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Monday, September 21, 2015
Sex offender appeals conviction
A Hay River man is appealing his sexual assault and sexual interference convictions on the grounds that a court measure intended to protect the victim made him look guilty in the eyes of the jury.
During his trial, a large screen was placed in front of Michael St. John to prevent his accuser from seeing him during her testimony. In his appeal, St. John said the practice made him feel "like there was a sign around my neck that said to the jury 'he must be guilty.'"
St. John will make his application in appeals court Sept. 21.
- James Goldie
Cantung mine to shut down
The North American Tungsten Corporation is temporarily shutting down its Cantung Mine on Oct. 27.
The company informed the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board on Sept. 9 that it would be concluding operations at the mine located the NWT-Yukon border.
The company's letter also said a care and maintenance plan is currently being developed and expected to begin at the end of November.
North American Tungsten said they did not known how long the site would be shut down but was hopeful that operations would resume in the summer of 2016.
- Karen K. Ho
Fracking regs on hold
A final decision on hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" regulations in the NWT will carry over to the next government, according to a news release from Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay.
"From our engagement with the public ... it is clear that NWT residents want to discuss this issue further," he stated.
The territorial government is in the process of developing an oil and gas strategy, which it said will include fracking.
- John McFadden
Groenewegen undecided on election run
Veteran Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen is still undecided on whether she will run in the Nov. 23 territorial election.
"I am not sure yet ... I've got one more week where I need to talk to some people," she said.
Wally Schuman, past president of the Hay River Metis Council, has declared his candidacy in Hay River South.
- John McFadden Attendance assembly held
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
Echo Dene School held the first attendance assembly of the year on Sept. 16. All parents, guardians and family of students were invited.
This year, the school will be giving an award to one student per month who demonstrates the Dene laws at school.
The school will also be under construction until November as workers replace exterior siding and windows.
- April Hudson
Terry Fox Run ties up laces for fundraiser
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
On Sept. 20, the community was scheduled to hold a Terry Fox Run.
On Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson planned to host a literacy night.
As well, the Historical Society was scheduled to celebrate its 25th anniversary from Sept. 18 to 20 at the Arbour.
The newly-formed Fort Simpson Rod and Gun Club will have its first annual general meeting on Sept. 23 at the recreation centre.
Alcoholics Anonymous will have its regular meetings on Sept. 17 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Stanley Isaiah Building.
The NWT Soccer Association will be hosting a 2016 Arctic Winter Games Regional Development Camp in Fort Simpson from Oct. 2 to 4.
- April Hudson
Enterprise fall fair set for this month
Enterprise
A fall fair has been set for Enterprise on Sept. 26.
The event will take place at the Enterprise Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The fall fair will feature crafts, art, baking and other items for sale. Tables are free.
The fair is being presented by the recreation division of the Hamlet of Enterprise.
- Paul Bickford
Northern actress discusses film career
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Northern actress Lucy Tulugarjuk was scheduled to talk about her life and career on Sept. 17 in Fort Smith.
Tulugarjuk has been a part of the Northern film scene for many years and most notably had a starring role in the classic Inuit-language film Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner.
The movie won prizes at film festivals around the world, including at the prestigious festival in Cannes, France. It was also the top-earning Canadian film of 2002.
At the event in Fort Smith, Tulugarjuk planned to discuss her adventures both on screen and off.
Tulugarjuk, who is originally from Igloolik, Nunavut, has lived in Fort Smith for about six years.
She first came to the community to attend Aurora College, where she earned a certificate in business administration. She is now the co-ordinator of the community justice program.
- Paul Bickford
Museum collecting items for Christmas
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre in Fort Smith is collecting items from community residents for a special Christmas-themed exhibit in December.
The museum is asking people to comb through their old family Christmas photos and share them for the exhibit. All photos will be scanned and the originals will be returned to the owners.
The exhibit is called A Very Fort Smith Christmas. The submission deadline for the photos is Nov. 15.
- Paul Bickford
Run for a good cause
Aklavik
The community of Aklavik is getting moving with the Terry Fox Run, which was scheduled for Sept. 20.
Participants planned to circle the outskirts of the community, starting at the recreation complex, running a loop that recreation co-ordinator Dean McLeod estimates is about two or three kilometres in length.
The charity run has been held in the community before and McLeod said they usually get a few people out for it - with all funds raised for participation going towards the Terry Fox Foundation.
Following the run, a barbecue with hot dogs and smokies was scheduled for everyone involved.
- Elaine Anselmi
Focus on the family
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Family Violence Prevention Week is being recognized in Fort McPherson from Sept. 20 to 26.
Organized by justice co-ordinator Bella Martin, various organizations and institutions in town are being asked to host events and activities for families, including the school and hamlet.
Although official plans weren't yet set by press time, Martin said events can be anything that allows families to get out and spend time together.
"It's just to spend time with the family and do different activities," she said.
"Maybe start something for the family - they might start doing crafts or something."
Thus far, the plan is to have a different event or activity each day of the week.
- Elaine Anselmi
A warm welcome
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
The annual Parent and Teacher Meet and Greet was held in Sachs Harbour on Sept. 14, welcoming two teachers into the community.
For teacher Priscilla Haogak, it was a welcome back since she is from the community and, now a qualified teacher, will be taking on kindergarten to Grade 4, said District Education Authority (DEA) board member Florence Elanik.
Principal and Grade 6 to 9 teacher Lawrence Berger was also introduced to the community at the event.
There are no Grade 5 students attending school in Sachs Harbour this year.
The event, a pot luck, was held at the school gym with many members of the community as well as representatives of the DEA coming out, said Elanik.
- Elaine Anselmi
Diabetes run draws crowd
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
More than 170 people gathered to support the Fun Run for the Cure for Diabetes in Kimmirut, Sept. 11.
"It was an awesome turnout," said Qaqqalik School principal Edward Flynn. "The community was really behind it and participated. Lots of help from students, staff, workers. Went really well."
The event was sponsored by the Northern store.
- Casey Lessard
Qulliq scholarship winner announced
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
Connie Evalak of Hall Beach is this year's recipient of the $5,000 Qulliq Energy Corporation's (QEC) Laura Ulluriaq Gauthier Scholarship.
Evalak is completing the final year of her bachelor of education studies thorough the Nunavut Teacher Education Program in Hall Beach.
"Mrs. Evalak's commitment to education is demonstrated by her achievements as a student and her determination to pursue higher education," said Keith Peterson, the minister responsible for QEC. "Her enthusiasm for learning and her generosity with sharing her academic and cultural knowledge with those around her is inspiring."
Evalak is a married mother of four children who taught in Arnaqjuaq School for 10 years before choosing to join the Nunavut Teacher Education Program.
An aboriginal language specialist, she is a dedicated volunteer and outstanding mentor to her students, working for the well-being of her community through the promotion of Inuit knowledge and language studies, states a news release.
"After getting my B.Ed later this year, my plan is to go back to the classroom where I can help our future leaders reach their potential and this $5,000 scholarship is going to achieve my goal of completing my teacher education program." stated Evalak.
The Laura Ulluriaq Gautier Scholarship is awarded annually by the energy corporation in memory of the former assistant deputy minister for the Department of Executive. Before her sudden death at the age of 30 in 2002, Gauthier was instrumental in the formation of the Nunavut Power Corporation, which became QEC in 2003.
- Michele LeTourneau
More dressing rooms for arena
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
The grand old lady of Kivalliq hockey will be getting some much needed renovations during the upcoming months.
Funding has been approved which will see the space in the building's old public swimming pool converted into three brand-new dressing rooms.
The three existing dressing rooms will be converted to two larger dressing rooms, giving the arena a total of five.
The increased number and size of the dressing rooms will help the organizational aspects of the numerous hockey tournaments the community of Rankin Inlet holds every season immensely.
Rankin recreation co-ordinator David Clark said the hamlet, plus every hockey program in the community, contributed financially to the project, which should come in with a price tag of about $260,000.
- Darrell Greer
Busy narwhal hunt
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
Narwhal hunters in Clyde River have had a busy summer season, with about 12 narwhals hunted since the ice disappeared, chief administrative officer John Ivey said.
"They've been out hunting steady," Ivey said. "It's been a very good year for narwhal."
Hunters can sometimes find narwhal in the inlet near the hamlet, but usually have to travel one or two hours to find them.
"They shared the meat with the community," he said, noting that "half the town" gathered to get free narwhal meat when one hunter returned earlier this month.
- Casey Lessard
Farmers' market returns
Iqaluit
IqaluEAT is preparing to host another farmers' market this coming weekend in Iqaluit. The event starts at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Nakasuk School.
IqaluEAT, supported by Carrefour Nunavut and funded by Secretariat aux affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes, will offer between 80 and 100 products, including seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs, organic coffee, artisanal breads, and bagels, spokesperson Michel Potvin stated in an e-mail.
A previous market planned for the summer had to be cancelled due to work being done to upgrade the Iqaluit airport runway, which threatened the delivery of the food, Potvin stated.
The market is intended to make fresh food more affordable for more residents, and the eventual goal is to create a food co-op in the capital.
"We have been working over the last several months with southern co-ops (focused on food) and potential suppliers in order to develop a model that would meet our needs," he stated.
- Casey Lessard
High number of renters
Nunavut
The new Canadian Rental Housing Index released earlier this month shows Nunavut has the highest proportion of renters of any province or territory in Canada at 79 per cent (6,845 renter households).
The first ever national index published by a national group of housing and financial organizations showed more than 40 per cent of all renter households in Canada are spending more than 30 per cent of their gross income on rent alone.
One in five renter households in Nunavut are at a crisis level of spending by spending more than 50 per cent of their gross income on rent, the report states.
- Darrell Greer
Truth and Reconciliation Report now on YouTube
Iqaluit
An indigenous trio, including Joseph Murdoch-Flowers, an Inuk lawyer from Labrador and Nunavik now living in Iqaluit, have completed a project intended to make the Truth and Reconciliation Report accessible to all. The result is now available on YouTube.
Murdoch-Flowers, with Zoe Todd, a Metis lecturer working in Ottawa, and Erica Violet Lee, a Cree student from Saskatoon, asked their networks to read 140 section of the commission's report and upload them to YouTube. The resulting playlist is available under the hash tag #ReadTheTRCReport.
The trio was inspired to start the project after reading a call issued by Metis writer and teacher Chelsea Vowel on her blog titled "âpihtawikosisân" for individuals to read the report in its entirety in order to engage with its finding, stated a news release.
The trio wanted to increase the accessibility of the report and to bring it to life to honour the survivors of residential schools.
"Let's keep this report from being shelved like so many before it," said Todd in her video contribution.
Murdoch-Flowers noted that political commentator Rex Murphy called the report "the election issue this year" and he stated, "Despite the national attention given to the report upon its release in May, we have yet to see political candidates seriously engaged specifically with the calls to action."
- Michele LeTourneau
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