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Monday, November 23, 2015
Public invited for election night in Yk
The legislative assembly will be open to the public from 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 23 for those who want to follow the results of the general territorial election live.
News/North reported Wednesday no event would be held at the Great Hall of the legislative assembly. However, a news release Thursday afternoon stated the building will now be open Monday evening. Polls close at 8 p.m.
- Shane Magee
Water quality website online
A new website has been launched to allow the public to access information about fresh water quality in the Mackenzie River Basin.
It was built to promote knowledge sharing and support collaboration and evidence-based decision-making throughout the basin, according to a news release. The website will allow mackenziedatastream.org users to access, visualize and download full water quality datasets collected by 21 communities at over 40 NWT sites.
- John McFadden
Liquor seized in Norman Wells
RCMP in Norman Wells has seized 14 375 ml bottles of alcohol that officers say were destined for Norman Wells.
According to an RCMP news release, the seizure was made on Nov. 17 at the Norman Wells Airport. Police have not laid charges.
- John McFadden
Booze and drug paraphernalia seized in Tulita
Charges are pending against a Yellowknife woman after a shipment of illegal alcohol was intercepted at the Tulita Airport.
According to a news release from Tulita RCMP, 22 375-ml bottles of alcohol along with drug paraphernalia were seized by officers on Nov. 10. Tulita is a restricted community, meaning residents and visitors can only bring a limited amount of alcohol in at a time.
The suspect's name has not been released.
- John McFadden
Fishing derby for addictions week
Aklavik
Many activities were on the calendar for National Addictions Awareness Week in Aklavik with various organizations pitching in to host.
"On Saturday, recreation is sponsoring a fishing derby for it," recreation co-ordinator Dean McLeod said.
The family fishing derby was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Nov. 21, running until 5 p.m. when all catches will be measured.
"People go out ice fishing pretty much anywhere they want," said McLeod.
"There's a lot of different fishing places to go to around Aklavik."
The derby will be for jackfish and coney, with $1,000 in cash prizes up for grabs.
The first prize, for the biggest fish, is $200, with $150 going to the second and $100 to the third. There are 23 prizes to be given out in total: 10 consolation prizes of $50 and another 10 for $25.
- Elaine Anselmi
Groups pitch in with events
Tetlit'zheh/Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson also marked National Addictions Awareness Week with various activities planned for the community.
"They started off yesterday with a pancake breakfast and then we had a sliding party yesterday evening," recreation co-ordinator Stephanie Peterson said on Nov. 16.
"Today was Gwich'in language lessons at lunch and lunch was served."
A number of open houses are also being held, including at the wellness centre, the school, RCMP detachment and health centre.
"Different organizations are all pitching in together to have things going," Peterson said.
A crib tournament was held on Nov. 17 for adults, as well as games for youth. A talent show and jam session were also held this week, along with a number of events held in place of bingos that are not hosted during Addictions Awareness Week.
"Because they don't do bingos or anything during this week, they try to do as much in the evenings to do different things,"
said Peterson.
The week was scheduled to end off with storytelling, dinner and a dance on Nov. 21.
- Elaine Anselmi
Planning for 12 days
Tsiigehtchic
With December quickly rolling in, plans are in the process for Tsiigehtchic's annual 12 Days of Christmas event.
"We're going to start it off with a cookie exchange and open house at the gym and get into card-making," recreation co-ordinator Jolene McCarthy said. "After that there will be different things every day."
The events kick off on Dec. 7, ending well before Christmas to give families time get ready and host their own holiday festivities. While the planning goes on, McCarthy said everything is as usual with youth making good use of the gym, as well as getting out sliding.
- Elaine Anselmi
New youth program
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
A new program was scheduled to kick off in Sachs Harbour on Nov. 22 to help youth develop valuable skills.
Called Learning Through Life with Elders and Leaders, the program will run at least once a week, often on Mondays. However recreation co-ordinator Doreen Carpenter said the day could change from time to time.
Carpenter and other staff members received training for the program in Yellowknife back in October, and she said they would be bringing in elders from the community to work with youth on different projects such as cooking and crafts.
"We actually met with the youth on Friday and that's what they wanted - cake decorating, cooking, those kind of things, and they wanted crafts, a lot of arts and crafts," said Carpenter.
- Elaine Anselmi
Travel club gets support from students
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
Echo Dene School's travel club was scheduled to host a Bingo fundraiser on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Proceeds will go toward international travel for students as well as sporting events in the NWT.
A community feast was scheduled to take place Nov. 21 at 6 p.m., thanks to Kathie McLeod, who will be cooking for and organizing the event. The Fort Providence drummers will play a drum dance following the meal.
- April Hudson
Citizens on patrol
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
Fort Providence's Citizens on Patrol met for the first time on Nov. 9. Since then, community members have been actively posting break-ins and descriptions of suspects on social media to warn residents to keep an eye out.
Adult soccer is being held Thursday nights at 9 p.m. at the recreation centre.
- April Hudson
Weekend bash
Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake
Trout Lake held a full day of events for community members on Nov. 15. Residents took part in a sober walk through town as well as a flea market in the afternoon and a community dance in the evening.
- April Hudson
Enterprise closes in on new SAO
Enterprise
The Hamlet of Enterprise is still looking for a new senior administrative officer (SAO) but the search is getting close to the end.
There are four candidates left in the running for the job.
"We're going to be starting interviews hopefully (this) week, preliminary interviews," said Mayor John Leskiw II. "It's taken us a little longer than it takes most communities because we've never really had a set process in doing this so we're kind of defining the process as we go along."
The interviews will take place by telephone. The former SAO, Hermann Minderlein, departed in July for a job in Alberta.
Minderlein, who began working in Enterprise in September of last year, left for personal reasons. Since then, Melinda Lenoir, the hamlet's financial officer, has been interim SAO. Leskiw said things have been running smoothly with the hamlet.
- Paul Bickford
Child Day event planned in Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A National Child Day event was to be held in Fort Smith on Nov. 20.
The event, which was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Smith Recreation Centre, was organized for children up to eight years of age and their families. The organizers are a collaborative group consisting of Our Kids Our Future, the Town of Fort Smith and Sutherland House.
The Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment also were to help with the event. It was to feature story and craft activities, face painting, a bouncy castle in the Recreation Centre gym, lunch, a movie for the children and a family swim.
- Paul Bickford
Museum seeks items for Christmas exhibit
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre will be showcasing submissions for its first-ever A Very Fort Smith Christmas exhibit.
The purpose of the exhibit is to share the holiday stories and memories that make Fort Smith a unique community.
There are many iconic holiday traditions that have been carried on in the community for years, such as the Schaefer tree, the Santa Claus float, Christmas concerts and more.
The museum wanted town residents to share their stories, favourite memories and recipes. Submissions were to be handed into the museum by Nov. 20.
- Paul Bickford
Teenagers charged for break-ins
Iglulik
Four teenagers have been charged and brought before a Justice of the Peace for a string of break and enters between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 in Iglulik
All four, between the ages of 13 and 16, have been released on strict conditions, including a curfew, stated RCMP Cpl. David Lawson in a news release.
The break-ins targeted the Co-op, Arctic College, a local business, the elementary school, the high school and various storage buildings.
"The investigation of the break and enters into local businesses has resulted in the loss of several thousand dollars of merchandise, significant damage to buildings and the destruction of food used for the elementary school breakfast program," said Lawson. "These break and enters appear to have caused a recent price increase on consumable goods at the local stores."
The investigation is ongoing and the Iglulik RCMP encourages anyone with information to contact RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
- Michele LeTourneau
Investigation clears Iqaluit RCMP
Iqaluit
The Ottawa Police Service investigated an allegation of excessive use of force by Iqaluit RCMP members July 19, 2014, and found that members were acting within the scope of their duties.
A public complaint was initiated after a video of the incident showed physical force being used by police while processing a prisoner.
The investigation found the members "did not exceed the use of force necessary to control an aggressive and assaultive prisoner," stated an RCMP press release last week.
The RCMP stated it takes public complaints seriously and where appropriate will engage an external body to conduct investigations into allegations of wrongdoing.
- Stewart Burnett
Three running for mayor in Cambridge Bay
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
There are three mayoral contenders and nine candidates vying for four council seats in the Dec. 14 Cambridge Bay municipal elections.
Incumbent Jeannie Ehaloak is being challenged by Leonard Epilon and Keith Lear Sr., according to an announcement by returning officer Andrea Omilgoitok.
Wayne Gregory, Sarah Jancke, Keith Lear Sr., Christina Mulhearn, Joe Ohokkanoak, Wilfred Wilcox, David P. Kaosoni, Bo Wallenius and Mary Rose Maksagak have thrown in their hats for four available seats on council.
Voters can cast their ballots on election day at the community hall Dec. 14 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. An opportunity for advance voting is scheduled for Dec. 7 between 12 and 6 p.m., also at the community hall.
- Michele LeTourneau
Former MLA receives conditional discharge
Qikiqtarjuak/Broughton Island
Former Uqqummiut MLA Samuel Nuqingaq pleaded guilty to a charge of being unlawfully in a dwelling house before he was scheduled for trial Oct. 29 in Qikiqtarjuaq.
Crown prosecutor Ivan Nault said Justice Bonnie Tulloch accepted the plea. The Crown stayed the second charge of assault. A stay is where the Crown declines to prosecute.
Nuqingaq was given a conditional discharge which include 50 hours of community service and a 12-month probation period, plus counselling as directed by a probation officer.
Nuqingaq was expelled from the legislative assembly in the fall of 2014. At that time, Justice Minister Paul Okalik said Nuqingaq was disciplined multiple times for unacceptable conduct, including persistent absences from sittings of the house.
Nuqingaq was suspended from the legislative assembly on March 6, 2014. It was later revealed that he faced charges of assault and unlawfully entering a dwelling with intent to commit an indictable offence.
- Stewart Burnett
>Warm temperatures lift South Baffin
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
Warmer than usual temperatures - even with brief moments above freezing - have been a welcome reprieve before the long haul of winter in South Baffin communities during the second half of November.
"It's been snowing so heavily the last two days," said Hosea Mpofu, senior administrative officer in Kimmirut, last week.
He had no blizzards to report of and said the temperature had been hovering around -5C.
"We're not complaining very much," said Mpofu.
- Stewart Burnett
Work continues to exhibit kayak
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
The historic Copper Inuit kayak that was found in an Edmonton basement where it was on display for 50 years and made its way home to Kugluktuk this past summer remains in bubble wrap for the time being, said Nancy Kadlun with the Kugluktuk Heritage Visitor Centre and Museum.
Kadlun said a special case for the kayak is being built in Yellowknife and should arrive in the community in the new year.
"We just got an e-mail that it's going to be completed in mid-January," said Kadlun.
"Some elders already know who (built the kayak) so we'll have more information when it's all completed."
The Kitikmeot Heritage Society is working with the Kugluktuk's centre to build a new exhibit centered around the kayak.
- Michele LeTourneau
Stamp to feature Nunavut's Nahanni?
Nunavut
Canada Post sent out a press release Nov. 18 celebrating its 2016 stamp program, which will include cultural and political landmarks and milestones.
Under the "scary stuff" section, the release wrote that the final offering in the Haunted Canada series will come to an end with "frightful scenes from Nunavut's Nahanni region."
The Nahanni region is well known as a Northwest
Territories landmark.
Asked for more information about the stamp, Canada Post's John Caines told Nunavut News/North that the final stamp images have not been completed.
"Closer to the issue date we will be able to share the images with you," he stated.
Canada Post's board of directors review the stamp advisory committee's recommendations to establish the final selections for each year.
- Stewart Burnett
Stories of anti-violence sought
Nunavut
Qulliit Nunavutmi Angnat Katimayiit (Status of Women Council) is asking for contributions for a project called Raising our Voices, a radio event to be held between Nov. 25 and Dec. 10.
This event is to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Nov. 25), Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and Girls (Dec. 6) and International Human Rights Day (Dec. 10).
Qulliit invites Nunavummiut to share their reflections, experiences, essays, stories, poems and songs about activism for violence-free communities, stated executive director Beth Beattie.
Each item that is aired on the radio will entitle the contributor to $250.
Contact the council office for more information.
- Michele LeTourneau
Narwhals said to be trapped in ice
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
Reports about narwhals trapped in ice near Pond Inlet were unconfirmed by press time but the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is investigating.
"Under the minister's direction, the department commenced and is actively working with the community and our co-management partners, including the local Hunter and Trappers Organization and Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, and the territorial government, to confirm the reported sightings and assess the situation near Pond Inlet," stated Rosaleen O'Mahony, communications advisor with the DFO, in an e-mail.
Departmental resources, including personnel and equipment, are on standby should the situation evolve to require action.
- Stewart Burnett
Club hosts curling event
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
The Qavik Curling Club was getting set to host a RBC Sports Day in Canada event in Rankin Inlet on Nov. 21.
The event was scheduled for 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the local curling arena.
Qavik club members invited all Rankin Inlet community members to stop by the rink, try throwing a stone and enjoy some refreshments of hot chocolate or coffee.
- Darrell Greer
Fundraiser for tent fire victims reopens
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
An online fundraiser for the Kautuq family, who were tragically caught in a tent fire outside of Pond Inlet in August, has been reopened.
The Aug. 16 fire claimed the lives of four members of the family, including the father, Ikie Kautuq, and three of his children. Surviving them are Nina Kautuq and one child.
The fundraiser raised more than $5,000 when it was open. Relatives closed down the site while everyone involved took time to heal. A number of people have inquired about how they can still help, so the site has been reopened.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Kautuq family can find the fundraiser at the gofundme website.
- Stewart Burnett
Minor hockey registration starts
Arviat
The Arviat Minor Hockey Association is looking to increase its numbers this year and build on the success it enjoyed during the 2014-15 season.
Registrations for the upcoming hockey season began in Arviat on Nov. 13. Fees were $50 for players of minor hockey age and $100 for senior players.
- Darrell Greer
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