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Monday, June 20, 2016

Government to fund refugee sponsorship

The Government of the Northwest Territories is providing $90,000 to help community groups sponsoring Syrian refugees moving to the territory.

Sponsors can apply for up to $15,000 until the end of September. There are currently five groups in the territory working on sponsoring refugees.

- Kassina Ryder

Worker injured in fall

A construction worker suffered a head injury after falling more than three metres onto a concrete pad in Yellowknife earlier this month, prompting a territory-wide warning from the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC).

The commission issued a hazard alert on June 13 reminding Northerners to use protection while working at heights, according to a news release.

The Yellowknife worker was not wearing fall protection at the time of the incident.

- Kassina Ryder

Rescue teams compete

Mine rescue teams from the Northwest Territories and Nunavut competed during NWT Mining Week, which ran from June 11 to June 17.

NWT teams included members from the Ekati, Diavik and Gahcho Kue diamond mines while Nunavut teams were made up of workers from the Meadowbank and Hope Bay gold mines.

Ekati was the overall winner of the underground and surface competitors.

- Kassina Ryder

July deadline for subsidy payment

Tlicho citizens have until July 11 to apply for the Harvesting Subsidy Payment.

The payment will provide $250 to every enrolled citizen on July 12 and July 13.

Behchoko residents will receive payment at the Tlicho head office while residents of Gameti, Wekweeti and Whati will receive theirs at their local Tlicho Community Government presence offices.

-Kassina Ryder

Recreation Day a hit in Whati

Whati/Lac La Martre

Whati's fist Recreation Day was a popular event in the community, said recreation programmer Dan Acosta.

The date was postponed from June 4 until June 5 due to weather, but the decision was a good one, Acosta said.

"The sun was out and it was probably 22 degrees," he said.

As expected, the bouncy castle was a big hit for the community's children.

"We pretty much had to drag them out of there to take it down," Acosta joked.

Other activities included mini golf and face painting.

There were also events for adults, including a baseball game and a poker tournament in the evening.

"It was a good day for everyone in the community," Acosta said.

- Kassina Ryder

Nahanni Butte celebrates Aboriginal Day

Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte

Nahanni Butte will be welcoming the Magoo Crew back to the community on June 21 to celebrate Aboriginal Day.

The dancing, beatboxing and rapping team is expected to stay in the community from June 20 to 22.

The day's celebrations will include games and barbecues.

- April Hudson

Fathers get fishing in Fort Good Hope

Radilih Kue'/Fort Good Hope

Fort Good Hope was expected to host its third annual Father's Day fishing derby on June 19, said recreation co-ordinator Freda Kelly. The derby takes place at the mouth of the Mackenzie River and anglers are usually out to catch trout or whitefish. Prizes will be awarded to the winners, including a brand new barbecue, which was donated by the local Northern Store, Kelly said.

The derby was scheduled to begin at about 10 a.m. and judging was to take place around 5 p.m.

A celebratory barbecue was scheduled to take place after prizes were given out and a poker tournament was expected to begin around 7 p.m. at the community hall.

Funds raised during the tournament will be used for the community's National Aboriginal Day celebrations on June 21.

- Kassina Ryder

Photography exhibit a success at Chief Albert Wright School

Tulita/ Fort Norman

Chief Albert Wright School students hosted a successful photography exhibit on June 9, said teacher Rachel Thorne.

Photography students chose their best photos to display, many of which included the landscape in and around Tulita.

The exhibit had been scheduled to take place at the cultural centre but was moved to the school.

Despite the change in venue, it attracted a great audience, Thorne said.

"We had quite a few members of the community that still made it out," she said. "I think the kids had a great time. The community was very interested in their work."

The exhibit was set up in a stairway in the school, which allowed residents to pop in and see the exhibit throughout the week.

"You can actually see the display when you walk in from the main door," Thorne said. "It's been an ongoing attraction."

During the exhibit, students enjoyed displaying their work, as well as talking about the stories behind their photographs.

"It was the students' first opportunity to show off their work and to discuss it as well," Thorne said.

Each display was unique, she added.

"Each student's display was very different and you could really see their personalities coming out in them," she said. "That was really cool to see."

- Kassina Ryder

Movie night a hit with youth

Tetlit'zheh/Fort McPherson

Every Friday night in Fort McPherson, youth are invited to gather to watch a movie together, said RCMP Const. Sebastian Andrews.

"It started in October of this year as a program to help curb teen drinking in the community," he said. Paige McDonald, a teacher at Chief Julius School, and Andrews host the movie night at either the school or the community's youth centre.

Thanks to donations from both the Hamlet of Fort McPherson and the local community justice committee, the movie night will continue throughout the summer, Andrews said.

The donations allow for the purchase of pop, chips and pizza.

The weekly movie has become a popular event, Andrews added.

"It's every single Friday night," he said. "They get to pick the movie."

Movie night usually begins at about 10 p.m. and runs until about midnight.

Andrews said he wants to thank organizations who have donated to keep the program running.

- Kassina Ryder

Fort Simpson gets active

Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson

The Village of Fort Simpson's recreation department will be holding events until the end of the month to celebrate recreation and parks month.

A schedule from the department shows Ultimate Frisbee scheduled for June 15 and 29 at 7 p.m.

The village will also be holding a midnight baseball game on June 20 and an Aboriginal Day fun run on June 21. The fun run will start at 5 p.m.

Later in the week, there will be a community soccer game held June 24 with a water fight and barbecue scheduled for the following day.

- April Hudson

Aklavik talks about char

Aklavik

A public meeting to discuss Rat River Dolly Varden Char was scheduled to take place at the Sittichinli Complex in Aklavik on June 16, Rosaleen O'Mahony, communications advisor with Fisheries and Oceans Canada stated in an e-mail.

The meeting was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and was expected to include representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board, the Fisheries Joint Management Committee, the Ehdiitat (Aklavik) Renewable Resource Council and the Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee.

Updates on current and future research projects was expected to be presented to the public, as well as information about fish management, reporting procedures and voluntary harvest numbers for 2016.

A meeting was also scheduled to take place in Fort McPherson at the Annie G. Robert Center on June 15.

- Kassina Ryder

Tsiigehtchic gets ready to celebrate

Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River

Tsiigehtchic's recreation staff have been busy getting ready for both Father's Day and National Aboriginal Day celebrations, said recreation assistant Shelly Andre.

Father's Day events were scheduled to begin with a cookout behind Chief Paul Niditchie School (CPNS) on June 17.

The cookout was expected to be followed by a community baseball game.

National Aboriginal Day celebrations are scheduled to take place outside Chief Paul Niditchie School and are expected to include a traditional dress competition, as well as log sawing and wood splitting competitions and an animal call competition. Events are expected to begin in the afternoon.

- Kassina Ryder

Book return deadline at Behchoko library

Behchoko/Rae-Edzo

Staff at the Elizabeth Mackenzie Community Library are asking students to return their library books before June 28, said librarian Kirsten Franki. Graduations for the Grade 6 class and the senior kindergarten class are scheduled to take place on June 27 and the last day of school is June 28.

"The last day of school will just be a fun day," she said.

Students and parents are asked to watch for posters, which will advertise the dates for upcoming science camps and day camps at the school over the summer.

-- Kassina Ryder

Premier Taptuna shuffles some cabinet portfolios

Premier Peter Taptuna made George Hickes minister of Health and minister responsible for Suicide Prevention when he shuffled the Nunavut executive council June 17.

"After working with our new ministers and observing the distinct strengths of each member of cabinet, I have reassigned portfolios to renew energy and reinvigorate collaboration," stated Taptuna in a news release, adding the stated purpose is to realize the goals of Sivumut Abluqta.

Sivumut Abluqta: Stepping Forward Together outlines four key priorities - Self-reliance and optimism through education and training; healthy families through strong and resilient communities; economic growth through responsible development across all sectors; and good government through wise use of resources.

- Stewart Burnett

Sudden death discovered

Iqaluit

Iqaluit RCMP responded to a report of shots fired near the graveyard adjacent to Apex trail at about 11 p.m. June 14.

Upon arrival at the scene, the RCMP found a 30-year-old male deceased.

"There is no risk to public safety," stated Const. Lurene Dillon in a news release.

The chief coroner has ordered an autopsy.

"Our thoughts are with the family and the community during this difficult time," stated Dillon.

- Stewart Burnett

Woman dies in Clyde River

Kangiqtugaapik/Clyde River

Early afternoon Tuesday, June 14, Clyde River RCMP were called to attend the health centre regarding a female suffering from possible life-threatening injuries.

Upon arrival, the RCMP were notified by the on-site medical practitioner that the woman was pronounced deceased.

"Our thoughts are with the family and the community during this difficult time," stated Const. Lurene Dillon in a news release. "There are no further updates."

- Stewart Burnett

College seeks Kitikmeot students

Ottawa

Nunavut Sivuniksavut, the Ottawa-based post-secondary program aimed at Inuit youth, is extending its application deadline for Kitikmeot youth. Typically the deadline is April, but Kitikmeot applicants now have until the end of June to apply.

"We are looking forward to meeting the territory's future leaders," instructor Larissa MacDonald stated in an e-mail to Nunavut News/North.

Students can stay with the program for one or two years, and the second year does not have to be immediately after the first. Classes include Inuit language, culture and history, as well as courses on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and inter-governmental relations. The second year focuses on the circumpolar experience for Inuit.

Students in the program may be eligible for funding from the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS) program.

- Casey Lessard

Students help Fort McMurray

Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet

Students in Nasivvik High School's E-Spirit entrepreneurship class raised $6,071.25 for the victims of the devastating Fort McMurray fires, which wiped out a large percentage of homes and buildings in the Alberta oil town.

Vice-principal Claude A. Pike thanked the community for its support on behalf of Nasivvik school and the hamlet.

The class conducted a number of projects to raise the money. Students sold carvings, catered to local events, served food for the community and even bought and sold carvings at a markup.

Pike said the students originally did not intend to raise the money for Fort McMurray.

"We moved in that direction since we saw the need," he said. "It could have been us."

As of June 2, the Canadian Red Cross announced more than $125 million had been raised toward the recovery of Fort McMurray.

- Stewart Burnett

40th anniversary approaching

Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

The Kitikmeot Inuit Association is gearing up for its big 40th anniversary party next month in Cambridge Bay.

The two-day event will run July 9 and 10, and will involve a celebration in Cambridge Bay with musicians and cultural performers from across the region and beyond, Jason Tologanak stated in an e-mail.

It will be broadcast on local TV channel 51 across the Kitikmeot region and on FM radio in Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk, Tologanak stated. The KIA is hoping to have a live Internet stream for anyone interested in watching, and a souvenir DVD and CD will be made available at a later date.

The festivities started May 5, when Kugluktuk hosted the first of a series of community celebrations that will be held across the region.

- Casey Lessard

Kimmirut cleaned up

Kimmirut/Lake Harbour

Students and community members gathered June 15 in Kimmirut to clean their community.

"Students who participate in these kind of activities learn that they can actually make a difference with what they do," said Petanie Pitsiulak, community health representative.

"This helps students better understand their own capabilities, leading to more self-confidence that can spread to their work at school."

Annual community spring cleanups have been taking place across the territory.

- Stewart Burnett

Nunavut mines show safety skills

Somba K'e/Yellowknife

The mine rescue team at Meadowbank Gold Mine is the best in the North for first aid, and the crew at Hope Bay Gold Mine is the best at underground obstacles, each earning the distinction at an NWT Mining Week competition this month.

The Nunavut mine teams competed over two days against four from the NWT, including two from Ekati Diamond Mine, and one from each of Diavik and Gahcho Kue diamond mines. Skills tested include firefighting, rope rescue, smoke, and surface and underground obstacles.

Ekati's teams won eight of 14 awards, including both the overall surface and overall underground trophies, a release stated.

The event was organized by the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.

- Casey Lessard

Is Inuktun important to you?

Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay

The Kitikmeot Inuit Association is calling on Nunavummiut to share their thoughts on why Inuktun is important, with a call to action posted on its Facebook page June 15.

The KIA wants people to post a video, photo or story in the language and dialect of the speaker's choice.

Taloyak's Cindy Taqtu, 28, is one of the first to post a video answering the question why Inuktun is important.

"To me, because I have always wanted to speak our language and I want to carry it on to my children and to their children, and keep it going on and on and make it stronger and stronger," Taqtu states in her video. The video can be viewed on isuma.tv.

- Casey Lessard

Food security proposals sought

Nunavut

Organizations with a good idea to increase food security in the territory are invited to submit funding proposals for 2016-17.

Non-profit organizations, societies and municipal organizations that carry out food security initiatives can apply for funding for projects that enable members of the community to actively participate, contribute to the development or continuation of a food security project or seek to reduce barriers to food access.

The Nunavut Food Security Coalition has identified six themes important to improving food security in the territory: policy and legislation, country food, store-bought food, local food production, life skills and community initiatives.

Visit nunavutfoodsecurity.ca for more information. The deadline to apply is July 4.

- Stewart Burnett

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