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Monday, February 2, 2015
Bevington speaks out for CKLB radio
The NWT's voice in Ottawa spoke up for the Native Communications Society (NCS) ahead of the organization's decision whether or not to shut down CKLB radio over the weekend.
Bevington also referenced funding delays from Heritage Canada for the Inuvik-based Inuvialuit Communications Society.
"Aboriginal media gives a voice to Canada's first peoples to tell their stories and preserve their language and cultures," said Bevington.
"Petty funding delays endanger this vital fabric of Canada."
- Elaine Anselmi
$18 million for housing
The GNWT and federal government have agreed to fund housing initiatives in the territory to the tune of $18 million over five years.
The Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) agreement was signed by both governments in 2011, together contributing $11 million up until 2014. The extension on the agreement will see the additional funding cover a range of housing programs from 2014 into 2019.
The GNWT offers housing programs for renters and homeowners, as well as the homeless and victims of domestic violence through the Housing Corp., which has put nearly $80 million of capital funding into housing for the territory since 2011, including IAH funds.
- Elaine Anselmi
Call for Mackenzie Valley oil bids
The GNWT has issued a call for bids on two parcels of land in the Central Mackenzie Valley totaling approximately 161,152 hectares.
This is the first time since devolution that the GNWT has opened up bidding for petroleum exploration licences in the NWT. The call was made by Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay on Jan. 30.
Bidding closes June 2, and carries with it a minimum $1 million work commitment per land parcel.
- Walter Strong
'Communications corridor' proposed
Premier Bob McLeod announced the GNWT's plans to undertake a feasibility study of a potential energy, transportation and communications corridor along the Mackenzie Valley to the Arctic Ocean at a reception Ottawa during NWT Days last week.
"We know we need to find a way to get our resources to market and it is time for us to take a serious look at the northern option," he said.
McLeod emphasized that the government will explore the potential for new opportunities in conjunction with aboriginal governments.
- Cody Punter
Win by losing in Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A five-week weight-loss competition is about to begin in Fort Smith.
The Biggest Winner contest is designed to help people reach their weightloss goals for 2015. The contest, which will run from Feb. 3 to March 5, is being presented by the Town of Fort Smith's Recreation and Community Centre and the Public Health division of the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority. The registration deadline was Jan. 29.
The competition will be kicked off with weigh-ins of participants on Feb. 3 at the Fort Smith Health Centre. Along with winning smaller waistlines, participants will have the opportunity to win prizes.
- Paul Bickford
Mental Health First Aid
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A three-day course will be offered in Fort Smith late this month to help people learn about mental health issues and get tips on how to support someone who may be struggling with a mental health crisis.
The Mental Health First Aid for Northern People course will be offered from Feb. 25 to 27. The 18 hours of instruction will deal with disorders involving such things as substance abuse, mood disorders, anxiety, psychosis and deliberate self-injury.
Crisis First Aid skills will be taught for situations such as substance overdose, suicidal behaviour, panic attacks, acute stress reaction and psychotic episodes. The course, which will take place at Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre, is being presented by Mental Health First Aid Canada, and the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority.
- Paul Bickford
Fundraising for swimming lessons
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Youth are fundraising money so they can travel to Inuvik to take swimming lessons.
The trip is scheduled for Feb. 9 to 16 but the group still needs to raise about $2,000, said Sachs Harbour recreation co-ordinator Doreen Carpenter.
The group has catered events, and held bake sales and a cakewalk to bring in funds.
The trip, which has run for 17 years, is open to youth aged eight to 13 years old. Ten kids are going and for three of them it will be their first time taking swimming lessons.
"Some of them are scared at first to get in the water but at the end of it ... they're going down the slide. It doesn't take them long to get brave," said Carpenter.
- Miranda Scotland
Tourism workshop opens up
Aklavik
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is running a 'welcome to the Northwest Territories!' workshop in Aklavik Feb. 11.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Sittichinli Recreational Complex and will cover topics such as quality service and tourism awareness. Interested residents must pre-register with Anne Kokko, tourism development officer for the region.
- Miranda Scotland
Drummers lay a beat for the sun
Paulatuk
Angik school welcomed back the sun Jan. 26 with a big celebration. The Paulatuk Drummers and Dancers performed and those in attendance enjoyed some delicious food.
"We had a nice celebration here," said principal Debbie Redden-Cormier.
- Miranda Scotland
Family literacy spreads cheer
Paulatuk
Angik School marked National Family Literacy Day with fun and games.
Students in primary to Grade 12 competed in five games, including charades and a group story writing exercise. Students also played a game where each group was given a long word and had to identify smaller words within it.
RCMP officers took part by reading to the students.
- Miranda Scotland
Francophones call for resignations
Iqaluit
Francophone parents are calling for the resignations of the director-general and board of directors of the community's school board, the Commission Scolaire Francophone du Nunavut (CSFN), after a Jan. 21 meeting.
The Association des Parents Francophones du Nunavut (APFN) is concerned about "mismanagement of the CSFN and of the school," according to an online petition.
The board is responsible for the sole French school in Nunavut, Ecole des Trois-Soleils in Iqaluit.
"Our bond of trust with the CSFN has been broken," the petition reads. "Time and again a multitude of parents over many years have been asking for answers to pertinent and worrying questions concerning their children's education.
We have received either vague, non-committal answers, unsatisfying retroaction or worse, no response at all."
The CSFN did not respond to a request for an interview before press deadline.
- Casey Lessard
Rivalry raises funds
Igluligaarjuk/Chesterfield Inlet
About 20 players suited up for a competitive, but sometimes hilarious, hockey fundraiser in Chesterfield Inlet earlier this month.
The event saw the group host a wild Toronto vs. Montreal game, with the Habs coming out on top 15-14 in a wide-open contest.
The game, overseen by James Connelly, drew a good crowd in Chesterfield Inlet, with organizers raising $500 from the $2 admission charged to watch the game.
The hockey fundraisers hope to host another Leafs vs. Habs matchup this coming week. Proceeds go to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program, which helps children from underprivileged families register to play sports.
- Darrell Greer
Obama moves away from Arctic oil
Alaska
As Canada prepares to examine its future as an Arctic oil-producing country, the United States is moving in a different direction.
U.S. President Barack Obama strengthened the argument against oil and gas development in the Arctic on Jan. 27, moving to block development of 9.8 million acres in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
The draft of a new five-year outer continental shelf oil and gas leasing program came two days after Obama said he planned to protect much of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Alaska Dispatch News reported.
The new plan adds the Hanna Shoal in the Chukchi Sea to its list of off-limits areas.
The shoal is an important summer feeding ground for walruses and other animals, the Dispatch News reported.
- Casey Lessard
Former MLA new planning commission chair
Hunter Tootoo appointed by federal minister
Northern News Services
Nunavut
Former Nunavut MLA Hunter Tootoo has been appointed the new chairperson of the Nunavut Planning Commission by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt, the commission announced Jan. 26.
"This is an important institution that has a wide mandate to protect and promote the existing and future well-being of residents and communities," stated Tootoo in a news release. "I look forward to working with the Nunavut Planning Commission in this capacity."
Tootoo served in the legislative assembly from 1999 to 2013 and was responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Homelessness, the Qulliq Energy Corporation, the Worker's Safety and Compensation Commission and the departments of Education and Human Resources. He also served as Speaker. He will serve as chair of the commission while continuing to work as senior director of business and community relations for Canadian North.
The planning commission has been mired in a funding dispute over the past year after Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development refused to fund an estimated $1.7-million public hearing, planned for last fall, on the Nunavut-wide draft Land Use Plan. The plan is due on Valcourt's desk March 31.
The commission has requested a judicial review.
- Michele LeTourneau
Call for help on Nutrition North
Iqaluit
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) posted a request for proposals on their procurement site Jan. 26 to "develop subsidy models and support an engagement with communities for the Nutrition North Canada Program in 2015-16."
The beleaguered Nutrition North program was the target of a critical review by the Office of the Auditor General released in late November, in which it was stated AANDC failed at making nutritious and perishable food more accessible and affordable in Nunavut and the rest of the North.
AANDC Minister Bernard Valcourt has stated his department accepts the recommendations in the report and also promised consultations.
"In the coming months, our government will also be engaging with Northerners, retailers and suppliers on ideas to keep improving the program for Northerners," said Valcourt.
The deadline for the request for proposals was Feb. 2.
- Michele LeTourneau
10 polar bear tags remain
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Residents of Arctic Bay will have their say about polar bear tags later this month.
The hunters and trappers organization will host a public meeting Feb. 27 at the community hall to discuss the remaining tags, the HTO decided at a Jan. 27 meeting.
The community has 10 tags left from its original quota of 24 tags, Ikajutit Hunters' and Trappers' Association manager Doreen Irqqarqsaq said.
No bears have come into the community recently, she said.
- Casey Lessard
Hamlet dreams of park
Taloyoak/Spence Bay
Taloyoak hamlet council discussed the possibility of creating a park at Fort Ross, which is approximately 200 km from the community.
"That's where the settlement was," said senior administrative officer Greg Holitzki. "Elders were raised in that area. They say there's still a church. The Hudson Bay trading post was there."
But Holitzki, who has some knowledge of park creation from his days in Kugaaruk, says it's a long process. It took that community about five years to create their park.
"It's outside of our boundary, mapping would be involved."
He noted that in Kugaaruk, a committee was formed.
The council will continue discussing the idea.
"We really need the structure of a committee. It needs to be people that will be here for the next 20 years to make sure it comes to fruition," Holitzki said.
- Michele LeTourneau
Dances prove popular
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
The hamlet of Kimmirut is helping young people while away their weekend nights when it opens the Akavak Centre for youth dances Fridays and Saturdays.
"We had about 35," economic development officer Petanie Pitsiulak said, detailing attendance numbers last weekend. "They actually wanted it to be open longer."
The dances are open from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. each night. The dances will run until the summer, and the proceeds will go to fund Canada Day and Nunavut Day activities.
- Casey Lessard
Frolic planning underway
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Planning for the 2015 Omingmak Frolics has begun in Cambridge Bay.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the event.
The planning committee, a team made up of eight recreation committee members and a handful of others from the community, work together to plan the overall event.
"What we're trying to do is bring back some of the events played yesteryear," said recreation co-ordinator Fred Muise. "Last Man Standing was popular, that was adapted from Fear Factor. There used to be a cooking contest. Family Feud was very popular. It will all depend on how much we can do as a team."
The committee has made a few entertainment decisions. So far, Tim Maloney, a comedian from New Brunswick, and children's entertainers Slash'N Boots have been chosen.
The Frolics is also widely known for its snowmobile events, and those are organized by the snowmobile society.
"There's lots of work ahead," said Muise.
The Frolics events are planned for the week of May 11 to 18.
- Michele LeTourneau
Wise women sought
Nunavut
The deadline for the Qulliit Status of Women Council's Wise Woman and Outstanding Young Woman awards is Feb. 16.
The awards are meant to honour women who are role models in their community and region, and who provide volunteer, counselling and caregiver services to others.
Each nomination must be signed by two nominators.
The winners of the two prestigious awards will be announced on March 8.
Both awards are only given to a winner once in her lifetime.
- Darrell Greer
New scale for mail
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Arctic Bay's postmistress had to use the co-op produce scale to weigh packages for about a week in late January.
The post office's scale - which was old and finally broke down in mid-January - was replaced Jan. 23.
"We have a brand new scale, and it works perfectly," said Teresa Barnabas.
She added the scale was out of commission for about a week. "Our old scale was very old. I think it wore out."
Barnabas noted the problem would have been worse had the scale stopped working a month prior, during the busy Christmas season.
Residents were able to ship large envelopes and parcels using the new scale starting Jan. 26.
Canada Post performs a mail run to and from the community arrives and is shipped out twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Casey Lessard
Learn to drive big rigs
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
A Class 1 driver training course will be held in Baker Lake from Feb. 10 to 26.
The course is open to anyone with a valid class 3 driver's licence and experience driving a standard shift vehicle.
Five candidates will be selected for the training program.
Applications may be completed at the Baker Lake hamlet office.
- Darrell Greer
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