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Monday, October 10, 2016
Fort Smith man died of natural causes
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A six-person coroner's jury in Fort Smith ruled Sept. 28 that Wilfred Emile's death Oct. 26, 2015 was due to natural causes.
Emile was in RCMP custody for public intoxication when he fell ill, first taken to the health centre then medevaced to Edmonton.
He was returned to Fort Smith for palliative care. The jury recommended Health and Social Services along with RCMP develop a procedure for dealing with people showing symptoms consistent with a dangerous level of intoxication.
- Shane Magee
NWT population grows
NWT
The territory's population has grown by 0.5 per cent, according to data released by Statistics Canada.
The growth was below the national average of 1.2 per cent. The statistics agency estimated 44,469 people lived in the territory July 1, 225 more than a year before.
Growth was tied to more births than deaths and international migration. More people moved to other parts of Canada than here, accounting for a loss of 421 people.
- Shane Magee
SAO contract terminated
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Council members for the Village of Fort Simpson on Sept. 30 terminated the employment agreement for senior administrative officer Beth Jumbo.
In Jumbo's place, councilors have temporarily appointed Mitch Gast, the village's wastewater treatment plant operator.
When asked the reason behind Jumbo's termination, Mayor Darlene Sibbeston said councilors decided to use a clause in Jumbo's employment agreement which states the agreement can be terminated without cause and without prior notice.
- April Hudson
They like us, they really do.
NWT
Tourism visitation numbers in 2015-2016 matched the highest-ever achieved, with expenditures reaching largest recorded by a significant margin, the GNWT reports.
With its mandate to increase economic diversity, the tourism sector is a priority area for GNWT investment, said an Oct. 7 news release
Thanks to strategic investments and the contributions of its many operators and service providers, the sector has become one of the fastest growing in the NWT' economy, the release stated.
The tourism sector is a priority area for GNWT investment, the release said.
- James O'Connor
Seniors' society president speaks up for Gwich'in language
Somba K'e/Yellowknife
The NWT Seniors' Society acclaimed Ann Firth-Jones as its new president. She is the board member from Hay River.
NWT Seniors' Society past president, Leon Peterson, said he was happy to see Firth-Jones take over the role as president for several reasons, including the fact that Firth-Jones has a strong commitment to preserve her Gwich'in language.
She spearheaded a project entitled Gwik'it Coon'lih Gwaa which will involve training elders from four Gwich'in communities of Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson and Inuvik to give information about elder abuse in their language to other elders, youth and the general public.
The NWT Seniors' Society executive is: Firth-Jones, president; Mary Pat Short, vice-president (Fort Smith); Violet Beaulieu, secretary (Fort Resolution); Merlyn Williams, treasurer (Yellowknife); Peterson, past president (Fort Smith).
- James O'Connor
Widespread support for mining
NWT
Yellowknife and the North Slave region are primed for further exploration, the industry minister said in a speech Sept. 28 at the Mines and Money Conference in Toronto.
"Although it began as a frontier gold town, Yellowknife is now known as the diamond capital of North America," said Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Wally Schumann.
He stated there's widespread support for mining based on a poll paid for by the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines.
- Shane Magee
Consumers growl over dog fraud
Norman Wells
RCMP issued a warning Oct. 5 about an on-going social media husky puppy scam.
Police have received multiple complaints from the public reporting about an advertisement on Facebook offering husky puppies for sale.
After money is sent via e-transfer, the scammer ceases all communications and the victim's money is gone, police said.
The scam is also being played out on many community's buy-and-sell pages.
- James O'Connor
United Way NWT campaign kicks off
NWT
October is United Way month, and this year's fundraising campaign kicked off Sept. 30 with a ceremony at the great hall at the legislative assembly building.
Politicians, including Premier Bob McLeod, two cabinet ministers, several MLAs and Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers were on hand. Last year the campaign raised $238,668 said Jacq Brasseur, campaign coordinator and administrator of United Way NWT. The goal for 2017 is $246,000.
United Way NWT has in recent years begun supporting multi-year funding for non-profits.
In 2015, the organization chosen was the NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group which has received a $5,000 commitment over three years.
"Thanks to United Way NWT, women across the NWT will have access to up-to-date breast health information," said the groups treasurer, Marsha Argues. "Breast cancer patients will have an updated resource to support them in their treatment."
Funds collected in the past have also gone to support Food Rescue, an initiative where around 30 volunteers collect food from grocery stores, wholesalers and other businesses and redistributes it to non-profits across the territory.
United Way NWT helps Food Rescue subsidize the salary for its driver, who delivers an average of 700 kilograms of
food each day. Premier McLeod said that people across the territory are well aware of the good work the United Way performs, and have shown it by donating, often through automatic payroll deductions.
- by John McFadden
Tulip planting for Canada 150
Hay River
Tulip planting for a Canada 150 celebration garden will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on Oct. 5 in front of the Don Stewart Recreation Centre.
Participants will be treated to free hotdogs as they help plant tulip bulbs. The garden is located in the parking lot of the Rec Centre.
The tulip planting is sponsored by the Hay River's recreation and community services department. It is one of the community's events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 1867.
- Paul Bickford
Rotary plans wine festival
Hay River
The Rotary Club of Hay River Sunrise will be hosting its annual Wine Festival & Art Auction on Nov. 19. The event will take place at the Ptarmigan Inn.
- Paul Bickford
Books, bannock and bonding
Ikaahuk/Sachs Harbour
Inualthuyak School students and their families enjoyed the school's first Book and Bannock event on Sept. 27, said principal Karen Bibby.
Parents came to the school and spent time reading with their children and eating bannock.
"We have the parents come in during school hours and have them read with the students or have the students read to the parents," Bibby said.
The goal is to create a space where residents can visit children at school both to read together and so that students can show their parents what they've been working on in class.
The second Book and Bannock event is scheduled to take place on Oct. 26, Bibby said.
- Kassina Ryder
Dressing up for Halloween
Ulukhaktok/Homan
Ulukhaktok residents are encouraged to get their costumes ready for Halloween celebrations on Oct. 31, said recreation co-ordinator Joanne Ogina. This year's events include a costume parade at Helen Kalvak School followed by another parade at the Ulukhaktok Simon Kataoyak Community Centre.
- Kassina Ryder
Permanent soil treatment facility talks begin
Inuvik
Town council recommended administration to pursue further talks with KBL Services about a permanent soil treatment facility in the town's landfill.
With much debate, council approved a temporary facility earlier this month.
Coun. Vince Sharpe suggested that any permanent facility operate under the arrangement that the town is paid its share as a percentage of the tipping fee.
Coun. Clarence Wood agreed.
"I've already put that in their head that that's what we're going to be looking for," said Grant Hood, senior administrative officer.
Sharpe also wanted the town to go into a five-year contract with KBL, not an open-ended one, with the aim to train local people to operate the facility.
Deputy Mayor Steve Baryluk concurred, wanting an option for the town or a local business to take over the facility after a five-year term.
Council passed a motion to have the town pursue further talks. Administration will still have to come back to council to get approval on any future deal.
- Stewart Burnett
No boredom here with board games aplenty
Paulatuk
The Paulatuk Youth Centre is hosting games for adults every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, said recreation co-ordinator Bill Ruben.
Adults are invited to come and play board games starting around 3 p.m.
People are encouraged to bring their own games as well.
"We've got all sorts of board games and cards up here, but if they have something that we don't have, feel free to bring it up," Ruben said.
After-school activities at Angik School are still cancelled for young children due to wolf sightings in and around Paulatuk, Ruben also said.
However, activities for adults and youth are still running as scheduled.
- Kassina Ryder
Band members at biz conference
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
Chief Gladys Norwegian, SAO Donkrison Moore, Marilyn Hardisty and Medina Norwegian are scheduled to attend the Northern Economic Development Practitioners 2016 Conference in Yellowknife on Oct. 12 and 13.
On Oct. 4, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment was expected to hold a food preservation workshop at Louie Norwegian School.
- April Hudson
Library story time
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
The John Tsetso Memorial Library held a story time session on the morning of Oct. 5.
The library also expects to host musician and educator
Miranda Currie on Oct. 14 for a special performance for
children up to the age of four.
That performance will begin at 3 p.m.
Currie will be performing for children from junior kindergarten through to Grade 3 at Bompas Elementary School on Oct. 13 and 14.
Vanguard College will be holding one week of programming at Calvary Chapel beginning Oct. 16 and running until Oct. 20 for students in grades 1 to 6.
The program will run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The Open Sky Creative Society is holding miniature craft night workshops with instructor Krista Okrainec for aspiring artists wanting to learn to make miniature moccasins and mittens. The sessions are Oct. 4, 11 and 18 from 7 to 9 p.m.
- April Hudson
Extended season ends
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Blackstone Territorial Park is expected to close on Oct. 15, a full month after other parks in the territory closed for the season.
The extension was announced on Sept. 15 as a trial run to gauge interest, and was expected to draw people wanting to see the aurora borealis, as well as hunters.
- April Hudson
Feds begin poverty consultations
Ottawa
The federal government will be soliciting input from provinces and territories next year to help develop a Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy.
"The best way to understand the real needs of the people is to consult with them," said Mathieu Filion, of the office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
The 2017 consultations will gather feedback that is representative of each province and territory, and of broad social groups, he said, noting this is the first time a consultation project like this has taken place.
The feedback received will help identify needs of individual regions. Efforts will be made to receive input from remote communities.
A discussion paper titled Towards a Poverty Reduction Strategy, released Oct. 4, pointed to existing or planned programs in the current federal budget, such as funding to address housing needs in northern communities, expansion of the Nutrition North Canada program and attention to the Northern Adult Basic Education Program.
Three million Canadians live in poverty, according to a news release by the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada announcing the discussion paper. More than half a million children reside in low-income households, and 63 per cent of single and low-income Canadians are women and seniors, according to the news release.
- Beth Brown
Businesses get shipping break
Nunavut
Nunavut's small businesses will be getting a break from Canada Post each Tuesday this month.
Businesses owners enrolled in the Canada Post Solutions for Small Business Program can visit Canada Post's website each week for a code and free mailing label valid for one free domestic express parcel or expedited shipment.
The project was tested in Iqaluit prior to launch and can be used by businesses in remote communities.
"Small business owners and entrepreneurs rely heavily on the postal system to send bills, cheques and offers to their customers," Canada Post president and CEO Deepak Chopra stated in a release, which noted up to 98 per cent of all Canadian businesses are considered small businesses.
- Beth Brown
Premier objects to carbon tax
Nunavut
Premier Peter Taptuna says the federal government's newly proposed carbon tax is bad for Nunavut.
Under the new plan, announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Oct. 3, all Canadian jurisdictions will have carbon pricing in place by 2018.
The next day, Taptuna made a statement of his own, objecting to the tax.
"The Prime Minister's announcement of an imposed national tax on carbon could negatively affect the Northern economy," Taptuna said. "The geographic remoteness and harsh winter climate of Nunavut force high transportation and energy costs on Nunavummiut. A price on carbon would likely inflict substantial costs on the people of Nunavut, yet achieve little reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions."
According to Taptuna, Trudeau and federal environment minister Catherine McKenna have assured him the unique nature of the North will be taken into account.
"And we await those details," Taptuna said.
Nunavut's GHG emissions account for only 0.1 per cent of Canada's total emissions, with 2012-2013 emissions at 700,000 tons. The federal government said the price on carbon pollution should start at a minimum of $10 per tonne in 2018 and rise by $10 a year to reach $50 per tonne in 2022. Territories and provinces would be able to use the tax revenue in any way they deem appropriate.
Taptuna has spoken out on this issue on several occasions.
"Premier Taptuna let the Prime Minister know that an accommodation taking in the unique costs and situation in Nunavut has to be addressed," Nunavut's director of communications Catriona Macleod told Nunavut News/North. "It cannot be something that increases our cost of living and doing business in the North. This message was reiterated at the First Ministers' meeting earlier this year in Vancouver and during the climate change summit last year in Quebec."
- Michele LeTourneau
Qikiqtani drawing in dividends
Qikiqtaaluk
It's a "very exciting time for our region", according to Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) president PJ Akeeagok, who accepted a cheque for more than $1 million from QIA subsidiary Qikiqtaaluk Corporation at this month's QIA annual general meeting.
"QIA will able to deliver socio-economic programming and initiatives to the communities that we represent as a result of this," Akeeagok stated in a release after the Oct. 4 to 6 meetings.
The Inuit organization received $1,063,157 in dividends, the result of a policy passed by both the QIA and corporation boards earlier this year.
"We are honored to have the ability to contribute to QIA and in turn give back to the beneficiaries of our region," QC chair Levi Barnabas stated.
QIA also established a legacy fund by passing a revenue policy and by-law with an eye to "safeguarding monies for current and future generations of Inuit."
Revenue sources for the fund will include royalties from the Mary River Project Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement, dividends from QIA subsidiaries, and some of the income from Inuit-owned land leases.
"We will want to hear from Inuit in our region what they would like to see done in terms of programming or projects with the Inuit money," Akeeagok noted.
- Michele LeTourneau
French school board seeks voters
Nunavut
Nunavut's French school board is calling on all of Nunavut's francophones to register for next month's election of board members.
The Commission Scolaire Francophone de Nunavut (CSFN) is establishing a list of eligible voters for the upcoming election of board members Nov. 2.
The commission's jurisdiction includes all
Nunavut communities.
Eligible voters are French rights holders under section 32 of the Canadian Charter of Rights, according to a news
release.
People can contact the commission for information or to register. The release notes that residents who vote for members of the commission in its election will not be eligible to vote for their local district education authority.
- Michele LeTourneau
Youth leader honoured in Sweden
Stockholm, Sweden
Iqaluit's Maatalii Okalik was one of 19 exceptional young leaders to receive the #FirstGeneration Award at a gathering of educators and inspirational figures from around the world in Stockholm, Sweden Oct. 5.
Okalik is president of the National Inuit Youth Council.
She received the award at the #FirstGeneration Global Goals Forum "for inspiring young people to achieve the United Nation Global Goals for Sustainable Development," according to the booklet introducing each young leader.
"Maatalii's efforts to empower Canada's indigenous young people make her a true inspirer of other young people" the booklet notes, for her work to achieve quality education and reduce inequalities.
The forum, an initiative of the Swedish government, honoured 19 individuals who are inspiring people to make a better, sustainable world, in front of hundreds of their peers who gathered to exchange experiences and raise awareness of sustainable development. The forum has 17 global goals for sustainable development, as agreed upon in September 2015 by 193 world leaders.
Okalik could not be reached for comment before press time.
- Michele LeTourneau
Inuk filmmaker talks shop
Somba K'e/Yellowknife
Iglulik filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk discussed Northern movie making and future screenwriting ideas at the Yellowknife International Film Festival, Sept. 30.
His films, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, and Maliglutit (Searchers), showed at the festival, which ran from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2.
Atanarjuat was recently named the best ever Canadian film by respondents to a poll at this year's Toronto International Film Festival.
Kunuk said he planned to use Atanarjuat as a practice run so he could learn from his mistakes.
"But then it started winning," he said. And it kept winning.
Maliglutit made its world debut in Toronto, and is inspired by John Ford's 1956 film The Searchers. In Maliglutit, an Inuk woman is kidnapped and her husband sets off to find the perpetrator and seek revenge.
But the film isn't without humour -as viewers see when one group is stuck in an igloo for days during a storm and has to keep spirits up by telling funny and even risque stories. Kunuk says showing this sort of interaction is good for educating a southern audience.
"When they look at our culture, they think we are all just trying to survive out there," he said. "When we are stuck in a blizzard for three days, they have to be good stories."
He spoke of future film ideas, like a Romeo and Juliet story between feuding indigenous groups, and also a story of early trappers who hunted Inuit people during the 1700s in Northern Quebec.
"It's part of our Canadian history. I want people to know it happened."
- Beth Brown
Iqaluit prepares for national suicide prevention conference
Iqaluit
Iqaluit's Inuksuk High School will host the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention's annual conference Oct. 26 to 29.
The Hope, Help And Healing Conference has a Northern focus and will include highly regarded professionals in the fields of mental health and healing, according to a press release.
Confirmed speakers include Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair and newly appointed Senator Murray Sinclair, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) president Natan Obed and National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC) president Maatalii Okalik.
The conference is open to anyone interested in discussing suicide prevention with professionals in the field.
The daily program will include a plenary session for all participants, followed by individual sessions on various topics pertaining to suicide prevention. Each day will end with a networking event that showcases elements of Inuit culture including song, dance, clothing and stories.
The conference will address ITK's National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report and recommendations, and NIYC's vision.
The conference is organized by the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line and the national suicide prevention association.
- Michele LeTourneau
Mapping Inuit trails
Ottawa
An exhibit of large scale maps showing Inuit trails was displayed at the Aboriginal People's Room on Parliament Hill, Oct 5.
Working with Inuit hunters and elders, Dr. Claudio Aporta of Dalhousie University has been building an ongoing network of traditional trails since 2000, though the ones presented last week were developed over the last three years.
"When you see maps of the Canadian Arctic you see communities isolated from each other," said Aporta. But Inuit people have been travelling throughout the region since before maps were drawn, he said.
"Research shows a network of mobility exists across not only the Canadian Arctic but the whole Inuit occupied Arctic."
The recent portion of the project was organized through the office of Inuk Senator Charlie Watt. The mapped High Arctic trails are part of the Inuit Land Use and Occupancy Project.
Mapping to date has been done with communities in Nunavut and Nunavik, including Igloolik, Hall Beach, Naujaat, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet, Baker Lake, Kugluktuk, as well as Cambridge Bay, Arviat and Cape Dorset, with help from the Inuit Heritage Trust. And in Nunavik, Salluit and Kangiqsualujjuaq trails were recorded.
Inuit trails in Labrador and the NWT will be the next to be documented, through consultation with community members.
- Beth Brown
Shipbuilders sponsor Arctic research
Iqaluit
Nine Northern and marine-focused research projects are getting funding through a $2 million donation from Irving Shipbuilding Inc. and the Nunavut Research Institute.
The research projects announced on Oct. 6 include studies to enhance ability for oil spill response, improve water quality in Northern communities, track trends of ringed seal, and develop governance practices for Arctic shipping.
"The initiatives will contribute to a vibrant future for the marine research industry throughout Canada's North," Nunavut Arctic College president Joe Adla Kunuk stated in a news release. The partnership is also an opportunity to increase funding available for research projects in Northern communities, he added.
Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is currently building the Royal Canadian Navy's Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship vessels, which will operate in the North during the ice-free season.
"This research will help inform policy and protect the remote and delicate ecosystems of northern communities," Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains stated.
- Beth Brown
Invitation to play
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
Hall Beach's community hall will welcome parents and tots every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. this winter.
Parents and caregivers 16 years of age and older are invited to bring children up to age six for fun, play and socializing.
A healthy snack is provided.
The session depends on the availability of the hall and coordinators, but updates are available on the community Facebook page by 11 a.m. each day of the program.
- Michele LeTourneau
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