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Monday, February 23, 2015
Child struck by vehicle
An 11-year-old child was rushed to Stanton hospital by ambulance after being struck by a vehicle in Yellowknife Thursday night.
RCMP stated in an e-mail that the victim suffered non-life threatening injuries when a vehicle skidded through the crosswalk at Franklin Ave. and Forrest Drive just before 7 p.m.
Police stated it was very icy at the time, adding the driver remained at the scene and is co-operating. Alcohol is not considered a factor. No charges gave been laid as police continue to investigate. Police stated that they will not be updating the youngster's condition.
--John McFadden
Driver arrested following snowmobile collision
The driver of a stolen snowmobile was arrested after a collision with a pick-up truck on Navy Road in Inuvik Feb. 17.
Around 6 p.m. the snowmobile entered the roadway and collided with the pick-up causing damage to both vehicles, according to an RCMP press release.
Speed and alcohol are considered factors in the incident. The snowmobile operator was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and the driver of the pick-up truck was unharmed.
Charges are pending for refusal to provide a breath sample, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and possession of property obtained by crime.
- Meagan Leonard
Fishers fined for illegal harvesting in Great Slave Lake
Two commercial fishers have been fined $4,000 and one has had their fishing license suspended after pleading guilty to five charges, including commercial fishing during a closed season and obstructing a fishery officer.
The charges stem from an aerial surveillance in July 2014 when officers spotted the vessel fishing in a closed area near Hay River.
- Meagan Leonard
Low oil price takes victim in NWT
Responding to the sharp downturn in oil prices, Calgary-based Strategic Oil and Gas announced it has suspended operations at its Cameron Hills project, located south of Kakisa and north of the NWT/Alberta border.
Strategic said the project is not economical at current commodity prices.
The company is also cutting its office and field staff by approximately 35 per cent.
- Stewart Burnett
E-mail invitation for Enterprise residents
Enterprise
The Hamlet of Enterprise is compiling a list of residential e-mail addresses for people in the community interested in receiving public notices from the municipal office.
Residents can contact the office to have their names and e-mail addresses added to the list.
- Paul Bickford
Deadlines extended for requests for proposals
South Slave
The deadlines have been extended for requests for proposals on two significant projects in the South Slave.
The Department of Public Works and Services has extended the deadline for proposals for the design and construction of a new Fort Resolution Health and Social Services centre to Feb. 26. The original deadline had been Feb. 12.
The department has also set a new March 2 deadline to receive proposals for the design and construction of a new women's centre at the Fort Smith Correctional Complex. The original deadline had been Feb. 13.
- Paul Bickford
Astronomical society plans annual meeting
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The annual general meeting of the Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society is set for March 22 in Fort Smith.
Along with discussing society business, the members will see the election of a number of new board members.
The non-profit society is a collection of amateur astronomers with a passion for astronomy and space science.
The group established the astronomical society in 2011 as part of a process by which Wood Buffalo National Park was later designated a dark-sky preserve in 2012.
Wood Buffalo is the world's largest dark-sky preserve, an area where artificial light is kept to a minimum to enhance the sky-gazing experience.
The society presents a number of events throughout the year, with the largest being the annual Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Dark Sky Festival in Fort Smith and at Pine Lake, about 60 km south of Fort Smith in the Alberta section of Wood Buffalo National Park.
- Paul Bickford
Youth Centre Closed due to lack of funding
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
The youth centre is closed as of Feb. 13 due to a lack of funding until April.
Service Canada will be in the community Feb. 25 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and then again Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at the hamlet office.
- Shane Magee
Ash Wednesday mass held
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
Father Joe Daley was in the community on Feb. 18 to hold an Ash Wednesday mass noon at the community hall.
As well that day, people could go to the community hall for the Secure Certificate of Indian Status winter intake. The identity document, more commonly referred to as a Status card, is issued for administrative reasons by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) to confirm the cardholder is registered as a status Indian under the Indian Act.
- Shane Magee
ENR holds wildfire meeting
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources was also scheduled to be in the community Feb. 19 to hold a meeting about the 2014 wildfire season.
Public Works foreman Harold was away to attend the works supervision and energy management session through the school of community government in Fort Simpson from Feb. 16 to 21.
An instructor will be coming into the community Feb. 23 from Aurora College in Fort Simpson to put on a Class 7 drivers training session until March 2.
The exam will be held March 3.
Enbridge still is doing its monitoring on the pipeline to check for wild game tracks along the pipeline. The last check is March 2.
- Shane Magee
Nahanni Butte holds community feast
Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte
A community feast was held at 6 p.m. in the gym on Feb. 19.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada will be in the community Feb. 20 to assist residents getting status cards. The session will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the gym.
A few have started clearing trails Feb. 16 to traditional areas so community members can access them. The people clearing the trails have youth with them to pass on traditional knowledge.
About 15 people attended a Valentine's Day tea that was held Feb. 14 in the community.
There was a skiing day held Feb. 15 on the ski trail in the community. It was groomed prior to the skiing starting that afternoon.
About five people took part.
- Shane Magee
Flea market table space available in Aklavik
Aklavik
There is a table waiting for those with something to sell at the Aklavik Community Justice Committee flea market.
The event is scheduled for Feb. 28 at the community complex. Committee co-ordinator Janeta Pascal says she's still accepting table bookings.
Pascal is back on 106.9 FM sharing residents' messages, announcements, greetings and taking music requests starting Feb. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Miranda Scotland
Three couples compete to be king and queen
Tuktoyaktuk
Three couples are competing to be named king and queen of this year's Beluga Jamboree.
In the running are Tianna Elias-Kuptana and Colton Gordon-Ruben, Elizabeth and Craig Gruben, and Chantal Gruben and Christopher Panaktalok.
The male and female who raise the most money will be named king and queen.
They will also win a prize, which has not yet been decided. The annual festival usually features activities such as races, square dancing, igloo building and harpoon throw.
The king and queen will be named at the Beluga Jamboree in April.
- Miranda Scotland
PM honours Inuit Franklin expert
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
As part of celebrations for the 50th birthday of the Maple Leaf, the Government of Canada presented ceremonial flags to 50 notable Canadians, including Gjoa Haven historian and teacher Louie Kamookak.
"Since it was first raised on Feb. 15, 1965, our national flag has proudly flown on Parliament Hill, in communities across our nation, and at Canada's missions around the world. It can even be found on the International Space Station," stated Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"Our government has made it a tradition on National Flag of Canada Day to present a Peace Tower flag to Canadians who exemplify the values that we hold most dear."
Kamookak was chosen, along with the 49 other recipients "in recognition of their tremendous contributions to our great country."
Specifically, Kamookak began working with Parks Canada in 2006, sharing the collected oral histories of the Gjoa Haven area in the hopes it would help locate Sir John Franklin's lost ships, HMS Terror and HMS Erebus.
The Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik teacher explained to Nunavut News/North after the discovery of the first ship, in the late summer of 2014, that he 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 to what is now Nunavut.
He also collected and charted traditional place names, compiling those with place names and information about explorers who came North.
Soon after the discovery of one lost ship was announced, Kamookak said, based on his theories from decades of research, the ship was the Erebus. He was later proven correct.
He hoped that the event, which made international headlines, would show the importance of Inuit oral history, not just for the Franklin search, but also in relation to the environment and animals. "I'm happy we are starting to use more traditional knowledge.
- Michele LeTourneau
Qulliq chairperson resigns
Nunavut
Qulliq Energy Corporation chairperson David Omilgoitok resigned Feb. 16, the territorial government announced.
"On Friday, David informed the government and the board that he wishes to spend more time pursuing private business interests," said Keith Peterson, minister responsible for the corporation.
Omilgoitok's resignation was effective Feb. 13, according to a press release. Vice-chair Julie-Anne Miller has taken the position as interim chairperson. The corporation's board has nine members serving on three-year term appointments.
Under the Qulliq Energy Corporation Act, the board of directors must have at least six directors and not more than 10.
- Michele LeTourneau
Possible satellite disruptions
Nunavut
Northwestel announced Feb. 19 that some of its satellite facilities would experience brief service degradations due to a natural phenomenon known as sun transit. Beginning Feb. 22 and ending March 7, customers in communities serviced by satellite could experience noise or service interruptions between 2:22 and 2:59 p.m. EST.
"The exact timing depends on a community's geographic location and the position of the satellite providing service. Disruptions are very short, typically lasting just a few minutes, and it is not uncommon for the effects to go unnoticed," Northwestel stated.
- Michele LeTourneau
Man nabbed for robbery at store
Iqaluit
One day after an Iqaluit grocery store was robbed, police were able to arrest a man suspected in the incident.
The Arctic Ventures Marketplace was robbed at about 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 when a lone male demanded money and fled the scene. No weapons were seen and no one was hurt in the incident.
The next day, police arrested an 18-year-old Iqaluit man and charged him with robbery. He was to appear in court Feb. 19 to face the charges.
The incident is the latest in a rash of robberies, with the rest involving weapons, all at city convenience stores.
- Casey Lessard
Seismic comments sought
Baffin Island
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association will host meetings with Inuit across Baffin Island to hear concerns about seismic testing in affected communities starting next month.
The sessions, in Kimmirut, Clyde River, Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay, Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq and Iqaluit will collect Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit that will be used to make decisions related to resource exploration and development.
"The IQ workshops aim at listening to the community concerns and to open a dialogue with community members on the environmental impacts of the potential seismic survey," Qikiqtani Inuit Association president PJ Akeeagok stated in a press release.
"QIA needs to be well prepared to provide valuable input to minimize the negative impacts seismic surveying could have on harvesting marine mammals that Inuit depend on."
The meetings will run from March 23 to April 3.
They are set to wrap up ahead of the hearing into Clyde River's appeal of the National Energy Board's decision to allow testing in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait.
- Casey Lessard
Seismic testing hearing date set
Toronto
The Federal Court of Appeal has set a hearing date for Clyde River's challenge of the National Energy Board's approval of seismic testing in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait. The hearing will be held April 20 at 9:30 a.m. at the court in Toronto, Clyde River's lawyer Nader Hasan confirmed by e-mail.
Seismic testing, which involves ultra-loud underwater sonic blasts to determine fault lines on the seabed, is required to determine the viability of drilling for oil and gas in the waters.
The hamlet, Mayor Jerry Natanine, and the local hunters and trappers organization are opposed to the testing.
- Casey Lessard
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