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Monday, August 17, 2015
Woman ejected, pinned under vehicle
Four people were ejected from a vehicle, leaving one with life threatening injuries, after a single-vehicle crash about a kilometre north of Enterprise on Aug. 6, police stated in a news release.
The female driver was pinned under the vehicle, which rolled several times before landing on its roof. She was taken to the Hay River Hospital and then medevaced by plane to Edmonton for treatment. Police have not updated her condition since the Aug. 7 news release.
RCMP stated they were called to the scene at about 6:30 p.m. The other passengers were injured, but not as seriously. The cause of the investigation is still underway, the news release stated.
- Shane Magee
Communication fails in Mackenzie Delta
During a loss of phone services in the Mackenzie Delta region Aug. 13, residents requiring RCMP assistance were told to head to their nearest detachment. RCMP issued a news release that day as Northwestel phone, Internet and cable service was intermittent.
The outage, which also affected northern B.C. and the Yukon, was caused "by a critical power surge in a Northwestel facility," according to the company.
Service had been restored later that day, according to the company.
- Shane Magee
Firm wins jail contract
A Fort Smith contractor has won the bid to design and build the new adult women's correctional centre in the community.
The contract was awarded last week to C.A.B. Construction of Fort Smith with a winning proposal of just over $23.5 million, according to the territorial department of justice. The new facility will have capacity for 23 women and will be built on MacDougal Road next to the existing male facility.
The existing women's facility opened in the early 1990s. The Auditor General of Canada earlier this year said that with no sprinklers, the wooden structure could be a fire hazard.
- John McFadden
Fire danger extreme
While the Reid Lake fire east of Yellowknife continues to be the biggest concern to firefighting crews, the fire danger forecast on Aug. 14 was high for Gameti, Whati, Behchoko, Lutsel K'e and Yellowknife and extreme for Wekweeti.
There was a new fire burning about 50 kilometres from Dettah, north of Hidden Lake Territorial Park.
- John McFadden
Slave River Paddlefest draws record numbers
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The eighth edition of the Slave River Paddlefest - featuring kayaking, canoeing, rafting and more - was bigger than ever.
This year, 142 registered competitors - 100 of them from out of town - took part in the July 31 to Aug. 3 event on the Mountain Portage Rapids of the Slave River, just south of Fort Smith on the Alberta side of the border.
That compares to 80 competitors last year, and just 12 when the event first began.
The visiting paddlers and spectators came from elsewhere in the NWT and Canada, and from the United States, France, Norway and Australia.
The Slave River Paddlefest is presented by the Fort Smith Paddling Club.
- Paul Bickford
Swimmers to make waves
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Mackenzie Recreation Association is presenting Making Waves - a competitive and fun swimming event - in Fort Smith this week.
The event, which is for ages five and up, is scheduled to run from Aug. 12 to 14.
Along with races, it will feature fun relays, junior lifeguard competitions, water games and more.
Participants from Fort Providence and Fort Liard are expected to join Fort Smith swimmers for the event.
- Paul Bickford
Youth camp promotes culture
Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake
The Dehcho Regional Youth Camp is scheduled to begin Aug. 24 and will run until Aug. 29.
Youth ages 13 to 18 will experience a week on the land, and will learn about ecological sciences and gain traditional knowledge and skills from elders.
- April Hudson
Handgames scheduled
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
The first annual $25,000 men's handgame tournament and fall gathering will take place from Aug. 21 to 23. Teams require eight players with an optional ninth player as a sub, and must be ages 12 and up.
The fall gathering will include traditional workshops for quill earrings, birch bark baskets, canoe making, moose hide tanning and meat drying.
The community is looking for volunteers to help facilitate this event.
Johnny Landry is scheduled to play the evening of Aug. 22 at the Arbour. Charlie Furlong will also be playing a song or two, and coffee, tea and snacks will be provided.
Young swimmers ages 10 to 18 are off to Fort Smith to take part in the Mackenzie Youth Swim Meet, which began Aug. 12 and will run until Aug. 14.
The pool will close for the season on Aug. 22.
- April Hudson
Play ball in the village
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
The recreation centre will be holding its Two Rivers mixed slo-pitch tournament from Aug. 28 to 30. Entry fees are $500 per team, with first place winning $1,500, second place winning $1,000 and third place winning $500. The registration deadline is Aug. 26.
The Department of Transportation will be holding an emergency exercise on Sept. 12 and is looking for volunteers to act as air crash victims from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be followed by a barbecue at the airport.
- April Hudson
Good conditions for caribou hunt
Aklavik
The streets of Aklavik were near empty with most of the people on the land last week.
Band manager Knute Hansen said yellow berries, also called knuckle berries, are coming out.
"People are starting to pick berries, and there's still lots of fishing going on. I've heard that the char have started running," he said.
That leaves the town with few people in it, but Hansen said it is a pleasant change.
"It's very quiet, but nice though," he said.
He said that hunting is still in the early stages, giving some hunters success.
"Some people got caribou but not everybody yet. I think this must have been just the first group to come through. They still have to go by boat to the coast, to the coal mine area, to hunt. Most of the people wait until they get a bit closer," he said.
With the school in Aklavik starting on Aug. 31 this year, Hansen said children are preparing for classes already.
"The women are starting to get their kids ready for school." he said.
- Sarah Ladik
Icicle Inn to be torn down in Sachs Harbour
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
The old weather station turned hotel in Sachs Harbour is being taken down.
Joey Carpenter, a brother of the former owner said the Icicle Inn has been closed for 20 years, but that his brother's death three years ago prompted the demolition of the building.
"It's all full of lead paint and that asbestos insulation," he said.
"The takedown crew will be here until September and then will be back next year to finish."
Carpenter said his brother had had big dreams for the inn, but that many of them weren't feasible.
"After he passed away, I guess it was ripe for takedown," he said.
- Sarah Ladik
Tuk takes top spot at Paulatuk ball tournament
Paulatuk
The Tuk Vicious and Delicious came out the victors of the Sixth Annual Co-ed Baseball Tournament in Paulatuk earlier this month, beating out the Paulatuk Blues and the Young Stars for the title.
Rebecca Ruben, a summer student and co-organizer of the tournament, said the event went well and that they saw a good turnout. Between 30 and 40 people came out to watch the games, she estimated.
"It was really good," she said, adding that the tournament will in all likelihood see a seventh year.
Four teams participated, with one full team coming for Tuktoyaktuk to join the two local teams. A fourth team was formed with players from both towns.
- Sarah Ladik
Two injured in shack fire
Iqaluit
An evening shack fire last week in Iqaluit injured two people and prompted a warning about fire safety from the fire department.
Two people suffered smoke inhalation and one suffered burns.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
"Shack fires unfortunately are a regular occasion in Iqaluit," said Fire Chief Luc Grandmaison.
"Some are caused by voluntarily acts - suspicious in nature - and some are to due human failing like cooking under the influence, heating with a fuel stove."
He advises residents to never leave their stove unattended and never heat with a fuel stove.
"Cooking and using a fuel stove under influence can cause injuries," said Grandmaison.
- Stewart Burnett
Watchdog weighs in on Kiggavik
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
MiningWatch Canada, a mining industry watchdog, has sent a letter to Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt, calling on him to uphold the Nunavut Impact Review Board's decision to deny a project certificate to Areva for its proposed Kiggavik uranium mine.
Areva was the first to send a letter to Valcourt regarding the board's decision, asking the minister to overturn it. The Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) sent a letter to Valcourt asking that he uphold NIRB's decision.
MiningWatch program co-ordinator Ugo Lapointe stated, "It is entirely inappropriate for a proponent to propose a major mining project without any start date, let alone wait until after a review has concluded to bring forward vital arguments and information related to substantial community concerns."
Lapointe added that overturning the NIRB decision would damage the relationship between Inuit and the mining industry.
"To do such deep damage to this trustful relationship for the benefit of a project that is unlikely to get off the ground for decades - if ever - would be extremely unfortunate."
- Michele LeTourneau
Natanine not representing NDP
Kangiptugaapik/Clyde River
The mayor of Clyde River and NDP MP hopeful Jerry Natanine will not be representing the party in this coming federal election.
"My desire to run in the federal election did not work out," Natanine stated on Aug. 7. "I did not get the nomination for NDP MP. Thank you to all those that supported me."
Two days before, he stated publicly that the vetting process was "not going good at all."
NDP Riding Association president Aaron Watson was not immediately available for comment.
- Stewart Burnett
Clothing course proves popular
Ikpiarjuk/Arctic Bay
A traditional clothing-making course in Arctic Bay is proving so popular the hamlet plans to run it twice.
"Some of the elders are teaching some of the local women how to make clothing in the traditional way," said Alison Drummond, finance officer for the hamlet.
Twenty participants camped out at Victor Bay, across from Arctic Bay, for three days and learned how to make clothing out of sealskin.
"There were more participants than we had space for, so we're actually going to be running it again in several weeks," said Drummond.
Rebecca Kallyk is co-ordinating the course and Geela Arnauyumayuq is instructing.
- Stewart Burnett
Inuit youth gather in Iqaluit
Nunavut
Youth from all over Inuit Nanangat will come together in Iqaluit Aug. 20 to 24.
Gathering for the biennial National Inuit Youth Summit, youth are tasked to develop skills, interact with peers and build confidence.
The summit is organized by members of the National Inuit Youth Council, and the Iqaluit event will be the first hosted by President Maatalii Okalik, who was elected in June to lead the seven-member council," stated Patricia D'Souza, senior communications officer for Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
An estimated 100 youth aged 15 to 30 will take part in workshops and discussion groups, interact with youth from other regions and help develop the priorities of the National Inuit Youth Council.
The gathering takes place at Inuksuk High School.
- Michele LeTourneau
No ice makes waves
Ausuittuq/Grise Fiord
The northern Baffin Island community of Grise Fiord is experiencing an opposite summer from the southern capital. No ice in the water is making boating difficult.
"A lot of you guys in southern Baffin are complaining of too much ice," said Grise Fiord acting senior administrative officer Marty Kuluguqtuq.
"Here in Grise Fiord, we don't have enough ice. We miss that ice to calm down the waters."
Broken sea ice keeps the waves and swells down in the ocean water.
"When there's not enough ice around to break up the waves, the swells are too big," said Kuluguqtuq.
He said this has gone on for a few summers in a row now.
"(Boaters) can't go anywhere unless the seas calm down a bit," he said. "They're not calming down as we speak, but we'll see how it goes."
- Stewart Burnett
QIA president hosts celebration
Qausuittuq/ Resolute Bay
To celebrate the signing of the Qausuittuq National Park Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement, Qikiqtani Inuit Association president, P.J. Akeeagok will host an open house and celebration.
Qausuittuq, which means place where the sun doesn't rise in Inuktitut, is the eighth and newest Northern national park and fourth in Nunavut. It is located on northwest Bathurst Island, north of Resolute, and totals more than 11,000 square kilometres of land and water. The park has been in the works for more than 15 years.
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement states national parks would be created in each distinct ecosystem of the territory.
The agreement is intended to benefit the people of Resolute Bay, which will include employment and economic opportunities.
Akeeagok was looking forward to meeting people and answering any questions they may have about QIA programs or the agreement.
The open house was held Aug. 12 at the Tudjaat Coop Restaurant.
- Michele LeTourneau
Songwriting contest promotes Inuktut
Nunavut
The territorial government's Department of Culture and Heritage launched Qilaut, Nunavut's new annual Inuktut songwriting contest, on World Indigenous Day Aug. 9.
"Qilaut was created to celebrate Nunavut's vibrant Inuktut music scene and promote the use of Inuktut in all areas of daily life," states a news release.
The name Qilaut, which means drum, was chosen to honour traditional and contemporary Inuktut music.
"By singing in Inuktut, Nunavummiut are contributing to the vibrancy and strength of the Inuit culture."
The contest is open to all Nunavut residents who can submit original Inuktut songs.
Winners can receive cash prizes and their winning submissions will be professionally recorded.
A compilation CD will be distributed at Uqausirmut Quviasuutiqarniq, Nunavut's annual celebration of Inuktut and Inuit culture in February.
- Michele LeTourneau
Prospecting course begins soon
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
A government of Nunavut program called Introduction to Prospecting begins in Baker Lake Aug. 17.
The course is open to Nunavummiut interested in learning the basic skills used in exploring for minerals.
The course runs to Aug. 22, each weeknight evening and all day Saturday.
After taking the course, prospective prospectors can apply for program funding and receive up to $8,000 per year to help pay for wages, materials, and supplies when looking for minerals.
The course is free.
- Michele LeTourneau
Clear water helps shipping
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
Down in Kimmirut, the shipping season has been on schedule and not facing the same ice problems as Iqaluit to the north.
"It's going on very well," said Hosea Mpofu, senior administrative officer of the hamlet.
"So far we've got two ships and we're expecting another one to come through with supplies."
There haven't been any problems this year, he said.
"We don't even have a single iceberg on the open ocean. It's all melted."
A recent sealift shipment of supplies will help the Nunavut Housing Corporation complete some housing projects.
"People in the community are looking forward to the completion of those houses," said Mpofu.
- Stewart Burnett
Science in the Kitikmeot
Kitikmeot
The popular week-long science camp that teaches youth all about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is completing its Kitikmeot tour this week.
The camp is loaded with hands-on activities related to aviation robotics, chemical engineering, computer engineering and much more. Youth are also taught about the science taking place in their everyday lives and communities.
Actua, a national charity which supports STEM in the North, presented the camps in Kugaaruk and Taloyoak in late July, in Gjoa Haven and Kugluktuk in early August and wraps up in Cambridge Bay Aug. 17 to 21.
- Michele LeTourneau
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