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Monday, April 27, 2015
Ice rescue in Behchoko
A resident trapped while walking on the thin ice of Marian Lake is safe thanks to the quick action of the community and RCMP.
On the afternoon of April 23 community members reported seeing a person on thin ice. Police arrived to find a distraught adult stuck on the melting lake.
An officer, assisted by a volunteer fire fighter and a community member, were able to rescue the individual on a snowmachine and he was later transported to Stanton Territorial Hospital.
Const. Elenore Sturko commended those involved for their bravery in an RCMP news release.
- Meagan Leonard
Meat wastage verdict to come May 29
Deputy Judge Brian Bruser is to hand down his verdict May 29 in a meat wasting trial involving the chief of Gameti and two other men.
The trial for David Wedawin as well as brothers Frank and Jimmy Arrowmaker wrapped up last Tuesday in Behchoko.
They were each charged with 12 counts of meat wastage after a dozen caribou carcasses were discovered in April 2013 after a hunt near Hottah Lake.
- John McFadden
Wally Schumann places bid for Hay River South seat
Wally Schumann has announced he will run for Hay River South MLA in the upcoming territorial election this November.
Originally from Fort Smith, Schumann developed the largest sign manufacturing business in the NWT, is the director of the Hay River Chamber of Commerce and has served as president of the Hay River Metis Government Council. To kick off his pre-election campaign, Schumann has pledged to speak with one new constituency member per day.
The seat is currently occupied by Jane Groenewegen, who has held the position since 1995.
- Meagan Leonard
Heinz Canada recalling baby food
Heinz Canada is recalling sweet potato and beef medley baby food because the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has found the containers may not be properly sealed and could be spoiled.
The contents of the 213-ml containers - sold nationally - should not be consumed if they have an expiry date of Aug. 4, 2017. Infants who have eaten the products should be monitored for symptoms like upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea.
-Evan Kiyoshi French
Enterprise council to remain casual
Enterprise
Enterprise hamlet council shall remain a place for mostly casual discussion of the community's affairs.
The issue came up at the April 13 meeting of council during a brief discussion of a proposed procedures bylaw.
Coun. John Leskiw III suggested a change to the proposed bylaw that the presiding officer or chair of a council meeting can, at his or her discretion, enforce Robert's Rules of Order.
Leskiw said that will permit the casual back-and-forth between council members to continue.
The new draft bylaw has to be referred to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs before being voted on by council.
- Paul Bickford
Fort Smith to host noted jazz singers
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Jazz legend Jackie Richardson will be performing in Fort Smith next month with her daughter Kim Richardson, a singer who also has her own successful musical career.
They will be appearing May 12 at St. Joseph's Cathedral.
Jackie Richardson of Toronto has a powerful and supple voice that she has showcased in a four-decade-long career, while Kim Richardson of Montreal is a multifaceted performer with training and experience in film, dance and theatre.
The Richardsons will be performing as a mother-daughter team for the first time in the NWT.
In addition to Fort Smith, they will present shows in Fort Simpson on May 14 and in Yellowknife on May 16.
- Paul Bickford
Itsago over Itzago
Enterprise
The organizers of the annual dogsled races in Enterprise are encouraging the use of the official spelling of the event's name.
The name is to be spelled Itsago - as in it's a go - not Itzago.
The Itzago spelling has been used by some people in Enterprise, even for some posters, because they prefer that spelling to Itsago.
This year's Itsago races were held on April 4 & 5.
- Paul Bickford
Community yard sale scheduled
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
Thrifters of Fort Providence, assemble. Your time is here.
The annual community yard sale in support of the Deh Gah School graduating class is scheduled for May 9 at the school gym. With spring in full swing and annual housecleaning surely underway, residents can purchase a table for $20 to sell things they don't need anymore.
And not only is it a yard sale but a chance to stock up on baked goods and crafts from community members.
Space is limited, so book in advance of the May 6 deadline to secure your table.
The community sale will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information please contact Charlene Bonnetrouge.
- Andrew Livingstone
Excitement building for White Fox Jamboree
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Fans of the Muskrat Jamboree will want to come down to Sachs Harbour during the first weekend in May.
Recreation co-ordinator Kyle Donovan said events will be scattered throughout the hamlet and include indoor and outdoor games, a talent show and community feast.
Many of the events are free but some require an entry fee. Anyone interested in volunteering their time is asked to contact the hamlet office.
- Meagan Leonard
Community celebrates Gwich'in Day
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Annual Gwich'in Day celebrations kicked off April 22 with a cookout of traditional fare at 1 p.m. After the luncheon a number of door prizes were given away and members of the community had the opportunity to participate in a number of events and activities.
"It's a big activity for all the Gwich'in people to come together and have a good meal and have some laughter - we always have a full house," said Minia Francis, band office receptionist. "It's tradition, people look forward to it every year."
- Meagan Leonard
Fine art adorns school building
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
The community of Cape Dorset now proudly displays its first painted outdoor murals, installed earlier this month on Sam Pudlat School.
The murals were created by visiting artists Alexa Hatanaka and Patrick Thompson. The artists provided art workshops to Peter Pitseolak School students this year and last.
"Alexa and Patrick paint big murals all around the world," said principal Michael Soares. "Alexa and Patrick worked with Cape Dorset students Parr Etidloie and Audi Qinnuayuaq to paint the mural over two months last spring. It was kindly stored at the conservation office until now."
"The section installed on the front of Sam Pudlat School features a pair of stonecutter's hands. These hands belong to Qavavau Manomie, a respected Cape Dorset printmaker and artist, and were drawn from a photo taken by Bill Ritchie, Kinngait Studios manager," Soares said.
"A bird head drawn by Parr connects to the hands, as if the hands are bird wings.
"The section on the back of the school has women's sewing hands. The bird head is by Audi, and the hands again become like the wings of the bird."
The hands of each mural are enlarged linocut prints that were carved and printed by hand, by Hatanaka and Thompson, paying homage to the stonecut printing of Cape Dorset.
The project was possible thanks to donations from 107 individuals who gave to an online fundraiser organized by Hatanaka and Thompson, the Ontario Arts Council and First Air.
The mural was donated to the school by the West Baffin Eskimo Co-op, which supported the project.
"Parr and Audi are great talents and impressive young people that the community should be very proud of," said Soares.
"They are the future of art in Cape Dorset"
- Michele LeTourneau
Narwhal season opens
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
Narwhal hunting season has started in Arctic Bay, where 190 tags are being made available this year.
Hunters have access to 65 tags until the migration season ends July 19, after which 125 tags are made available for the summer season, Ikajutit Hunters' & Trappers' Association manager Doreen Irqqarqsaq said.
Once a hunter catches a narwhal, the hunter must bring the tusk back to the conservation officer, who will hold it until the tag is issued. While waiting for the tag, maktaaq may be eaten, but not sold, Irqqarqsaq said.
"This year, the floe edge is closer," she said when asked how far hunters would have to go to find narwhal. The distance changes every year, she noted.
"Three years ago, it was like that. Two years ago, it was very far."
- Casey Lessard
Deep sea port sees progress
Qikiqtarjuaq/Broughton Island
The ball continues to roll forward in efforts to get a deep sea port established in Qikiqtarjuaq, finance director Arthur Nicomedes said.
"We have a new MLA, Pauloosie (Keyootak), so we're really working hard to lobby to get the funding for that," Nicomedes said.
The hamlet continues to work to create a corporation to bring the project to fruition.
He said if the territorial and federal governments won't fund the $50-million project, the hamlet will look for a private partner to make it happen.
Nicomedes said that ships will need a place to refuel once the Northwest Passage opens and said that place should be Qikiqtarjuaq.
- Casey Lessard
Cabin up for grabs in raffle
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
The Ikalukttutiak Snowmobile Society is offering the prize of a lifetime for its fundraising raffle - a cabin.
The snowmobile society bought the cabin a few years ago but this year decided it is too big for its needs.
"We thought it would be a good fundraiser idea," said Jen Angohiatok, whose father is currently president of the society.
Proceeds from the raffle will be used as prize money at Omingmak Frolics. The society organizes all the snowmobile races.
Tickets are popular.
"I'm selling quite a few," said Angohiatok.
The tickets are $50 and only 200 tickets were printed.
The draw will be held May 18 during the closing ceremonies of the Omingmak Frolics.
- Michele LeTourneau
Agencies test disaster scenario
Iqaluit
A group of government and non-governmental organizations are coming together May 2 to imagine how they might respond to a disaster in Iqaluit, this time at the Iqaluit airport.
The scenario, which could be a life-threatening illness or mass casualty event, imagines running 100 patients through Qikiqtani General Hospital at a time when the hospital is already beyond 100 per cent capacity.
The event, called a table-top exercise, will bring together six tables of stakeholders - the hospital, emergency medical services, government, airport, media, and an open table - to discuss the scenario and their responses.
The scenario is authored and will be led by Toronto Sunnybrook hospital emergency medicine physician Dr. Laurie Mazuric, who was on the ground during the 2003 SARS outbreak. She and nurse Steve Scott will provide training in Iqaluit on the day before the scenario.
- Casey Lessard
Outrage over prayer ban
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Former Nunavut cabinet minister and long-time Rankin Inlet resident Manitok Thompson expressed her outrage over a Supreme Court of Canada decision publicly this past week.
Thompson vehemently opposes the court's ruling against prayers at a city council meeting in Sagunay, Que., and said she would not like to see the ruling adopted in Nunavut.
- Darrell Greer
Boil water advisory ended
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
A boil water advisory that had been in place for about two weeks in Rankin Inlet was officially lifted on April 14.
- Darrell Greer
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