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Monday, April 24, 2017
Woman beaten
Inuvik
Police have charged a 52-year-old man after a report of a woman being injured in Inuvik.
Corey Domenichini, of Whitehorse faces a charged of aggravated assault, the case remanded until April 21 in Yellowknife, stated RCMP in a news release.
On April 18 at 3 a.m., Inuvik RCMP, responding to a report, found a female with serious injuries. She was taken to hospital for treatment.
The investigation continues and anyone with information about this incident should contact RCMP.
- James O'Connor
Spring dangers
NWT
Following an incident with a missing child on a lake near Yellowknife, RCMP issued a notice about spring conditions.
"This event reminds us how quickly situations can change, especially in the warming temperatures by day," stated Marie York-Condon in a news release.
Citizens need to be aware of changing conditions on rivers and lakes.
- Stewart Burnett
Festival in peril
Inuvik
The Great Northern Arts Festival could see security reductions, limited catering, scaling back the numbers of artists or days, and even not paying for contractors is it's financial picture doesn't improve.
There is a chance this year's event could be cancelled altogether to build a more solid base for the future, said Great Northern Arts Society chair Jennifer Rafferty at the group's AGM on April 11.
Executive director Marie Horstead said the organization needs about $50,000 more than it has to put together a slightly more constrained version of the festival.
"Our corporate contributions are down very significantly," said Horstead.
"I think we need to be public about the fact that we need help.
- Stewart Burnett
Land claim celebrated
Inuvik
The Gwich'in Tribal Council celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement this on April 22.
The event, was scheduled to be held at the Midnight Sun Complex, and begin with a treaty payout from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..
That was to be followed by speeches, a feast and an old time dance starting 5 p.m.
Similar events are being held in other Gwich'in communities.
- Stewart Burnett
Spring Fling a success in Norman Wells
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
The Northern games and the fish fry and cookout were the most popular activities at this year's Spring Fling in Norman Wells, said Daniel Lamar, recreation manager.
The event took place throughout the weekend of April 7.
The cookout and fish fry took place in the parking lot of the Ray Perrson Arena from 2 to 5 p.m.
Other highlights included cosmic skating at the arena, a family scavenger hunt and a fireworks display.
Lamar wanted to thank the Northern Store, the Royal Canadian Legion branch 287, the Town of Norman Wells and the Norman Wells Land Corporation, as well as volunteers, for helping with the events.
- Kassina Ryder
Fort Liard youth feature Reel Youth film projects
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
On April 21, youth in Fort Liard showcased their filmmaking projects they created during the Reel Youth filmmaking workshop, said Sophie Kirby, recreation and youth manager.
In addition to the workshop in Fort Liard, three youth attended a Reel Youth film camp in British Columbia last year.
"They did this awesome workshop for a week in the summer and the kids just loved it," Kirby said.
A selection of their films were shown at the Fort Liard community hall from 7 to 9 p.m.
The event was open to anyone over the age of 13.
Another Reel Youth workshop is scheduled to take place in Fort Liard in October.
- Kassina Ryder
Aurora College grad in Fort Smith set for April 21
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Aurora College's Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith will celebrate the success of up to 32 students from 15 NWT communities at its annual convocation ceremony on April 21.
Degrees, diplomas and certificates will be awarded from the schools of arts and science, business and leadership, and education.
In a news release, Aurora College president Jane Arychuk said she is proud of the class of 2017.
"I applaud your courage to pursue your dreams, and I congratulate you on this tremendous accomplishment," she said in a message to graduates. "Thank you for choosing Aurora College to achieve your goals. We are honoured to share this educational journey with you."
The convocation ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. on April 21 in the gymnasium at the Fort Smith Recreation Centre.
Further convocation ceremonies for students at the two other campuses of Aurora College will be held on April 29 in Yellowknife and May 5 in Inuvik.
A total of 126 students could graduate from Aurora College's post-secondary programs this spring.
- Paul Bickford
Parents to discuss homeschooling
Thehacha/Fort Smith
A meeting will be held in Fort Smith early next month to discuss homeschooling.
Parents will have the opportunity to discuss whether homeschooling is right for their families and the benefits of that type of education.
The meeting will take place in the Seniors' Room at the Rec Centre, from 1 to 3 p.m. on May 6.
- Paul Bickford
Justice committee seeks applications
Thebacha/Fort Smith
The Fort Smith Community Justice Committee will be accepting new appointment applications on April 29 at the Thebacha Trade Show.
Members of the justice committee take part in restorative justice, and assist with youth and adult diversion referrals.
To be eligible to serve on the committee, a person must be a Canadian citizen, a resident of Fort Smith, and have no criminal record or a minimal criminal record.
- Paul Bickford
Hurry to book tables for Fort Providence Spring Fling
Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence
The fourth annual Fort Providence Spring Fling is scheduled to take place on June 3 and vendors are encouraged to book their tables now, said organizer Linda Croft.
Tables cost $5 and proceeds will be given to Northern Youth Abroad students.
In past years, the event has attracted between 15 and 20 vendors and Croft said she's hoping for a similar turnout.
So far, vendors will include a professional gel nail stylist and a jewellery maker, and Croft plans to sell baked goods and candy apples.
"The candy apples are going to be really jazzed up," she said.
If students assist with the baking and running the table, Croft said she will give them half of the proceeds.
"If the students come help me bake and do the sale, 50 per cent of all sales will go to them," she said.
The Spring Fling is scheduled to take place in the parking lot of the Snowshoe Inn at about 11 a.m.
- Kassina Ryder
Friendly fishing derby a hit
Sachs Harbour
The friendly fishing derby in Sachs Harbour over Easter weekend brought the community out to try their luck at five different lakes in the area.
"We had a feast on Wednesday for the whole community," said Doreen Carpenter, recreation co-ordinator for the hamlet. "That was really good."
The weather for Easter weekend was very nice, she said, a stark contrast to the following Tuesday when the community was hit with whiteout conditions.
"There were a lot of big fish that were caught," said Carpenter, who thought she might be able to
compete for the smallest fish of the weekend but saw another that beat hers.
The biggest fish caught got close to 11 pounds, she said.
- Stewart Burnett
Chief T'seleie School winners
Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope
There were six Heritage Fair winners and two honourable mentions during the Heritage Fair at Chief T'Seleie School on April 13, said principal Kathy Pelletier.
In the Grade 6/7 division, Joy Kakfwi earned first place for her Crafts-Knitting project and won second place for his project titled Lucy Jackson, An Important Family Member.
Jocelyn Kelly Bourassa and Tessa Grandjambe won third place for their project titled Culture Camp while Marcus Proctor earned an honourable mention for his project titled How has currency changed over the years?
In the Grade8/9 division, Patricia Mukhamadieva won first place for her project on Traditional Food: Somsa.
Arianna Laboucan earned a second place spot for her project titled Pow Wow while Summer Shae won third for her project Living in the North. Tyra Manuel received an honourable mention for his project Traditional Sewing.
Pelletier said there were a large volume of traditionally-themed projects this year.
The school is scheduled to host the Sahtu Regional Heritage Fair on April 26.
"We're looking forward to see who wins and all the projects," Pelletier said.
- Kassina Ryder
Deadline approaching for youth internship
NWT
Northwest Territories youth are being encouraged to apply for the Council of the Federation Youth Internship Program.Applications will be accepted until May 10, information from the Council of the Federation Secretariat said.
The internship is open to university graduates under the age of 25. It is 12 months long and begins in Ottawa in July and is a paid internship.
The purpose is to teach young people more about politics, including how public policy is created and how intergovernmental relations work.
Applications can be found on the Canada's Premiers website.
- Kassina Ryder
Project Jewel opportunities
Ulukhkatok/Holman
Several events are coming up under Project Jewel, an on-the-land wellness program run through the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.
A wellness retreat for youth ages 14 to 19 will be held in Ulukhaktok April 25 to 27, with another one in May called "Building Confident and Resilient Youth."
A wellness retreat for girls 12 to 16 will be held in Aklavik April 28.
In August, Project Jewel will host "The 'F' Word: Exploring Forgiveness" for adults in Paulatuk.
Those interested in signing up should go to the IRC website.
- Stewart Burnett
Joyful faces for Easter events
Paulatuk
Just about the whole community came out to enjoy an Easter weekend full of events in Paulatuk.
"Our Easter weekend was awesome," said recreation co-ordinator Lily Ann Green.
The weather was a bit chilly, but everyone enjoyed the games, from coin toss to snowmobile races.
"The kids enjoyed it, the people in the community enjoyed it, and I was so happy our Ski-Doo races went off without any problems of any kind," said Green.
Pretty much all of the children in the community came out to have fun, she said.
Green thanked the recreation staff, recreation board members, all the cooks who helped through the weekend and especially the volunteers.
"Without them a lot of things wouldn't be possible," she said.
Events closed Monday with a jigging contest and prize handout.
"Oh my God, you should have saw the faces on some of the kids when their names were called, priceless, just so proud to hear their names," said Green.
- Stewart Burnett
Sharon Firth to receive honorary law degree
Inuvik
Olympian cross-country skier Sharon Firth, from Aklavik, will receive an honourary doctor of laws degree from the University of Alberta.
Firth, a member of the Gwich'in First Nation, was the first indigenous woman elected to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. She competed in the Olympics four times between 1972 and 1984.
She was also recently in Inuvik promoting cross-country skiing.
"Honorary degrees are intended to recognize individuals whose character and whose extraordinary intellectual, artistic or athletic achievements or service to society set a standard of excellence that merits the university's highest honour," stated U of A chancellor Doug Stollery in a news release.
- Stewart Burnett
Iqaluit superhero hits big screen
Toronto
Thanks to a new Pinnguaq creation, former Iqaluit superhero Polarman will be known outside of Nunavut, first at the documentary film festival Hot Docs in Toronto April 27 to May 7 and then on a special app called Meridian to be launched by sesqui.ca May 2.
For Pinnguaq founder and director Ryan Oliver, the excitement of the Toronto premiere hasn't quite set in.
"I haven't really taken it all in yet because we're still working on it. It's a unique film in that it's in virtual reality and there's as much if not more post-production work. Specifically there's a lot of programming that needs to be done because it's interactive," said Oliver, who added the whole experience begins in Polarman's polar den, "which is kind of like Polarman's bat cave."
For years, Polarman was an anti-bullying and anti-vandalism crusader in the territorial capital, until he moved to Kingston, Ont. in 2014. Polarman (the alias of Derek Emmons) has a directing credit as well.
The film is an interactive mix of 360-degree video - shot in Iqaluit earlier in the year - and comic panels drawn by Pangnirtung artist Andrew Qappik, seasoned Canadian comic artist Daniel Day and Leisha-Marie Riddel.
"Polarman does a little introduction, then you're able to choose between one of those three artists. As much as it's Polarman's story, it's also about these three artists' interpretations," said Oliver.
Pinnguaq, which creates interactive experiences "that push both the limits of technology and cultural expression," began in Pangnirtung and now also has offices in Ontario and British Columbia.
- Michele LeTourneau
Royals visiting for Canada 150
Nunavut
A royal tour is being timed for Canada 150 celebrations, and Nunavut is on the list of destinations.
Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall -Prince Charles and Camilla -will visit Canada from June 29 to July 1.
"Their royal tour will take them to Ontario, Nunavut and Canada's capital region. We are pleased they are joining in the sesquicentennial festivities, and look forward to Canadians having the opportunity to showcase the very best that our country has to offer," stated Governor General David Johnston in an April 18 release.
The visit will mark the 18th time Charles has come to Canada and the fourth time for Camilla. The couple last visited in May 2014, stopping in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba.
An itinerary with specific destinations is to be published at a later date.
- Beth Brown
Easter in Iglulik
Iglulik
A string of Easter time events kept Iglulik residents on the go April 15 to 18.
On Easter Sunday, youth bundled up for an outdoor egg hunt, and teens and adults participated in a scavenger hunt around town for a top prize of $120.
A seal hunting contest took place on April 17. Winners had to catch two seals to share with the community. The day also saw a bannock-making contest, walrus tug-of-war, and iglu-building competitions.
Prizes of gift cards and camping suppliers were donated by the Co-op and Northern for winners of indoor games.
A feast of country food, chili and bannock was also held on Easter Monday.
Tuesday saw Easter continue with dog sled races, Inuit games and snow sculpting.
- Beth Brown
Muskox hunt evens out
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
The annual community muskox hunt in Kugluktuk picked up mid-March with more than 16 animals caught.
The HTO receives $30,000 annually for its community hunt program, but struggled to have the funding approved this year due to a vacant staff position.
This stalled start up of the yearly hunt, which provides country food to the community.
"The hamlet got the money around November and we had to try to use up the money before April," said Larry Adjun, chair for the Kugluktuk HTO. He said weather made hunting difficult this year.
Adjun said the HTO provides hunters with $450 for each muskox to cover their costs. The meat is then given for free to members of the community to provide families, elders and people who can't hunt with country food.
"It's a win-win situation for the whole community," said Adjun.
Adjun said a sport hunting organization in the hamlet also donated its harvest of meat to the HTO for community use.
Muskox have been encouraged as a substitute meat source to offset caribou decline.
Adjun said studies show the muskox population is thriving in the region.
- Beth Brown
New community director in Pond Inlet
Mittimatalik/Pond Inlet
David Curley is the Qikiqtani Inuit Association's new community director for Pond Inlet, after winning an April 10 byelection.
Three candidates ran for the position, with Curley far outpacing the other two. Official results show he earned 139 votes, while Cornelius Kadloo Nutarak took 43 votes and Dorcas Erkloo trailed with 18.
The voter turnout in the Pond Inlet by-election was 20 per cent.
- Michele LeTourneau
Popular summer camp returns
Iqaluit
Nunavut Carrefour announced last week that it would run its camp for the second year this coming summer.
The "Franco-Fun" day camp, scheduled for July 4 to August 18 at Inuksuk High School, is offered to youth between the ages of six and 12-years old.
Youth will have the option to choose from a range of sports, science and cultural workshops based on their own interests.
"We also have also integrated activities for learning French, open to English-speaking youth wishing to learn the language, while at the same time having fun," stated the organization's executive director Valerie Helene Gagnon.
"It is crucial to respond to the growing demand for a French day camp. For this reason, we have improved our services based on the particular needs of the community. We will offer more outings, which will include visits to the skate park and to the new swimming facility of the city."
Registration is scheduled for May 25 at 6 p.m. at the Carrefour office, building 723.
- Michele LeTourneau
Six-way race
Iqaluit
In a six-way race for two vacant City of Iqaluit council seats, Kyle Sheppard and Noah Ooloosie Papatsie rose to the top April 10, with 216 and 183 votes respectively.
With roughly 3,660 eligible voters in Iqaluit, only 817 or 22 per cent turned out to vote. To compare, almost 40 per cent of eligible voters turned out for the liquor plebiscite in 2015.
Sheppard campaigned on a platform of strong financial management. He said he has "expertise in municipal finance, and a strong working knowledge of all aspects of municipal administration, from lands to economic development to bylaw creation."
Papatsie, meanwhile, said his main priorities in serving the City of Iqaluit are public safety, youth and elders, poverty, arts, culture and language, and economic development. Sutheat Tim came in third with 148 votes, followed by Stephen Austin Leyden with 105 votes, Jean-Luc Nevin with 89 and Dushyenth Ganesan with 76.
The by-election gives council a full complement of eight members, with Sheppard and Papatsie replacing Gideonie Joamie, who resigned in May 2016, and Megan Pizzo-Lyall, who resigned in January.
- Michele LeTourneau
Defective safety valve caused fuel spill
Kangiqliniq/Rankin Inlet
A defective safety valve is being blamed for an April 8 spill of 30,000 litres of fuel at the Meliadine mine project near Rankin Inlet.
In an April 14 release, mine operator Agnico Eagle blamed "a defective safety valve on the storage tank, as well as inadequate operating procedures and insufficient training."
The fuel spilled from a leaky hose. The fuel storage tank had a 100,000 litre capacity.
Cleanup efforts were stalled April 11 due to blizzard conditions, but resumed April 13.
"The spill was contained to the localized area and ... did not reach any fresh water," Agnico Eagle spokesperson Natalie Frackleton told News/North when the spill was announced.
Cleanup was expected to be completed at the end of last week.
- Beth Brown
Four seizures in one week
Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven
RCMP in Gjoa Haven responded to four separate seizures of illegal alcohol and substances in the span of one week.
On April 7 RCMP responded to a disturbance, and arrested an intoxicated 25-year-old man who was under court orders not to consume alcohol.
"The search incidental to arrest found the male carrying three (small) bottles of Smirnoff vodka and three (small) bottles of whiskey," stated Sgt. David Lawson in an April 7 release. The man was also carrying $1,022 in cash. He faces charges of breaching his undertaking and unlawful sale of liquor.
On March 31, a 30-year-old Taloyoak woman was charged under the Liquor Control Act after police found a dozen small bottles of vodka, a 750 ml bottle of vodka and 10 cans of beer.
On April 5, RCMP arrested a 23-year-old Gjoa Haven man after finding 1.14 litres of vodka, 24 12-ounce bottles of whiskey and 16 grams of marijuana.
The same day, a 31-year-old Gjoa Haven man was arrested and charged with possession of illegal marijuana.
- Beth Brown
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