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Monday, December 1, 2014
Wildlife Act comes into effect
The territorial government's new Wildlife Act came into effect on Nov. 28.
"This new legislation ... promotes cooperative and collaborative working relationships for effective wildlife management at the local, regional and territorial levels and recognizes aboriginal and treaty rights and the rights contained in land claim and self-government agreements." stated Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Miltenberger in a news release.
The GNWT is currently working on regulations needed to implement the act. These regulations will establish measures for things like requiring developers to have wildlife management and monitoring plans, as well as harvest reporting and harvester training requirements.
A copy of the act can be found on the department's website.
- Cody Punter
Crack cocaine bust
Two men has been arrested and charged for possessing crack cocaine for the purpose of trafficking in Inuvik after RCMP commenced an investigation into alleged drug trafficking activity at a room in a local hotel. On Nov. 27, police obtained a search warrant and seized 88 grams of crack cocaine, two cellphones, and a quantity of cash.
One man is being held in custody while the other was released on a promise to appear in Inuvik Territorial Court on March 10, 2015.
- Cody Punter
RCMP to combat impaired driving
Operation Rednose is underway as of Dec. 1 and will run throughout the month.
RCMP members across the NWT, along with municipal enforcement departments and the Department of Transportation, will be conducting high-visibility checkstops and roving sobriety checkpoints over the holiday season to target impaired drivers.
- Paul Bickford
Sentencing hearing in manslaughter case
A sentencing hearing for a Fort Resolution man convicted of manslaughter has been set for Dec. 17 in Hay River.
In October, Steven Sayine was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of his common-law wife. The victim was 48-year-old Mary Laboucan, who was injured in Fort Resolution on June 16, 2012, and died in an Edmonton hospital three days later from acute subdural hematoma.
The facts and sentencing hearing has been scheduled for two days in NWT Supreme Court.
- Paul Bickford
Suspicious fire under investigation
Hay River RCMP are investigating what it's calling a suspicious fire on Nov. 24.
Police responded to the fire at a house on Highway 2 at 8:50 p.m. When officers arrived, the house was completely engulfed in flames.
The Hay River Volunteer Fire Department was already on scene battling the blaze but the entire house burned to the ground and very little structure remained when the fire was extinguished. No one was in the house at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined but police are looking for information. People with information can call the Hay River detachment or Crime Stoppers.
- James McCarthy
Celebrating restorative justice
Tuktoyaktuk
Afters years of inactivity, Tuktoyaktuk's restorative justice committee is operational again.
Committee members ran a number of events Nov. 16 to 22 to celebrate the organization's return and to mark Restorative Justice Week as well as Addictions Awareness Week.
Restorative justice programs shift the focus of justice from punishment to rehabilitation and reconciliation with victims and the community.
The fun started with a community feast on Nov. 16, followed by a Christmas craft night, a teen dance, family games night, a 1960s dance, sing-along storytelling and an evening of presentations featuring RCMP officers, a probation officer, a mental health worker and restorative justice committee co-ordinator Ada Cockney.
Prizes were handed out at the 60s dance for best costume. Rosemary Lundrigan took first place, Marina Mangelana took second (she donated her $100 prize to the youth centre), and Tiana Elias came third.
No bingo games were held during this time in order to promote healthy living, said Cockney.
- Miranda Scotland
Christmas bazaar set for high school
Thebacha/Fort Smith
An annual Christmas bazaar has been set for Paul William Kaeser (PWK) High School in Fort Smith.
The PWK Christmas Bazaar will take place on Dec. 6 from 1-3 p.m. in the gymnasium of the school.
The event will feature a tea and craft tables.
- Paul Bickford
Election set to choose new HTC members
Paulatuk
Members of the Paulatuk Hunters and Trappers Committee will head to the polls Dec. 8 to elect three new board members.
Voting will take place in the Paulatuk Visitors Centre Complex boardroom between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Lawrence Ruben, Fred Thrasher and Ray Ruben Sr. currently sit on the board and are running again. Another eight candidates are vying for the three seats, including Jermaine Green, Joe Roy Jr., Bill Kudlak, Donna Ruben, Nelson Ruben, Celina Wolki, Marlene Wolki and Melanie Wolki.
The new board members will serve for two years. Another four seats on the board are currently occupied by Tony Green, Bill Ruben, Michael Green and Jonah Nakimayak and will come up for election in a year.
- Miranda Scotland
Vet comes to town
Deh Gah Got'ie/Fort Providence
A veterinarian will be in the hamlet from Dec. 3 to 4 at the arena parking lot. Vaccinations, spaying or neutering will be sponsored by the hamlet. Those seeking an appointment are asked to call the hamlet office.
The Christmas Bazaar will take place on Dec. 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Deh Gah School. Book a table for $20 before Dec. 10 by contacting Charlene Bonnetrouge-Horesay. The bazaar supports the school's 2014 graduating class.
- Shane Magee
Moving and grooving
Tsiighetchic
Get your exercise wear on and head down to the community recreation complex Tsiigehtchic.
The get active program runs every day after school and is open to residents ages 5 and up. Typically, 15 residents show up to participate but more are welcome.
- Miranda Scotland
Playgroup adds extra day
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
After Dec. 8, the playgroup - activities for children five and younger with their parents - expands to an extra day.
It will then run Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10
a.m. to noon.
A Christmas bingo will take place on Dec. 9 starting at 7 p.m. at the community hall. The bingo has prizes that will include turkey, food, decor and gifts.
Santa Claus will arrive in the hamlet at 2 p.m. on Dec. 22 at the community hall. There will be presents for all children aged 10 and under.
- Shane Magee
Christmas parties set
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The dates have been set by four aboriginal organizations for Christmas parties in Fort Smith.
Smith's Landing First Nation will hold its Christmas party on Dec. 7 at Roaring Rapids Hall. Santa Claus is set to arrive at 4 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m.
The Mikisew Cree First Nation of Fort Chipewyan, Alta., will hold a Christmas party for members in Fort Smith on Dec. 10, beginning at 5 p.m. at Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre.
Salt River First Nation will hold its annual children's Christmas party on Dec. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Fort Smith Rec Centre. The party is for children up to 12 years of age.
The Fort Smith Metis Council will present its annual children's Christmas party on Dec. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Roaring Rapids Hall. The event is for those children up to 12 years of age.
- Paul Bickford
Man charged with second-degree murder
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
A 30-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in Rankin Inlet.
The Rankin Inlet detachment of the RCMP laid the charge against Dwayne Sateana on Nov. 24 in connection with a suspicious death in the community.
The RCMP discovered the body of Edith Angalik, 25, in Area 5 after receiving a call to the detachment at about 8 a.m. on Nov. 22. Members of the RCMP's Major Crimes Unit and Forensic Identification Unit were dispatched to Rankin Inlet to help in the investigation. The office of the chief coroner was also involved. Sateana has been remanded in custody. He is scheduled to make an appearance in court in Iqaluit on Dec. 2. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed on Angalik's body on Nov. 25.
- Darrell Greer
Another delay in murder trial
Iqaluit
Steven Akittirq of Iglulik, charged with first-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Glenna Attagutalukutuk, appeared in Iqaluit court via video conference Nov. 25.
Attagutalukutuk's body was found outside the community June 9. Akittirq was charged June 12.
The accused's defence attorney is waiting for further disclosure, the court heard.
An autopsy was performed by a pathologist in Ottawa and the Crown has yet to receive the report.
The Crown prosecutor requested "a strong nudge from the court" for the RCMP to provide the report.
Akittirq last appeared in court Oct. 21 and has been appearing monthly since June, while being held at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
The 24-year old is also facing charges of assault and possession under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act dating from April. Akittirq is scheduled to appear in court again Dec. 16.
- Michele LeTourneau
Power outages addressed
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
The latest in a series of power outages hit Cambridge Bay Nov. 27 but the problem was fixed by 9:30 p.m., hopefully for good, according to the Qulliq Energy Corp.
The municipality runs on one main generator, which carries most of the load, and three back-up generators.
"With the first power outage roughly two weeks ago, the largest engine failed. That occurred while another engine was down for repairs," Qulliq Energy Corp. president Alain Barriault said Nov. 28.
"What ended up happening with the outages that continued was continuing problems with the generators while waiting to get the parts to repair the main engine," he said.
All four engines were expected to be fully operational on Nov. 28.
"We have the main engine running and other back-up engines running, as well. The situation is much more stabilized."
The biggest delay occurred because parts needed to be ordered and sent in to the community.
"The biggest challenge is to get the parts. We stock some but we can't stock them all."
However, Cambridge Bay, as with several other communities, is reaching its maximum capacity.
"These are things that we are addressing throughout our communities," said Barriault.
- Michele LeTourneau
Sewage pickup delayed
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Arctic Bay residents are being asked to have patience while the hamlet waits for a part to repair one of its two sewage trucks.
The engine on one of the trucks blew a piston, meaning sewage pickup is slower with just one truck in service.
"We just have to put on an extra shift with the other sewage truck," said public works supervisor Sam Willie, explaining engine problems put the truck out of commission until the repair can happen. "We need two vehicles to keep up with the demand. It's the same with the water truck, so if one truck is down, the other has to work two shifts."
That means one of the day crews has to move to an evening shift, which requires staff to adjust.
"It's always a big problem (being a truck down)," Willie said.
- Casey Lessard
Bugs found in water tanks
Salliq/Coral Harbour
A boil-water advisory for residents of Coral Harbour was issued by the Department of Health earlier this month.
The advisory came after Coral Harbour residents began complaining about finding worms or bugs in their water tanks.
Residents were instructed to boil their water for at least one minute before drinking or using it to prepare any type of food.
An environmental health officer from Rankin Inlet was scheduled to fly into the Kivalliq community last week to investigate the matter.
- Darrell Greer
Library on limited hours
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Due to budgetary constraints, the May Hakongak Community Library and Cultural Centre in Cambridge Bay has closed its doors Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as Saturday afternoons.
The shortened hours have been ongoing since Oct. 29.
The library's funding structure means only a quarter of the costs to pay staff is covered. Beyond that, it depends on grants and donations to cover costs.
The Kitikmeot Heritage Society publicly apologized to the community for the inconvenience.
Regular hours are expected to resume Jan. 15.
- Michele LeTourneau
Kimmirut lands belugas
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
Hunters landed "eight or nine" belugas on Nov. 14 near Kimmirut, Hunters' and Trappers' Organization manager Kolola Pitsiulak said, noting three or four were caught by net.
"There is a little inlet south of us which, when the belugas start to migrate back, there's a good spot where the hunters can trap them," Pitsiulak said, noting eight boats were part of the trip.
The HTO bought some of the whales, with enough maktaaq harvested for most everyone in the community to have a taste, he said.
- Casey Lessard
Video wins prize money
Naujaat/Repulse Bay
Grade 9 students at Tusarvik School were a proud group of students earlier this month in Repulse Bay.
The students took home second place in a Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) video contest suggesting ways to get more beneficiaries out to vote in all upcoming NTI elections.
The students earned a $1,000 prize for Tusarvik School with their second-place finish.
- Darrell Greer
Vote on dry Christmas options
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
The alcohol committee will be asking the community of Hall Beach over local radio Dec. 6 if residents wish to have a dry Christmas this year.
A few options will be presented. Residents can vote for two weeks of dry time over the holidays or they can vote for a limit of half the usual allowable orders.
Voters can call in beginning at 7 p.m.
Questions or concerns, in the meantime, can be addressed to members of the alcohol committee.
- Michele LeTourneau
Fundraising for games
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
Hamlet officials in Clyde River planning for the annual Christmas games need some help.
"We're going to have daily games, $30 per winner, from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3," said acting recreation co-ordinator Aimo Paniloo. "On the 25th, we're giving out Christmas presents to all children under 12 years old."
The program needs funding to do so and is falling short. Most of the money comes from the bingo sales.
"But we're asking for donations (from corporations and government agencies)," Paniloo said. The games will cost about $10,000 and the gifts will cost about $12,000.
Interested donors can contact Paniloo at the hamlet.
- Casey Lessard
Rankin fans in stands
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Residents of Rankin Inlet were highly visible in Winnipeg earlier this month.
A large number of Rankin folks travelled to Manitoba capital to take in the Winnipeg Jets vs. New Jersey Devils NHL game on Nov. 18, and/or attend the John Fogerty concert at the MTS Centre.
Those at the hockey game were more than a little disappointed when it was announced Rankin's own Jordin Tootoo was a healthy scratch.
Tootoo did his best to make up for it, however, going to dinner with a group of more than 20 friends and family members.
Tootoo also met with as many people from his hometown as possible in the time allotted him, posing for numerous photos and signing copies of his new book, All The Way (My Life on Ice), written with well-known hockey personality and writer, Stephen Brunt.
- Darrell Greer
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