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Monday, November 9, 2015
Illegal liquor seized in Tuk
No charges were laid after RCMP seized six 40-ounce bottles of liquor last week in Tuktoyaktuk.
According to a news release from the Mounties, officers made the over-ration liquor seizure at the Tuktoyaktuk airport while conducting a patrol on Nov. 5. Members regularly attend the airport to ensure compliance with the NWT Liquor Act restrictions, police stated.
- John McFadden
Remembrance Day a stat holiday in NWT
Residents of the NWT are reminded that Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 is a statutory holiday in the NWT.
That means government offices including the post office, banks and liquor stores are closed for the day as Canadians pause to honour veterans. Communities across the NWT will hold their Remembrance Day events at 11 a.m. It is held at that time on the 11th day of the 11th month to mark the armistice signed in 1918 between Canada and its allies and Germany, which officially ended the First World War.
- John McFadden
Elections NWT mailing voter information cards
Registered voters should soon start receiving voter information cards ahead of the Nov. 23 territorial election.
Elections NWT stated the cards contain information about where and when to vote but the card cannot be used as proof of identity and residence at the polls. Incorrect cards can be corrected at the poll. If an elector receives a card for someone who no longer lives at that address, they should return it to their returning officer.
Voters without cards can register to vote when they attend their poll, provided they can prove their identity and residence.
- John McFadden
Ferry season winds down
The Arctic Red River ferry on the Dempster Highway remained temporarily closed as of Nov. 6.
The Department of Transportation website stated it would resume service when ice conditions are safe and an ice channel has been cut. Delays could be expected at the Peel River ferry due to snow, ice and rough landing conditions.
The Lafferty ferry, crossing the Liard River near Fort Simpson is now closed for the season as is the Johnny Berens ferry crossing the Mackenzie River on the road to Wrigley.
The Abraham Francis ferry crossing the Peel near Fort McPherson remained open as of Nov. 6.
- John McFadden
Museum seeks submissions
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre is planning a Christmas-themed exhibit in December. It's asking residents to comb through old family photos to share with the museum for the exhibit. The photos will be scanned and originals returned.
The deadline for submissions is Nov. 15.
- Shane Magee
Athlete going to hall of fame
Thebacha/Fort Smith
High kick and kneel jump athlete Meika McDonald of Fort Smith will be inducted in the Northwest Territories Sport Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Yellowknife on Nov. 20.
McDonald was among 25 people who were announced as inductees last week to the class of sport legends from the North.
- Shane Magee
DKFN no longer running diner
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
A public notice from Deninu Kue First Nation states it will no longer be running the DKFN Diner. The last day of operations was Oct. 30.
"We would like to thank our customers for their support and patronage," the notice states. It did not say whether another group would run the diner.
- Shane Magee
Haunted house raises funds for Spain trip
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
Halloween festivities, including a haunted house on Oct. 30 and 31, raised about $700 for a future youth trip to Spain.
- April Hudson
Gas dollars available
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Liidlii Kue First Nation will be providing gas assistance for trappers this winter. To apply for the Trappers Assistance program, trappers must submit their name and contact information, as well as copies of Department of Environment and Natural Resources rapper reports by Nov. 16.
- April Hudson
Getting some ice time
Aklavik
With Halloween festivities wrapped up, recreation co-ordinator Dean McLeod said the community is easing into winter sport season.
"The weather's getting a little cooler now and they're flooding the arena and curling club to get ice built up so we can start doing programs at the curling rink and arena," he said.
Public skating, organized hockey and curling will be on offer once the ice is finished.
"They are flooding it, it's just up to Mother Nature for how cold it gets," McLeod said. "They're a little over halfway done."
- Elaine Anselmi
Snow day in November
Ulukhaktok/Holman
It may only be early November, but Ulukhaktok has already had a snow day.
"We have a blizzard right now all day and it's supposed to go into tomorrow," hamlet senior administrative officer Bill Bennett said on Nov. 3. "Schools and daycare are all shut down."
Flights were grounded in and out of the community, with winds measured from 70 to 80 knots.
"There's almost no visibility," Bennett said.
Community programming was cancelled, Bennett said, so not to encourage children to be outdoors making their way to the gym or community hall in the blizzard.
- Elaine Anselmi
Plans for recreation wanted
Paulatuk
Residents of Paulatuk were offered a presentation on family violence on the evening of Nov. 3, through community recreation.
Regular programming for youth from age zero to five continues on and recreation co-ordinator Aaron Ruben said upcoming schedules are currently in the works.
"I'm sending out letters to community organizations to try to fill up programming for December," Ruben said.
Organizations can choose dates they wish to host events and Ruben will create a schedule for the programming.
- Elaine Anselmi
Getting ready for the games
Tuktoyaktuk
Youth in Tuktoyaktuk are preparing for the Arctic Winter Games.
"We're busy doing Arctic sports practices three times a week now," said youth centre co-ordinator Sophie Stefure.
Girls meet on Tuesday, youth under 12-years old practice on Thursdays and 13-year-olds and above practice at the Kitty Hall on Sundays for the month of November. Practices will continue right up until territorials in January, which then determines who will go on to compete in Nuuk, Greenland, at the Arctic Winter Games.
"We have some talented kids here at Arctic sports," Stefure said.
One-foot high kick is the most popular event, she added, but the group is also enjoying the two-foot high kick, kneel jump and Alaskan high-kick, among other sports.
The youth are being coached by former competitor Charles Komean, or C.K.
"They love it," Stefure said. "They're all excited about it."
- Elaine Anselmi
Man dies in Clyde River
Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River
Clyde River RCMP found an unconscious man early on Halloween morning in the community.
At 7:45 a.m. Oct. 31, the RCMP was told a man was seen near the roadway heading to the airport. He was apparently suffering from cold weather exposure.
Despite medical efforts, the individual died at the local health centre later that morning.
The RCMP is assisting the office of the chief coroner, which has ordered an autopsy to find the cause and manner of death.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor. No name was released.
- Stewart Burnett
Sammurtok reprimanded
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA and former Nunavut Community and Government Services minister Tom Sammurtok was censured by his fellow MLAs in Iqaluit this past month.
The vote to formally reprimand the MLA was unanimous.
Sammurtok was charged with drunk driving following a minor accident in Iqaluit on April 13.
Sammurtok had left the Frobisher Inn shortly before the mishap. A breathalyser test revealed his blood alcohol level to be 0.19, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
The former cabinet minister was stripped of his portfolio on April 14 and resigned from cabinet the following month.
He was found guilty of the charge in June, fined $1,500 and had his driver's licence revoked for one year.
- Darrell Greer
Father of Nunavut shares stories
Iqaluit
Nunavut icon John Amagoalik spent some time with students at the Nunatta Campus of Arctic College Nov. 2.
"He was there at the invitation of Valerie Idlout and Cherita Kalluk. They are both year one students in the Nunavut Teacher Education Program. Their interview with John was part of their indigenous studies course," said Brian Manning, director of education programs.
Amagoalik, born at a seasonal camp near Inukjuak in northern Quebec, was relocated to Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord at the age of five with his family and others.
He would become the first of many to call for an Inuit homeland called Nunavut. Working in the area of rights and last claims, Amagoalik served Nunavut in many capacities and has been honoured many times over, including with an Order of Nunavut last year.
"We thank John Amagoalik for sharing his rich history with our students. We are very appreciative for his support of educational initiatives," said Manning.
- Michele LeTourneau
Inuit Day celebrated
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
The community of Pangnirtung celebrated Inuit Day Nov. 5, bringing together youth and elders to express their pride in being Inuit.
Elders visited the school to help celebrate with traditional stories and costumes. Students also wore any traditional clothing they had.
Only Inuktitut was to be spoken, even by the teachers.
- Stewart Burnett
Jimmy Hikok awarded prize
Kugluktuk
When Indigo's Adopt a School contest closed in mid-October, Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik looked to be the second-place winner of $7,500 worth of books from the book seller, pending the verification of votes.
However, when votes were verified and Indigo announced the winners Oct. 30, the Kugluktuk school had disappeared off the list of winners.
"At the close of the contest, all adopts were reviewed and those deemed ineligible, per the contest rules, were removed and the results recounted. As a result, the ranking in some provinces has shifted and Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik is one such school that was affected by this change," said Kate Gregory, Indigo's manager of public relations.
But the company made an unusual move.
"Although the official rankings did change, we recognize that Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik Elementary School generated outstanding enthusiasm and commitment to children's literacy in their community.
"Love of Reading is recognizing their commitment by providing them with a meaningful donation of $7,500 separate from the contest, equal to the value of the prize they would have won, to allow them to enrich their school library."
The school, during the contest period, also raised a total of 1,699 books, or seven books per child, through the Adopt a School contest.
- Michele LeTourneau
Remembrance Day at Legion
Iqaluit
The Iqaluit Legion will be hosting a service at the Cadet Hall in honour of Remembrance Day.
The service will begin at 10:55 am. Nov. 11.
Poppies were distributed across town during the past week and could be found in most stores and businesses.
Services in other Nunavut communities are typically held beginning at 11 a.m. Nov. 11.
- Stewart Burnett
QIA visiting Baffin communities
Nunavut
Three Baffin Island communities are on deck for Qikiqtani Inuit Association community engagement meetings this week.
The meetings are gearing toward building a position by the organization on Phase II of the Mary River mine project being proposed by Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation.
"QIA will participate in the Nunavut Impact Review Board process regarding the proposed Phase II of the Mary River project," stated QIA president P.J. Akeeagok in a news release. "QIA's views will be based on the voices of those beneficiaries to be directly impacted by the proposed Phase II of the Mary River project."
The tour will involve community open houses and radio shows.
QIA will be in Pond Inlet Nov. 9, Arctic Bay on Nov. 11, and Clyde River on Nov. 13.
- Stewart Burnett
Winter clothes gathered at school
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Students at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) in Rankin Inlet are collecting used clothing items still in good condition to be distributed to children in need in the community.
This marks the second year the MUI students have held the winter clothes drive. Clothing items may be dropped off in the collection boxes placed inside the school.
- Darrell Greer
Project funding available
Nunavut
Funding proposals for 2016-2017 projects promoting culture, languages, arts and heritage in Nunavut are now being accepted by the Department of Culture and Heritage.
Individual, as well as non-profit organizations and municipal corporations, can apply for projects that fall into these categories:
Heritage programs - preserving cultural legacy
Elders and youth programs - support for elders and youth
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit - maintaining Inuit societal values
Official languages - language promotion, protection and preservation
For information visit the department's website or contact their offices.
The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31.
- Michele LeTourneau
Rankin Inlet cadets win challenge
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
A cadet corps from Nunavut captured the Northern Cadet Challenge at Shilo, Man., for the second straight year this past month.
The 3019 Rankin Inlet Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps captured this year's championship in Shilo this past month, while the 3055 Naujaat Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps took home the 2014 challenge .
Members of the winning Rankin team are 2nd Lieut.
Dorothy Tootoo, Warrant Officer Qilak Everard, Warrant
Officer Obadiah Sanguin, Sgt. Germain Aliyak, Lance Cpl. Rachel Oolooyuk, Cpl. Andrew Powell and Cpl. Nadine Oolooyuk.
- Darrell Greer
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