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As a plume of contaminated water is carried from Alberta up the Athabasca River and into the Slave River, we can't help but wonder why the territory has, for decades, failed to negotiate a transboundary water agreement with our southern neighbours.

In 1997, the wheels were set in motion to generate an agreement when the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C., Yukon, NWT and Canada signed the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement. That agreement, in part, set the path for negotiating bilateral agreements.

A decade later, in 2007, the GNWT signed a memorandum of understanding with Alberta that outlined the general guidelines that would form an eventual bilateral agreement.

Today, as we near the end of 2013, when a government website indicates it aims to have the agreement ratified, signatures have yet to be penned to such a document.

At this point, even if it is signed in the next month, it might be too little too late. The NWT has failed to create a way to have a meaningful say in development over the past two decades years that has directly affected our waterways. The Obed Coal Mine spill is just the latest incident that brings into question our water safety and the effects on the fish, wildlife and people who rely on this essential resource caused by pollution from another jurisdiction.

If an agreement is signed, it should do more than create a feel-good policy that commits the territory and the southern provinces to working together. It should give the NWT real power to fight upstream development that could negatively affect our water. It should also provide our government more power to fight for compensation from Alberta companies that contaminate our water.

Ultimately, any water agreement should strongly favour us. Being the downstream neighbour, we are at the mercy of Alberta-based industry.

The NWT has no shortage of volunteers and people who go above and beyond to help make the territory a great and vibrant place to live.

Whether it's putting in extra time to coach team sports, passing on knowledge of traditional crafts, volunteering as firefighters - the list goes on - these people all deserve recognition.

Recently, two Northerners were given national honours for the work they do in very different fields.

Hay River's Floyd Daniels was named Softball Canada's volunteer of the year.

With 40 years of coaching, playing and time dedicated to NWT softball as a board member and volunteer, he should have 40 such awards on his mantle.

Angie Fabien, Fort Resolution's Chipewyan language instructor, was honoured with the 2013 Prime Minister's Award for excellence in teaching. She has been referred to as a champion of the Chipewyan language.

These are just two of the hundreds of people who work to make our communities better. Every year, a handful of them receive awards recognizing their efforts.

Although they might not do it for the accolades, as Daniels said, it is sometimes nice to be recognized. Although not all of these great people will receive an award, we can at least honour them with our gratitude.

Last week's outrageous decision by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to defend the European Union's (EU) trade ban on seal products from Canada, based on "public morality," reminds us of a visit by a representative of the Queen to Rankin Inlet a few years ago.

Michaelle Jean was the governor general in May 2009 when she embraced Inuit culture by using an ulu to cut a piece of prized seal heart and eat it raw - a custom normally reserved for important guests or the most revered elder in the community.

Jean got it. Those who criticized her, and those who support the EU ban on seal products, don't get it. And that, we submit, is the most troubling aspect of the WTO's decision. Those behind the stance just don't get that questions about public morality go both ways. On that day in May, Inuit leaders, elders and hunters would have been offended had she not accepted the invitation to try this delicacy - the best part to eat from the seal.

Jean recognized the importance of the seal hunt to the Inuit, that all parts of the seal hunt are used to full advantage, whether it be for food or clothing. Further, there is an overabundance of seals to the point that they are considered a pest in some communities, such as Pond Inlet, where seals are known for stealing fish right out of the nets set by local people.

The WTO has agreed, but chose to ignore, that Inuit seal hunters have been treated unfairly, even though the seal hunt is done in a sustainable and respectful manner.

The ban on the export of seal products to the EU from Canada has had an enormous impact since 2009, with the demand for sealskin severely diminished and the price collapsing. That is not so much the case on the relatively small domestic market, where sealskin products, such as mitts and coats, are expensive and highly prized.

Nunavut politicians are rightfully calling on Ottawa to pursue an appeal against the WTO's ruling.

Jean had it right when she told reporters, after eating the seal heart, that many people have lost sight of the origin of what they are eating, and that she recognizes seals are a good source of the vitamins and nutrients that Inuit have relied upon for thousands of years.

Much work can be done to educate people outside Nunavut that the harvesting of seals by Inuit is actually more humane than raising animals in captivity then slaughtering them in a factory setting, as is the norm in the production of beef, pork and poultry products. In fact, the seal hunt is, in reality, less harmful to public morality when compared to the harvest of other animals, quite the opposite to the basis of the WTO's ruling.

If all goes according to plan, it won't be long before TerraX Minerals will begin to conduct exploration work at its Northbelt property.

The property, however, is within close proximity to Vee Lake - near the trapping grounds of several Yellowknives trappers. Fred Sangris, a trapper and former Ndilo chief, said those hoping to use the land - whether it be for mineral exploration, snowmobiling or cabin-leasing - should communicate with the trapping community. This land is, after all, their long-time stomping grounds, and they should therefore have some input into how the land is used.

TerraX has made a good first step by maintaining communication with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) during its progression in developing the property. In fact, there have been more than 20 interactions between the two parties, according to TerraX's strategic adviser David Connelly. The First Nation was contacted before TerraX even set foot on the property.

It would be best of those at the helm of TerraX to continue this working relationship, and it wouldn't hurt to also include the trapping community as well, as it is these trappers who are most likely to see any impact from the use of the land. Connelly has already said he wants this meeting to take place, so the company is on the right path.

Any company looking to do exploration in the North would be wise to follow this example. Just take a look at North Arrow Minerals to see what happens when you don't consult local First Nation groups when setting sights on mineral exploration. In 2009, the YKFDN, along with the Lutsel K'e band, eventually took the Vancouver-based mineral exploration company to federal court for not consulting with the groups in the process of developing the land to explore for lithium deposits.

As Dettah chief, Ed Sangris, said at the time, the YKDFN is not against mineral development - it just wants to be consulted with first.

When all was said and done, after the matter reached federal court, North Arrow saw its land use permit taken away by Justice Michael Phelan in 2010. The First Nation groups also saw a tidy sum of money - $80,000 worth - paid out as a result to cover fees and costs.

So, TerraX should continue on the path they have started for itself, lest it wants to follow in North Arrow's costly footsteps three years ago.

Northern tourism is getting a boost through Air North's new route connecting Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Ottawa this spring. This will give tourists - specifically from Germany - a faster way to come to the North.

There will be benefits for Yellowknife, according to Brian Desjardins, executive of NWT Tourism, by working with German-based Condor Airlines to promote the North and add the Northwest Territories to their travel plans.

While having a private business step up to promote tourism is always a positive, it shows the local and territorial governments have plenty of catching up to do in terms of promoting Yellowknife and the NWT on the international stage. There is already a fly-in-and-drive RV package offered by B.C.-based Fraserway RV that takes tourists from Whitehorse to Yellowknife. It is marketed as a scenic adventure drive, and nine German tour groups have said their clients favour it. Unfortunately, there have been concerns over the lack of advertising and signage within Yellowknife for those tourists to help them find services and lead them to points of interest. Despite this, the company said they will focus on that package, adding Air North's new route is sure to bring more tourists.

The city and government should be doing more to work with these companies who are investing heavily in promoting the North as a tourist destination. More government backing will help the NWT get a stronger foothold in the fiercely competitive international tourism industry, which, in turn, will bring more revenue to the North's economy and hopefully bring more awareness what the Northwest Territories is really like.

National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) has come to a close for another year.

While there are many days, weeks and even months that are devoted to specific issues or causes, NAAW is a particularly important one in the North. Addictions of various kinds are a significant challenge for a large number of people in the NWT. Residents who don't have addictions themselves are often affected, either directly or indirectly, by other people's dependencies.

The importance of NAAW in the North can be judged by the number of events devoted to it. Almost every community in the Deh Cho held at least one event last week specifically for NAAW. Some communities had a complete week full of events.

People use NAAW to draw attention to addictions, to provide support for those struggling with addictions and to promote healthy lifestyle activities. NAAW can also importantly be used to highlight the successes that local people have had in overcoming addictions.

People who have struggled with addictions and are currently living addiction free lives are among the most valuable resources the Deh Cho has for dealing with addictions. Who better is there for an addict to turn to for help or advice than someone who has dealt with the same challenges, maybe linked to alcohol or drugs. Former addicts may also have advice on how to prevent young people from becoming addicted.

During NAAW week, older students in the schools in Trout Lake, Nahanni Butte and Fort Liard heard from one recovered addict. Brad Firth of Inuvik shared his powerful story of living as a crack cocaine addict on and off for 20 years before turning his life around, focusing on a goal and becoming an ultra marathon runner.

Firth openly answered students' questions ranging from whether he ever went to jail to how far he has run and what his diet looks like now. Only the students themselves can say what lessons they took away from Firth's talk, but he provided a real example of what drug abuse can lead to and that recovery is possible.

Every Deh Cho community should make the celebration of people who are succeeding in fighting addictions a key part of their NAAW celebrations. Their experiences provide both cautionary tales and hope for the future.

As you will see by this week's guest comment, my editorial in the Oct. 24 edition of the Inuvik Drum about the ongoing energy problems hit a few nerves, and deservedly so.

To see what I'm talking about, read Mayor Floyd Roland's letter, which I highly recommend. It includes one of the more concise summaries of the town's position on the problems at the Ikhil well I've run across, and includes a nugget or two of information that many people here might not be aware of. I know I wasn't and I commend him on that effort.

That's the second formal complaint I've received about that column, along with several verbal nods of approval from various people.

The two complaints both came from official sources, one being the town, and another coming from a representative of Inuvik Gas. The compliments came from private citizens, including one person who said, "It was the best editorial he's seen in the Drum in 30 years."

Fortunately, I've been at this game of reporting too long to let either sentiment go to my head. My philosophy as a reporter has always been that if someone isn't angry with me, I'm not doing my job. I also subscribe to the old proverb that I cover the news "without fear or favour."

The ultimate compliment might be if everyone is angry with me, so long as I have all the facts. That's a sign of a job well-done and most likely in a very even-handed way.

But getting such enthusiastic thumbs-up from one side and complaints from the other is an indication I missed the mark on being fair in that editorial on Oct. 24. Keeping that in mind, I will strive to do better in the future.

It's an excellent reminder that logic and the facts should rule when it comes to journalism, and that was in somewhat short supply in this instance.

As I said in the original column, I'm not advocating mob rule, I had no intention of inciting one and I would have been wiser to have left any reference to it out.

On a more positive note, my understanding of this ongoing saga, which has been going on for approximately 10 years, has been improved by the discussion the column sparked.

As Roland notes, there are no easy solutions to this situation. Inuvik is caught up in a classic capitalistic conundrum, where it's not financially feasible to simply go out and drill another well.

Like it or not, and many people don't, market forces are at play here that trump the social and human cost of our energy problems.

The town and Inuvik Gas continue to look to find a solution, which is not easily at hand. Nor do I, at this point, have any particularly brilliant suggestions on how to fix it. When I criticized how the town and Inuvik Gas have handled the problem, I entered the realm of the armchair quarterback, which was not proper.

If I'm going to sling a few barbs at people, I should extend the courtesy of offering up a solution to the same scrutiny, which I didn't.

Since discussion is at the heart of both democracy and journalism -- that is, after all, one of the reasons why we have a Letters to the Editor section -- I always look forward to hearing from the public.

If our Community Builders feature on 50 Street in Friday's Yellowknifer taught us anything, it's that it can be a good place to run a business.

In the 1970s, it was home to a hair studio, a TV repair shop, and the Rec Hall served food and drink across from the Gold Range. For many years, it was home to a number of kitchy retail outlets focusing on high-end giftware and clothing, such as Langlois and For Men Only. Business were doing well there less than 10 years ago.

If it's not the bustling marketplace it once was, the questions become: "why?" and "what's changed?'"

Gaping holes marking the former homes of the Corner Mart and Langlois notwithstanding, the landscape remains relatively similar to when a bakery sat adjacent to the Gold Range.

What has changed is that this particular section of downtown has become less pleasant.

While the raven excrement on nearby 51 Avenue may not be a health hazard, it remains unappealing, as are the cigarette butts, chewing gum and spit lining the sidewalk on 50 Street.

All that, plus the blocked east exit to Centre Square Mall, tells those who might linger to move on, making the area less than ideal for commerce.

The city has had its eye on revitalizing 50 Street for the last five years. It earmarked $1.5 million over three years for "streetscaping" of a three-block stretch in 2009, but the project never made it east of Franklin Avenue. A large crater where the Corner Mart used to be is the only sign of the city's progress to date. The city purchased the property, along with two others, for $975,000 last year.

There has been some talk about putting in affordable housing or an addictions treatment centre at the site, but nothing concrete has appeared on the horizon as planning remains firmly mired in discussions with the city's Smart Growth Implementation Committee. A city official has said it will likely be another two years before the land is sold.

The half-decade of half-measures taking place on this street is indicative of the city's fear to jump headlong into revitalization. Presumably, it doesn't want to commit valuable resources that will only make cosmetic improvements while not putting an end to the social issues affecting the area.

But two years is too far away. Revitalization efforts elsewhere have shown how immediate and effective they can be. A 2008 revitalization effort at B.C.'s New Westminster Quay Market managed to draw independent grocery and food retailers, as well as the quirky artisan shops similar to those that used to dot our downtown landscape.

It would be a mistake to simply focus on addressing social issues. Fixing the sidewalks, and installing boulevards and planters will go a long way to improving 50 Street's retail environment, plus help find buyers for the city-owned properties. This in turn should help improve the social dynamic as revitalization efforts have elsewhere in the world.

The city's 2010 capital budget describes 50 Street as being in "poor condition," having been constructed prior to 1968. It's time for the city to get on with it. Make improvements, and the rest will follow.

Strike up the band because, you have to admit, this was a record even for the Government of Nunavut (GN).

We've seen more than our fair share of Rob Ford wannabes in our government ranks during the years.

Criminal charges, conflicts of interests, sanctions, and extremely poor choices of words in public have all left Nunavummiut sadly shaking their heads over the actions of some of our past elected officials.

But Uqqummiut MLA Samuel Nuqingaq, the first from Qikiqtarjuaq, set a new standard for improper behaviour by getting in hot water before GN orientation sessions were even completed.

And, to show it wasn't just about silly orientation sessions that, obviously, the sharper newbies have no need to attend, Nuqingaq decided a few extra hours of sleep would also serve him better than the morning session of the leadership forum.

After all, you've heard one leadership spiel, you've heard them all.

The funny part is -- embarrassment over their new MLA's apparent affinity for the sleeping accommodations in Iqaluit aside -- those in Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq may have caught a break in Nuqingaq's somewhat less than auspicious political beginnings.

At least they're not looking at their MLA with a puzzled expression on their faces and the word "hello" on their lips to get their attention.

That's what many in Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet and Arviat North-Whale Cove were doing after Premier Peter Taptuna announced his first executive council.

Tom Sammurtok may believe the huge support he received in Chester will shield him from the frustration shown by Rankin voters at having a seemingly endless string of GN ministers when what they really want (and need) are dedicated MLAs focused on improving their community.

We'll see how effective that shield is the first time Rankin misses out on yet another improvement, and he states the all-too-familiar refrain that as minister of Community and Government Services, he has to look at the big picture.

Rankin has provided more than its fair share of politicians dedicated to the big picture since 1999.

It's time the hamlet benefited from politicians dedicated to Rankin Inlet.

Then, maybe, the community will finally see its badly needed new community hall, hamlet office, arena, and improved elder and youth facilities that have been talked about for more than a decade without materializing.

Ditto George Kuksuk in Arviat North-Whale Cove, boasting the ironic trifecta of ministerial portfolios for Economic Development and Transportation, Mines and the Nunavut Housing Corp.

Only time will tell if they're a winning bet for Kuksuk, but in a community so badly in need of improvements to its housing, economy and transportation, he must deliver more than philosophical ramblings if he hopes to get comfortable in Iqaluit.

We hope the two new ministers serve Whale Cove and Chester well during the next four years, but Arviat and Rankin are far too important to the Kivalliq to be constantly sacrificing their development for the good of the big picture.

Should this time around prove to offer more of the same, Kuksuk and Sammurtok may be first past the Baffin post and quickly on their way back to the Kivalliq.

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