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Monday, May 11, 2015
Seven years for sex assault
A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a vicious sexual assault on a woman on the Frame Lake Trail in Yellowknife last June.
Charlie Simon, 44, originally from Fort McPherson, was handed his punishment by Judge Robert Gorin in NWT territorial court Friday. He was arrested and charged about five months after the attack. Simon pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on Feb 3. Court heard the victim, whose name is protected by a publication ban, still has serious physical and emotional trauma caused by the assault.
She spent two weeks in hospital following the attack.
- John McFadden
RCMP requests help to find missing man
The RCMP is renewing its request for the public's assistance in locating Brian Melvin Boucher of Fort Smith.
The 52-year-old was last seen in Hay River Oct. 25 while attending a college course. It is believed he was travelling on that date from Hay River to Fort Smith in his 1998 Ford F150, NWT license plate 331317.
Boucher is described as six-feet tall, 150 lbs, with short black hair, brown eyes and a light complexion. He is of Metis descent.
- Paul Bickford
Axe-wielding man arrested in Behchoko
An intoxicated man who was seen running down a Behchoko road brandishing an ax, yelling and waving knives is facing charges after turning himself into local RCMP.
The suspect is facing charges for possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and remains in police custody while the investigation is on-going. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Behchoko RCMP.
- Meagan Leonard
Concern grows for missing Ft. Prov man
Despite pleas for information from his family and RCMP, there is still no sign of Fort Providence resident Delmer Bonnetrouge.
The 35-year-old man was reported missing by his family on April 27. He was last seen in Fort Providence April 21. He is described as being of aboriginal descent, 5'8" tall, 174 lbs with black hair and brown eyes.
RCMP stated it has brought in additional resources to help in the investigation.
The missing man's father, Joachim Bonnetrouge, chief of Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation, has also asked for help to find him using social media.
- John McFadden
Special spring hunt for overabundant geese
NWT
A special hunt for two overabundant species of geese is taking place this spring in the NWT.
According to information from Environment Canada the Snow and Ross' Goose populations have increased dramatically in the past several decades.
In response to concerns over potential impacts of these geese on their habitats, Snow and Ross' Geese have been designated as overabundant.
The designation will allow hunters to shoot the geese in order to help reduce the population numbers.
The spring hunt began on May 1. It will be open on Banks Island, Victoria Island and Queen Elizabeth Islands from May 1 to June 30. For the rest of the NWT it will be open from May 1 to May 28.
Non-aboriginal hunters are now allowed to hunt the two species. They must have a migratory game bird hunting permit. Permits bought in the fall of 2014 are valid.
Permits can be bought on the Environment Canada website or at Canada Post offices.
- Paul Bickford
Enterprise to hear from mill proponent
Enterprise
Enterprise hamlet council has changed the date of its regular monthly meeting in June to accommodate a presentation by the proponent of a wood pellet plant for the community.
Council passed a motion May 4 to change the date of next month's meeting from June 1, which is a Monday, to June 2.
The plant proponent is Hay River businessman Brad Mapes.
Council had already passed a motion April 13 to invite Mapes to appear at a meeting to offer an update on the proposed project.
However, Mapes is a member of Hay River Town Council, which also meets on Monday.
Enterprise hamlet council was told he is interested in making a presentation, but that he requested either a special meeting or a date change for June's regular meeting.
The Enterprise council therefore moved its June 1 meeting to the following day.
- Paul Bickford
Hunting, fishing in full swing
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
Chief Gladys Norwegian and senior administrative officer Michael Rudkin are off to Hay River to participate in a
good governance workshop hosted by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Jean Marie River First Nation's project manager Marilyn Hardisty will be in Inuvik attending a visitors information centre training conference.
People in the community have been hunting ducks, chicken and geese.
Up the creek, fishermen have been putting out fishnets
for pickerel and grayling.
- Stewart Burnett
Students take a trip to snake pit
Ka'a'gee Tu/Kakisa
Two students from Kakisa recently returned from a visit to the snake pit in Fort Smith.
There's only a certain time of year when it's possible to see the pit in full swing.
But the students were lucky enough to see a massive amount of garter snakes all in one spot.
- Stewart Burnett
Betting on breakup
Aklavik
The arrival of spring in Aklavik is being marked with the 18th annual David Husky memorial ice pool.
Community members are invited to come down to the hamlet office and make three guesses as to when the ice on the river will move past the marker. Whoever gets the closest time will be awarded $100 and a plaque. Participants have until May 20 or until the ice moves to place their bets, said recreation co-ordinator Mary Gordon.
All the mothers in town will be spoiled on Sunday with a stew and chili lunch at the community hall, complete with games, cake and prizes. Everyone is welcome.
- Meagan Leonard
New Mountie welcomed
Aklavik
The Aklavik community justice group scheduled an open house May 9 at the RCMP detachment starting at 2 p.m.
The group's Facebook page invited the community to welcome the new corporal and get updates on what community justice, RCMP and other organizations have to offer the community.
Hot dogs, cup cakes, cookies, coffee, tea and juice boxes were set to be available.
- Meagan Leonard
Making the most of a short fishing season
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Residents of Ulukhaktok community are making the most of the short fishing season that started in April and lasts until June when the ice will become too thin, according to the hamlet office.
Many families have travelled to nearby lakes and set up camp hoping to bring home some tasty lake trout for fish fries and family gatherings.
The season overlaps with the peak time for geese hunting so members of the hamlet will be busy out on the land for the next few weeks.
- Meagan Leonard
Travelling science show
Tuktoyaktuk
Students at Mangilaluk School have had a busy week leading up to spring break, said principal Agnes Cudmore.
Children in all grades were treated to science presentations demonstrated by the University of Alberta DiscoverE program.
Students from the university travelled to Tuktoyaktuk to help out with experiments and other classroom activities.
Science Rendevous also visited the school this week to work with students in the classroom with sessions on different topics. After the break, the focus will shift to mental health month, with community co-ordinators visiting classrooms and highlighting some of the main issues and letting students know what resources are available to them.
- Meagan Leonard
Cultural lesson at school
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Students at Chief Paul Niditchie School will be taking part in a cultural lesson learning how to make the most of a reindeer kill by stripping meat from three heads, said principal Darcy Douglas.
The heads were donated to the school by the community.
Senior students will learn how to dress the heads and all the meat will afterward be donated to the elders.
Each year the school teaches how to dress a different animal. In the past the lesson involved beavers, geese and rabbits.
- Meagan Leonard
Sammurtok resigns from cabinet
Nunavut
Rankin Inlet North and Chesterfield Inlet MLA Tom Sammurtok resigned from cabinet May 5, but Steve Mapsalak, the caucus chairperson for the legislative assembly, announced that another cabinet member won't be added until a discussion on the matter is held in the fall. He said the size of cabinet will remain at eight, with Premier Peter Taptuna and seven ministers in the meantime.
Sammurtok was stripped of his Community and Government Services portfolio April 14 by Taptuna, after the MLA was charged with driving under the influence.
"I believe that this decision is in the best interest of the legislative assembly, the Government of Nunavut, my constituents in Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet and my family," stated Sammurtok in a news release. He will continue to serve as the MLA.
Decisions concerning a new appointment to cabinet will take place at the mid-term leadership review scheduled for the fall.
- Michele LeTourneau
New directors appointed
Nunavut
The minister responsible for the Nunavut Development Corporation, MLA Monica Ell, announced changes to the corporation's board on April 27. Elizabeth Kingston of Iqaluit, John Ningark Sr. of Kugaaruk, Kolola Pitsiulak of Kimmirut, Sakiasie Sowdlooapik of Pangnirtung and Malaya M. Rheaume of Ottawa are newly appointed as directors and are to serve three-year terms.
Ell reappointed Donald Havioyak of Kugluktuk, Zacharias Kunuk of Iglulik and John Main of Cambridge Bay to serve three-year terms on the board.
"The appointments are reflective of Nunavut's regions and demographics," said Ell.
"Each board member brings a unique skill set to the corporation, enhancing the board's ability to make sound decisions and support economic development in the territory."
Ell thanked outgoing board members Nancy Karetak Lindell of Arviat, Chris Rudd of Rankin Inlet, David Alagalak of Arviat and Louie Kamookak of Gjoa Haven "for their valuable contributions to the corporation."
- Michele LeTourneau
$2.75-million language deal signed
Nunavut
The 2014-2015 Canada-Nunavut General Agreement on the Promotion of French and Inuit Languages was ratified last week, according to an announcement made by Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq, May 6, on behalf of Canadian Heritage Minister Shelly Glover.
From a total of $2.75 million, $1.625 will be spent on the French language, while $1.1 will be spent on the Inuit language.
The purpose of the agreement is to improve Nunavut's ability to offer French services, especially in the health, early childhood and communications sectors, as well as to promote the revitalization, preservation, and reinforcement of the Inuit language through community projects.
"This agreement signals a sustainable partnership between our government and the Government of Nunavut in order to support the development of the Inuit language.
The support given to the territorial government is an effective means to reinforce aboriginal language and culture in Nunavut," stated Aglukkaq.
- Michele LeTourneau
Iglulik
Students from the south spent 10 days learning all about Inuit and Nunavut on a 10-day visit with students from Ataguttaaluk High School April 16 to 25.
The 16 students and three staff were from Mother Teresa High School in Barrhaven, Ont.
"Students skinned and ate a seal, visited the Igloolik Research Center to learn about polar bear and caribou research," said vice-principal Jay Williams.
The students also dissected a wolverine.
"They made caribou rings in the shop class, visited avaja, a traditional sod house, and igunaq caches at Igloolik Point. They built an iglu and played Inuit games. And they learned how to hukki (a traditional Iglulik-style Inuktitut dance)," said Williams.
"A great time was had by all."
- Michele LeTourneau
High winds close schools
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Windy conditions cancelled school in Pangnirtung May 4, then postponed a planned land fishing trip for Alookie School May 7, Peter Kilabuk stated on a community Facebook page.
Winds gusting up to 90 km/h were reported May 4, and up to 45 km/h on May 7.
A blizzard closed Quluaq School in Clyde River May 5 and the morning of May 6. Winds were gusting up to 70 km/h, Rebecca Hainnu stated on a community Facebook page.
- Casey Lessard
Test of strength for walkers
Sanirajak/Iglulik
Outgoing Nunavut Commissioner Edna Elias and her team made it on foot to Iglulik from Hall Beach to raise fund for breast cancer research.
"We arrived safely into Iglulik at approximately 6:20 p.m., Tuesday, May 5," Elias wrote on the group's Facebook page. "Weather was not in our favour - very high head winds, near blizzard conditions, deep soft snow."
Elias went on to say this one was the most gruelling of the three walks she's led.
"It was a test of strength and endurance physically and mentally. Our guides were so concerned for our safety and well-being we had to ride the qamutik through the worst areas. But we walked in to Iglulik as an emotional, elated group to a crowd of about 200 people."
The Women in Action - Steps of Hope Team included Iqaluit Mayor Mary Wilman, Madeleine Cole, Tineka Simmons, Joanna Awa, Rhoda Ungalaaq, Bernadette Dean and Kathy Nateela.
The women covered approximately 70 kms over two days.
- Michele LeTourneau
Trail condition deteriorating
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
It's not a great time of year to travel the Ittijjagiaq Trail to Iqaluit from Kimmirut because warm weather and rain have made the trail conditions "wet, slushy and potentially hazardous," Nunavut Parks and Special Places stated this week.
The trail runs through Katannilik Territorial Park, and conditions are getting worse daily, a release stated.
If you decide to brave the trail, you're advised to travel with a partner and use proper safety gear.
- Casey Lessard
Akeeagok visits Kimmirut
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
Qikiqtani Inuit Association president PJ Akeeagok will hold an open house in Kimmirut May 12.
The event will be held at the portable building from 10 a.m. to noon. It's a chance for the public to discuss QIA programs and activities, a release stated.
Refreshments and bannock will be served.
Akeeagok will spend the afternoon visiting elders, and participate in a community radio show starting at 7 p.m.
It's the latest in a string of such open houses the QIA president has held across the region since his election in December.
- Casey Lessard
Derby time in Baker
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
The annual Baker Lake fishing derby will be held from May 22 to May 29.
Registrations will be held on Wednesday, May 20, while all prizes will be presented at the community hall on May 29, beginning at 8 p.m.
- Darrell Greer
Snowmobiles replaced for hunters
Salliq/Coral Harbour
Seven hunters who lost their snowmobiles and all their hunting gear but escaped with their lives when they were rescued by helicopter from an ice floe in January received a pleasant surprise recently.
John Eetuk is one of the men who received a new snowmobile as compensation from the Government of Nunavut.
He said the group was aware that there was money set aside somewhere. They first approached the Kivalliq Inuit Association for help. Losing everything, including all their hunting gear and qamutiik, stressed out the hunters.
"That's how we started off with the process," Eetuk said. "The bottom line about this is we chose the right people to do it for us. All we wanted was a little something back. Getting a machine was more than what we really asked for."
Now, with the seven new snowmobiles, the hunters are slowly beginning to collect gear so they can resume their traditional hunting activities.
"Slowly but surely," said Eetuk.
- Michele LeTourneau
Kind donation by winning musher
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Andrew Porter of Gjoa Haven led the field all three days on his way to capturing the annual Pakallak Tyme (Qimuksiqtiit) dog-team race in Rankin Inlet this past month.
The mushers covered 30 miles on each day of the three-day race.
Porter donated half of his $5,000 winning purse to Janice Simailak of Baker Lake, who is receiving cancer treatment in Toronto.
Porter and Simailak are cousins.
- Darrell Greer
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