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News Briefs: Monday, September 16, 2013
Man dead after stabbing
A 21-year-old man was stabbed in Ndilo and declared dead at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife the morning of Sept. 14.
RCMP have no suspects and are not releasing the name of the victim, said RCMP Cpl. Barry Ledoux.
Because of the preliminary nature of the investigation, Ledoux said police could not release details but said the incident occurred shortly before police were called at 8 a.m. Sept. 14.
"There are still a lot witnesses to be interviewed," Ledoux said.
Police are asking for information from the public. The major crimes unit, federal investigations unit, forensic services and the chief coroner are involved in the investigation.
- Glenn Werkman
Call for dry dances
Chief Louis Balsillie of Deninu Ku'e First Nation is again objecting to dances with alcohol - so-called wet dances - at the Hamlet of Fort Resolution's community hall.
"We're concerned because we keep on trying to help people to quit drinking at the band level and yet you turn around and there are wet dances approved by the hamlet," he said.
Earlier this year, he objected to a wet dance during the spring carnival, and again raised the issue after a Sept. 7 wet dance during a slo-pitch tournament.
Mayor Garry Bailey said the hamlet was helping the Fast Eddy's slo-pitch team with fundraising when it rented the hall for the wet dance.
Bailey said the team has held previous wet dances, which he described as simply a bunch of friends getting together.
- Paul Bickford
Inuvik woman jailed
An intoxicated Inuvik woman rear-ended another vehicle earlier this month, a few hours after being given a ticket for consuming alcohol in public, a Yellowknife deputy judge heard on Sept. 11.
The 26-year-old woman caused extensive damage to the other vehicle, and sent the lone occupant to hospital with injuries.
Deputy Judge Brian Bruser said he wouldn't seek probation for the accused, because rehabilitation had been tried before and failed.
"At this stage in your life you have to be locked up," he said.
Bruser sentenced the woman to 60 days in jail and a driving prohibition of three years.
- Daniel Campbell
Intoxicated man struck
A Yellowknife man stepped into the path of an oncoming pickup truck on Sept. 12 and RCMP are saying alcohol was a factor in his actions.
The incident occurred on 52 Avenue in Yellowknife around 8:30 a.m. Police said the driver was unable to avoid the collision and was sober. The pedestrian was transported to Stanton Territorial Hospital for treatment. A similar incident occurred on Sept. 5.
- Daniel Campbell
Smith mayor talks Highway 5 with prime minister
Thebacha/Fort Smith
During the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to Hay River on Aug. 20, Fort Smith Mayor Brad Brake had a chance to briefly state the need to chipseal the remainder of Highway 5.
"He and I had a really good chat actually, which surprised me," said Brake. "I said to him, 'I've got 63 kilometres of dirt road I want to get paved.'"
The mayor said Harper advised him to talk to his premier.
"I said, 'I've done that, and now I'm talking to you,'" Brake said.
The mayor also invited Harper to come to Fort Smith during his next annual visit to the North.
Harper made no commitment on whether he would visit Fort Smith.
"I'd like to see him come in to Fort Smith and make the announcement that he's going to put some money into the road," Brake said.
For that to happen, the mayor said he will have to work with the federal government, the GNWT and Parks Canada because part of the highway goes through Wood Buffalo National Park.
Sections of the highway also dip just below the 60th Parallel, meaning they are in Alberta and the national park.
Brake said he is going to have to start "working angles" to see if he can get some money for Highway 5 chipsealing to get finished.
- Paul Bickford
Don't forget to vote
Aklavik
The elections for chief and council of the Aklavik Indian Band opened with advance polls on Sept. 10.
Charles Furlong and incumbent Danny Greenland have both been nominated for the position of chief. Mildred Edwards, Kathy Greenland, Andrew Charlie, Michael Greenland and Edwin Greenland have all been nominated to serve as councillors.
Regular polling will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 19.
- Cody Punter
A serious art topic
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
An art project contest for students is being held in Fort Liard as part of Family Violence Awareness Week from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5. The entries, which will be on the theme of family violence awareness, will be judged during a community feast on Oct. 3 at the community hall.
- Roxanna Thompson
One last dip
Aklavik
The Aklavik pool closed for the season on Sept. 12. The last chance for people to swim was from 4 to 5 p.m. for a bubble bath. Pool staff were to add bubbles to the pool. The swim was open to all ages.
To celebrate the end of the pool season, a cookout was scheduled afterward, where hot dogs, juice and snacks were to be served.
- Cody Punter
Play ball
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Tsiigehtchic was scheduled to host a baseball tournament from Sept. 13 to 15.
There were to be three teams competing from Aklavik, Inuvik and Tsiigehtchic.
Opening ceremonies were to take place on Sept. 13 at the gym where supper was to be served to the competitors.
There was also a chance a team from Fort McPherson would participate, but the team had yet to confirm by press deadline.
Each team was to play each other twice.
The tournament prize is a full set of baseball equipment, going to the winning community.
- Cody Punter
High water at Peel River
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
On Sept 10, the Abraham Francis ferry, which crosses the Peel River near Fort McPherson, was temporarily out of service due to high water and floating debris. The ferry continued to be closed on Sept. 13.
The remainder of the Dempster Highway was open and in fair driving condition. However motorists are reminded to watch out for loose gravel, pot holes, and slippery and rough sections.
- Cody Punter
AGM set for Fort Smith health authority
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority will hold its annual general meeting this week.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18 at Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre.
- Paul Bickford
Watercolour workshop in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A workshop titled Adventures in Watercolour with Denis Bell is planned for Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre in Fort Smith.
Bell is an artist from British Columbia.
Participants will learn about colour pigments, painting techniques, tools, and preparation for indoor and outdoor painting. They will also be able to keep all supplies used in the course.
The three-day workshop is being offered twice. The first option will be on Sept. 16, 18 and 21.
The second option will be on Sept. 23, 25 and 28. More information, including the fee for the workshop, is available by contacting the museum.
- Paul Bickford
Learning to compost
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
A workshop about composting is being held in Fort Simpson.
Caroline Lafontaine, with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, will be leading a session on how to build a composter and a compost pile at the community garden on Sept. 17 beginning at 7 p.m.
During the workshop, a demonstration model of a composter will be constructed. If the weather is unfavourable, the workshop will be postponed to the following day.
- Roxanna Thompson
$30 million for new housing
Iqaluit
A federal investment of $30 million for new affordable housing across Nunavut was announced on Sept. 12.
The federal funding represents the first portion of a two-year investment of $100 million.
As one of the most controversial issues ahead of next month's territorial election, the announcement came on the same day Peter Taptuna, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, said the organization had delivered a total of 1,011 units to house more than 3,000 Nunavummiut in need.
On Sept. 11 in the legislative assembly, Nattilik MLA Jeannie Ugyuk said more than $1.5 billion would be needed to build the 3,000 new public housing units, based on recent committee of the whole discussions.
- Myles Dolphin
'Colourful character' remembered
Iqaluit
Mines Minister Peter Taptuna took a moment last week to acknowledge the death of Eric Prosh, a territorial government employee who was director of minerals and petroleum resources.
Prosh, who died suddenly on Sept. 3, started work with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation in 2006. In his time with the GN, he influenced the territory's approach to mine training, the evaluation of carving stone deposits and prospector training, said Taptuna.
Prosh had a passion for geological mapping and enjoyed working with the Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office.
The minister described Prosh as a "colourful character who never hesitated to share his opinion."
He was full of vitality, boldness and zest, added Taptuna.
- Miranda Scotland
Substance abuse partners meet
Iqaluit
Representatives from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse were in Iqaluit from Sept. 11 to 12 to meet with government officials, members of the private sector and non-governmental organizations. Chief executive officer Michel Perron, director of strategic partnerships and knowledge mobilization Robert Eves and director of public affairs and communications Benoit Violette discussed local and territorial issues regarding substance abuse and possible avenues toward collaborative solutions. The meetings were part of a cross-country tour.
"Our goal is to talk about key priorities with partners and find opportunities where CCSA can support them in addressing the issues of substance abuse," Perron said.
- Myles Dolphin
Planning tool online
Iqaluit
The GN has launched a new website to house the infrastructure plans for Nunavut communities.
The public documents, known as integrated community sustainability plans (ICSP), can be found on buildingnunavut.com.
Communities can use the online toolkit to develop more comprehensive strategies while taking into account demographics and economic goals, stated a news release from the GN.
"Fostering community self-reliance is an important initiative of this government," stated Lorne Kusugak, minister of Community and Government Services, in a news release. "This online toolkit allows communities to identify their infrastructure needs and future goals."
- Miranda Scotland
Children back at daycare
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
Kugluktuk's Kakayak Daycare reopened last week after shutting down earlier this summer.
It has since been renovated and measures have been taken to ensure the children are safe, said daycare manager Allison Brown.
Parents previously expressed concerns about the level of supervision, she added.
"But we have new staff and there's new safety protocols and rules put in place to make sure the children are supervised at all times and that the environment is really safe for them," said Brown.
The programming has also been adjusted to include culturally relevant activities.
Each week there is a different theme based on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
"That's probably the most exciting part," she said. "The children are learning really valuable and culturally relevant things while they're here."
- Miranda Scotland
Whale landed
Naujaat/Repulse Bay
Hunters from the community of Repulse Bay landed a bowhead whale on the Labour Day long weekend.
The whale measured slightly more than 15 metres.
The bowhead was partly butchered where it was caught on Aug. 31, before being towed to Repulse to avoid any confrontations with polar bears.
The successful hunt was the sixth bowhead whale landed by Repulse hunters in the past 17 years.
- Darrell Greer
Learn to teach traditional skills
Qikiqtarjuaq/Broughton Island
Applications for the Atugaksait program of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., are now being accepted again for the fall and winter activities.
Residents interested in teaching Inuit values and traditional knowledge in the areas of survival skills, harvesting, skin preparations and sewing techniques can send in their applications before Sept. 30. Application forms can be picked up at the HTO office.
- Myles Dolphin
Action Canada visits Resolute
Qausuittuq/Resolute
Participants in Action Canada visited Resolute earlier this month to gain insight into life in the community.
Nearly 30 people associated with the organization met with the mayor, senior administrative officer (SAO) and council during a visit Sept. 7, said Angela Idlout, the hamlet's SAO.
Action Canada "offers both senior leadership development and cross-country conferences to enhance an understanding of Canada and public policy choices for our future," it states on its website.
The group asked questions about the school system, housing and other topics. The Resolute representatives told them the housing situation, unlike other places in Nunavut, isn't a pressing issue currently.
The waiting list is down to two people and not too many houses are overcrowded, said Idlout.
"We're in pretty good standing right now with the housing association."
However, they did express the need for a new utilidor system.
- Miranda Scotland
New man in charge
Arviat
The Hamlet of Arviat has a new senior administrative officer (SAO).
Steve England, a longtime Arviat resident and former manager of the Padlei Co-op, was named to the SAO position, replacing the outgoing Ed Murphy.
Arviat Mayor Bob Leonard said in a public statement that Arviat thanks Murphy for his years of hard work and service to the community.
- Darrell Greer
Focus on minerals
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
The annual Kivalliq Regional Science Camp was held in Baker Lake from Sept. 4 to 9.
Eight students from the host community, along with four students and one teacher from each of the other six Kivalliq communities, took part in the event.
The 2013 science camp focused on rocks, minerals, first aid and the Global Positioning System.
- Darrell Greer
Hamlet day
Arviat
A large crowd came out for the annual Hamlet Day celebration in Arviat on Sept. 2.
Reports out of Arviat indicate the day went extremely well, with a parade and numerous fun-filled events for children of all ages.
- Darrell Greer
Animal care
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
While the Canadian Animal Wellness Team is helping pets in Baker Lake, animal health-care professionals from the Tuxedo Animal Hospital in Winnipeg will be making a house call to Rankin Inlet.
Animal owners are asked to phone Page Burt at the Nanuq Lodge to book an appointment for the five-day clinic, running from Sept. 17 to 21.
- Darrell Greer
Ending violence
Nunavut/Nunavik
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada is receiving $300,000 for a two-year project to engage Inuit men and boys to help end violence against women and girls in Nunavut and Nunavik.
The project is being supported under the Status of Women Canada's call for proposals, Working Together: Engaging Communities to End Violence against Women and Girls.
- Darrell Greer
Diabetes run draws 45 residents
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Residents in Taloyoak bundled up Sept. 7 and headed over to the Northern Store to participate in a run to raise awareness about diabetes.
Forty-five people joined in despite the freezing cold and windy weather, said Northern Store manager Cathy Williams.
"Most of the participants completed a 2.5 km walk/run but there were a few brave souls who went the distance and completed a five-kilometre run," she stated in an e-mail.
While enjoying some fruit and water the runners took time to reflect on those close to them who have diabetes.
"The snacks were as refreshing as the cold September wind," added Williams.
The event was coordinated by the Northern Store.
- Miranda Scotland
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