implementation of specific measures of the territorial government in providing services to the Francophone community." Accompanying the agreement is a project that will see the creation of an art support program for Francophone artistic and cultural productions.

- Peter Worden

Street View goes live

Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

A virtual walk through the streets of Cambridge Bay is now possible since Street View images are online.

Google Street View went live last week with images of the Kitikmeot community it captured this past August.

Cambridge Bay is the first Nunavut community featured in Street View. A person riding a camera-mounted tricycle rode the community's streets for one week last summer, capturing images of the streets and buildings.

Those images went live only last week because faces and licence plates were blurred before going online.

Steve King, the hamlet's senior administrative officer, said he didn't get a chance to personally have a look but is aware the images are online.

"Pretty exciting we're on Google Maps now. I think everybody is pretty happy about it," he said.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Arena naming areferendum question

Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

A referendum question during the municipal election will decide how Cambridge Bay's arena should be named.

Hamlet council voted to name the facility the Cambridge Bay Youth Recreation Complex on Oct. 10. But council has since had second thoughts about its decision, said a hamlet official.

Council concluded during its Nov. 13 meeting that the best way to settle the matter was to put a question to the public during the Dec. 10 municipal election, added the hamlet official.

A number of residents supported the suggestion of naming the arena in memory of Nathan Ookpik Taylor, who died on Sept. 13, 2011.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Dedication to work appreciated

Kugluktuk/Coppermine

Rosie Kagak's dedication to her work as a community health representative for close to two decades in Kugluktuk was recognized last month.

The Kugluktuk Community Women's Group awarded Kagak its inaugural certificate of appreciation on Nov. 8 at the elders' centre.

Kagak, who was surprised to receive the recognition, said the group had mentioned during the appreciation night that someone would get a certificate. Then they mentioned her name, she added.

"I was elated," she said. "Doing something like this for people in the community ... It's an awesome thing to receive from the people in your home community."

Group chair Lena Pedersen said it can be difficult to please everyone as a frontline worker, but Kagak is very open and welcoming.

"She works with the women and helps them with health matters ... She's been dedicated for a long time," said Pedersen." She doesn't stop; she keeps going year after year."

The group has yet to decide how frequently it will hand out the certificates of appreciation, but is considering honouring two female Kugluktuk residents per year ages 13 and over.

- Jeanne Gagnon, with files from Tim Edwards

Looking at the Baymaud during winter

Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

Documenting how the Baymaud shipwreck, built to navigate icy waters, withstands the forces of ice as it lays sunk outside Cambridge Bay, is the focus of Norwegian divers visiting the community.

Jan Wanggaard, a project manager with Maud Returns Home, the group that will salvage the shipwreck to Norway next summer, and his team are in the Kitikmeot community from Nov. 24 to Dec. 6. They wanted to photograph and film the shipwreck during winter, both above and underwater. Wanggaard has visited Cambridge Bay during two summers but this is his first winter trip.

"I really wanted to see how it looks in the winter time because the frozen situation is much more representative to the history," he said. "In this connection, I felt we just had to come here in the winter time."

From a technical point, he added the team wants to see how much ice pressure the shipwreck is exposed to during the winter. Seeing the ship in the summer is "extremely different" than now, said Wanggaard.

"In the summer, we have to stand on the shore and swim out," he said. "Just to walk on the ice and walk around the wreck ... and actually be able to touch the wood sticking out of the ice, it's an incredibly different experience."

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, the first person to successfully transit the Northwest Passage by ship, tried drifting across the North Pole with the Maud in 1918 but was unsuccessful. The ship was sold by creditors to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1925. Renamed Baymaud, it became a floating warehouse and wireless radio station outside Cambridge Bay before it sank in its moorings in 1930. The Hudson's Bay Company sold it to people in Asker, Norway, for $1 in 1990.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Ready, aim, vote

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung

An election will be held next Monday, Dec. 10 for four Hunters and Trappers Organization directors in the Hamlet of Pangnirtung.

The call for nominations closed Nov. 5 with a total of nine names submitted: Jaypootee Akpalialuk, Leopa Akpalialuk, Stevie Komoartuk, Jacopie Maniapik, Manasie Maniapik, Johnnylee Nakashuk, Limee Nakashuk, Mosesee Nowdlak and Jaypeetie Qappik.

Voting stations will be open between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. One is to be located at the community centre for hamlet residents north of the airstrip, and another at Nunavut Arctic College for those south of the airstrip.

- Peter Worden

Jubilee medal

Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake

Clayton Ungingai of Baker Lake was honoured with a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal this past week.

Ungingai was presented the medal for his work developing Inuit sign language, and promoting new means for the hearing impaired to communicate using smartphones and tablets.

Ungingai is recognized as a role model for Nunavut youth for overcoming challenges to follow his dreams.

- Darrell Greer

Wall hanging unveiled

Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake

A special tea and ceremony were held at the Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) Community Learning Centre in Baker Lake on Nov. 20 to unveil a wall hanging by renowned Baker artist, the late Jessie Oonark.

The wall hanging had originally been purchased by Baker's first adult educator, David Webster, in 1972 to make the learning centre more attractive.

NAC recently had the Oonark wall hanging professionally framed.

A number of Oonark's descendants were on hand for the ceremony, and some of them shared their memories of the famous artist with the gathering.

- Darrell Greer

Problem polar bears

Sanirajak/Hall Beach

Polar bears sightings in Hall Beach have been a daily occurrence in the past few weeks.

And the problem is not limited to the Melville Peninsula community at this time of year, as polar bears are getting ready for freeze-up, said Drikus Gissing, director of wildlife management with the territorial government.

"Hall Beach specifically, there's walrus caches around the community and that seems to be attracting the bears to the community," he said. "There have been a large number of bears sighted around the community over the last week or two."

No one has been injured, but a female polar bear with two cubs seems difficult to chase away, he added.

The Department of the Environment was sending a conservation officer to help deter the bears.

Gissing said the occurrence of problem bears seem to spike in November.

"In December, when you get freezeup, the bears usually move out onto the ice," said Gissing. "Then the number of problem bears around communities decreases significantly once there's freezeup."

Mayor Paul Haulli said the increased sightings of polar bears is an issue in the community.

- Jeanne Gagnon

Seasons greetings from Ummimak School

Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord

Christmas cards designed by Grise Fiord students are now on sale around the hamlet and coming soon to stores across Canada, and just maybe, the world.

After garnering an honourable mention in the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association's holiday card contest, NACA decided to print card sets designed by the students to raise money for their after-school art program.

"The students are very proud and surprised their work was noticed," said Zuzanna Mignon about her students in the art program at Ummimak School.

The cards, inspired by prints from great Inuit artists, have already raised $400 and counting. So far they have sold to those living in and visiting Grise Fiord, but once extra sets of cards are printed, they will travel to stores across Canada and likely the U.S. All profits will go toward Ummimak's art program. You can visit NACA's website to find out where the card sets will be available.

- Peter Worden

Storm freezes city

Iqaluit

Iqaluit's first snow storm of the season Nov. 26 sent the capital into shutdown with treacherous roads, near-zero visibility, wind-chill temperatures of -30 C and wind gusts up to 70 km/h.

Schools, city hall and GN offices closed early in the morning. Transportation into and around the city was also put on hiatus, with all flights cancelled at the Iqaluit Airport and most taxis taken off the road.

At least one school bus was seen stuck on the Anuri Street hill.

The City of Iqaluit shut down roads and non-essential services. Water and sewer trucks were also cancelled and city staff advised residents to conserve water by taking shorter showers and not using their dishwashers.

- Peter Worden

Accidental death

Arviat

The community of Arviat was shocked and saddened by the accidental death of elder Murray Ugyuk, 70, on Nov. 20.

Ugyuk had been trying to move his ATV into a shed when the vehicle shifted and he became trapped underneath the machine.

The elder was transported to the Arviat Health centre where efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

- Darrell Greer

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