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Orlando shows us where we are
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, June 22, 2016

It's easy to get complacent.

It's easy to think the concept of homophobia has become an archaic concept, an embarrassing idea only worth looking back on in the context of how far we've come.

The world was jolted awake on June 12, an otherwise quiet Sunday morning, learning the night before, a man had walked into a gay nightclub in Orlando Fla., killing 49 people and injuring 53 more.

Later that day, 4,487 km northwest of Orlando, a group of Yellowknifers met up at Javaroma to show solidarity with these victims. NWT Pride spokesperson Garett Cochrane called the tragedy a "blatant wake-up call" that there is still hate out there.

Indeed it is. Now that this shooting has awoken the public, it is also a good time to reflect on the events that have helped shape Yellowknife into the accepting community it is today.

Back in 1969, a man working in Pine Point was convicted of homosexuality, prompting then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to finally decriminalize it. Thirty-two years later, in 2002, then-premier Stephen Kakfwi stood up for the rights of homosexuals in the NWT.

He argued for amending Adoption and Family Law Act to allow homosexual couples to adopt.

Then-North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty made a preposterous argument against the amendment, reasoning that gay men die earlier than straight men and thus will leave orphans.

Arguing for the amendment, Kakfwi talked about his experiences as an aboriginal, arguing "there must be a future that strives to eliminate discrimination in whatever way it manifests itself."

Allowing homosexual adoption was a big step forward for Yellowknife and the NWT but this advancement didn't stop a former city councillor from requesting a heterosexual pride day to counteract the first gay pride day in 2005. Former councillor Alan Woytuik said at the time that "recognizing contributions of heterosexuals is just as legitimate as recognizing the contributions of gay and lesbian communities."

Woytuik missed the point that for the LGBTQ community achieving equality alone was a struggle and the special recognition was a celebration of that.

Now that NWT Pride is turning four-years old this summer, Yellowknifers have an opportunity to look back on the history of LGBTQ advances and celebrate how far society has come.

But stopping there and giving ourselves a pat on the back also misses the point.

Yellowknifers must now look further down the road and assess what still needs to be done - and help the LGBTQ community achieve it.


People will work around parking quandary
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Summer, construction season, patio season and boating season are all back and ready to brew a perfect storm in Old Town.

With the prospect of beer drinkers competing with boaters for limited parking space looming, city council announced a plan earlier this year to introduce angled parking to replace the loss of a stretch of road currently used by boaters.

Coun. Niels Konge is not wrong when he warns the parking issue is going to get bad in Old Town. But as it stands right now, there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut solution to provide enough parking for all of the cars and boats that will be vying for space.

Rather than debating the issue to death, council might be wiser to let residents figure it out for themselves. Some will walk, others will ride their bikes and others will just find parking elsewhere and walk a few blocks. Boaters will also have to walk a bit further to find parking. The overflow lot between School Draw and Franklin will open up with the end of construction.

It's not going to be the most convenient situation, but since there isn't enough room to install a jumbo parking lot that will accommodate everybody who wants to park in Old Town, and surely few of those who live down there would like to see one anyway, people are going to have to adapt. And they will.


Suffocated by power
Editorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, June 22, 2016
It can be argued non-party politics is good in theory, but, unfortunately, its practical application depends on human nature and that's where, theoretically speaking, the wheels fall off with a thud.

My problem with non-party politics has always been that it puts too much power in the hands of whomever sits at the top.

Looking at those who have occupied the premier's throne during Nunavut's brief history, one can see how power has the ability to ignite the aggressive fever or debilitating paranoia of a dictator.

Neither is conducive to a productive environment.

The illusion of wielding unlimited political power effectively is responsible for the sorry state our government still finds itself in, not, as some southern pundits suggest, a shallow talent pool.

Every person who sits on the territorial throne seems to reach the point of so little confidence in their subordinates, they need to micromanage every department within our political structure.

And, once they realize that approach is, in reality, mission impossible, the paranoia begins to wreak havoc on their delicate psyche.

That prompts the attempt to use the age-old method of fear to try and control what is said by whom.

As we see yet the latest cabinet shuffle take place, and new duties are thrust upon different ministerial faces -- if you keep track of them as they go by -- and another high-ranking official resigns in disgust, it is clear toxicity continues to reign supreme within our government.

It came as no surprise to hear former languages commissioner Sandra Inutiq say the government's lack of openness and responsiveness drove her to resign.

That is merely the signal from the throne that it lost faith in her ability to do the job.

Inutiq's description of a government that works on fear, ego and control has been whispered by many throughout the years.

She just had the courage to say it a little louder than many who went before her.

Sadly, however, her description of second guessing herself and the decisions she made are classic symptoms of those who work in a toxic environment with little, if any, support for their efforts.

What we continue to witness from our government is a far cry from the ideals envisioned by such people as Tagak Curley, John Amagoalik, Jack Anawak and Jose Kusugak, among others.

I would beg to differ with Inutiq's assertion that the ghost of colonialism haunts the Government of Nunavut.

It is an enemy of the people that pre-dates even the ravages of colonialism.

It is power, and, left unchecked, it changes the hearts and minds of many.

Rather than lead Nunavummiut into the dawn of a new era, our government is holding back progress under a stifling umbrella of fear and power mongering.

This antiquated approach to governance spoiled some of the best among our leadership core to the point where they simply quit when they didn't get their own way, while up-and-comers such as Inutiq are suffocated under a blanket of distrust.

Surely Nunavummiut deserve better!


Senator wasn't appointed for his Catholicism
Northwest Territories/News North - Monday, June 20, 2016

A large majority of Canadians support physician-assisted death.

Some of the many polls on the issue state that as few as 15 percent of people oppose doctor assisted death. But that minority can be very vocal.

The individuals and groups against euthanasia include many politicians in Canada's Parliament, both elected in the House of Commons and appointed in the Senate.

It is no longer a question of whether physician-assisted death is simply good or bad. The matter has been ruled on by the Supreme Court of Canada. Long story short, it gave Parliament direction to establish a law on this matter. And on Friday, June 17, the senate voted to accept the proposed legislation, ending the political deadlock between the lower and upper houses of Parliament

Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy has said the GNWT has implemented temporary guidelines as it continues to draft its own law.

"Medical assistance in dying is a deeply personal subject for many people," Abernethy said in the legislative assembly.

"I want to reassure our residents that the interim guidelines do not compel health-care providers to provide, or assist in the provision of, medical assistance in dying."

Abernethy said the GNWT rules were based around what was in the Liberal law as it went before Senate, including its definition of a "terminal" illness.

As readers of News/North would have learned in the June 13 edition, NWT Senator Nick Sibbeston said he planned to vote against the legislation.

"My view is that I'm not in favour of assisted death at all as a Catholic person ... I'm going to express my views, so I will express that," said Sibbeston, the territory's only representative in the upper chamber.

He said his position is based on his faith and the tradition of the Dene people to survive.

"That's the background I come from, so I'm against any medically-assisted cessation of life," Sibbeston said.

Is the senator interpreting the Dene people's historic struggle to survive against disease and the elements as meaning they are, as a group, opposed to euthanasia? We would need to see some proof about that as we can't find any studies on the matter.

The senator admits he's heard little feedback from NWT residents regarding the law. Those he has heard from tend to be against it, he claims.

Could the feedback the senator claims to have received be from his church and from his close circle of like-minded friends?

We remind the senator that he represents the whole of the NWT, a territory whose inhabitants are certainly not all Dene.

While we respect Sibbeston's personal beliefs, we also expect the un-elected, Liberal-appointed senator - who's in his early 70s -- to reflect the changing times.

We hope he would seek feedback from those outside of his own cultural community before taking a stand on major issues such as doctor-assisted dying.

In a 2014 speech in the Senate on role of independent senators, Sibbeston said, "I look forward to continuing to deal with issues on merit and on a common-sense basis, with the main consideration being what is right and good for the North."

In the future, we hope Sibbeston heeds his own words. On issues such as doctor-assisted dying, for example, we wish Sen. Sibbeston would have taken into consideration the pain and suffering of people who have no life like that of a well-heeled senator - people of all cultures who want to die with dignity.


Mental health help must focus on trust
Nunavut/News North - Monday, June 20, 2016

Finally, after much agonizing talk about suicide in the territory, funding has been allocated toward the expansion of mental health services.

This will help implement a comprehensive strategy to prevent suicide following a coroner's inquest into the high rate of suicide in the territory and the creation of a Quality of Life department within the Government of Nunavut.

Health Minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk told the legislative assembly earlier this month that 22 more positions have been added to provide mental health services and that the budget has been set at $24 million.

There are now two mental health facilities with residential treatment, out-patient programming, and drop-in support for mental health clients. The Government of Nunavut has increased its intervention and mental health capacity, with child, outreach, mental health and psychiatric nurses in many of the communities, Ell-Kanayuk said.

It is also encouraging that the federal government has also designated new funding for mental wellness support in Nunavut.

Ottawa recognized that indigenous communities - particularly those located in rural, remote and isolated areas - are facing distressing mental health and suicide crises. These communities too often lack proper access to vital services and support, and the service offerings that do exist are not always culturally-appropriate or properly aligned with community needs. With that recognition comes $69 million over three years in new funding for crises response teams to serve communities in Nunavut, Ontario and Manitoba identified as having the greatest need. While the new measures will involve working in close collaboration with Inuit partners to develop a community-led suicide prevention approach, the specific amount of assistance for Nunavut is not known.

The new funding on both fronts is a vital ingredient to the expansion of mental health services. That said, we have seen government waste in the past, where allocated money gets swallowed by the bureaucracy and not enough trickles down to the front lines.

Nunavut communities need resources that will help people suffering from addictions, hopelessness and the perception that they are being shunned by their own communities. Mental health workers and nurses in community health centres must recognize they have to be accepted by residents in order to be effective in treating the psychological ailments that afflict patients.

Most of all, they must be approachable, they must work to gain the trust of the people in the communities they serve. They must understand the issues Nunavummiut face in their daily lives which impact their mental health. They must have empathy, patience and compassion.

No amount of funding will help unless it delivers results at the grassroots level, in each of the 25 communities of Nunavut.


RCMP secrecy harms public trust
Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, June 17, 2016

"To serve and protect" may be one of the most well-known colloquialisms in North America.

Although that fact is thanks largely to American television programming and not because the phrase figures large in how the RCMP brands itself here, it is still an apt and succinct description of the primary purpose and mandate of any and all police forces.

Police officers, and the RCMP in particular, are given extraordinary authority and power over citizens to carry out their purpose.

They gain this authority not through divine mandate but at the behest of the government that pays handsomely with taxpayer dollars for their service. The RCMP, like all police forces, is ultimately accountable to the people it serves.

The police do not have an easy job, and mistakes are bound to be made in the course of their duties but this does not excuse the gross lack of accountability shown by Yellowknife RCMP in two recent cases.

The results of two external reviews of alleged excessive force used by local RCMP remain secret. The most galling instance involves a woman whose lawyer filed a complaint of police misconduct on her behalf more than a year ago.

The complaint involved a police video that showed, we are told, a detained woman being physically mistreated while in police custody. Whether or not a Crown prosecutor's decision to drop charges against the woman was the result of the video's possibly disturbing content remains unknown, as does the conclusion of an external review of the incident.

This isn't a witch hunt. Most people consider the RCMP to be an effective and humane police force, and rightly so. But hiding the results of an external review from the people the RCMP is hired to serve and protect sullies public perception and taxes the public's good will.

Even if the officer involved was found to be at fault, the misconduct of one member will not seriously damage the reputation of the whole as long as the RCMP is seen to be transparent and accountable.

If the RCMP remains secretive in this case and future cases the great risk is that the force will be seen to put the protection of its own over and above its duty to the public.


Government losing credibility on 911
Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, June 17, 2016

The lack of 911 emergency phone service in territory has been a long-standing issue.

One would think, knowing everything the government knows now, that it would be relatively simple to launch, would only cost $600,000 to implement and $266,000 a year to operate, that MLAs would at last want to do something about it.

Alas, at least collectively, they will not, as Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Robert C. McLeod confirmed to Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne June 1 in the legislative assembly.

Every few weeks another example is offered to demonstrated why 911 is vital to the territory. Last month, Fitzgerald Carpeting, a storied business that had stood for 35 years, burned to the ground after a person trying to call the fire department realized too late that there is no 911 service in the NWT. This week, Audrey Henderson, a nurse at Stanton Territorial Hospital, launched her own personal information campaign, having come to the conclusion that many of her patients don't have a clue of what the local emergency numbers are.

She has designed magnets to put on vehicles with the three emergency numbers printed on them: 1111 for police, 2222 for fire or ambulance and 4111 for the hospital.

It's a noble effort but with the rest of North America using 911 there will always be a sizable number of people who won't know the numbers when an emergency arises.

The government's refusal to standardize its emergency phone service after decades of reports and pleas for change has reached the point of absurdity. One can only imagine now that the reason the GNWT won't do anything is that it has become accustomed to its obstinacy.

This is no way to treat the citizens and visitors to the territory who rely on government when there is an emergency.


Opportunity knocks
Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, June 16, 2016

Much has been said over the years about the disadvantages Northern residents face, especially where young people are concerned.

The nature of living in small communities normally means fewer opportunities, activities and even limits on schooling. However, you wouldn't guess that from looking at the Deh Cho this summer.

Whether talking about sports, arts, culture or advocacy, the summer promises to be an exciting one.

As graduates in the region look forward to post-secondary or to getting involved in their respective communities, many groups and leaders are looking for young people who want to make a difference.

This week, renowned Tlicho author and filmmaker Richard Van Camp spent time in Fort Providence. Van Camp, who has at least two film projects on the go this summer, is eager to promote the talent of the North.

He remembers how lead actor Joel Nathan Evans in the film adaptation of his novel, The Lesser Blessed, came seemingly out of nowhere - and he is convinced that can happen a second time around.

Van Camp told the Deh Cho Drum that now is the time, if there are any aspiring actors or actresses in the Deh Cho, for said artists to get serious about their craft.

Such opportunities do not come around every day.

At the same time as Van Camp scouts for local talent, sports-minded residents have a wealth of recreational opportunities this summer, from a 16-and-up baseball league in Fort Providence to two full weeks of activities in Fort Simpson celebrating the tail end of recreation and parks month.

That's on top of the looming 2018 Arctic Winter Games, which table tennis enthusiasts will have the benefit of participating in now that their sport has been added to the roster.

Soccer is also ongoing in many communities.

If that weren't enough, Dehcho First Nations, Liidlii Kue First Nation and the University of Alberta collaborated on a five-day canoe trip for Fort Simpson and Fort Providence youth.

For the less-sportsminded among us, there are also advocacy opportunities. In particular, proponents of Nahanni Butte's proposed wellness camp hope youth will spearhead that project at the upcoming Dehcho Assembly.

It is certainly heartwarming to see the sheer amount of activities happening this summer. The possibilities afforded to our youth rival even those in large urban centres. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find communities elsewhere in Canada that are offering such a range of programming.

To steal a line from Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson, the youth of the Deh Cho are the region's most valuable natural resource.


Positive outlook at energy conference
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, June 16, 2016

Twenty-eight years ago today, the Drum ran a story on the front page about Esso and Shell applying for licences that would allow them to export natural gas to the United States.

The spokesperson for Esso at the time was very clear that was only the very first step in a long regulatory process and that development was not remotely guaranteed. He did say, however, that should the project move forward, economic development, business opportunities, and social benefits would surely follow.

Fast forward to today, and Inuvik's first conference focused on alternative energy is wrapping up. It's no secret that the event is the much smaller descendent of the former Inuvik Petroleum Show and that this is the result of a dearth of resource extraction activity in the region. There is no point hosting a conference for oil companies when they don't work here anymore.

Some people look back on the heady days of rampant resource development with nostalgia, wishing the town and the Beaufort Delta region could be great like that once again. There was plenty of work, money flowed, and everyone bought a truck.

But looking at the article from around that time, the picture is hardly so rosy.

The spokesperson carefully told those at the press conference that no development was likely to happen for at least several years, if at all. He said it all depended on market conditions, but that the nearest thing to development in the reasonably close future was work outlining the extent of the Taglu field in 1989. He said that would likely mean between 15 and 20 local jobs per well, of which "up to two" were planned at the time. While 30 to 40 (possible) jobs are certainly nothing to sneeze at, we are all very much aware of the disparities between what companies promise in terms of employment for locals and what is actually the case. Furthermore, the decisions about those jobs and that development were certainly not made anywhere remotely close to Inuvik.

Now, we have a keynote speaker at a major conference talking about aboriginal ownership in clean energy technology. We have Duane Smith, the chairperson of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, telling the audience that there have been enough studies and that what we need now is action for these new technologies to be built and tested.

It's scary, and it's expensive, taking a step forward into the relative unknown, but at this point, there really isn't much left to lose. Oil and gas, whether they come back into play or not, are very much fair-weather friends. Something locally owned and operated, even if it seems risky up front, is a far safer bet.

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