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Judging by the growing number of charges aimed at traditional hunting and gathering activities in recent months, it might not be unreasonable to assume the territorial government is celebrating devolution by taking potshots at treaty beneficiaries.

How else does one explain the recent charge against former Ndilo chief Fred Sangris for illegally harvesting wood? This follows a similar case where Barrett Lenoir, a member the Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson was ticketed for transporting illegal wood, and fines levied at several Yellowknives hunters for harvesting caribou without tags.

Fining Dene hunters for illegally hunting caribou is a political landmine. But given the present circumstances, with barrenground caribou herds still far from recovery, it is the GNWT's responsibility to protect their dwindling numbers. Indeed, Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger was unequivocally granted the power after a tortuous, dozen-year gestation of the new Wildlife Act that finally passed through the legislative assembly last year.

There have been some unnecessary irritants, such as the alleged continued issuance of caribou tags bearing the signature of Dettah Chief Ed Sangris and the Yellowknives Dene logo - much to the band's displeasure - but reasonable people would agree that the caribou hunt can't continue as a free-for-all while their numbers remain low.

The tickets handed out for taking firewood without permits are another matter. Unlike caribou, the forests around Yellowknife are ubiquitous. There is no industry, and there is no danger treaty card holders in the area, doing what they've been doing since time immemorial, will be denuding the landscape for firewood anytime soon.

Why the GNWT wishes to roll the dice on a court case it is bound to lose will become a multi-million dollar question by the time the lawyers are through with it.

Lenoir eventually paid his fine but with Dene Nation Chief Bill Erasmus and current Ndilo Chief Ernest Betsina lining up behind him, there is every indication Sangris intends to go the distance.

Beyond that, the beehive Premier Bob McLeod has carefully constructed around his relationships with Dene leaders in the leadup to devolution is being pelted by rocks from renewable resource officers within his own government.

This hardly seems a worthwhile fight, and will likely only harm the territorial government's credibility with First Nations at great expense in time and money.

Erasmus said in court last month that the territorial government is simply flexing its muscles now that devolution has come into effect. McLeod and his government would be wise to prove him wrong.

Last week, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation raised a pertinent question: who is inspecting Giant Mine now that federal mine inspectors have devolved to the territorial government?

The fact that the Yellowknives have been asking the federal government - which remains responsible for cleanup at Giant mine - for an answer for the past six months to no avail is shameful in and of itself. The fact that Ottawa is still unable to give Yellowknifer an answer to that question more than a week after making our own inquiries only proves that providing the answers is not a priority for this government.

Dettah Chief Ed Sangris has said he is skeptical that a bureaucrat sitting in an office in Gatineau, Que., can properly appreciate the realities and dangers that come with the spring melt at Giant, when Baker Creek resumes its flow through the mine site to Great Slave Lake. There is nothing unfair about that assessment.

For now, Yellowknifer can only speculate that this can all be chalked up to post-devolution confusion. However, if a lack of federal resources truly is to blame, why not contract out Giant Mine inspections to the territorial government - who now employ the same people who used to do the job for the feds - until a permanent solution can be found?

Jurisdictional confusion may be somewhat acceptable when it comes to houseboats, shacks and cabins, but it is plain unacceptable when it comes to Giant Mine and the 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide buried at the people's backdoor.

Aboriginal governments are often stuck in a situation of planning for and wanting one thing, but only having the money for something different.

As funding to First Nations decreases they are more and more often having to make compromises in different areas and make do with less while reducing the services and programming they offer. The recent transfer of responsibility for aboriginal language revitalization from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) to aboriginal governments is a slightly complicated case in point.

There is no denying there is excitement around the new reality of aboriginal governments in the NWT being responsible for their languages. The department made the change because time and time again they heard that aboriginal languages are best strengthened and managed by aboriginal people themselves.

Participants in Dehcho First Nations' recent meeting about how to implement the region's five-year aboriginal language plan and manage the new responsibility showed optimism about the possibilities.

The new system comes with a multi-year funding agreement that is designed to allow for longer-term planning. But while ECE says the agreement has given aboriginal governments control over more funding than was allotted in the past, there wasn't enough to give each group 100 per cent of what they asked for. The department is working to get more funding from the federal government, but there are no guarantees.

So what are aboriginal governments like DFN left to do? Make compromises and find cost savings wherever possible.

Aboriginal language revitalization is critical work. Languages like Dene Zhatie are not as strong as they once were and are fading further in many communities.

DFN would undoubtedly like unlimited funding for this important work, but that's not realistic. It will be interesting to see what programs Deh Cho communities develop to support Dene Zhatie language and literacy and how the pot of funding will be divided between them. There are already plans for communities to share resources and for a regional language co-ordinator to assist the smaller communities that have fewer resources and less funding.

Taking control of language revitalization is an exciting opportunity for the region, but also a challenge with the limited funding. Hopefully some meaningful work will still be able to be done to promote the language.

As the last couple of weekends showed us, as the midnight sun creeps closer, so do bouts of vandalism.

Patricia Davison, executive director of the Children's First Centre, said last week it's unlikely the two incidents of vandalism at the child care centre are specifically aimed at the facility.

Rather, the vandalism and mischief is the start of something that sprouts like willows with the warm weather and long days.

There are many arguments as to why it happens through the summer. Boredom and lack of supervision are one constant refrain, as people point their fingers at Inuvik's youth.

That's why the calls for a new curfew bylaw will soon resurface. A little more than a year ago, Inuvik town council members revoked the curfew bylaw that hadn't been enforced in several years.

Their rationale was that it was "unenforceable" and possibly unconstitutional.

While there's little doubt that the youth demographic is responsible for some of the public nuisances this time of year, I doubt it can be blamed for everything.

Many laws are unenforceable when there is no political will to enforce them.

A better argument can be made for unconstitutionality. Councillor Alana Mero has been one of the chief advocates for the notion that a curfew is unconstitutional, and she might well be correct in her opinion. However, it appears as if a legal precedent establishing that has never been clearly set in Canada.

The idea of a curfew resonates with the public because it's a seen as simple, common-sense solution to the problem. While it's a potentially useful tool, it also comes with certain difficulties and there's an argument to be made on its effectiveness.

If it's not the youth, say under age 16 or 18 who are the real culprits, how is a curfew going to help? The answer is that it won't.

The public nuisance, mischief and vandalism problems are too complex to be solved by anything less than a comprehensive strategy. It's certainly not going to be solved by the public clamouring for the easy solution, which is a curfew, or by public officials dodging that issue by invoking the "unenforceable" clause.

At some point, the town as a whole is going to have to come together and find a common solution.

It's time for that dialogue, and a more objective view of the topic, to begin.

There is nothing wrong with the city going green - providing city council's longing for environmental accolades doesn't break the back of Yellowknife taxpayers.

This is the risk that comes to the city as it tries to out-green other municipalities. Emboldened by three years running as Canada's "Most Sustainable Small Sized City" - awarded by a group nobody has ever heard of, the Corporate Knights - city hall wasted no time trying to live up to its anointed status by trying to foist an overly-ambitious geothermal and district energy project on the citizenry in 2010.

It was an interesting concept and may have eventually succeeded had the city managed to get more downtown properties onside and not spent so much time focusing on unproven geothermal possibilities from Con Mine. Draped in secrecy, and headed by a council blinded by enthusiasm, the district energy project was doomed to fail after voters refused to approve the $49 million the city needed to borrow to get it off the ground.

The city has been more modest in its green energy efforts since then but a recent declaration that the city intends to become carbon neutral by 2025 - while pointing to similar aims expressed by much larger cities such as Copenhagen and Sydney, Australia - ought to give council reason to pause.

Some measures are no-brainers. The city reports having reduced its annual operating costs by $500,000 since 2006 while cutting its reliance on greenhouse gases by more than 24 per cent by through energy-efficient retrofits, such as installing wood pellet boilers and a heat-recovery program at the Multiplex.

Another is the city's decision to replace street lamps with LED lights, which is expected to be paid back after seven-and-a-half years while saving the city more than 975,000 kilowatt-hours in electricity per year.

But Carl Bird, director of corporate services and a big backer of the geothermal project, says before it can truly depend on renewable energy, the city will have to invest in newer technologies. This includes building a wind farm and a 'digester' at the dump's baling facility to convert waste into bio-gas.

City government must remember the first priority of the renewable energy's plan is saving money. Future plans must not mean investing millions in new technologies that don't have a proven record in reducing costs.

Officials must do their research into what is compatible to the area's energy consumption needs and make sure these technologies will be less expensive than current energy sources.

It would be very hard for ratepayers to feel good about reducing carbon emissions when they are burdened by higher costs to pay for it.

Council should look to Ontario, where communities have been saddled with expensive energy schemes that failed to deliver on their savings promises.

Tying green energy to cost-saving will ensure future success and accolades from the most important authority - Yellowknifers.

Being in Repulse Bay for three days to officiate the Arctic Circle Cup hockey tournament this past month was a wonderful experience.

Although the tourney featured some decent hockey and a great final game, that wasn't what made my three days on the Bay so special.

It was the kids. And they were everywhere!

First, I was swarmed by a number of peewee-aged types who remembered me as a ref from the Powerful Peewees event earlier this year in Rankin Inlet.

Some of them simply wanted to say hello, while others couldn't help but wonder if I remembered them from the Rankin tourney.

And many were filled to the brim with questions about officiating.

Do you like it? Is it scary? How long have you been reffing?

The last one is always met with a collective, "whoa!" when I tell them.

And, my personal favourite, "are you the oldest referee in Nunavut?"

There's nothing like a little ego-deflator from the mouths of babes.

Then comes the group who start by asking my name.

I've always found it a little curious when a dozen kids surround me, and each one takes their cue from the first to ask my name.

It's like they're waiting for the answer to change.

Then, of course, they want to know where I'm from.

When I tell them Rankin, I'm immediately met with a kid's look of scepticism that anyone who's raised a child knows all too well.

That signals the start of what I like to think of as the challenge round of questioning.

Once convinced I am, in fact, from Rankin, and have lived here for a long time, the flood gates open and the inquisition begins in full force.

By the second day, a slowly growing number start asking my last name.

I still find it hilarious, listening to them trying to pronounce all five letters of it correctly.

When the last name questions start, I know some of the kids are starting to put two-and-two together.

With some, the name rings a bell of recognition that can only come from Dad, or another relative, singing my 'praises' as a referee after returning home from a tournament in Rankin.

Again, hilarious is the only word to describe the I-know-something-you-don't-know looks on their faces as they realize they've just come face-to-face with the object of their relative's 'affection.'

The other group swings in a different direction after learning my last name.

They delegate the bravest amongst them to ask if I'm the Kivalliq News guy.

Once convinced I am, I spend the next 10 minutes in old (well, not that old) writer's heaven, as they diligently report the name of every friend and family member who has appeared in the newspaper.

It is, without a doubt, the warmest feeling I've ever had as a writer-journalist.

Some tournaments, of course, go off the rails and become so intense it makes it difficult to enjoy the kids the same way at the arena.

Thankfully, they are few and far between.

The rest of the time, being with the kids makes me remember while hockey is the best game on the planet, children will always be our greatest treasure.

To the hundreds of kids I met in Repulse this past month: thanks for the reminder!

Last week, the Governor General of Canada awarded a number of Northerners and former Northerners with awards of bravery for their actions in harrowing and life-threatening situations.

Inuvik's Larry James Angasuk Jr., Teddy John Allen Omilgoituk, RCMP constable Todd Glemser were recognized for their actions during a fatal house fire in Inuvik. The men were instrumental in puling two children from the flames. Unfortunately, one child did not survive.

Cpl. Scott Joseph Young risked his life to save a suicidal person fro the Slave River.

Sheldon Charles Catholique was awarded for his actions following a plane crash near Lutsel K'e. Despite suffering from severe injuries, he managed to pull a woman to safety and care for her injuries while they waited for help to arrive.

Also awarded last week was Fort McPherson's Charlie Snowshoe. He received an Indspire Award for his efforts to help protect the environment. It is the third award the elder has received for such efforts.

All of these people, albeit for different reasons, are examples of how all of us can contribute to protecting the people around us and the land we live on.

None of them put their lives on the line or dedicated their lives to a cause seeking to be rewarded. Nonetheless, the awards are great ways to recognize their efforts and inspire the rest of us to be greater.

There was a lengthy round of applause at the recent Nunavut Mining Symposium gala dinner when James Nasso, the chairperson of the board at Agnico Eagle Mines, announced the company is providing $5 million to the Government of Nunavut to start a fund for the creation of a University of Nunavut.

The company deserves the applause for backing an initiative that has been identified by many people as a necessity for Nunavut. Further, it is noteworthy that Agnico Eagle has specified that the money be used toward a bricks-and-mortar project to create a university in the territory. With the trend toward distant learning, and recognizing that there is no physical university in either of Canada's three territories, the distinction is important.

How much it will cost to create a university is another matter. Although $5 million may sound

like a lot of money, when one considers the costs of construction, establishment of a curriculum, hiring of staff and the myriad details involved with establishing a physical centre for post-secondary learning, it is only a small start.

More corporate partners will be needed, the federal government will need to become involved with the provision of funding and the territorial government will be challenged to put planning pieces in place, such as deciding on a location, timeline and budget.

Establishment of a university fits well with the goals stated by Premier Peter Taptuna and his cabinet that this government's primary focus during its current term is education.

Critics have suggested more attention is required at the elementary and high school level. That is where the Department of Education is currently focusing its efforts.

We suggest that work toward building a university shouldn't interfere with work toward improving standards and results in kindergarten-to-Grade 12 classrooms.

In fact, the knowledge that there is a university in Nunavut, we believe, will act as an incentive for Nunavut youth to excel in secondary school and ensure they have the grades to be accepted in programs of study tailored toward their unique needs and culture.

Some may point to the offerings at Arctic College's campuses in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay, or the opportunities to enrol in university courses at institutions in the south through the University of the Arctic, as being adequate for the needs of a relatively small population. However, neither institution is able to grant degrees or offer the same level of education as a standalone university.

Canada is the only circumpolar nation out of eight countries in the world that does not have a university in the North. Significant research has already been done by the Ilitturvik University Society and the Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation.

We say keep the momentum going. Small steps toward a stated goal will be sure to result in much applause in the future.

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