 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
Monday, March 9, 2015
Unanimous support for Deline self-government
The Deline self-government bill passed its third and final reading at the legislative assembly March 4.
"With the passage of this bill we are one step closer to a stronger territory, stronger land claim and self-government to make the lives of all our NWT citizens better because strength creates the opportunity," said Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya.
With final approval from Ottawa pending, the Deline government will assume responsibility over services such as health and education as of April 2016.
– Elaine Anselmi
Auditor General finds 'serious deficiencies' in NWT corrections
An Auditor General of Canada report on corrections in the NWT has found serious deficiencies at North Slave and Fort Smith correctional centres.
The audit, released March 3, found the current female unit in Fort Smith, to be replaced in 2017-18, lacks an adequate space for examining incoming patients for mental or physical health issues and has areas not captured by security cameras.
Also in Fort Smith, the male unit was found to be in contravention of fire and safety standards.
Significant measures have been taken over the last year to correct some of the issues found in the audit, said Justice Minister David Ramsay.
– Elaine Anselmi
NTPC chairman steps down
Brendan Bell is out and David Tucker is in as chairman of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Bell resigned for personal reasons effective March 1. He had been on a leave of absence since Nov. 21, 2014.
In a statement, Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger thanked Bell for his dedication to initiating new projects and leading the corporation over the past four years.
Tucker has served on the corporation's board of directors since 2009.
"Mr. Tucker brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position," stated NTPC president Emanuel DaRosa in a press release.
– Stewart Burnett
Sudden death in Inuvik
RCMP have determined there is no evidence of foul play in the sudden death of a woman in Inuvik last week.
The woman's identity has not been released and RCMP state in a press release it will be continue to work with the Chief Coroner of the Northwest Territories to determine a cause of death.
– Meagan Leonard
Aurora College teaches survival skills
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Aurora College is sending a group of its students on the land.
Inuvik and Fort Smith sophomores of the Environment and Natural Resources Technology Program will converge on the college's mobile winter camp near Manchester Lake, about 100 km northeast of Fort Smith, in early March.
Once there, they will spend two weeks learning sub-zero survival skills, scientific dissection of large game, fishery and wildlife identification and firearms training. The survival skills training includes an overnight stay in a shelter the students must create from available materials.
Elders will also be there to share traditional knowledge with the students.
"While the program curriculum is essentially the same on both campuses, the students come from very different backgrounds and cultures," said instructor George Peterson. "Bringing them together in the field allows both groups to learn from one another."
The combined winter camp is held every third year.
The two-year diploma program prepares students to work as technicians and officers in natural resources and environmental management careers. Both first-year and second-year students attend two field camps each year, one in the summer and one in the winter.
- Paul Bickford
Aurora College offers Forestry program
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Aurora College is offering a Forestry Operator Program from April 13 to June 30.
The 60-day training program will teach the skills needed to obtain employment in the forestry sector.
That includes the basics of forestry, forest safety and how to harvest. Participants will also get hands-on experience with harvesting simulators.
The program is being offered by Aurora College in partnership with the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Strategy, Service Canada, and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
- Paul Bickford
Toronto writer to visit three NWT communities
NWT
A bestselling author of young adult and adult novels will be visiting three NWT communities later this month.
Tish Cohen, who lives in Toronto but is originally from California, will make appearances in Fort Smith March 25, Hay River March 26 and Yellowknife March 27 & 28.
Her novels include The Search Angel, The Truth About Delilah Blue, Little Black Lies, Town House and Inside Out Girl.
Cohen's trip to the NWT has been organized by Christine Gyapay, the head librarian at NWT Centennial Library in Hay River.
The visit is being supported by a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.
- Paul Bickford
Fort Liard holds community safety meeting
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
There was a meeting on safety in the community at the Treaty Building.
The meeting was held March 5.
A stew and bannock lunch was provided. The event was hosted by the Status of Women Council in the NWT.
The Acho Dene Koe band will hold a public membership meeting on March 10 at 7 p.m. in the Treaty Building.
On March 29 the school will host a career fair from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Shane Magee
Community culture camp prep underway
Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley
Preparation for a camping trip got underway in old town Wrigley from March 2 to 11.
Residents of Wrigley were doing a preparation for the community culture camp that will be held at the end of March.
- Shane Magee
Health-care workers visit
Jean Marie River
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
Chief Gladys Norwegian, Tyrone Sanguez, Synthea Hope and Lucy Simon were in Yellowknife until March 6 for the Weaving Our Wisdom Territorial Wellness Gathering.
A nurse was doing community visits earlier in the week. As well, a doctor was in the community March 4 seeing patients.
The first Jean Marie River wellness committee meeting took place March 6 at the band office.
On March 10, a meeting will be held starting in the morning at the band office regarding traditional knowledge. Around 15 elders, facilitators and other community members are expected to attend.
The band will be providing beverages, snacks and lunch.
Belated birthday wishes go out to Margaret Sanguez, who celebrated on March 2.
- Shane Magee
Big tournament weekend approaches
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
An eight team volleyball tournament took place over the weekend at the school gym. Teams from various communities in the region were planning to attend. An old timers hockey tournament–for those 35 years and older–was scheduled to run from Saturday to Sunday as well.
- Shane Magee
Pond's state of emergency ends
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
Life is getting back to normal in Pond Inlet, which ended its state of emergency Feb. 26 after Government of Nunavut mechanics repaired the hamlet sewage trucks.
"The situation today is that all of the sewage trucks are working," said deputy mayor Joshua Arreak. "We're just trying to catch up on the work. Clean up work has to be done soon, maybe in April."
The hamlet declared its state of emergency Feb. 10 to trigger a government response after three newer trucks broke down and the hamlet was relying on an old, small truck to service the entire hamlet. Many homes had sewage back up indoors.
Workers worked around the clock during the crisis, but are now home in time for dinner.
"It's going back to normal now," Arreak said.
Two new sewage trucks are still set to arrive on the sealift this summer.
– Casey Lessard
Unilingual elders to get medical escort
Nunavut
All unilingual Inuktitut-speaking elders will now be able to get an escort for medical travel, Health Minister Paul Okalik announced in the legislature March 5.
"In the past, if there were interpretive services available outside of Nunavut, it was expected that patients would use those services," Okalik said. "In respect for those who have come before us, today we recognize that escorts for unilingual elders participate in the continuum of health care for elders. This includes reducing stress during travel and ensuring comfort before and after appointments."
The change comes after a one-year policy review, which was recently completed.
– Casey Lessard
Hamlet without fuel for two days
Sanikiluaq
Sanikiluaq ended February without heating fuel after a third of its three delivery trucks – owned by a government contractor – experienced mechanical failure.
The other two were already off the road needing repair.
The problem became critical Feb. 27, MLA Allan Rumbolt told the legislature March 2.
"Once we found out that there was a problem, we sent a mechanic on March 1 and the main fuel truck is now operational," Community and Government Services Minister Tom Sammurtok said.
The government is looking to do more community vehicle inspections to ensure breakdowns don't happen, Sammurtok said.
"Three trucks don't break down in one day," Rumbolt said, calling for the government to explain what happened.
"The contractors have the responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are kept running," Sammurtok replied, noting the department helps if needed.
He said the cold winter has made vehicle operation more difficult across the territory.
– Casey Lessard
From Dorset to Stratford
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
Students from Peter Pitseolak School in Cape Dorset have begun preparations for a school exchange with student in Stratford, Ont.
"The Stratford students come in April, and the return visit will take place in May," said principal Michael Soares.
"It's really neat because the kids haven't been past Iqaluit. And they will get to share some of their spring."
Stratford is home of the Stratford Festival, North America's largest classical repertory theatre, Justin Bieber – which may be more meaningful to the students – and Niagara Falls.
"And they will have a chance to see some of the farms, chicken farms and pig farms," said Soares.
The exchange is part of YMCA's exchange program.
"We're pretty excited."
– Michele LeTourneau
Government stresses healthy eating
Nunavut
The territory is joining in with the rest of Canada to celebrate Nutrition Month, for March.
The special designation is to remind Nunavummiut of the importance of healthy eating.
"To celebrate, the Government of Nunavut's Department of Health is expanding the core recipe project," stated Department of Health acting manager of communications and public relations Ron Wassink in a news release.
"A new, healthy, community-tested recipe will be released every month from March 2015 to February 2016.
The core recipe project is an action item identified in the Nunavut Food Security Strategy and Action Plan 2014-16."
Community Health Representatives (CHRs) and wellness program workers will be supporting this initiative in a variety of ways, including cooking and taste-testing activities in their home communities, he added.
Core recipes will be available at local North West Company and Arctic Co-operatives stores.
– Michele LeTourneau
Cadets fundraise for European trip
Naujaat/Repulse Bay
The Repulse Bay cadets held a penny sale this past Feb. 28 at Tusarvik School.
The event was part of the cadets' continuing fundraising efforts to send four Repulse cadets to Europe this coming
May to join in the 70th anniversary VE Day (Victory in Europe) celebrations to mark Nazi Germany's surrender to the Allies.
– Darrell Greer
Innovation in the class room
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
The Grade 9 class is buzzing at Peter Pitseolak School after a new Cisco Canada TelePresence system allowed them to view a lecture by an astronomer.
"I sat in for a couple of minutes," said principal Michael Soares.
The students were learning about satellites in space and what they were discovering.
"I didn't know Pluto had a moon. I thought it was just a chunk of ice," said Soares, sounding like a young student himself.
The potential for learning is limitless with the new system.
"Guitar students will have real-time lessons. Just amazing possibilities."
The Cisco system is also what allows Nunavut students to connect with mental-health professionals from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children through Connect North.
– Michele LeTourneau
| 
