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Monday, July 18, 2016
Employment rate up in NWT
The employment rate in the Northwest Territories has increased by more than 3 per cent since June of last year, according to the NWT Bureau of Statistics.
The employment rate in the territory now sits at 70.2 per cent while the national rate is 61.5 per cent.
Jobs in the service industry saw an increase of 1,300 jobs between June 2015 and June 2016. Goods-producing industry jobs decreased by 400 jobs in that same timeframe.
The territory's employment rate has been increasing since November 2015, the release stated.
- Kassina Ryder
Missing travellers found
Search and rescue crews were dispatched in two different areas of the territory looking for missing people on July 7, according to news releases from the RCMP.
In Paulatuk, two men were reported missing to the RCMP after failing to return to the community. They were travelling near Lassard Creek and were located at about 4:30 p.m.
Two teams made up of RCMP and Paulatuk's ground search and rescue crew travelled by boat and ATV to locate the men. The pair had survival gear and a satellite phone, but had lost their equipment attempting to cross the Brock River, the release stated.
That same day in Tsiigehtchic, a pair of travellers accidentally set off their SPOT device as they travelled on the Mackenzie River from Hay River to Tsiigehtchic.
- Kassina Ryder
Darling Lake outdoor program
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is planning a summer outdoor environmental education program for high school students and teachers in the Northwest Territories. Theprogram will run from July 25 to Aug. 3 at Darling Lake.
Students will work closely with "scientists, environmental educators, on-site researchers and Tlicho elders."
The focus is to learn about the land from both scientific and aboriginal perspectives.
- Joseph Tunney
LKFN annual general meeting
The Liidlii Kue First Nation will be holding its annual general meeting July 14.
At 4 p.m. there will be a ceremonious feeding of the fire ceremony, at 5 p.m. will be a potluck dinner and the actual meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
- Joseph Tunney
Multi-sport camp in Trout Lake
Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake
Children and youth in Trout Lake were scheduled to get a chance to try out a variety of different sports and activities, thanks to a multi-sport camp taking place in the community, said Carielyn Jumbo, recreation co-ordinator.
The camp was scheduled to run from July 12 to 14 and was available to children aged four to 11 and youth from 11-to-14 years old.
Younger campers were scheduled to participate from 1 until 5 p.m. and the older group's camp run from about 7 until 9 p.m., Jumbo said.
Campers were asked to meet at the community baseball diamond and to bring their own water bottles and snacks.
Activities were expected to include softball, soccer, canoe lessons, swimming lessons and arts and crafts, Jumbo said.
Life-jackets and paddles would be provided. The Mackenzie Recreation Association is organizing the camp.
- Kassina Ryder
Culture camp free for kids on Hay River Reserve
K'atlodeeche/Hay River Reserve
A culture camp is scheduled to take place on the Hay River Reserve throughout July and August, said Sharon Pekok, recreation director.
The camp is aimed for children aged seven to 12. Activities are expected to include typical summer camp events such as arts and crafts making and swimming.
There will also be activities focusing on connecting elders and youth, Pekok said.
"One of the things we're doing is involving the elders," she said.
While most activities will take place at the Chief Sunrise Education Centre gym, participants will also be spending time outside. Earlier this week, participants hiked to Alexandra Falls and Louise Falls.
The camp is free and children can drop in throughout the summer, Pekok said. It runs from about 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
- Kassina Ryder
Maintenance on Fort Providence roadways
Deh Gah Got'ie/Fort Providence
Fort Providence residents were informed about a chip sealing project taking place on the community's main road last week, said Susan Christie, senior administrative officer.
The work was expected to take place between July 12 and 15. Additional work is also expected to take place on other roads in the community this summer but a firm schedule is not yet in place, Christie said.
Anyone looking for information is asked to check community bulletin boards and listen to the local radio station for updates. Information will also be posted on the Fort Providence events and announcements Facebook page.
- Kassina Ryder
ITI hosts Parks Day events
Deh Cho region
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment was expected to host community barbecues in Fort Simpson, Sambaa Deh Falls and Blackstone territorial parks on July 16, said Jennifer Thistle, the department's manager of tourism and parks for the Deh Cho region.
The barbecues were to celebrate Parks Day, an annual event initiated by the Canadian Parks Council. The national event focuses on education and family-themed activities throughout the day.
Thistle said the barbecues were scheduled to take place in the afternoon and activities will include door prizes.
- Kassina Ryder
A night for the little ones
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo
A new play group in Behchoko is offering a variety of activities on Tuesday and Thursday nights, said Marion Alexander, a speech language pathologist in the community.
The summer play group is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Chief Jimmy Bruneau School gym and Thursdays at the Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School gym.
While it's geared to children aged zero to five, families with other children are encouraged to attend.
Activities are expected to include creating with Play-Doh, playing games and doing pre-literacy activities together.
Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided.
- Kassina Ryder
Canada Day canoe race rescheduled in Tulita
Tulita/Fort Norman
A canoe race originally planned to take place over the Canada Day weekend was re-scheduled for July 13, said Archie Erigaktuk, recreation co-ordinator.
Bad weather and a death in the community meant the race wasn't able to take place until later in the month, Erigaktuk said.
"It was originally part of the Canada Day events, but it was postponed over the past couple weeks due to weather and we don't have anything going on while funerals are going on," he said.
Teams competed to see which team could paddling from one dock launch to another in the fastest time.
The first place team was expected to receive $600, while second place was expected to receive $400 and third place would receive $300.
Teams were made up of individuals over the age of 18.
- Kassina Ryder
Jay Gilday expected to perform at Norman Wells' Parks Day
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
Musician Jay Gilday was scheduled to perform at Parks Day at McKinnon Territorial Park on July 16, said Jess Fortner, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment's manager of tourism and parks for the Sahtu region.
The event was scheduled to run from noon until about 5 p.m. and include a community barbecue featuring fish from Great Bear Lake, as well as hotdogs and hamburgers.
Local band Unicorn Jungle was also scheduled to perform throughout the afternoon, Fortner said.
Games for both children and adults were expected to take place, along with a prize draw and bannock-making.
"There's going to be a lot of laughs and smiles and people getting together and watching the river go by in our beautiful little park," Fortner said.
- Kassina Ryder
New chief for Tetlit Gwich'in
Tetlit'zheh/Fort McPherson
The Tetlit Gwich'in Tribal Council in Fort McPherson elected Wanda Pascal as its new chief on July 4.
"As the first woman chief I feel quite honoured to be elected," said Pascal.
She said that one of her main goals for the community is to bring it closer together, to bring respect to the community, and work closely with the youth and elders.
Pascal was one of the cofounders of the Fort McPherson justice committee and worked 16 years on and off as a justice court worker. Pascal finished three previous terms on council in 1991, filling in for the chief and band manager when needed.
- Kaila Jefferd-Moore
Specially tagged Arctic char worth cash if caught
Aklavik
The Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Organization and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are asking Arctic char harvesters to watch for catches with two different types of tags attached to fish.
If caught, fish are to be brought to a char monitor at Shingle Point, a Parks Canada staff if recaptured in Ivvavik National Park, or a territorial parks staff member if recaptured at Herschel Island.
There is a $200 Northmart or gas gift card reward for each tag.
The tagged fish were released in Big Fish River last September to record information about migration patterns, temperature and depth preferences, as well as feeding habits in the Dolly Varden.
- Kaila Jefferd-Moore
Smith's Landing First Nation elects new chief
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Lorraine MacDonald has been elected chief of Smith's Landing First Nation.
MacDonald won a June 17 election involving five candidates for chief.
Four band councillors were also elected - Tony Vermillion, Thaidene Paulette, Frederick Daniels and Geronimo Paulette.
Nine people ran for council.
Smith's Landing First Nation has its reserve land in northern Alberta just south of Fort Smith.
Many of the band's members live in Fort Smith or just south of the NWT-Alberta border, and others live in Fort Fitzgerald, Alta., about 22 kilometres south of Fort Smith.
- Paul Bickford
Smith resident to Hall of Fame
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Jane Dragon of Fort Smith was among those named to the NWT's Education Hall of Fame on June 23.
Dragon was the inductee for the South Slave.
"Acting as a key parent volunteer during the years her six children went through school, she could be counted on for field trips, teaching students about cooking traditional foods, skinning a muskrat," said Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses in comments to the legislative assembly.
"As well as travelling as a coach or a chaperone on numerous school trips and competitions,"
The department launched the Education Hall of Fame in 2010 to recognize contributions made by various educators, volunteers, board members, administrators and other community members across the territory.
The other inductees this year were Sarah Jerome (Beaufort Delta), Valerie Gendron (Dehcho), Vivian Pellissey (Sahtu), Jim Martin (Tlicho), and Rita Mueller (North Slave).
The Minister's Choice Award went to Muriel Tolley from Yellowknife.
- Paul Bickford
Woman charged with assault
Iqaluit
A woman is facing charges after Iqaluit RCMP received a report of a man screaming in a hallway in a building located on Niaqunngusiaq Road at 3:44 a.m. July 9.
When police arrived they found a bleeding man lying on the side of the road near the building.
Several people from the building then directed the RCMP members inside the building, saying there was a man in even worse condition.
An ambulance was dispatched to the scene and a woman was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault. She was scheduled to appear in court July 12.
Both victims were transported to the hospital by ambulance and then medevaced to Ottawa with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.
- Stewart Burnett
Park gets funding
Iqaluit
One of the most popular parks in Nunavut, Sylvia Grinnell Park in Iqaluit, will receive fully updated signage
throughout the area this summer.
The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency July 13 announced it is awarding $62,822 in funding through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP150) to upgrade outdated and damaged signage in the park.
The project consists of replacing and redesigning interpretive signage, which will give details about the park's history, wildlife and Inuit culture in the region.
"The upgrades to the signage in Sylvia Grinnell Park are a good example of what CIP150 is all about," stated Navdeep Bains, minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, in a news release. "Supporting improvements to the places where families go to spend quality time together is an ideal way to invest in our communities so that they can be enjoyed by Canadians for years to come."
The Government of Nunavut is contributing an additional $41,921 in support of the park's signage redesign.
- Stewart Burnett
New chairperson at planning commission
Nunavut
Andrew Nakashuk of the Nunavut Planning Commission has now been officially appointed the chairperson by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, the commission announced July 14.
Nakashuk was elected chairperson at a March 23 commission board meeting, pending an official appointment by the federal minister. He replaces former chairperson Hunter Tootoo, who was elected as Nunavut MP last October.
The new chairperson has been a commissioner since May 2013. His experience and previous knowledge brings continuity to the role of chairperson, allowing the commission to move smoothly forward with the development and implementation of the Nunavut Land Use Plan, according to a news release.
"I am thankful for this appointment and look forward to the continued progress that is being made by the Nunavut Planning Commission," said Nakashuk.
The commission is an institution of public government established under Articles 10 and 11 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. One of its major responsibilities is to develop, implement and monitor the Nunavut-wide land use plan for the Nunavut Settlement Area.
- Michele LeTourneau
Iqaluit woman wins journalism scholarship
Iqaluit
Neoma Cox of Iqaluit has won the John Amagoalik Journalism Scholarship, which is funded through the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and comes with a $5,000 award.
"My congratulations goes to Neoma Cox as the second recipient of the scholarship," stated John Amagoalik in a news release. "I hope more young people will pursue the field of work that promotes the Inuit culture. I am sure they would find that a career as radio, television, print reporter or in the field of environment culture and language rewarding and fulfilling."
The scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding beneficiary student entering or enrolled in a post-secondary program related to journalism and/or language and culture.
Amagoalik is an Inuit elder and multiple award winner who is often referred to as the Father of Nunavut.
QIA President P.J. Akeeagok stated in the news release that the award recipient should be admired for her passion and determination to advance the cause of Inuit culture, language or communications in Nunavut.
- Stewart Burnett
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
The Hamlet of Kugluktuk recognized the hard work and dedication of Const. Jeremy Johnston this month.
A certificate and carving were offered to Johnston as he prepares to be reposted in the fall.
Johnston was posted to the community, accompanied with his wife who is a community home care nurse, in June 2013.
"Coming up North and being posted in Kugluktuk was one of the best decisions we have ever made. As soon as we arrived in the Kugluktuk we felt like we were accepted with open arms. Kugluktuk is always going to be very special for us, along with our four-year-old son who has spent the majority of his life up here. To be recognized for the work I completed up here was very humbling," said Johnston.
"I was advised the community has only recognized one person prior for the work they did, so I consider my plaque to be a huge honour. I tried my best to build a positive relationship with the community, especially with the youth. If I was able to make a positive impact on even one person, then I know I did my job."
RCMP spokesperson Lurene Dillon noted the detachment as a whole has built a strong relationship with the community of Kugluktuk.
"The significance is the bond and the relationships that have been built. These members will not be forgotten once transferred and have created a high standard for those that will come after them," she said.
- Michele LeTourneau
Funding for heritage centres available
Nunavut
The deadline is fast approaching for submission of proposals from Nunavut's culture and heritage sector.
The Department of Culture and Heritage has a pot of $500,000 to disburse for the improvement or creation of facilities in the territory.
Currently, there are six heritage centres in Nunavut, with room for more. Baker Lake has an Inuit Heritage Centre and the Kitikmeot Heritage Society in Cambridge Bay operates a space at the May Hakongak Community Library and Cultural Centre. Pond Inlet has an archives, Iqaluit has the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum and Kugluktuk has a new ulu-shaped heritage centre. Nattilik Heritage Society operates the Nattilik Heritage Centre in Gjoa Haven.
Non-profit organizations and municipal corporations can apply for this funding.
The deadline is July 22.
- Michele LeTourneau
Generous gift to food bank
Panniqtuuq/Pangnirtung
Resident Natanie Sowdluapik recently made a generous gift of 40 duck eggs to the Pirujat Pangnirtung Food Pantry.
That helped the food bank serve a total of 59 households, including 47 adults and 95 children, at its June 28 distribution.
Co-op and Northern Store donations also helped the food bank give out coffee whitener, mixed vegetables, macaroni and cheese, oranges, rice and spaghetti.
- Stewart Burnett
Wildlife fund supports draft land-use plan
Iqaluit
The World Wildlife Fund has come out in support of the final draft of the Nunavut-wide land-use plan, recently released to the public by the Nunavut Planning Commission.
The final draft of the land use plan suggests prohibiting mineral exploration and production, quarries and roads on core caribou calving habitat as well as the key access corridors that caribou use to get to their calving grounds.
Paul Crowley, the Arctic representative for the Canadian branch of the wildlife organization says, "WWF-Canada is pleased with the considerable progress the Nunavut Planning Commission has made with this latest draft land use plan. The health of caribou populations has finally been given appropriate consideration. We hope that parties with visions of short-term profits will not look to undermine these protections that communities have so clearly asked for."
The NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, meanwhile, called the caribou protection measures "questionable" on June 27.
"We recognize that mining projects in Nunavut may interact with caribou," stated chamber president Gary Vivian. "However the Nunavut Planning Commission's assertion that 'the impacts of exploration and development cannot be effectively mitigated in core-calving areas' is simply false."
- Michele LeTourneau
Performing arts get a boost
Iqaluit
The Qaggiavuut Society hosted its first performing arts teacher training workshop over this past weekend, officially concluding July 19.
Artists from across the Arctic attended and participants learned techniques for delivering Inuit performing arts programming to children and youth in their communities.
"We're bringing together artists with different skills from many regions," stated workshop co-ordinator Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory in a news release. "The Qaggiq teaching style is participatory and artists learn from each."
Facilitators included Pakak Innuksuk from Iglulik, one of the foremost practitioners of North Baffin drum dancing, and Sheena Akoomalik from Pond Inlet, an expert in Inuit storytelling and theatre for children.
- Stewart Burnett
New website about the Arctic launched
Nunavut
An international think tank based in London, England, dedicated to issues related to the Arctic and Antarctic, launched a new website July 11.
polarconnection.org is intended to highlight the Polar Research and Policy Initiative's objectives, showcase its research output, engage with local and global audiences and inform users and partners about latest developments both within the organization and in the polar regions, according to the think tank's news release.
Themes to be explored on the site include natural environment, maritime environment, built environment, indigenous peoples, arts, culture and heritage, and geopolitics and security. Industry-related themes include energy, mining, shipping, fisheries, tourism and information and communication technologies.
"It is very much our aim to not just invite the world to the Arctic, but take the Arctic to the world," said founder and director Dwayne Menezes.
- Michele LeTourneau
Cruise ship visiting hamlet
Kimmirut/Lake Harbour
Residents of Kimmirut were anxiously awaiting Adventure Canada's Ocean Endeavour cruise ship, scheduled to stop in the community July 15.
The 198-passenger ship also visited last year.
"(Tourists) will get off the ship with tour guides, who will take them around the community," said Kimmirut senior administrative officer Hosea Mpofu.
The hamlet prepared a celebration at the community hall including games for the tourists to play.
"It's a very big event," said Mpofu, who expects a second ship this September.
Last year, cruise ship passengers spent approximately $6,000 in the community when they visited.
"They buy local carvings and all sorts of local art," said Mpofu. "We expect each passenger to spend about $40. This is what happened last year."
July 15 was a busy day for Kimmirut for another reason. First Air's Project North was scheduled to arrive with a big donations of soccer equipment, jerseys, boots and balls.
"We are excited," said Mpofu on July 15.
- Stewart Burnett
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