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Monday, June 6, 2016
Teachers, GNWT talks resume

The territorial government and union representing 488 teachers across the territory resume negotiations for a new collective agreement this week. Talks are set for June 6 to 10, then resuming later this month. In a May 4 update posted online, the GNWT states it has no money for "any form of monetary increases" for the first two years of the collective agreement - the same position it took in ongoing negotiations with unionized GNWT workers.

Should a collective agreement longer than two years be reached with teachers, the GNWT is prepared to "discuss very modest monetary increases."

- Shane Magee

Tlicho Government announces award winners

The Tlicho Government has announced the winners of the second annual Tlicho Government Awards, according to a news release.

Chief Jimmy Bruneau, of Behchoko was chosen for a Lifetime Achievement Award while Gameti's Charlie Gon will receive a Public Service, Politics, Law and Justice award. Jimmy Kodzin from Wekweeti will receive an award for Active Living and Cultural Skills and Jimmy Martin of Behchoko will receive an Education and Health award. Whati's Dora Nitsiza will receive a Culture Heritage and Spirituality award. The awards were expected to be presented in each community during the Tlicho Assembly, which was scheduled to take place in Gameti on June 2.

- Kassina Ryder

Top cop heading to Ottawa

One of the top police officers in the territory will soon be taking a new position in Ottawa.

RCMP Chief Superintendent Ron Smith has been commanding officer of G Division since 2014. According to RCMP spokesperson Elenore Sturko, Smith takes up his new post at the Mounties national headquarters this summer. No exact date was available. Smith came to the division in 2011 to serve as criminal operations officer. A new commanding officer has not yet been named,

- Shane Magee

Deadline approaches for Inuvik Trade Show

It is the last change to register for the first Arctic Energy and Emerging Technologies Conference which is being held June 13 to 15 in Inuvik. The event will bring together government and industry representatives to learn, network and promote various sources of energy and emerging technologies related to Arctic living.

-John McFadden

Learning practical skills in Behchoko

Behchoko/Rae Edzo

Chief Jimmy Bruneau School students are learning how to repair and maintain small engines as part of their Gona woo' ke class, said teacher Paul Gentleman. The class aims to teach students both traditional and modern skills they can use in their everyday lives.

Students are learning everything from how to mix gas to how to properly store an ATV for the winter.

"They learn how to sharpen it, how to clean it, how to clean the air filter, how to clean a spark plug," Gentleman said. "It's the basic upkeep and maintenance of a chainsaw."

The class also spends time outside where they learn about respecting the land, Gentleman said. They learn how to repair fish nets and how to properly clean fish, as well as how to build fires in various conditions, such as on lake ice.

"We do do some very traditional things, too," Gentleman said

- Kassina Ryder

Norman Wells celebrates Tourism Week

Lli Goline/Norman Wells

The Norman Wells Historical Centre was scheduled to host a free community barbecue on June 2, said assistant manager Jordan Chubb.

The barbecue was a partnership with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to celebrate Tourism Week. Tourism week took place throughout the NWT and Canada from May 29 to June 4.

A menu including fresh fish from Deline was expected to be a big draw for residents, as well as the weather, Chubb said.

"It's just to get people out and enjoying the good weather we're having," he said. "It's something to motivate people to go out and enjoy what's out there."

The barbecue was also expected to include prizes, such as a 30 minute helicopter ride, a "mystery prize" and a $500 gift certificate to the Great Bear Gift Shop.

- Kassina Ryder

Chief Albert Wright students hold photography exhibit

Tulita/Fort Norman

Tulita's budding photographers will get a chance to show the community their best work during a photography exhibit on June 9, according to teacher Rachel Thorne.

Chief Albert Wright School students from grades 10 to 12 have spent the last month learning the basics of taking and editing photos.

A room at the Cultural Centre will be used for the exhibit where each student will have a display, Thorne said.

While students have been focusing on taking photos of Tulita's picturesque landscape, they've also been taking photos during events and activities. Thorne said residents are encouraged to attend the exhibit and look for photos of their friends and families.

"The student photographers have been out and about in town and they've been to all the community events," she said. "There will be lots and lots of photos of community members.

Everyone should come."

The evening is scheduled to run from 7 to 9 p.m. and students will also be selling their best photographs.

Thorne said she's pleased with how many students have taken to photography.

"It's really been kind of a school-wide interest," she said. "All the kids really seem to have enjoyed it."

- Kassina Ryder

Gameti sewing group hosts first Quilt Show

Gameti/Rae Lakes

A popular sewing group in Gameti will display some of their finest pieces during a quilt show on June 19.

Instructor Lynn Turcotte said despite never having made quilts before, the dedicated sewers created 22 quilts over a three month period.

Each one is unique to the woman who made it,

Turcotte said.

"All the quilts are different colours, some are purple and some are black and red," she said. "It really is something."

Turcotte said the sewing group began last year and quickly gained speed. Sessions usually take place from Monday to Saturday, but hours can vary.

Turcotte has also been teaching Gameti's youth sewing skills, she added. Jean Wetrade Gameti School students in junior and senior high have been spending a portion of their Wednesdays learning how to use sewing machines. So far, they've each made a pillowcase, Turcotte said.

"They started out with pillowcases," she said. "That's a really good project to learn the sewing machine."

She said she plans to offer lessons to younger students in the fall.

The show is scheduled to take place at the community government office board room.

- Kassina Ryder

Aklavik youth keep their community clean

Aklavik

Aklavik's annual youth community clean-up contest kicked off on May 25, according to youth co-ordinator Mary Gordon. The contests runs until June 8 and encourages youth 15 and under to pick up trash around the community.

Each day, Gordon said she hands out garbage bags to youngsters who want to clean up and directs them to streets that need cleaning. She keeps a list of participants and the community's public works department picks up the bags from their homes each morning.

Participants are given $1 for every full bag.

On May 31, the contest included a "bonus day" where youth were paid $5 a bag, Gordon said. It was scheduled to run from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

"It should be a big hit," she said.

Once the contest is finished, an iPad, an iPod and bicycles will be presented to the first, second and third place winners.

- Kassina Ryder

Sewing group a hit in Tsiigehtchic

Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River

Sewers in Tsiigehtchic have come together to form a community sewing circle together at Chief Paul Niditchie School.

The group initially started sewing together every Wednesday evening, but took a brief hiatus over the winter, said principal Sonia Gregory. It started up again in the spring and is now meeting every Thursday evening from approximately 7 to 9 p.m.

"Everyone brings their stuff and we sit around and just visit and work on our sewing," Gregory said. "Everyone helps each other out. We share patterns and tips."

The group started as a way to forge a connection not only with parents who have children attending CPNS, but also the greater community, Gregory said.

"This was my first year as the principal of the school here and I really wanted to have a lot more community involvement," she said.

Though Tsiigehtchic is a small community, Gregory said there are always a variety of activities and events take place. The sewing group is now adding to that roster.

- Kassina Ryder

Russia warns about rocket debris

Iqaluit

The Government of Nunavut was advised last week that a rocket would be launched by the government of Russia on June 4 which may result in debris falling over open water between Nunavut's Ellesmere Island and Greenland.

"It is expected that the debris will fall outside of Canadian territorial waters in northern Baffin Bay and is considered a very low risk event," stated Community and Government Services Minister Joe Savikataaq in a news release June 2.

"There should be no harmful effects to any community, the environment or animals near the impact area."

As a precaution, the GN said it would keep in contact with the Canadian government about the event.

If any wreckage falls on land, there will be a co-ordinated effort to notify the public and recover the debris, Savikataaq stated.

The Russian rocket in question is fueled by hydrazine, which is a toxic substance. It is expected that there will be very little to no fuel left in the debris when it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. Whatever amount of fuel is left in the debris is expected to burn during re-entry.

June 5 has been identified as an alternate date if the rocket is not launched June 4.

SAO charged

Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake

Baker Lake senior administrative officer (SAO) Dennis Zettler, 64, is facing three charges after being arrested in Baker this past month.

In a news release, the RCMP stated a resident called the Baker Lake RCMP to report a theft from his residence on May 27. A large sum of money was then discovered within the residence during the course of the investigation.

The 64yearold Zettler, who has been Baker Lake's SAO for the past 22 years, has been charged with one count each of criminal breach of trust, theft over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.

Zettler is scheduled to appear in court in Baker Lake on July 18.

The RCMP's investigation is ongoing.

- Darrell Greer

School receives $40,000 for library

Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay

Kugaardjuk Ilihakvik in Kugaaruk has received a $40,000 literacy grant from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.

The funds are to help the school revitalize its library and educational resources.

Twenty-five high-needs elementary schools across Canada will benefit from the foundation's $1.5 million annual grant commitment. These grants offer deserving school libraries the means to break the cycle of dwindling bookshelves caused by inadequate funding, stated a news release from Indigo.

Six rounds of judging led to Kugaardjuk Ilihakvik being chosen. The school had to show it is committed to literacy program. It also had to show its socioeconomic status, library status and need, and future plans for the grant.

- Michele LeTourneau

Prize-winning group hosts hearing fair

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung

Members of the Better Hearing in Education for Northern Youth (BHENY) team, who won an Arctic Inspiration prize, will be on hand June 7 helping out at a hearing fair at Alookie School.

The fair, running 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., will provide activities for families and children.

Students at Alookie School created posters to put on display at the fair, which will receive prizes.

Alookie School will be one of the first schools in Nunavut outfitted with new sound-amplification technology by BHENY. The system will see students using wireless headsets in the classroom to better hear their teacher.

"We know 30 to 40 per cent of our children have hearing loss at any given time," said Sandra Roberts, a member of the BHENY team, to Nunavut News/North previously.

- Stewart Burnett

Youth wins big to attend school

Arviat

Shelby Angalik of Arviat will receive up to $70,000 for tuition and living expenses for post-secondary education, thanks to the TD Bank Group's scholarships for Community Leadership.

Angalik is one of 20 young Canadians being recognized for driving social change in their communities.

As part of the John Arnalukjuak High School drama club, Angalik discovered a love for theatre and its ability to help youth build confidence and life skills.

"To target low literacy rates in the North, she created a reading program for children under 10, in both English and Inuktitut," stated a news release.

"Following the loss of a paid school librarian, she volunteered to maintain the library. She also organized a peer orientation program to help Grade 8 students transition to high school, with Grade 12 students planning team-building and social events."

Angalik, along with the other recipients, was honoured at a ceremony in Ottawa May 31.

- Michele LeTourneau

70 youth flying to festival

Nunavut

First Air is celebrating its 70th year of operations by teaming up with the National Inuit Council and Qikiqtaaluk Corporation to fly 70 youth and chaperons to Ottawa for excursions from June 17 to 22.

The first stop will be at the Summer Solstice Aboriginal Festival in Vincent Massey Park, where Inuit culture will be celebrated this year.

"Qikiqtaaluk Corporation has continuously been supportive of youth development in Nunavut as they are our future of all society," stated Harry Flaherty, president and CEO of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, in a news release.

"In order to create a generation of future leaders, youth empowerment, education and knowledge are key to future development."

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day.

- Stewart Burnett

Date set for Pang Fest

Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung

The Pang Fest committee last week announced firm dates for the festival, set to run June 24 to 26.

Special guests will include Twin Flames performers Jaaji Okpik and Chelsey June, musician Daniel Kolola and more.

The event is piggybacking off the Alianait Arts Festival, which will run June 29 to July 3.

- Stewart Burnett

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