Birth of a new governmentNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, September 12, 2016
As drum beats fade away and dignitaries are flown out of Deline after days of celebration last week, the real work now begins for the newly minted Deline Got'ine Government (DGG) and its leader, Raymond Tutcho.
Self-government is now a reality in Deline, with Tutcho leading Canada's first combined indigenous/public self-government. Deline is also NWT's first community-based indigenous self-government for the 450 residents in the community and some 1,000 or so living away.
This is a big step for a small community that took some 20 years to take.
The DGG assumed responsibility Sept. 1, when the Deline K'aowedó Ke, or main council, had its first meeting and passed core laws and an inaugural budget. Over time, the government will assume jurisdiction over community affairs and local services, including education, health services, and social housing.
Band members and beneficiaries will also have more control over how government money is spent on programs and how services are delivered. In addition to DGG Leader Tutcho, there is a six-person council, an elders council, a justice council and a beneficiaries board.
So all of the checks and balances of a democracy will be in place. To ensure the DGG receives the respect and support of the people it governs, it would be wise to take advantage of those tools and avoid any perception of bias or nepotism - especially with financial matters.
The Deline Got'ine Government promises to safeguard language, culture and customs. It will be wise for it to guard the safe with as much zeal.
The new leaders have the potential to set a proud example for First Nations if they manage to avoid missteps and scandals that come with the trappings of power.
Territory's raw beauty enticing, treacherousNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, September 12, 2016
The NWT benefits from tourism and welcomes tourists from around the world. Hunting season is underway and the Northern lights are spectacular.
However, news of two recent visitor deaths underscore the importance of staying safe while on the roads, or in the wild.
A Chinese tourist died in a single-vehicle accident on the Dempster Highway near the Peel River on Aug. 27. Four people were in the vehicle travelling on the rugged, hard-packed gravel road, which at times can rattle the nerves of even the most seasoned residents.
While three people - one adult male and two adult females - survived, an adult female was found dead inside the vehicle. Police attributed driving conditions as a possible factor.
In a separate incident, a one of three hikers from the U.S. died after being swept away in the Little Keele River on the Canol Trail on Aug. 20.
Three American hikers, all male, were on the Canol Trail when they attempted to forge the river. Sadly, one didn't make it. RCMP were called in. His body was found Aug. 28.
Reports of people - residents and visitors - gone missing on the land or on the water are commonplace in the NWT. Luckily, most people are found safe.
Visitors don't want their adventures in the NWT to become misadventures. Take safety precautions and consider the use of local guides and outfitters.
Education needed so all workers feel safeNunavut/News North - Monday, September 12, 2016
It is 2016. And yet there is a group who feel they must meet in secret for fear of retribution while they review the sexual harassment policies of some of Nunavut's biggest employers.
Only Iqaluit Mayor Madeleine Redfern has the courage to go public and, as a respected elected official, call for more to be done to prevent women from being disrespected in the places they must go to make a living.
The other people in the group, while passionate and engaged on the topic of workplace harassment in all its forms, fear reprisals and repercussions if their identities are known. In this day and age there are people in Canada who are genuinely afraid of standing up and being counted on an issue that to most reasonable people shouldn't even exist.
Who bullies co-workers in the workplace? Who makes suggestive sexual advances on women who are trying to do a job? Apparently, lots of Canadians.
A 2014 poll by the Angus Reid Institute found three in 10 Canadians, or 28 per cent, say they have been on the receiving end of requests for sexual favours, sexually-charged talk while on the job or unwelcome sexual advances. More disturbingly, one in seven adults, or 14 per cent, have experienced sexual touching or serious unwanted sexual contact in their careers.
Because the poll found that women are about four times more likely to be harassed than men, let us presume that the vast majority of offenders are men. Logically then, we must ask, why don't men understand that it is wrong to make sexual advances on women, particularly in the workplace?
Perhaps they have been told about a company's policy against such things but don't fully understand. Maybe the perpetrators of these actions don't realize that their behaviour is unacceptable.
Maybe it is because many of them are getting away with it. Four out of five people do not report the behaviour to their employers.
Perhaps some employers don't know what to do when complaints are made. Then, in this environment of ignorance, very little happens. There are no real repercussions.
We don't think men who are guilty of harassing others in the workplace are necessarily bad people. Perhaps they are just ignorant, the product of conditioning in their home environment that makes them think such behaviour isn't wrong. In some cultures, men don't achieve a high level of education because they need to find work and earn money at an early age. Those who are innocent of mind and guilty of action need to be educated.
That requires more than being told about policies that prohibit such behaviour.
They need to be told why the policy exists and that all people have the right to work without fear of intimidation, harassment or being subjected to sexual advances.
Drawing attention to this widespread issue is vital so steps can be taken to protect the right of all workers to feel safe while they are on the job.
Airbnb needs scrutiny Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, September 9, 2016
There are registered and licensed facilities in Yellowknife where visitors can arrange for comfortable, safe stays in the city. They are our motels, hotels and cozy bed and breakfast establishments.
The owners of these businesses go through the trouble of obtaining business licences and complying with national and local regulations governing rental accommodations. They also pay their taxes and other fees.
On top of this, they are subject to inspections by local authorities to ensure compliance with the fire code and other safety regulations.
In short, they are good corporate and small business citizens, and the backbone of this city's tourism economy.
Contrast this with the popular, web-based Airbnb or any similar service. These services connect paying customers with residential home owners looking to make a buck but they do so without regard for local ordinance.
Make no mistake about it. This is an underground economy where services are provided for a fee without the fair regulation and taxation faced by those who operate licensed businesses.
Airbnb, or any other unregulated motel or bed and breakfast model that connects clients with homeowners who may not meet legitimate bed and breakfast licensing requirements, undercuts legitimate business operators and hurts their bottom line.
Beyond the unfairness of allowing illegitimate operations to flourish to the detriment of upstanding local businesses, there is the question of health and safety regulations.
According to City of Yellowknife business licence bylaws, any prospective bed and breakfast must meet the requirements of the Public Health Act, local tourist accommodation regulations, the national fire code of Canada, and City of Yellowknife zoning and building bylaws before it can be issued a licence to operate.
Much easier, no doubt, to just post your rooms on Airbnb without worrying about health and fire codes or zoning restrictions. Easier but illegitimate.
This isn't the Wild West where home owners are free to do whatever they want with their residences without regard for the law or the reasonable expectations of their neighbours.
The city should not want to be associated with any fly-by-night business or anyone who wants to start a business without due regard for local regulations.
There is no excuse to allow an underground economy to develop that makes it difficult for legitimate businesses to prosper.
The city's silence on the matter risks being interpreted as acceptance of the activity and a slap in the face of legitimate business owners.
Make case for voting reform Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, September 9, 2016
Visits to Yellowknife from federal cabinet ministers are always welcome.
At least it shows that Ottawa is aware of our existence.
But to date the Liberal government's crusade to change the country's electoral system has flown entirely over the heads of average Canadians and a visit by Maryam Monsef, federal minister of Democratic Institutions, has done nothing to change that.
It's not to say there wasn't some mustard daubed on to the meat of the discussion she hosted last week. Some serious issues were raised: an exploration of different electoral systems, how voters choose MPs, and even whether Canada should adopt mandatory voting similar to Australia.
The biggest issue for the North, which Monsef addressed, is the Fair Elections Act brought into force by the previous Conservative government.
The legislation scrapped the vouching system, where a voter can have someone else vouch for their identity at the voting booth.
This is an important issue in the territory where obtaining picture identification in smaller communities is not without difficulties.
The fact the Conservatives ignored this issue shows an ignorance about the realities of living in the North.
However, as far as the central object of the discussion goes - that Canada's electoral system is broken and needs to be fixed - the Liberal government has a long way to go to convince Canadians aside from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that it needs a major overhaul.
If the government really wants public input, and by implication, its support, a quick tour by a relatively low ranking cabinet minister is not going to go very far toward making people care.
A healthy alternativeDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, September 8, 2016
We all know the feeling of going to the grocery store just to find out the vegetable we're looking for is sold out.
The logistics of feeding a village full of people every day are, without a doubt, challenging - not to mention expensive. The difficulty of bringing in store-quality produce each week means Northerners often settle for taking what they can get.
Although it is true Fort Simpson's prices are not as bad as elsewhere in the North, residents often become accustomed to paying more for less.
That is one of the many reasons people in Fort Simpson use the summer to subsidize their food costs by growing a garden.
Fort Simpson has always been a bastion for gardeners. From the days of the experimental farm in the 1960s to present-day efforts, the island and its surrounding area are home to many people who want to grow their own food.
With the small farm at Bannockland and plots at the community garden, food-growers are proving year after year the North is no barrier to a green thumb.
Randy Sibbeston's farm is full of potatoes, carrots and other vegetables - locally grown and the proceeds of which stay local.
The time he and his family spend each summer working that land is extensive. Hand-weeding three acres is nothing to sneeze at.
Likewise, the amount of vegetables grown in the community garden include peas, beans, peppers and even eggplant - among many others.
Such innovation is great to see, and it is important that it continues to grow.
In fact, agriculture of this sort proves such things are possible in the Northwest Territories, which in itself is worth something.
Of course, the North will probably never be home to big agriculture of any sort, simply due to the cost of mass-producing food. But locally grown produce is taking off, and it's the residents themselves who are getting involved.
The next step in the process of home-grown foods is to get the government or local businesses on board to get that food into the hands of the community.
Whether that means financial subsidization from the government or incentives for grocery stores to buy some of their fresh foods locally in the summers, there are a variety of options available to incentivize growth in the field of gardening.
The question is not whether there are big bucks to be had in Northern agriculture but rather how much local gardeners could impact Fort Simpson's economy and what healthy, home-grown produce is worth.
With a little help, such foods could go a long way.
A return to routineInuvik Drum - Thursday, September 8, 2016
The leaves have largely turned, the barbecues of the long weekend have been savoured, and the time has come for the youngest members of the community -- and their teachers -- to head back to school.
After the heady days of summer, going back to spend half the day under the rule of a bell can be an unappetizing thing.
Getting back to a routine, both in and outside of school, can be challenging, for both younger and older students. although in different ways. It's also tough for parents who, after a few months of relative flexibility, are back to early mornings, drop-offs and pick-ups, and homework supervising.
The cost of going back to school -- the new clothes to replace those that have been outgrown, school supplies, and the return of a multitude of fundraising efforts -- can also be a burden.
Still, despite all that, there is an excitement about this time of year. There's a chill in the air and a pleasant anxiety that speaks to sharp pencils and crisp notebooks, not to mention the reunions with friends who may have spent the summer away from the community. Maybe that's enough for some students and their families, but others need a little more encouragement.
That an education is a valuable and worthwhile thing is a familiar refrain here more than anywhere.
It's disappointing, then, that so many children fail to attend school in such high numbers. While the hue and cry went up last spring when it was found that only about one-third of students were actually in class on one particular day, it is truly a problem all school-year long, although less critical in the colder months.
If there is an excitement about going back to school in September and a corresponding drop-off in interest in the spring, it could be easy to write off that original surge in enthusiasm as a false start. Instead, we propose families look at it as a spark that can and should be fanned into a flame.
The school is a pavilion designed to inspire and motivate, with assemblies involving much clapping and shouting, slogans about staying in school strung up everywhere, and encouraging adults around every corner. One might argue that fervour is even too much sometimes.
School in the North has a complicated and fraught history, but everyone agrees -- at least in public and out loud -- than an education is the key to success.
This week, this month, and this year serve as a renewed opportunity to make that commitment once again to get the children to school, and keep them attending by showing an interest in what they are learning and encouraging them to stay on top of their studies.
Move the day shelterYellowknifer - Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Imagine being a homeless person who struggles with alcohol addiction.
Imagine having one option as a place to stay warm in winter, one place with easy access to a bathroom, one place that gives access to health services, one place where there is a kitchen area to prepare meals - the day shelter.
Imagine this day shelter happens to be located a stone's throw from a liquor store, like the one downtown. Our homeless community, many of whom struggle with addiction every day, have a literal trigger sitting 100 feet from the stoop where they access shelter and services. There is no way it's possible this setup can be conducive to living a healthy, sober life.
The community sees the consequences of such convenient access to liquor on the streets of downtown every single day. The residents of the Northern Heights condo building across the road on 49 Street recently held a meeting, expressing concerns about the amount of fighting, shouting and public intoxication in the neighbourhood and how it affects their standard of living and property values.
Coun. Adrian Bell is absolutely right in his request to see the day shelter moved. There probably isn't a worse spot than where it is located right now - nobody is benefiting from this location. The day shelter's clients don't benefit and neither does the neighbourhood, the greater community, visitors to Yellowknife or liquor store staff. Admitting this is not crass, insensitive not-in-my-backyard thinking - it is simply acknowledging an obvious problem and being sensitive to how access to liquor has a detrimental affect on homeless people in the community. Now that the contract for the day shelter is coming up, the city, GNWT and NWT Disabilities Council have an opportunity to come up with a better location.
A place that is convenient for people who depend on it, a place that perhaps offers as convenient access to services as the current location offers to booze.
While the well of resources our society could be providing for the homeless really has no depth, if a simple change in scenery gives even one day shelter resident the leg up he or she needs to fight addiction, the move will be well worth it.
Education minister thrown to the wolvesYellowknifer - Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Two years ago, the territorial government had a great idea to offer junior kindergarten for free to four-year-olds across the territory.
Two years ago, that great idea was sullied after Yellowknife school boards rightfully questioned why their hard-earned surpluses were being clawed back to pay for implementation of the program. It also didn't help that other early-education service providers such as existing preschools, Montessori and Aboriginal Headstart complained they were not consulted about how their programming would be affected by the new initiative.
This is why, two years ago, junior kindergarten implementation was halted in Yellowknife and regional centres in order to identify its flaws and - one would hope - fix those flaws. So why is junior kindergarten on the docket again with even fewer answers to these questions than before?
Presumably, there is a team of bureaucrats behind Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses pushing him to move forward with junior kindergarten. By sending him to the public and media with the announcement that junior kindergarten is coming to Yellowknife next year - and no answers about how much it will cost, how it will be paid for and no consultation - these bureaucrats are essentially throwing Moses to the wolves. He is the one who has to answer for the fact that nobody has any idea what's going on.
Rather than obstinately pushing forward on a program before figuring out answers to key questions about how it will work, it would be refreshing to see the department come forward with a fully-baked idea that the community has had input on, so junior kindergarten can move forward without controversy.
More similarities than differencesEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Two very unique, yet very different musical performances, took place during the past few weeks, which stirred emotions in a number of Kivalliqmiut.
And, for the two men the spotlight focused on, the performances were a testimony to the courage of both.
Gord Downie of the rock band, the Tragically Hip, is an iconic figure across most of this great nation.
Diagnosed with the worst form of brain cancer, Downie still managed to head out on tour with his bandmates to promote their most recent album, Man Machine Poem.
The Canadian tour reached its zenith with a final concert in the Hip's hometown, Kingston, Ont.
The performance was shown live across Canada and in many other parts of the world, and is destined to take its place in Canadian folklore.
For tens of millions of people, a question that will remain steadfast during their lifetimes will be, where were you the night ...?
If, indeed, that night in Kingston does prove itself to be Downie's final live performance, the man went out with the love of a nation holding his hand as he wages the biggest battle of his life.
His showmanship, determination, courage and tears -- especially during the rendition of Grace, Too -- will long be remembered by those who tuned into the moment.
It was an incredibly emotional evening in Kingston felt by all inside in the venue, as well as the tens of thousands lining the streets outside.
Ditto the more modest crowd in Arviat, when some of the best musicians of the vibrant local music scene came together to pay tribute to one Mr. Charlie Panigoniak.
Every bit the legend among Inuit and many, many other Canadians, Charlie, suffering in the latter stages of Parkinson's disease, found a way to brave his fear of flying to get to the Arviat concert, and somehow summoned the strength to take to the stage and perform a number of songs during the show.
Many a tear fell in Arviat, as well, as those in attendance fought back the sadness to celebrate Panigoniak the man, and Panigoniak the musical legend.
Downie and the Hip have provided the musical soundtrack to the lives of those who grew up during their heyday, and Panigoniak has done the same for generations of Inuit, and done it all singing in Inuktitut.
While Downie wrote and sang tales of Canadiana, Panigoniak touched on the challenges, joys, triumphs and heartbreaks of living in the North.
His lyrics were felt by many: crystal clear in their meanings and, often, sounding almost like they were written just for them.
Such was the level Panigoniak reached in reading and understanding the pulse of life in the North, and relaying that pulse in a way both familiar and emotional to his many fans.
His affinity for performing for children during the latter part of his career was a heartwarming glimpse of the joy found within the man behind the music.
Though separated by vast distances, different lifestyles and, perhaps, tastes in music, Panigoniak and Downie share far more similarities than differences.
They will both leave behind sparkling musical legacies and too many smiles to count.
And they both touched, in one way or another, everyone who listened to their music.
