 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
News Briefs: Monday, June 17, 2013
Alberta spill not headed downstream
A pipeline spill 20 kilometres from Zama City in northern Alberta will not affect the Hay River downstream, according to Ross Potter, the town's Emergency Measures Organization co-ordinator.
After consulting the province's Environment Support and Emergency Response team, he said the waste water spill, which affected roughly 42 hectares of wetlands, has been contained about two kilometres from the original spill site.
According to Apache Canada - the Texas-based company responsible for the spill - 9.5 million litres of waste water, containing non-potable water, salt, heavy metals and other minerals, and about 12 barrels of oil were released on June 1.
Tests show some chloride present in the water, however levels were less than a third of the acceptable rate of 147 parts per million, said Potter.
- Sarah Ladik
Fire under control
A forest fire about 35 kilometres west of Fort Smith along Highway 5 has been dampened down by significant rainfall and cooler temperatures in the area.
The fire was ignited south of the highway by lightning on June 1.
The 2,500-hectare fire - in the jurisdiction of Wood Buffalo National Park - contained by Parks Canada as of June 11.
Environment and Natural Resources stated the north-side fire was under control as of June 13.
No highway closure is anticipated as a result of the fire.
- Paul Bickford
Dene oppose deal with China
The Dene Nation have thrown their support behind other First Nation groups challenging the proposed Canada-China Free Trade Agreement (FIPA) in federal court.
Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus is concerned about what he says is a lack of consultation with First Nations in creating a deal that would allow for foreign ownership of Canadian land. He also said this deal opens the door for Chinese multinational corporations to sue Canadian governments if certain stipulations cannot be met.
- Laura Busch
MPs want Slave River protected
Linda Duncan (NDP), the MP for Edmonton-Strathcona, introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons on June 10 to return the Slave River to being covered by the Navigable Waters Protection Act.
The bill was seconded by NDP Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington. A private member's bill rarely passes the House of Commons.
- Paul Bickford
ART in the Park
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A monthly series titled ART in the Park is beginning this week at Mission Park in Fort Smith and will run throughout the summer.
The series is an opportunity for people to bring their lunches to Mission Park, enjoy music, watch and learn from a visual or performing artist, sit in the sun, or take in the gardens and history of Mission Park.
The series dates are June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, and Sept. 12, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on each of those days.
The event is being presented by the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre, which is looking for performers and or artists willing to participate in the ART in the Park series for the 2013 season.
- Paul Bickford
Thaw creates safe passage for hunters
Aklavik
A group of eight to 10 hunters was getting ready to make the first boat trip across Coney Lake to hunt caribou last week in Aklavik.
They had been unable to go in previous weeks because of ice, but now that it has started to melt and drift out to the coast, hunters are finally able to make the three-hour boat trip to the mouth of the river where the Hunters and Trappers Committee (HTC) has a cabin located on the foothills, overlooking the ocean.
According to HTC president, Billy Storr, whose son was getting ready to make the trip, the cabin, which can hold up to 20 people, is a popular destination for members of the HTC at this time of year.
Storr said hunters around Aklavik were also rushing to hunt as much muskrat as possible before the season closed on June 15.
- Cody Punter
Play ball
Paulatuk
The recreation committee of Paulatuk has officially moved its youth athletics programs outside for the summer.
"We've had three or four days of nice weather out there, so everyone is enjoying it out there now," said recreation committee president, Bill Stevens, last week.
Recreation co-ordinator Aaron Ruben has been organizing a mixture of soccer and baseball games as well as other activities, which began earlier this month and will continue until the end of summer.
"Unless the weather isn't all that good, then we're moving inside," said Stevens.
- Cody Punter
Adult courses considered
Enterprise
The Hamlet of Enterprise has had preliminary discussions with the Hay River Community Learning Centre of Aurora College about the possibility of offering some adult education, including offering course upgrading, in the community.
At a hamlet council meeting on June 10, senior administrative officer Terry Testart said the courses might involve such topics as job preparedness and apprenticeship training.
If the discussions are successful and the learning centre can obtain funding from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, the courses may begin in September.
- Paul Bickford
Meeting preparations
Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley
Pehdzeh Ki First Nation will be sending a delegation to the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly in Fort Providence from June 24 to 28.
- Roxanna Thompson
Warm spirits brave cold weather
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Residents of Ulukhaktok recently celebrated Inuvialuit Day on June 5.
The community group put on a barbecue outside the Kayutak centre where traditional foods such as muskox, reindeer and char were being served. Fresh bannock was also served.
"It was a nice treat," said Mayor Susan Kaodloak.
It was really windy, with winds reaching over 100 km/h, "but even if there was a bit of rain, everyone stayed," said Kaodloak.
- Cody Punter
School year draws to a close
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
Deh Gah School will be having an awards day on June 19 to mark the end of the school year.
Ribbons that students won at the NWT Track and Field Championships will be presented during the ceremony.
- Roxanna Thompson
Teddy Bear Picnic
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A Teddy Bear Picnic will be held on June 29 at Mission Park in Fort Smith.
The picnic - which will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - will be for children of all ages and their favourite teddy bears or other stuffed animals.
The children can also enter a variety of contests - best costume, largest teddy bear, smallest teddy bear, best bow and more.
The Teddy Bear Picnic is being presented by the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre.
- Paul Bickford
Duck the halls
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Ulukhaktok was to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Kingalik Jamboree from June 14 to 16. A mixture of outdoor and indoor events were planned for the jamboree, which celebrates the coming of spring and the arrival of king eider ducks.
Scheduled competitions included tea boiling, seal skin fleshing, char filleting, fire making, duck plucking, foot races, bike races, a harpoon throw and a scavenger hunt.
Live entertainment was planned each evening, with drum dancing, square dancing, jigging contests, and waltzing.
A hunting competition on the sea ice on June 15 was expected to be the main event. The first male to kill a kingalik (a male eider duck) and the first woman to kill a mitek (a female eider duck), would each win a prize.
A Father's Day feast, featuring duck, was to close the jamboree on June 16.
- Cody Punter
Happy Father's Day
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Arctic Red River was to hold its annual Father's Day celebration on June 16.
There was to be a cookout, with steaks burgers and hot dogs, with trifle for dessert.
After that, all the fathers were to take part in a cribbage tournament, with prizes to be awarded to all participants. The winner of the tournament was to get first pick of the prizes.
The celebration was to begin in the afternoon outside the gym and was to conclude once this year's Father's Day champion was crowned
- Cody Punter
Diesel spill in Cambridge Bay
An oil spill has been reported in Cambridge Bay.
Graham Thomas, senior environmental emergencies officer with Environment Canada confirmed diesel fuel spilled from an onshore tank Friday, June 14.
Thomas said an estimated 1,700 litres of diesel is potentially heading towards the ocean.
Thomas said the Government of Nunavut is the leading agency taking care of the situation and to date they have not contacted Environment Canada for support.
- Candace Thomson
Guest speaker
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Guest moderator Chris Heide will be answering questions on the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation's (ACYF) discussion forum June 15-18.
Heide, who lived in Pangnirtung for many years, will be talking about Making Connections for Youth, the successful program he started in 2008, and examine the many challenges faced by Nunavut youth today.
Each month a different guest moderator will answer questions, part of the new Playing to Strength program initiated by the ACYF.
- Myles Dolphin
Relay for life
Iqaluit
The Canadian Cancer Society's first Relay for Life event in Iqaluit will be held on July 20, at the Arctic Winter Games arena. The fundraising walk will go on for six hours instead of the usual 12, from 1 to 7 p.m.
- Myles Dolphin
Encounters with Canada
Nunavut
The Qulliit Status of Women Council has started offering bursaries for young women between the ages of 14 and 17.
Six annual leadership bursaries will be divided among the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq and Baffin regions, to support participation in the week-long Encounters With Canada conference in Ottawa.
The $500 bursary is to help with registration fees for the conference, where women are introduced to different career opportunities and leadership skills.
- Danielle Sachs
Human remains found
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
The RCMP and Nunavut Coroner's Office are investigating the discovery of human remains that washed up along the shore in Kugluktuk on June 4.
On June 4, Kugluktuk RCMP members responded to a call about the discovery. The identity has yet to be confirmed and forensic analysis is ongoing. However, the RCMP believe the remains may be linked to a missing person's complaint, according to a press release.
- Danielle Sachs
Search for summer students
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
The hamlet of Clyde River is seeking summer students to help with activities and repairs. Four students are needed to perform various tasks such as painting the community hall, upgrading the arena stands and organizing activities for younger children.
Recreation co-ordinator Archie Aipellee said the arena's stands need to be expanded if the hamlet wants to host the Akunnirmiut Cup Ice Hockey Tournament again in 2014.
- Myles Dolphin
Cleanup postponed
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Pangnirtung's community cleanup has been postponed until June 20.
The event is being combined with the schools' annual cleanup, held on the same day.
"Everyone agreed to get together on the same day and cleanup," said recreation co-ordinator Peter Evic.
A gathering is scheduled to take place near the canyon area that evening, with country food being served if available.
The community will also be picking up unwanted vehicles or furniture upon request that day.
A community feast is usually held on National Aboriginal Day, June 21, but council decided to move the feast to the night before.
"We want to treat the people who took part in the cleanup," Evic said.
A fashion show is one of the events scheduled to take place on June 21 in Pangnirtung.
- Myles Dolphin
Beluga haul
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
Fishermen in Kimmirut caught approximately 12 beluga whales on June 8 and 9, and the hamlet is excited about having fresh maktak, according to senior administrative officer Saqiqtaq Temela. He advises hunters to be careful, however, of thin ice as a few people have already fallen through. Luckily they were able to pull themselves out.
"If you're going fishing on foot or snowmobiling you need to be extra careful," he said of the ice breakup.
- Myles Dolphin
Looking ahead
Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay
On top of National Aboriginal Day, Kugaaruk will also be celebrating bike and ATV safety in the coming weeks.
"It's the RCMP and we're going to have events focusing on safety of riding bicycles and ATVs, There will be prizes and those sorts of things," said recreation co-ordinator Charlie Niptayuk
"Probably the older people won't come, it'll be a lot of younger ones," he said.
Prizes are also being organized for the upcoming Canada Day games. While Niptayuk wasn't too sure exactly which games were going to be played, he said prizes are usually vouchers so that people can buy what they need from the store.
"Usually people choose what games they want to play. People always show up around different games, they always show up when there's prizes."
- Danielle Sachs
Safe shooting
Iglulik
More than 100 people in Iglulik took advantage of three different gun safety training sessions offered by the RCMP in May.
With session offered in Inuktitut, English and a separate one for women, Cpl. Lorne Morrison, Iglulik detachment commander, said the training certificates were a first step into residents getting their possession and acquisition licenses.
- Danielle Sachs
Healing walks
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
A walk around town culminating in a fire and feast was held in Cape Dorset to recognize the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation on June 11.
Candice Waddell, a member of the community mental health team, said the walk ends with the fire so people can burn their negative memories.
Following the walk and burning, community members were invited to share their dreams and aspirations, both for themselves and the community.
- Danielle Sachs
| 
