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Former NWT premier Stephen Kakfwi has added his voice to the thousands of aboriginal people who have been speaking up about their childhood experiences, or their parent's experiences, in government and church-run residential schools.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission - mandated with documenting the 130-year residential school legacy in Canada - wrapped up their public-hearing phase with its seventh and final national hearing in Edmonton last month. The commission now has until June 2015 to complete its report.

After the final hearing, former premier Stephen Kakfwi spoke closer to home about the reconciliation process - in Dettah at a teachers' professional development session, where teachers were learning about the impact of the past on their own students.

Having the former premier come forward with his own residential school experiences is a valuable measure of the depth and breadth of the damage done by residential schools. Kakfwi kept silent for years, saying nothing much had happened, while writing and music served as personal outlets for the pain.

Although Kakfwi said he was elated as he witnessed the conclusion of the hearings, he noted that he could not help but see the closing of this dark chapter in Canadian

history as just another step on the long road to healing.

The hearings began in Winnipeg in 2010 and spanned the nation. The commissioners visited about 300 communities and collected more than 6,000 statements.

The stories shared at the many events confirm that the process of rebuilding families and lives is just at the diagnostic stage and much more needs to be done in terms of ongoing and future support for healing programs, counselling services and addiction recovery facilities.

Marie Wilson, Kakfwi's wife and a commission member, noted that nearly 80,000 former residential school students registered for common experience payments, and almost 50 per cent of that number - about 40,000 people - also registered for abuse claims, with a current acceptance rate of about 90 per cent.

However, no one should confuse the lump sum payments as anything more than legal compensation for a wrong done to an individual.

Now the focus must remain on the whole aboriginal population, the families. The damage was done over generations - real reparation and healing will take equal time. With the right support, this may be possible.

Through exaggerated facial expressions and zealous body movements, against painted backdrops and tunes-a-plenty, Xanadu sparkled on stage at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre last week.

Most impressively, though, was that in front of the audience were 30 young students whose acting, singing and dancing skills soared above what one may assume a less experienced age-group could produce. Anybody seeking a quality production would have left the theatre smiling and satisfied.

Aside from Landon Peters' - director of the Sir John Franklin School drama department's musical - feat of directing the students so well they inspired laughter and cheers from the audience throughout the entire production, his efforts are creating something of unknown proportion within the community.

Often the richness of a place lies as much in its culture as it does its people, and cultivating such talent from a young age brings a magical air to the community that can't be removed, nor created overnight.

These young singing-and-dancing talents of the stage are already contributing to the artistic affluence of Yellowknife, and will go on to be the acting adults of future productions both here and beyond.

Well-produced, energetic theatre that fill the seats of the NACC night-after-night, year-after-year, deserves much celebration and is not something that should ever be taken for granted.

May we all be so lucky as to reach Xanadu, as depicted in the play - an ideal but achievable state-of-being roughly translated as, "to love another person and create art."

One thing all Deh Cho residents get accustomed to is distances.

No matter which community in the region you live in, it is almost always a very long way to get to where you want to go. The need to travel for potentially hours, even if it's just to the nearest neighboring community to buy groceries, is one reason the state of the highways in the Deh Cho is such a topic of interest and concern.

Drive to visit any Deh Cho community and once people realize you are in from out of town, one of the first questions you'll get is "how were the roads?" Smooth roads can mean the difference between an expedient, stress-free trip and lengthy delays if you have to drive slowly to avoid washboard, potholes or soft spots or, worse yet, end up off the road.

Most Deh Cho residents have at least one story related to bad road conditions and what happened as a result. Every one hopes for good road conditions when they head out.

But what those conditions look like might not be the same for everyone. Chipseal is often held up as the holy grail for the highways in the Deh Cho.

People imagine chipseal stretching as far as the eye can see, smooth, flat and a dream to drive on. Just think of the trips then. The distances wouldn't get any smaller, but traveling them would be faster and easier.

No more giant dust clouds in the summer that hide oncoming vehicles, no more chipped windshields every time a transport truck passes. Wouldn't it be lovely?

Of course those dreams aren't always tempered by reality. Who wants ruin the ideal by thinking of the chipseal near the junction of Highways 1 and 3 that has been breaking apart almost since it was laid. And potholes, those can get pretty deep in chipseal.

For some, ideal highways in the Deh Cho are ones that are well maintained even if they are gravel. As long as the surface and its under structure are kept in good repair, gravel highways can get people where they need to go with few problems. In perfect conditions it can feel almost as smooth as chipseal.

Yes, gradually getting all the Deh Cho highways chipsealed is something most residents want to see. In the meantime, perhaps instead of an extra 20 km of chipseal here or there, residents should be pressing the Department of Transportation to have equally good highway conditions between all communities.

No highway should be allowed to lapse so that a few more kilometres of chipseal can be added elsewhere.

When it comes to the demolition of Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, people know a controversy when they see one.

Following last week's story on the school, several people sent some sharply-worded e-mails that were forwarded to the Inuvik Drum by travel agent Zora Zubko.

Although clearly appreciating the school's historical association with the residential school era, these people, including Zubko, have good memories of the school.

It's not possible to repeat the e-mails in their entirety, but a few snippets are revealing.

"It was not just a school," one reader wrote. "The town's social life revolved around that building in the early days – Halloween parties, talent shows, concerts, plays and sports competitions that we all attended. It breaks my heart to see that building being torn down – it was the centre of the community I grew up in."

"All of our hearts go out to those who suffered in any way, but we can never forget the many people that made, and continue to make, Inuvik their home," writes another.

And yet another reader writes, "I am sure all of us have our own stories about how this school was our 'centre of our universe' when we were little.

"I am sorry for what happened to those who came from out of town. But we went home every night and looked forward to the next day of school. All of our little lives were changed for the better with education, sports and friendships. I think that our positive story is being lost or shaded by the bad stories."

That's a sampling of the comments, some of which were considerably less polite. While the opinion they express is valid, and they have every right to express them, it is important to show respect for the differing opinions others might hold, particularly on this part of history.

Some people have good memories of SAMS, and that's fine. Others do not, and that is also valid. It's all part of the overall perspective. SAMS has meant many things to many people. Thankfully, there is a large segment of the population who fondly recall their time spent in the hallways and classrooms.

Last week saw the Yellowknife debut of Brigette DePape, the young woman made famous by the handmade "Stop Harper" sign she held in the Senate chamber while working as a parliamentary page in 2011.

DePape was in town for a workshop on social activism, flown in on the dime of local labour organizations and social awareness groups.

While it is always good to start a discussion on how the government, no matter what level, can be improved, there needs to be more than just slogans and jargon.

DePape came to national prominence for saying "Stop Harper." Fine then, but stop the prime minister from doing what, exactly?

Many people would agree that Stephen Harper hasn't exactly been a likeable prime minister but the ugliness of his warts aside, there is no denying that Harper has made the North a key area of concern since taking office eight years ago. Many will remember past governments - both the Liberals and the long-gone Progressive Conservatives - which paid little attention to the North at the best of times.

And if Harper is to be stopped, what's next? What political solution is the right answer? Should Canadians give the old/new of Justin Trudeau's Liberal brand another try in the top spot? Or perhaps the answer is Thomas Mulcair and the New Democratic Party. Is it time for the party that Jack Layton led into the official opposition to take the next step and become the leading party?

And beyond the expediencies of party politics, what policies should be pursued? And how will they benefit the North and the rest of Canada?

To often the discussion is drowned out in ad hominem attacks that take us nowhere closer to addressing the real issues at stake.

There is nothing wrong with opposing the government but it ought to come with a message stronger than scripted slogans and a "Stop Harper" sign - if the goal is to convince people to change their vote.

Considering how only 30 people attended DePape's workshop earlier this month - no doubt familiar faces all among the local activists who attended - it seems doubtful that people are heeding the call.

Talk of First Air and Canadian North merging is making some Yellowknifers nervous.

It was announced last week that company executives were having serious discussions over consolidating the two brands. Peter McCart, vice-president of sales and marketing for Canadian North, said it made sense to combine the strengths of both companies to "create a stronger, more sustainable business."

Many still remember the bad old days before national carriers Air Canada and WestJet landed in town. With little competition, airfares were expensive - almost identically so between the two Northern airlines. A merger between First Air and Canadian North gives air travellers one less option to choose from - although the addition of Yellowknife-to-Ottawa flights this year through Yukon-based Air North is a positive mitigating factor.

However, mergers don't always mean hardship for the consumer. Combining the two companies will likely streamline their operations, giving customers faster, more efficient service. A major complaint among Yellowknife's fliers is the frequent lateness for both incoming and outgoing flights to southern connections.

Streamlining services could give the two airlines the competitive edge that will keep southern-based competition on their toes, while hopefully translating into better service all-around for customers.

The negotiators must keep these factors in mind while they work out a deal and remember that the competition will quickly scoop up customers if they fail to make a deal that benefits all.

As regular readers of this space realize, it came as no surprise to me when the Parti Quebecois's illadvised charter of values and raised voice for separation cost it the Quebec provincial election on April 7.

But I do admit surprise to just how dearly the blunders cost them.

In short, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) was devastated at the polls, with the Liberals grabbing 70 seats and more than 41 per cent of the popular vote on their way to forming a majority government in La Belle Province.

The PQ claimed only 30 seats and a disastrous 25 per cent of the popular vote.

Party leader Pauline Marois resigned after losing her CharlevoixCotedeBeaupre seat while watching the PQ drop 24 seats and its dreams of a majority government.

In fact, it barely remained the official opposition by finishing three per cent ahead of the Coalition Avenir Quebec and its 22 seats.

Quebec solidaire took three seats in the election.

Marois made a fatal mistake by getting caught up in the fistpumping rhetoric of Pierre Karl Peladeau, who vowed to make Quebec a country.

Peladeau's antics seemed to light a fuse of disconnect in Marois, who began to publicly muse about life as the leader of a sovereign Quebec.

The habit alienated many in the voting public. Coupled with the secular charter that caused a backlash of anger across most of the country, the majority of Quebec voters decided the PQ was on its own page, not theirs, and choose what they viewed as the lesser of two evils in Philippe Couillard's Liberals.

I've never quite understood why the PQ attached such a shining star to Peladeau, given its troubles with organized students and his disdain for organized labour.

But as was mentioned in a Doug Firby column this past week, the uber-wealthy media baron, Peladeau, may be the best hope of every Canadian who wishes our country to remain intact and to see the PQ destroyed once and for all.

Peladeau, as with Marois, has little in common with the masses.

He can be brash, outspoken and overly-dramatic, and he's used to wielding all the power money can buy to get his own way, while often coming across as being his own biggest fan.

Should he gain the PQ leadership, chances are high he will not take the time to slowly rebuild lost confidence in the party.

He's more likely to take a banzai run at making another referendum his main platform in the next Quebec election.

It could turn into a wonderful scenario for the millions of Canadians who prefer their country intact.

Distrusted by organized labour and student leaders suspicious of his intentions, and with a middle and lower class feeling disenfranchised and not able to relate to his upper-crust ways, Peladeau may, to nick Firby's analogy, turn out to be the political version of Custer's Last Stand for the PQ.

It now promises to be an interesting four years ahead for Quebec, with no tolerance for political missteps.

And that may end the separatist movement once and for all, if Peladeau leads the next PQ charge while not caring whose toes he steps on in his quest to be king.

Mistakes must be acknowledged, especially when the integrity of democracy is on the line.

The Lutsel K'e election committee did exactly that when they wrote up their report on the community's March 14 election.

Among other conclusions, they found one candidate withdrew from the race after deadline had passed.

Given that a recount ended in a tie, it called the validity of the election into question as "even a single vote for that nominee could have altered the outcome of the election," the report stated.

They had two choices: start from scratch with a new election or hold a run-off election to break a tie between front-runners Archie Catholique and Felix Lockhart. In choosing a fresh start, they chose democracy over convenience, giving candidates and voters the opportunity for a new election that can be seen to carry out their will.

This may not have been an easy call to make. According to their report, a band councillor directly connected to a candidate threatened legal action if the election results were overturned. But given the late withdrawal, there was sufficient doubt to call into question whether Catholique and Lockhart would have actually tied.

Whatever frustration candidates and the electorate may feel at the prospect of starting anew, it is important that the election clearly represent the will of the people.

The committee also shed light on other issues that will hopefully make the next election run more smoothly.

The committee recommended that the next election be held on a Saturday, when regular staff is not working at the band office.

There were concerns raised about candidates being related to band office staff. While the report states that having them handle ballots is not covered in the rules, it does affect the integrity of the system.

This too is a move in the right direction. Every effort must be made to ensure an election passes the smell test.

With these lessons learned, hopefully the next election will offer less questionable results.

The stakes are high in the Beaufort Delta, where the Environmental Impact Review Board (EIRB) is consulting communities about a proposed drilling project 125 km off the coast of Tuktoyaktuk.

On the one hand, the Beaufort Sea Exploration Joint Venture Drilling Program would mean new jobs and training opportunities in a region where the unemployment rate is almost twice the territorial average.

On the other hand, as Michelle Gruben of Aklavik notes, one wrong move could affect the way of life for everyone who uses the area.

How does one balance the opportunity against the risks? Well Gruben, along with 20 other Aklavik community members, decided to make their concerns known at a meeting held by the board late last March.

The idea is for the board to respond to what community members have to say when drafting an environmental review.

When it's done, Gruben can say whether she likes the response or not at a public hearing.

But those who didn't show up for the public meetings that have already passed through six communities, and don't write in to the board by the deadline for comments, may not have the same opportunity.

That's why it's important to speak now, so the best-informed decision possible can be made. The public meetings are over for now, but those who wish can still submit a written comment by the end of April.

If you've got a stake and have your own concerns, it's a good idea to make it known before that time, when it will be given the greatest consideration.

Seriously? Female Inuit workers at Agnico Eagle's Meadowbank gold mine have reportedly been subjected to sexual harassment including name-calling, abusive language, exposure to human indignities and, most disturbingly, sexual assault including incidents that may have included rape.

The horrific descriptions of the alleged treatment of women at the mine are included as a small portion of a 188-page report produced in large part by the University of British Columbia's school of social work.

Allegations such as these made by the employees are serious and are worthy of investigation, so we started asking questions.

The RCMP at the Baker Lake detachment said they have heard no reports of sexual misconduct at the mine as described in the report. Officers work closely with the mine company's four full-time security personnel who are former Mounties and operate on rotation so there is constant coverage.

A company spokesperson said there was one incident of non-physical sexual harassment filed by a female Inuit employee since 2010, which resulted in the firing of the male employee who was involved.

So where are these allegations coming from? The report, titled The Impact of Resource Extraction on Inuit Women and Families in Qamani'tuaq, Nunavut Territory, was affiliated with the Canadian Women's Foundation and Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, based in Ottawa.

It is a broad-ranging study that was completed at the request of graduate students or a community facilitator by employees and Baker Lake community members. No names were attached to the responses. There are 736 permanent employees at Meadowbank, but only 101 are female and only 68 employees are Inuit women.

By all accounts, Agnico Eagle is proactive in its human resources operation, including having two Inuktitut-speaking personnel on site. They hold regular Inuit support group meetings with no management present and have several programs and resources in place to foster a safe workplace environment.

What is curious is that Agnico Eagle was not contacted by the study's authors about the findings. Our request for comment to Pauktuutit about the report was referred to the report's joint authors at the University of British Columbia.

Allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace are serious. The fact that no names are attached to statements suggesting improprieties have taken place is suspicious. If true, why weren't the complaints taken to the authorities, mine security, the mine's human resources people, or the police in the community where the workers reside?

It is important that a mine workplace be safe for all people, regardless of their gender or cultural background. Accountability is necessary for that to happen.

We consider it serious that these allegations were made in the absence of formal complaints and encourage all employees in any workplace to report incidents of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct immediately.

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