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Monday, October 24, 2016
Burglary at DND
Inuvik
Inuvik RCMP received a complaint of an alleged break and enter and vehicle taken without consent at the Department of National Defence compound at the Inuvik airport early in the morning Oct. 7.
During the investigation, the RCMP found information that the facility had unauthorized entry between 3 and 4 a.m. A person entered the compound and took a vehicle from it. Within a short time, the vehicle was returned to the building, with little damage to the compound or vehicle.
Inuvik RCMP have video surveillance of the incident. A suspect had not yet been identified at press time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP.
- Stewart Burnett
Behchoko
Sportplex mischief
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo
A 48-year-old man was charged with mischief after RCMP received a call about vandalism taking place at the new Sportsplex building in Behchoko on Oct. 12, a news release from the RCMP stated.
- Kassina Ryder
Theft at school
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo
Behchoko RCMP are looking for information regarding a break and enter at Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School on Oct. 9, according to a news release.
Officers believe a group of teenagers broke into the school's storage sheds where they sprayed fire extinguishers and stole two bicycles.
The RCMP encourages anyone with information to contact them.
- Kassina Ryder
Fort Simpson wolves
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is warning residents in Fort Simpson to be wolf-aware.
As of Oct. 14, wolves had been reported near the community's boat launch, industrial area, landfill and the Wildrose subdivision.
The department also reported one wolf had been destroyed the evening of Oct. 13 after trying to take a person's dog.
The department is asking residents to report wolf sightings and keep an eye on their outdoor dogs.
- April Hudson
Chief Julius School focuses on wellness
Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson
Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson hosted a Wellness Day for students in grades 7 to 12, said teacher Erica Thompson.
It took place on Oct. 17 and was geared toward teenage wellness. The school usually holds two Wellness Days every year.
Workshops included sessions on self esteem and mindfulness, as well as art therapy sessions, Thompson said.
"It was thoroughly enjoyed by session presenters and students alike," she said.
- Kassina Ryder
Paulatuk gets rink ready
Paulatuk
Work has begun to create this winter's ice in the Father Leonce DeHurtevant Arena, said recreation co-ordinator Bill Ruben.
Employees have been busy getting the ground level to ensure a stable ice surface, but warm weather could delay forming the ice, Ruben said.
"The weather has been so mild over here," he said.
A fire truck will spray the surface with water to form the ice when the weather becomes cold enough, which could take until mid to late November, Ruben said.
- Kassina Ryder
Spaghetti lunch in Tsiigehtchic
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
The recreation department hosted a spaghetti lunch on Oct. 18 to fundraise for community activities, according to the Tsiigehtchic Events Facebook page.
The event took place at the Chief Paul Niditchie School gym at noon and included spaghetti, caesar salad and garlic bread.
Monies raised will be used by the recreation department for future events and activities.
- Kassina Ryder
Aklavik HTC holding elections
Aklavik
The Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee will be opening nominations for its board of directors election on Oct. 31, according to information from the HTC.
There are four two-year terms available and nominations are scheduled to close on Nov. 28.
The election is scheduled to take place on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the David Buck Storr building.
Nomination forms can be picked up at the HTC office.
- Kassina Ryder
Youth ambassadors wanted
NWT
Northwest Territories' youth are encouraged to sign up for this year's Youth Ambassador program through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, according to a news release.
The program aims to build leadership skills and typically include volunteer opportunities with Arctic Winter Games, Canada Winter Games, Canada Summer Games and the North American Indigenous Games.
Applicants must be between 16 and 24 years old and the application deadline is Dec. 9.
- Kassina Ryder
Biennial wildlife workshop returns
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Representatives from communities in the Deh Cho gathered at Fort Simpson's recreation centre on Oct. 18 and 19 for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' regional wildlife workshop.
The workshop happens every two years and gives the department the opportunity to share its research with the communities.
- April Hudson
Fiscal year deadline for health-centre study
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Health Minister Glen Abernethy confirmed in the legislative assembly on Oct. 14 the first-phase planning study for a new health centre in Fort Simpson is on track to be concluded during the 2016-17 fiscal year.
A schematic design for the health centre will be the second phase.
Abernethy said the department won't be in the capital plan until 2018-19 at the earliest.
"I'm committed to moving this initiative forward," Abernethy said, according to a transcript from the legislative assembly, before acknowledging the project would be competing for priority with other projects in the territory.
Abernethy also confirmed the future health centre would not include any addition of services or programs, although the department may look at using the existing health centre to add more beds to the long-term care facility.
- April Hudson
Dance group to perform at Sunrise Festival
Inuvik
Vancouver- and Toronto-based choreographers Meredith Thompson and Kate Franklin will be coming to Inuvik this winter to facilitate and direct a dance project they hope will involve members of the community.
All ages and levels of dance experience will be welcome, and the dance will be performed at the 2017 Inuvik Sunrise Festival.
The choreographers have partnered with the Town of Inuvik and have support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
The piece, known as Incandescent, is a portrait of both the individual and collective human experience, inspired by a Leonard Cohen song.
"It celebrates both light and darkness - something you have a very natural relationship with in Inuvik," stated the choreographers in a letter to the town.
They hope to arrive and begin working in November.
- Stewart Burnett
GNWT engaging public on climate change and energy strategy
Inuvik
Residents will have a chance to voice their input in the development of a territorial climate change strategic framework and energy strategy Nov. 1 and 2.
The GNWT will be holding two days of public engagement and workshops.
"We need to be leaders in addressing and adapting to the impacts of climate change in our communities," stated Minister
of Environment and Natural Resources Robert McLeod in a news release.
The climate change framework will establish policy and strategic actions with respect to climate change, including resilience and adaption, research and knowledge and GHG emissions mitigation.
The energy strategy will confirm the principles that underpin the GNWT approach to energy and support actions aimed at reducing the use of important diesel and greater use of local, renewable and alternative forms of energy in NWT communities.
- Stewart Burnett
Soup Kitchen fundraiser
Hay River
For the second year, The Soup Kitchen will be presenting the aptly named A Taste of Soup fundraiser.
And Laura Rose, the president and manager of The Soup Kitchen, is hoping for another successful event.
"It's because we not only serve the soup and the sandwich supper," she said.
"We have some live entertainment. We're still working on that but we have a couple of tricks up our sleeves."
In addition, the Nov. 5 event in the basement of Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church will feature a silent auction.
Last year, the event attracted between 50 and 60 people and raised about $1,000. but Rose said there is room for more.
The Soup Kitchen will also be accepting donations of items for the silent auction from businesses and individuals.
"Whoever wants to donate whatever," said Rose.
- Paul Bickford
Open Doors programming begins
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
The Open Doors Society started up its Busy Bees and Active After School programming this week.
Both began Oct. 17.
Busy Bees, for children over the age of 3, runs from 1 to 3:15 p.m., while Active After school begins at 3:30 p.m. for children from junior kindergarten to Grade 6.
The Kids Travel Company with Vanguard College is still running its week-long after-school program at Calvary Chapel for children from grades 1 to 6. The program begins at 3:30 p.m. each day and wraps up at 5:30 p.m.
- April Hudson
Chainsaw safety course in Enterprise
Enterprise
The Hamlet of Enterprise will be hosting a chainsaw safety certification course from Oct. 25 to 28.
The course is primarily for hamlet staff and volunteers with the fire department.
However, if others are interested in attending, the hamlet will prepare a list in case there are openings for the course.
- Paul Bickford
Hamlet gets spooky
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
Two Halloween bashes have been scheduled so far for Fort Providence.
On Oct. 28, there will be an adult Halloween party, sponsored by Minor Hockey, beginning at 9 p.m. at the community hall.
There will be prizes for best costume.
On Oct. 31, the community hall will be host to Spook-a-Rama 2016. Youth 18 and under are welcome, as well as parents. It begins at 6 p.m.
There will be games, prizes, music and candy, as well as prizes for the top three costumes and a mystery door prize.
- April Hudson
Water conservation week continues
Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River
All residences in Jean Marie River were asked to conserve water from Oct. 17 to 21 due to the reservoir refilling.
From Oct. 18 to 20, residents of Jean Marie River took part in community facilitator training in Fort Simpson.
A meeting of the local education authority was held on Oct. 18 at Louie Norwegian School.
From Oct. 24 to 28, Chief Gladys Norwegian and Stan Sanguez expect to attend a Dehcho Leadership Meeting held at West Point First Nation. Senior administrative officer Donkrison Moore will be attending an Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada meeting in Yellowknife from Oct. 24 to 28.
April Hudson
Tourism strategy considered
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson may be pursuing a tourism strategy after councillors agreed on Oct. 3 to contact local organizations which might be interested in providing input on the strategy.
In particular, the village will be suggesting the project to the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce as well as the territorial Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
On Oct. 3, Coun. Liza McPherson said the project is especially timely given that next summer is both the 150th anniversary of Canada becoming a country and the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit to Fort Simpson.
McPherson suggested the village look at bringing other groups into the discussion as well.
"This is bigger than the Chamber of Commerce," she said.
- April Hudson
Curfew bylaw gets another look
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Tri-council meetings between the village, Liidlii Kue First Nation and Fort Simpson Metis Local 52 will be taking a look at Fort Simpson's curfew bylaw as the village moves to revise the bylaw.
Councillors agreed the tri-council needed to take a look at it before amendments were made. Amendments would include omitting a clause mentioning the Department of Health and Social Services.
In its current format, the bylaw states all children found in contravention shall be returned to their parent, guardian or Department of Health and Social Services, and that at the discretion of council any or all offences may be reported to the department.
The current bylaw prohibits children under the age of 16 from being in a public place between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or appointed person over the age of 16.
- April Hudson
Housing staff in Fort Liard
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
Program staff with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation were in Fort Liard on Oct. 18 and 19 to provide information and assistance in accessing the housing corporation's home ownership programs, to address emergency repairs, preventative maintenance, health and safety, mobility and accessibility.
- April Hudson
Two arrested after drug bust
Iqaluit
Two men face charges after the RCMP executed a search warrant at an Iqaluit home and found drugs and cash.
The Oct. 12 search, led by the 'V' Division's Federal Operations Section, was part of an ongoing investigation.
"The search resulted in the seizure of $700 in cash, over two pounds of marijuana, approximately one pound of hash and a small amount of cocaine," stated Sgt. David Lawson in a news release.
Jonathan Sanford, 31, was charged with possession of cocaine, while Liam Gawdan, 37, was charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Both men were released, with conditions, pending a Nov. 9 court date, the release stated.
- Michele LeTourneau
Women robbed at knife-point
Iqaluit
The RCMP is following up on leads and is asking the public for assistance in identifying the suspect in a brazen knife-point robbery.
Iqaluit RCMP were called to the main intersection in the early morning hours of Oct. 18.
"The investigation revealed that two adult females were walking in the early hours near the four corners behind a local business when they were approached by a lone male wearing dark clothing with a hood," Cst. Lurene Dillon stated in a news release.
"The suspect produced a knife, stole one of the victims' purses and fled the scene," Dillon stated.
No one was injured. Police consider it an isolated incident.
- Michele LeTourneau
GN gets holiday break
Nunavut
The Nunavut government has traded its winter bonus days in favour of a holiday break for all employees.
Dec. 23, 28, 29 and 30 are being designated as holiday closure days, meaning government offices will be closed for the week between Christmas Eve and New Year's
Day.
"The holiday closure reflects the reality of life in the North and what's important to our employees," said Alma Power, the government's executive director of human resources.
She said the move was not done as a cost-saving measure.
Under the winter bonus days scheme, GN employees would receive one extra day off for every week of vacation taken outside of the summer months.
But only around 35 per cent of the available winter bonus days were being used, Power said.
"We decided this benefit to employees was not really benefiting all employees."
Power said feedback has been positive.
The holiday closure days are in addition to the normal statutory holidays and count as a full work day.
Employees of designated and 24/7 facilities will received the days in lieu.
- Beth Brown
Children's book Wild Eggs nominated for award
Somba K'e/Yellowknife
Iqaluit-born author Suzie Napayok-Short has received many accolades, and now she's been nominated for Ontario Library Association's 2017 Silver Birch Express Award for readers in Grades 3 to 6.
Wild Eggs: A Tale of Arctic Egg Hunting, illustrated by Apex resident Jonathan Wright and published by Inhabit Media, is competing against nine other books. The book was also nominated at the NorthWords Writers Festival in Yellowknife earlier this year. The Canadian Children's Book Centre chose it as one of its Best Books for Kids and Teens.
"I'm very thrilled to get these nominations," Napayok-Short said. "It was up for nominations here in YK at Northwords this past summer as well. I'm always very surprised and very humbled at the reception. I hear some kids just call it 'My egg book. No, I want my egg book tonight Mommy.'"
Wild Eggs is about a young girl named Akuluk who is not very excited about visiting Nunavut for her vacation. But, on her first full day in the territory, she can't wait to travel out on the land with her grandparents to hunt for wild eggs.
"It's about our environment and the respect that Inuit traditionally practiced with care in their culture. Now is the time, particularly for us Inuit, to protect our environment," she said. "The world is looking to the North for oil and gas development. We have to decide what we want done. And this is Akuluk's way of saying she wants to be able to go egg-picking, and respect and love her lands that she has around her."
Napayok-Short has another manuscript ready. "Just waiting to get it published," she said.
- Michele LeTourneau
School's back in Cape Dorset
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
Cape Dorset high school students have their own learning space again.
Peter Pitseolak School was destroyed in a fire last fall. Since then, classes have been held at Sam Pudlat Elementary School.
Classes will move to a new modular school of five portable buildings on Oct 26.
"This is a really wonderful time here," said Christa Borden, acting principal of Peter Pitseolak School. "Everybody is full of hope."
There are 186 students currently registered at the high school. Borden said attendance suffered because of the fire, but the new school has kids coming back.
"It's the most amazing feeling as an educator to see students that dropped out when the school burnt down showing up at the office with big smiles on their faces and saying, 'is it okay if I come back to school?'" she said.
Four of the five portables will host classes for Grades 8, 9, and 10, and the remaining building will acts as an office space.
Grade 7 students will remain at Sam Pudlat, and Nunavut Arctic College will host Grade 11 and 12 classes.
A link connects the new buildings to Sam Pudlat school.
The school has been running on a split shift with the elementary school, with high school classes running from 12:40 to 6:40 pm. Students will now return to a regular schedule.
"We've gotten used to it and we've made adjustments but we will still be really happy to be back on a regular schedule," said Borden.
The portable buildings were finished on Oct. 17 and the school has been putting on the finishing touches, including getting a fire inspection, practicing lock down procedures, setting up the phone systems, projectors and other technology, she said.
She said support from the other schools has kept Peter Pitseolak School going through this difficult transition time.
Plans are underway to build a new high school.
- Beth Brown
GN to develop new arts strategy
Iqaluit
Nunavut's art sector aimed to set the course for the future at a summit held in Iqaluit Oct. 17 to 19.
"The All Arts Summit brought the creative minds of the top people in the industry to one place to discuss what our new arts strategy should be." Economic Development and Transportation minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk, whose department hosted the summit, stated in a news release. "The new strategy will include all art sectors and ensure Nunavummiut are benefiting from their cultural and artistic work."
Participants at the summit discussed the state of cultural industries, arts funding, Inuit arts administration, copyright, intellectual property and cultural appropriation, marketing and distribution, innovation and Northern perspectives, according to the release.
Those in attendance included artists from across the territory, with all disciplines represented. Arts organizations, Inuit organizations and federal partners like the Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Canadian Heritage were also in attendance. The Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut sent guest speakers to share their perspectives.
A review of the existing arts strategy led to a recommendation that a new strategy be developed "that would include the arts in all media," according to the release.
"Sanaugait has been the guiding strategy for arts and crafts since 2007. Based on the advice and recommendations from the All Arts Summit, the Department of Economic Development and Transportation will prepare a new strategy representing all the art sectors in the territory," stated Ell-Kanayak.
- Michele LeTourneau
Beneficiaries recognized for contributions
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
Nunavut Tunngavik president Cathy Towtongie presented the 2016 President's Awards to a variety of notable beneficiaries Oct. 19, during NTI's annual general meeting in Rankin Inlet Oct. 18 to 20.
"Each one of these recipients has played a role in promoting and advancing Inuit rights and culture, and they deserve recognition from their peers in Nunavut," Towtongie stated in a news release.
The recipients were:
- Chris Cousins, for his hard work in pushing the Qulliq Energy Corporation to recognize its obligation to implement Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement;
- Louie Kamookak, for his role in collecting the oral history surrounding the lost Franklin ships, which led to the discovery of the HMS Erebus in 2014 and the HMS Terror in 2016;
- Sammy Kogvik, for his role in leading the researchers to discover the wreckage of the HMS Terror outside Gjoa Haven last month;
- Charlie Panigoniak, for his contribution to Inuit and Canadian culture through his popular music; and,
- Raigilee Piugituq, for her work as a counsellor with the Ilisaqsivik Society.
Each of the recipients received $500 and a plaque to recognize their contributions.
- Michele LeTourneau
Apply now for Northern Youth Abroad
Nunavut
Northern Youth Abroad (NYA) is accepting applications for its 2017 Canadian program.
The educational program is open to youth aged 15 to 20 from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
The program provides students with up to nine high school credits, 200 hours of on-the-job volunteer experience that aligns with their interest, and the opportunity to travel while volunteering in a host community in southern Canada.
"Every youth that applies will get a phone interview," said Nick Pelletier, NYA program officer.
Pelletier said it is similar to a co-op program.
Past students have worked at camps and day-cares, in offices and auto garages.
He said the program looks for a broad cross-section of applicants, including youth who have shown leadership skills, but also youth who are seeking opportunities for personal growth and have not had the opportunity for a similar experience.
The program will choose about 40 youth this year. Approximately 225 applied last year.
The deadline is Nov. 11. Schools and hamlet recreation coordinators have application forms, which can also be found online.
It's the organization's 20th anniversary.
"For a program that started in Nunavut it's great to see that we've had this staying power and have been able to remain relevant to serve the needs of the youth," said Pelletier.
Alumni of the NYA Canadian program are able to apply to NYA's international program to travel overseas and the NYA Next program to work on global citizenship issues in developing countries.
The program is funded primarily by the GN and the GNWT, and supported by Canadian North.
- Beth Brown
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