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News Briefs: Friday, January 18, 2013
New Northern hockey league formed
A new hockey league featuring senior men players from the NWT, Nunavut and northern Quebec has been formed.
The Northern Hockey Challenge is set to hit the ice beginning next Friday. It will feature teams from Yellowknife, Hay River and Inuvik from the NWT, Repulse Bay, Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit from Nunavut and Kuujjuaq from Nunavik.
Craig Hockridge, the event's western co-ordinator, said the team from Yellowknife will consist mostly of players from the Yk Rec Hockey League.
The league's first games are Jan. 25. The first Yellowknife games will be Feb. 1 and 2 against Inuvik at the Yk Arena and the round-robin portion of league play will end on March 15. See Monday's News/North for a full story.
- James McCarthy
No economic disruption
Organizers with Idle No More Denendeh released a statement on Wednesday announcing they would not support blockades in the NWT on Jan. 16, which was a national day of disruption to the economy. Some protest groups blocked roads, bridges and rail lines in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick.
"We respect that our brothers and sisters in other regions must act in accordance with their own realities," read the statement. "However, we acknowledge that many of our own people would be negatively impacted by economic disruptions if we were to follow suit."
Their priorities remain protecting land and water by revoking bills C-38 and C-45 and establishing a true nation-to-nation relationship with Canada.
- Laura Busch
New senior bureaucrat appointments
Two senior bureaucrats at the territorial government are taking on new roles, Premier Bob McLeod announced Wednesday.
On Feb. 1, Gloria Iatridis will become deputy director of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission, from her former position of associate deputy minister with Education, Culture and Employment (ECE).
Dana Heide is taking on the role of associate deputy minister of ECE effective Feb. 6. Heide was associate deputy minister at the Department of Health and Social Services.
- Laura Busch
News Briefs: Thursday, January 17, 2013
Liidlii Kue First Nation chief removed
Keyna Norwegian has been removed from her position as chief of Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson.
The band council conducted a vote of non-confidence during a meeting on Jan. 14. Six councillors voted to remove Norwegian while two abstained, said Steven Jose, who is now the acting chief.
Jose said the council had a number of concerns with Norwegian including that since she was elected in June she hasn't been working co-operatively with the council.
"She's just been working alone since day one," he said.
The band will be holding a feast at 5 p.m. on Jan. 22 followed by a meeting so band members can decide how they want to proceed. Options include holding an election for chief and council or just for chief, said Jose. A drum dance will be held after the meeting.
Rangers patrol
The Fort Providence Canadian Ranger patrol will get some additional training over the next two weeks after an instructor arrived in the community on Jan. 14.
The Rangers will spend a few days doing classroom work including rifle cleaning and preparing for an on-the-land patrol expected to take place over the following weekend.
After returning to the community, the Rangers will clean up their gear and have a parade on Jan. 24.
Men take to the ice
There will be plenty of hockey action in Fort Simpson this weekend.
The annual Fort Simpson Men's Recreational Hockey Tournament is taking place at the arena from Jan. 18 to 20.
The village will field three teams for the competition including the Nahanni Inn Flyers, Nogha and the Eagles.
Three to four out-of-town teams are expected to attend, including Hay River and Fort Providence. Last year, the Ptarmigan Inn Huskies from Hay River won the tournament, beating the Flyers in the final 9-5.
In addition to the tournament, there will also be an adult dance on Saturday beginning at 10 p.m. and a canteen, which will offer breakfasts, on the weekend.
Curling bonspiel
The Fort Simpson Curling Club is preparing for its largest event of the curling season.
The 23rd annual Merchants' Mixed Curling Bonspiel will be held from Jan. 25 to 27. Teams of four are invited to register for the event.
Each team is guaranteed a minimum of three games and a prize.
The deadline for entering teams is Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.
Three nominations for IRC election
Three individuals have been nominated to run in the election for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Chairperson and chief executive officer.
Nominees are Nellie Cournoyea of Tuktoyaktuk, Jerry Lennie Inglangasuk of Inuvik and Richard McLeod also of Inuvik.
The election for the position will be held in each of the community corporations on Jan. 28. All 42 directors from the community corporations will get a vote.
The chairperson and CEO is elected for a three-year term. Cournoyea currently holds the position.
Taking a BYTE out of climate change
Bringing Youth Towards Equality (BYTE) is in the midst of raising funds to facilitate a photo essay project in Inuvik.
The Whitehorse-based group has applied to receive $5,000 in funding through the Small Change fund. The money will be used to run a workshop in which youth will take pictures to document how they see their community changing as a result of climate change.
Tamyss Knowles, community outreach co-ordinator with BYTE, said residents can help make the project a reality by donating money or by simply showing their approval.
"The more interest we can get and prove that we have interest in it the better," Knowles said.
Outstanding volunteers
Nominations are currently being accepted for the Northwest Territories Outstanding Volunteer awards.
"Volunteers are often the unsung heroes of community development in our territory. With these awards we can give them praise for their community involvement," said Robert McLeod, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. "Volunteers commit countless hours so we must commend them for this work and their contributions to improving the quality of life of all Northerners."
Residents are encouraged to nominate volunteers in four categories: outstanding youth volunteer, outstanding elder volunteer, outstanding group or outstanding volunteer.
Nominations close March 29.
Open house on Peel Watershed
A community open house on the Peel Watershed regional land use plan is set to be held Jan. 24.
Residents are invited to visit the conference room of the MacKenzie Delta Hotel to learn more about the proposed land use designation system and share their thoughts with Yukon government representatives.
The event will begin at 12 p.m.
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