 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
Monday, October 6, 2014
Mail theft prompts warning
Five bags of mail, some of which contained prescription medication, were found abandoned on a trail outside of Norman Wells last week.
Residents discovered two bags on the trail about eight kilometres from town on Sept. 26 and another three were found in the same area the next day.
Although police could not confirm, it is possible that medication was taken from the bags. RCMP are warning the public on the dangers of taking medicine that is not yours.
"Taking medications which are not prescribed could cause serious illness, injury, or even death," stated RCMP spokesperson Const. Elanore Sturko.
- Kassina Ryder
NWT population decreases slightly
The Northwest Territories' population fell by about 218 people over the past year, according to the NWT Bureau of Statistics.
Statistics Canada estimated that 43,623 people lived in the territory as of July 2014, a decrease of about 0.5 per cent from the year before.
There were 698 births and 197 deaths in the past year. 1,974 people moved to NWT from other parts of Canada during the same period, while 2,755 people moved away.
Canada's overall population increased by 1.1 per cent in the last year, as did the populations of all other provinces and territories except New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Kassina Ryder
Openings on advisory boards in Fort Smith
The Town of Fort Smith has openings on its community advisory boards. The advisory boards focus on the library, recreation, sustainable development, and tourism and trade.
Any community resident who would like to become a member of any of the boards can contact the Town of Fort Smith to obtain an expression of interest form.
- Paul Bickford
YWCA takes over Fort Smith family violence shelter
YWCA Yellowknife took over operating Sutherland House family violence shelter in Fort Smith on Oct. 1.
All staff will remain the same and clients will see the same level of service, YWCA Yellowknife executive director Lyda Fuller stated in a media release.
Sutherland House, the oldest of the territory's five shelters, had been operated by YWCA Yellowknife from 2005 to 2008. In the interim, it was operated by the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority.
- Kassina Ryder
New recreation co-ordinator
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Tsiigehtchic has a new recreation co-ordinator and he's hoping that he can inspire people in the community to be more active.
William Storr started running the recreation committee at the end of August. Although he has only lived in Tsiigehtchic for five years, Storr has a history of volunteering with youth and elders.
"In high school I used to do a lot with kids, like teaching them sports and stuff," he said.
"It's a just a community thing, I've been doing it all my life."
Having only been on the job for just over a month, Storr has already started up a program to encourage more people to come out and use the gym.
His Get Active competition hands out points to community members of all ages, as well as points for youth for sportsmanlike behaviour.
After gaining a certain amount of points, people can have their names entered into a draw to win prizes.
Storr said he also hopes to organize more activities, especially during the winter when people are less driven to exercise.
"There's more to come," he said.
- Cody Punter
Metis Nation sets annual assembly
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Northwest Territory Metis Nation will hold its annual general assembly next month.
The assembly is set for Nov. 18-21 at Roaring Rapids Hall in Fort Smith.
The Northwest Territory Metis Nation represents indigenous Metis people originally from the South Slave region of the NWT.
Its constituent community organizations are the Fort Smith Metis Council, the Hay River Metis Government Council, the Fort Resolution Metis Council and the North Arm Metis Council in Yellowknife.
- Paul Bickford
After-school programs starting soon
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
After-school programming in Sachs Harbour should be starting up in the next few weeks, said the community's recreation co-ordinator.
Doreen Carpenter said she is in the process of making the final preparations so that the Kingullivuit Program can begin by the middle of October.
Once it starts the program will be open to school children of all ages on weekdays between 3:30 and 5 p.m.
Carpenter said students will be able to drop-in whenever during those hours to get "help with their homework or work on a craft or do another project."
This year, Carpenter hopes to invite elders to teach the students traditional skills from time to time.
- Cody Punter
Signing put on hold
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
The signing of a forestry management agreement between Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation, the Fort Providence Metis and the territorial government scheduled for Sept. 30 was postponed because of a death in the hamlet.
The signing is expected to be rescheduled for later in October. The three groups signed a memorandum of understanding on forest industry development in June.
- Roxanna Thompson
Electronic medical records project arrives in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Residents of Fort Smith have become the latest beneficiaries of the GNWT's electronic medical records (EMR) project.
The rollout of EMR in Fort Smith took place last week.
Authorized health professionals will have instant access to the medical information
of patients, which enhances the continuity of care.
EMR is used for scheduling, charting and billing.
"My priority is making sure that NWT residents receive the best health care possible and we need a more integrated health and social services system supported by the right technology to make that happen," stated Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy in a news release.
Phyllis Mawdsley, CEO for the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority, also welcomed the new system.
"EMR is more secure than paper records and it will make it easier for authorized health providers to track data over time as well as notifying them on when patients are due for preventative visits and screenings," she said in the GNWT news release.
"EMR will ensure health information is available at the right time, right place, and to the right provider."
The Yellowknife Primary Care Centre, the Frame Lake Community Health Clinic and the Hay River Medical Clinic are already using EMR.
- Paul Bickford
Man found dead
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
RCMP say they suspect the death of a man in Pond Inlet was a homicide.
The body of a 43-year-old man was found within the community Sept. 28. His name was not released.
RCMP's Major Crimes Unit and Forensics Identification Services are assisting the local detachment in its investigation, as is Nunavut's chief coroner.
An unidentified man was charged with second-degree murder by police Oct. 1. He has been remanded in custody pending an appearance in court. No further information was available by press time.
- Casey Lessard
Boaters stuck on island
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
A Hercules airplane was sent out Saturday morning to drop food and supplies to a group of 22 people, including nine children, stranded on an island about 100 km east of Cape Dorset.
"They were transiting via three canoes when the weather forced them ashore," Joint Task Force Atlantic (JTFA) spokesperson Major Martell Thompson said Sunday. "They are safe ashore."
Late Friday, the group called for help from the Nunavut Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), which requested assistance from the JTFA. The Hercules was dispatched from the 413 Squadron in Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
The people had been stuck on the island for five days and there were no immediate safety or medical concerns, but they were running out of supplies.
The plane dropped a radio to establish communications with the group, 30 litres of naphtha cooking fuel, and enough military food rations to provide each person three meals per day for three days.
"We left them with the understanding that there were no medical concerns, no immediate concerns," Thompson said.
The party, the EMO and JTFA remain in contact.
"It's the expectation they will be able to return on their own," he said. "We'll do whatever we can to support them."
- Casey Lessard
Meeting moved on beer and wine stores
Iqaluit
The venue for a public consultation about opening a beer and wine store in Iqaluit has changed. The Oct. 7 meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m., will now be held in the Baffin Room at the Frobisher Inn.
The liquor commission is soliciting public feedback about whether or not a retail outlet is supported in the capital.
Such an outlet would likely take the form of a kiosk at the current liquor warehouse, and customers would still be required a permit to buy alcohol. If supported, the store could open in the summer of 2015.
- Casey Lessard
Franklin ship identified
Nunavut
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Oct. 1 that the Franklin Expedition ship discovered in early September by the 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition is in fact the HMS Erebus.
The Erebus was the ship captained by Sir John Franklin himself.
"I would like to congratulate and pay tribute to all those involved in locating and identifying HMS Erebus," stated Harper in a news release. "I had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable dedication and skills of the search team first-hand during this year's Northern tour and it has left a lasting impression. I wish them well in their search for HMS Terror."
Louie Kamookak, a teacher at Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik in Gjoa Haven, had collected the oral history of elders from sometime in the 1970s to the mid-1990s, which included stories of expeditions of white people that came up. After that, he started collecting and charting traditional place names. He also compiled place names and information about explorers who came North.
Soon after the discovery was announced, Kamookak told Nunavut News/North that, based on his theories from decades of research, the ship was the Erebus. Since 2008, there have been six major Parks Canada-led searches for the lost Franklin Expedition ships, covering many hundreds of square kilometres of the Arctic seabed, the release stated.
- Michele LeTourneau
School celebrates literacy
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
Quqshuun Ilihakvik Elementary School in Gjoa Haven, part of the Kitikmeot School Organization, recently had a very successful event.
Literacy Week took place Sept. 22 to 26.
"All staff and parents participated with the students as well as parents and elders," said principal Cameron McDonald.
"We had people reading everywhere, in classrooms and even in the hallways."
- Michele LeTourneau
Health care committee formed
Kivalliq
A new working group was created within the Hudson Bay Regional Roundtable to address health care issues in the region during its meeting in Baker Lake this past month.
Representatives from the Hudson Bay Regional Roundtable Communities, Nunavut Health, Manitoba Health and the Kivalliq Inuit Association will discuss improving availability of health services in the region.
The group plans to strengthen partnerships and address gaps in Northern health services.
- Darrell Greer
Residents stay indoors
Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord
High wind had everyone in Grise Fiord staying inside early last week.
Environment Canada issued a wind warning for the hamlet, noting winds up to 110 km/h.
The warning said the winds could damage buildings and send objects flying, potentially injuring people.
The school, Co-op, and health centre closed Sept. 29 and 30.
"Wind is too dangerous," co-op manager Frank Holland wrote on a community Facebook page.
"Don't go out unless absolutely necessary," wrote Naomi Kuluguqtuq.
- Casey Lessard
Bowhead spotted in bay
Naujaat/Repulse Bay
Students and staff at Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay have been busy with a number of various activities on top of their academic pursuits.
This past month vice-principal Julia MacPherson joined teacher Shona Stacey and the Grade 8 class on a guided seal hunt.
The students saw a bowhead whale during the trip, as well as a polar bear claiming a shoreline spot as its own.
Students at Tusarvik also took part in the Terry Fox Run and a walk to mark Embrace Life Week in their community.
- Darrell Greer
Wind cancels muskox hunt
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Hunters hoping to use five tags for muskoxen in Arctic Bay were disappointed when high wind forced the visiting Arctic Fishery Alliance boat Kiviuq to cancel a trip to Devon Island.
"They were going to take a couple of days," said Doreen Irqqarqsaq, hunters and trappers organization manager. "But as soon as they left, the captain received a map of the ice conditions. It's been windy for a few days now and there was already ice around Admiralty Inlet, so they wouldn't be able to come back because of the ice conditions."
No muskoxen have been caught this year, and it's unlikely hunters will go out to Devon Island due to the distance and ice conditions, she said.
- Casey Lessard
Hockey gear donated
Tikirajuaq/Whale Cove
The community of Whale Cove is about to be the first benefactor of the Calm Airsponsored Northern DreamSmiles One Skate At A Time program.
Whale Cove received four pallets full of gently used hockey equipment to be distributed among its minor hockey players.
The community is looking at distributing the equipment on Oct. 14, during a Nunavut cabinet retreat scheduled that time.
The equipment made its way to Whale Cove through the courtesy of Barry Hickman in Vancouver and Calm Air, which shipped the equipment from Winnipeg.
Sixteen more hockey bags are reported to be on their way to the Kivalliq through the Dreams and Smiles program, as well as a shipment of jerseys.
The second community to receive equipment from the program will be announced shortly.
- Darrell Greer
Polar bear near community
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Residents in Pangnirtung reported seeing a polar bear near the community last week.
"I heard that, too, out near the end of the road," said economic development officer Jesse Jacobs. "I haven't heard anyone overly concerned about it beyond the novelty of it."
Parks staff are monitoring the bear to ensure it doesn't come too close to town, he said, noting it's not unusual this time of year.
"It was around this time of year that there was a polar bear swimming across the fiord and it was shot," he said.
- Casey Lessard
School closed temporarily
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School in Baker Lake closed its doors on Sept. 26 to deal with ongoing maintenance issues in the building.
Business as usual was expected at the school this past week.
- Darrell Greer
| 
