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News Briefs: Monday, April 01, 2013
Youth parliament deadline extended
NWT youth who want the opportunity to experience territorial politics still have the chance to register for this year's Youth Parliament. The deadline to apply has been extended to April 5. Students must be in Grade 9 or 10 to participate and one applicant is chosen to represent each of the 19 seats in the legislative assembly. The youth parliament will be held from May 6 to 10.
- NNSL staff
Enterprise plan for highway rescue
The Enterprise hamlet council will bring two proposed resolutions to the NWT Association of Communities' 47th annual general meeting set for May 9-12 in Hay River.
At a meeting on March 26, council agreed to submit a proposed resolution which would call upon the GNWT to develop a strategic plan for highway rescue and ground ambulance with adequate funding. The other proposed resolution would call upon the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to review of its water and sewer funding formula.
- Paul Bickford
Astronomical society holds meeting
The Thebacha and Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society held its second annual general meeting on March 21. Three candidates ran for the two open seats on the group's five-member board.
Mike Couvrette was re-elected to the board and returned to his role as chair.
The new member of the board is Janie Hobart, who is now treasurer. Hobart is a former mayor of Fort Smith and current president of the Thebacha Chamber of Commerce.
Sixteen people attended the annual general meeting, at which four new members were signed up.
The society discussed a number of items at the meeting, including the recent donation of a telescope to the group by the Yellowknife-based Astronomy North.
- Paul Bickford
Tulita winter road closes
The winter road between Wrigley and Tulita closed at about 11 a.m. on Friday morning, a few days ahead of schedule because of damage caused by "at least four" transport trucks that disobeyed nighttime-only driving restrictions, Department of Transportation spokesperson Earl Blacklock said.
The rest of the Mackenzie Valley winter road system was scheduled to close on Sunday.
Blacklock could not comment further on the delinquent transport trucks, as the breach is under investigation by highway traffic officers and the RCMP.
- Laura Busch
Hailing the highway
Tuktoyaktuk
News of the Inuvik-Tuk Highway getting the go-ahead was received with feasting and dancing in Tuktoyaktuk this month.
Approximately 200 people gathered at Kitti Hall on March 16 for festivities welcoming the highway, said acting recreation co-ordinator Caroline Loreen.
"We had salads, meat, fish, caribou soup, bannock and a big cake-cutting with the mayor (Mervin Gruben) and MLA (Jackie Jacobson)," Loreen said. "It was a good celebration."
- Thandiwe Vela
Easter parading
Paulatuk
Residents planned an Easter Day parade this past weekend in the community.
A police truck was to lead the parade decked out in popular Easter style, said acting recreation co-ordinator Aaron Ruben.
"They'll decorate the truck and any other people that want to follow it during the parade can. I hope they come out and enjoy the parade and enjoy the events this weekend," Ruben said.
Other activities were to include an Easter egg hunt for the children, a snowmobile race and fun games for adults and
youth.
- Thandiwe Vela
Encouraging education
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Chief Julius School students returned to the community last week with more knowledge for their future.
Principal Shirley Snowshoe said about a dozen students chose to attend an education workshop in Inuvik organized by the Gwich'in Tribal Council, where they heard about funding opportunities for higher learning, possible career directions, self confidence, and choices for their futures from a number of keynote speakers including Inuvik-Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses.
"When we look at self-government and other future initiatives and how the students fit in that plan, giving the students the opportunity to think about one day being the leaders, that's important," said Snowshoe, who also spoke at the event about pursing her bachelor and masters in education.
"To have 12 of our students attend and give up their weekend to participate in a workshop on their spring break, it shows their commitment," Snowshoe added. "And hopefully, these types of programs put on by the Gwich'in Tribal Council will help keep people in school. Good things happen when kids decide to stay in school."
- Thandiwe Vela
Nordic walking group to celebrate
Enterprise
The Nordic walking group in Enterprise will hold a year-end celebration this coming weekend.
The celebration will begin at 1 p.m. on April 7 at the Enterprise Community Centre.
The event will feature a potluck supper and outdoor winter games, including egg toss, tarp pull, log toss, tea boiling and log sawing.
About 26 people participated in the Nordic walking group over the winter from January to early March.
- Paul Bickford
Bear paws, anyone?
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
The community corporation's board of directors is considering hosting monthly feasts after a successful Community Potluck Dinner earlier this month.
About 30 community members gathered at the school gym on March 15 for the potluck.
"The board of directors decided it would be a good idea to get the community together where they could socialize and share a meal," said Christine Noel, acting manager of the Sachs Harbour Community Corporation. "We had quite a few elders out in fact there was some that I hadn't even seen before so that was nice.
Elders were bussed to and from the event, which included several traditional dishes and one very unusual dish, brought by community member Margaret Lennie: bear paws, and not the pastry treat.
"I thought it was the name of some dish but that's what it was," said Noel. "Did I have any? No. But they all disappeared."
- Thandiwe Vela
Cellphone service, finally
Aklavik
The community is buzzing with excitement over the arrival of long-awaited cellular phone service.
Northwestel launched the latest generation of wireless network in in Aklavik on March 25.
"People are excited about this service. It's like a new fad in Aklavik," said senior administrative officer Evelyn Storr. "Everybody could use their cell. Comments we've been hearing are just 'finally, we're getting service.'"
Northwestel has been expanding its 4G wireless network across the territory, bringing the service to many communities for the first time, enabling residents to call, text, browse and download on handheld devices in the communities.
Cellphone service was launched in Fort McPherson on March 21.
- Thandiwe Vela
Spring clean flea market in Enterprise
Enterprise
A spring clean flea market and bake sale will be held at the Enterprise Community Centre this coming weekend.
The event is billed as a chance for community residents to get a start on their spring cleaning.
They are being invited to bring items they no longer want and some of their favourite baked goodies to sell at the centre.
The flea market and bake sale will begin at 1 p.m. on April 6.
- Paul Bickford
Fort Smith museum signs up members
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Fort Smith's Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre has so far this year signed up just over 80 people for annual memberships.
About 70 new and renewing members signed up on March 16 at an annual membership pancake breakfast. Anyone signing up received a free breakfast.
- Paul Bickford
Three found dead in Kimmirut
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
Police began an investigation into the suspicious deaths of three people in Kimmirut on Saturday morning, according to a press release.
RCMP major crime and forensic units have been called to assist and Nunavut Chief Coroner Padma Suramala has been notified.
Nunavut News/North was unable to reach the RCMP for more information on the deaths by press time.
Details are still developing but police believe there is no risk to residents of Kimmirut, according to the press release.
- Peter Worden
Teacher charged
Iqaluit
An Iqaluit teacher was charged with three counts of sexual interference with a minor March 27.
RCMP conducted an investigation into the alleged sexual offences after receiving complaints from students.
The teacher was released until the next court appearance on conditions of having no contact with anyone under the age of 16 unless
accompanied by an adult. The police had not released names of any people involved in the investigation by press deadline.
- Peter Worden
Emergency landing in Iqaluit
Iqaluit
A flight made an emergency landing in Iqaluit on March 27, and a man has been charged with unruly behaviour under the Aeronautics Act.
Darren Edward Cosby, 39, faces charges of uttering threats, causing a disturbance, mischief and unruly behaviour under the Aeronautics Act, stated police.
He is liable to fines up to $100,000 or up to five years in jail if convicted for unruly behaviour under the according to police. He remains in custody in Iqaluit awaiting his next court appearance on April 4 at 1:30 p.m.
The Air Transat flight was heading to the U.K. from Vancouver. It continued to its intended destination shortly after.
- Jeanne Gagnon
Man found dead in Arctic Bay
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
The body of 31-year-old Lennon Kalluk was found March 21 outside an Arctic Bay home
RCMP received a call that day informing them that a dead body had been located outside the residence, and, after an investigation, do not suspect foul play. Police did not release any further details by press deadline.
- Peter Worden
Boatloads of knowledge
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Seafaring Nunavummiut, from conservation and RCMP officers to tour boat operators and commercial fishers, are now much more boat-smart after a small vessel course at Arctic College in Arctic Bay.
"It's a good course for anybody," said instructor Wayne Tucker from the Marine Institute at Memorial University in St. John's.
Tucker has been travelling across the Arctic for the past four years teaching the Transport Canada-accredited certificate on behalf of the Nunavut Fisheries Training Consortium.
"The turnout now is much greater because people are realizing how much is involved in the course."
The eight-day, four-component course covers everything from small boat handling and navigating with charts to marine emergencies such as onboard fires, lifeboat operation and marine-based first aid.
Tucker said many instances of fatalities on the water come down to a lack of training and with the new Canadian Shipping Act many standards are becoming mandatory.
"It hasn't been enforced much in Nunavut but down south it's already expected," said Tucker. "If you're out on the water and you're a long way from help - somebody suddenly gets ill or injured - you're taught how to get radio medical advice so you can do more things than an ordinary first aid course."
- Peter Worden
Iglulik turns 37
Iglulik
Iglulik is celebrating its birthday today, April 1, to mark the passage of 37 years since it became a hamlet.
To mark the occasion, the hamlet is hosting activities from March 30 to April 5, said Joanne Idlout, the event's acting co-ordinator. She said this includes a mix of traditional games and modern activities - some of which, such as ice golfing, have been adapted to the Arctic landscape.
Other activities are planned, both at the hamlet office and community hall, said Idlout. As for a birthday cake, she said she wasn't sure whether they would have one as they are still finalizing the details. She said people are excited about the events.
"We always have a great turnout every year for Hamlet Day activities," she said.
- Jeanne Gagnon
School set to link to computer system
Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay
Kugaaruk School is joining a territory-wide database of students, something its principal said will make the process of student transfers much easier.
Michael Bartley said school administration were scheduled to get training on SIS, the student information system, on March 27. The rest of staff were to get trained the day after.
He explained the territory's three regions each had different systems to manage their database, with STS, the student tracking system, being used in the Kitikmeot.
As of March 28, Kugaaruk School will be joining the new territorial database. Bartley called the new system a big improvement.
"It brings all the schools in the territory together," he said. "In the past, the school would ask you to move their file over ... Whereas with this, it's just a couple clicks: this kid has been moved over to this school. So everything follows them and it's really nice and seamless."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Moving material
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
Areva Resources has started transporting materials to its Kiggavik uranium site across its winter road.
The Kiggavik camp is located about 80 kilometres away from the community of Baker Lake.
The company is estimating it will take between four to six weeks to move the material to the site, including 200,000 litres of fuel and drilling equipment to be used this summer when Areva continues to test drill for uranium.
Areva expects to have about 35 people employed at the Kiggavik site this summer.
- Darrell Greer
Drug-free Sanikiluaq school
Sanikiluaq
Every Wednesday at Paatsaali School students discuss drug and alcohol abuse. For over a month now, RCMP have taken an hour to talk tough topics with teens.
"We get lots of questions coming back from the students," said Cpl. Reg Campbell, who is with the RCMP's Drug and Organized Crime Awareness Service in Charlottetown currently doing some relief work in the North. He teaches the drug awareness course across Canada and Sanikiluaq is the fourth community in the North he has visited.
"In each community, I've witnessed first-hand the devastating effect of alcohol and marijuana," he said. "I hear all too often that the age of starting in some of our Northern communities is quite young."
In Sanikiluaq, where one gram of marijuana goes for $60, Campbell says the costs add up as a daily smoker might spend over $400 every week.
"All too often substance alcohol and drug abuse combined results in domestic disputes," he said.
Campbell said each case is different for why young people get involved in drugs from peer pressure to problems at home.
The lesson for grades 7 to 12 involves videos and a Power Point presentation followed by a class discussion. He encourages students to talk to elders, stay physically active, get out on the land and "just say no."
- Peter Worden
Hall Beach turns 35
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
Hall Beach will hit a milestone on April 2, as 35 years have passed since it became a hamlet.
Nothing special is planned to mark the milestone, as residents will be enjoying Easter celebrations and feasts, said Tracy Laine, the hamlet's acting senior administrative officer. She said they will have a feast with games both on Saturday and Tuesday.
"We got a five-day weekend this weekend. We're all quite excited," said Laine. "It's always exciting to celebrate any events in these communities. Any reason to get together and celebrate as a community is a good reason."
- Jeanne Gagnon
Learning about law
Arviat
A special Arviat Law Day was held at the Arviat Community Learning Centre this past Monday, March 25. The day had originally been scheduled to be held on March 14.
The event was sponsored by the Akitsiraq Law School and gave youths the opportunity to take a day to consider law as a career.
- Darrell Greer
| 
News desk 
