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Monday, May 26, 2014
More groups to sign devolution
Four more aboriginal governments are scheduled to sign on to the devolution agreement today at the legislative assembly in Yellowknife.
Community leaders from Acho Dene Koe First Nation, Fort Liard Metis Local #67, Salt River First Nation and Deninu Kue First Nation will attend a signing even beginning at 1:30 May 26, according to a GNWT news release.
- Laura Busch
Treaty signing to be celebrated
Smith's Landing First Nation and Salt River First Nation will hold a commemoration next month to celebrate the 115 years since the signing of Treaty 8 at Fort Fitzgerald, Alta.
The commemoration will take place June 17, beginning at 3 p.m.
Afterwards, there will be a traditional feast followed by hand games.
Treaty 8 was signed in Fort Fitzgerald July 17, 1899.
It was also signed by First Nations in various other locations in 1899 and 1900.
The commemoration in Fort Fitzgerald is being held June 17 to coincide with the 44th Dene National Assembly, set for June 16 to 20 in Fort Smith.
- Paul Bickford
Writer to speak at Fort Smith library
Monique Gray Smith, an indigenous writer from British Columbia, will give a public reading at Fort Smith's Mary Kaeser Library June 5 during a visit to the community sponsored by
NorthWords.
She is the author of a new book titled Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience.
- Paul Bickford
'Excessive' liquor seized in Deline
A 45-year-old Deline woman has been charged under the community's liquor restriction regulations after RCMP found an "excessive" amount of liquor May 16, an RCMP press release stated.
During the search, RCMP found 16 cans of beer, five 375-ml bottles of Smirnoff vodka, two 375-ml bottles of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, one 375-ml bottle of Alberta Pure vodka and one 750-ml bottle of Lindemans red wine.
Alcohol is a restricted substance in Deline.
According to the regulations, the woman could receive a $500 fine, 30 days in jail, or both.
She is scheduled to appear in Justice of the Peace court Nov. 5.
- Kassina Ryder
p>Fort Smith names AWG bid co-chair
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Town of Fort Smith has named a community resident to co-chair the committee developing a bid to host the 2018 Arctic Winter Games in the South Slave.
Janie Hobart was selected co-chair at a meeting on May 15.
Hobart is a former mayor of Fort Smith, president of the Thebacha Chamber of Commerce, a businessperson and a well-known volunteer, including in a number of sports.
The Fort Smith co-chair will immediately begin working with the Hay River co-chair and other members of the South Slave Bid Committee.
Jessica Cox, chair of the Fort Smith Recreation Advisory Board, was selected as the vice-co-chair for Fort Smith.
- Paul Bickford
Three graduates at Helen Kalvak
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Helen Kalvak School will be hosting its annual graduation ceremony May 22 at 6 p.m.
Graduating this year are: Grade 12 students Rhea Klengenberg, Koral Kudlak, and Katherine Kataoyak.
The event ceremony will be followed by a feast for all in attendance.
The school will hold a year-end award ceremony May 28 before the closing of the school on May 29.
- Simon Whitehouse
Ice pool contest finishes
Aklavik
Frank H. Kasook was the winner of a $100 cash prize after guessing most accurately in Aklavik's 17th annual David Husky Memorial Ice Pool Contest this week.
Hamlet administrative assistant Faye Gordon said that the contest opened May 7 and featured 269 entries and 747 guesses overall.
Kasook, who guessed that the ice would move at 5 p.m. May 19 was only off by 11 minutes when the ice moved at 5:11 p.m. May 19. The movement of ice came earlier than last year when it moved May 31.
- Simon Whitehouse
Talent show at kiddies carnival
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
The volunteer special activities committee held a talent show of jigging, jiving and twisting May 19 at the community complex in Fort McPherson.
Committee member Shirley Snowshoe said the committee of about seven people decided to hold the bi-annual event for the first time in conjunction with the Kiddies Carnival. Over the past five years, the committee has typically held the event at Christmas and Easter.
The first ever Kiddies Carnival took place earlier in the day and was co-organized by Stephanie Peterson and Shaylene Allen.
The event featured a balloon bust, musical chairs, running games and other activities for the public. Allen said the carnival featured about 60 children and about six volunteers.
- Simon Whitehouse
Radio station hosts talent show
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
The Gwich'in Tribal Council's justice committee hosted a Spring Talent Show on CBQM FM May 18. The event featured five hours of local talent from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., which included mostly singers competing for cash prizes.
"This is maybe the second time it has been put on and we got lots of good feedback from people who listened in," said justice co-odinator Bella K. Martin.
Participants fell into four categories and competed for cash prizes. The results are as follows: youth category - Clifton Francis, first ($100), Shenise Vittrekwa second, ($80) and Adrena Ross third, ($60). In the budding artists' category, Alan Vittrekwa, first ($200), Peggy Bonnetplume second, ($150) and Joanne Blake, third ($100). In fiddling, Brennan Firth first ($300), Brandon Firth second ($200) and William Koe third ($100). In the 16 years old and older category, Wilbert Kandi, took first ($500), Bobby Blake, second ($400), Eric Blake, third ($300), and Trevor Peterson, fourth ($150).
- Simon Whitehouse
Band office hosts spring cleanup
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
The Tsiigehtchic Band is scheduled to host its annual spring clean up May 24 starting at about 1 p.m., according to acting recreation co-ordinator Jolene McCarthy.
As in past years, members of the community were asked to volunteer.
A cookout was also scheduled at the end of the event with a barbecue raffle for adults and a BMX bicycle raffle for youth.
"Usually, everybody meets at the band office and they make groups before they go out and pick a street and clean the community," said McCarthy.
- Simon Whitehouse
Hamlet of Enterprise picks modular home
Enterprise
The Hamlet of Enterprise has opted to buy a modular home as a residence for any future permanent senior administrative officer (SAO) for the community.
Council unanimously passed a motion at its May 5 meeting to proceed with the purchase.
Interim SAO John McKee said a 1,200-square-foot modular home would come in under the hamlet's budget of $200,000, without furniture.
The alternative was to continue trying to obtain an existing house from the NWT Housing Corporation at a cost of about $160,000, plus about $10,000 in upgrades.
However, McKee said he had found correspondence with the corporation concerning the house dating back to 2007, and he was not optimistic an arrangement would be reached soon.
Coun. Jim Dives said he does not believe it is a suitable house.
"I think we would be a lot better off as a community investing in buying a modular home," Dives said, noting the goal is to help attract a permanent SAO and have that person live in the community.
- Paul Bickford
Fort Smith minor hockey sets AGM
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Fort Smith Minor Hockey Association will hold its annual general meeting next month.
The meeting has been set for June 12, beginning at 7 p.m. in the theatre of the Rec Centre.
- Paul Bickford
Uqqummiut MLA in treatment facility
Iqaluit
Uqqummiut MLA Samuel Nuqingaq is receiving counselling at a residential treatment facility for substance abuse, the Nunavut legislature heard May 22. Nuqingaq checked himself in for a 60-day program.
In response, his fellow MLAs voted to extend to July 16 his March 6 suspension from the legislative assembly. The reasons were not specified, but the initial suspension came just weeks after incidents in Qikiqtarjuaq for which the MLA now faces two charges.
The 42-year-old faces one count of assault and one count of unlawfully entering a dwelling with intent to commit an indictable offence. His next court date is scheduled for June 26 in Qikiqtarjuaq.
Nuqingaq had a rough start to his term, missing all but the last day of a week-long orientation session in the fall of 2013. In his motion to continue the suspension, Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq noted the legislature's power to discipline its members, without detailing the specific reason.
In the meantime, Tununiq MLA Joe Enook is offering to voice any concerns on behalf of Nuqingaq's constituents in Qikiqtarjuaq and Clyde River.
"All Nunavummiut deserve to be represented in the assembly," Enook said, noting that his own community faced a similar lack of representation when his predecessor was ill. "In the interim, I would be privileged to help represent them in the house."
- Casey Lessard
New drivers help ease burden
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
There are five new qualified truck drivers in Kimmirut, much to the delight of hamlet officials.
Jammy Akpik, Jamesie Judea, Johnnylee Judea, Aibilee Kolola and Saqiqtaq Temela completed their Class 3 air brake training May 20 under the direction of instructor Allan Kilabuk of Pangnirtung, who spent two weeks in the community.
"The problem we have here at the hamlet is we are always short of drivers for our water and sewage trucks," said economic development officer Peety Pitsiulak. "So those participants will definitely benefit the community."
The course participants will be able to drive all of the hamlet's big trucks, helping fill a need, especially on evenings and weekends, Pitsiulak said.
- Casey Lessard
Pauktuutit doesn't support inquiry
Nunavut
Pauktuutit says that until it is confident its priorities will be part of the mandate and scope of any national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada, it cannot support the call for one.
The national organization for Inuit women is concerned about the lack of Inuit-specific data contained in the most recent report released by the RCMP on the issue of murdered and missing aboriginal women, stated a press release.
"Pauktuutit encourages the RCMP to further analyze their data with regard to Inuit to better understand and address the issue of missing Inuit women," the release stated.
The organization cites specific factors related to Inuit women's vulnerability to violence, such as the housing crisis in Inuit communities, substance abuse, the highest suicide rates in the country and unresolved past traumas.
"I note that the RCMP are recommending that they enhance their efforts to address family violence prevention through detachments in communities with high rates of violence," said president Rebecca Kudloo.
"We welcome that recommendation, but at Pauktuutit we are increasingly concerned that a proposal we submitted to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada in February 2014 for a national, Inuit-specific family violence awareness campaign has still not been approved."
- Michele LeTourneau
NCamp grads announced
Salliq/Coral Harbour
The 11 participants to complete the Nunavut Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (NCamp) in Coral Harbour this past month are David Saimaut, John Pameolik, Jake Netser, Greg Ningeocheak, Jonathon Emiktowt, Rachel Emiktowt, Darcy Nakoolak, Troy Netser, Logan Kadlak, Tamara Kolit and Charlie Shapagnak.
The fishdatagathering program was held by the Department of the Environment.
- Darrell Greer
Games to celebrate
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
Students in Gjoa Haven celebrated Hamlet Day May 15 - with a twist.
Tone Wang, a guest from Oslo, Norway, shared with the students what children in Norway do on their national day. Wang had pictures to demonstrate the games and parades that take place.
"Their children participate in three-legged races, potato/spoon races and potato sack races," stated Margaret Joyce in an e-mail. "They end their day with snacks of ice cream and hot dogs. Our children were very interested in the pictures and listened attentively to Tone."
The students then played similar games, beginning with the potato race, but used ping pong balls instead.
"The next game was the potato sack race. Unlike the Norwegian children who had real potato sacks, we used coloured sacks our elders' sewing group made for the children."
Student support assistants baked fish to add to a snack of cheese, crackers and a fruit drink.
"The children appreciated the treat as did our elders who joined the group," said Joyce. "Our celebration was a success."
- Michele LeTourneau
Scholarship deadline looms
Kivalliq
Kivalliq students planning to attend a postsecondary institution in 201415 are reminded the deadline for applying to Northwestel for one of six $4,000 scholarships is July 31.
Northwestel provides the $4,000 scholarships to Northern residents across its operating area.
The successful applicants must be attending postsecondary education in commerce/business, engineering, electrical, telecommunications or computer sciences.
Priority for three of the six awards is given to aboriginal students.
The successful applicants will also receive a letter of offer guaranteeing them a position with Northwestel for the upcoming summer.
- Darrell Greer
Elders gathering planned
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
The Illuajuammiut Elders and Youth Committee are organizing an elders gathering.
More than 100 elders are expected to travel to Cape Dorset from all over Nunavut for the August gathering. The committee is currently fundraising and running bingos to help cover costs.
The hamlet is organizing a summer clean-up, planned for June 20. Anyone interested in helping out and making a bit of money can call the hamlet office.
- Michele LeTourneau
Big prizes at derby time
Arviat
The annual Cod Derby was to be held May 23 to May 25 in Arviat. The prizes included, from first to sixth, $15,000, $5,000, $4,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000.
The derby was scheduled to begin at midnight May 22 and end at 6 p.m. May 26, with measuring to take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 26 at the school's carpenter shop next to the Qitiqliq Middle School.
The committee also planned to hold a prize draw for participants, which included a system-wide Calm Air pass for two and a 16-GB iPad from Arctic Connection.
- Michele LeTourneau
Let the hunt begin
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
A group of youth in Kimmirut will soon learn to hunt geese, thanks to funding by the Department of Culture and Heritage.
"The snow is melting pretty fast," said economic development officer Peety Pitsiulak, so they are hoping the group of 20 to 25 youth will be organized within the next week. The hunting date and location are yet to be determined.
The hamlet received $12,000 to pay two guides and a youth co-ordinator, and to cover the costs of renting snowmobiles from community members.
- Casey Lessard
Calling all elders
Kivalliq/Kitikmeot
The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit needs to fill two seats with elders - one from the Kivalliq and one from the Kitikmeot.
Members make recommendations about how Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit can be implemented throughout government and public agencies, according to the Minister of Culture and Heritage Paul Okalik.
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit members are respected elders of the community, who have experience with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and must be fluent in oral and written Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun and attend at least six meetings per year.
- Michele LeTourneau
Engage North students arrive
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Three University of Alberta students arrived May 20 in Pangnirtung and will spend the summer on projects that will benefit the community long-term.
The students are working on separate projects in conjunction with local organizations, Making Connections for Youth co-ordinator Jesse Jacobs said.An engineering student will help develop a Healthy Arcade using a new type of treadmill and a virtual reality headset, which will be up and running hopefully by the fall, Jacobs said.
A health student is working on a project to determine the healthiest options for those on a low budget.
"She's trying to find the best bang for your buck, with a health component," Jacobs said.
A third student is helping at the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts to help find a way to showcase the work of local artists.
The university funds most of the project, with the municipality providing supervision, a place to work and a place to live, Jacobs said.
- Casey Lessard
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