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Newsbriefs: Monday, August 28, 2017
Inquiry will visit more NWT communities
The community visit to Yellowknife and Behchoko this week is not the only one the missing women's inquiry will make.
Melissa Carlick, community liaison officer for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, said the inquiry will visit other NWT communities next year. She was not able to confirm which communities the inquiry will visit yet.
Communications advisor Caroline Hotte said further information will be provided later this year.
The national inquiry, established in 2016, has a mandate to examine systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls and make recommendations for their solutions before December 2018.
- Emelie Peacock
Airline investigation wraps up
Somba K'e/Yellowknife
The Competition Bureau announced Tuesday it has found no evidence Canadian North and First Air engaged in anti-competitive acts. The bureau conducted investigations into a codeshare agreement between the two airlines and allegations First Air and Canadian North were using predatory pricing to freeze out competitors, specifically on the Iqaluit-Ottawa route. The companies have since terminated the agreement.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Should sun rise on festival?
Inuvik
A suggestion has been made to move the date of the annual Inuvik Sunrise Festival to better capitalize on the tourism potential.
"We're just not bringing enough people up," said Kylik Kisoun Taylor of Tundra North Tours.
Taylor was speaking at the first public planning meeting for the 2018 event.
Taylor said he's had customers who wanted to go to the festival but switched to the Muskrat Jamboree, which falls in April.
"It's almost like push it forward (to make it a New Year's celebration) or move it back a month," said Taylor.
In addition to the poor timing of the date, the sunrise festival occurs at a time of the year when - obviously - Inuvik is very dark which is poor for tourism.
- Stewart Burnett
Premier voices support for LGBTQ+ community
Inuvik
During NWT Pride weekend earlier this month, Premier Bob McLeod issued a statement voicing his support for the LGBTQ+ community.
"All residents of the Northwest Territories deserve to live their lives free of discrimination and persecution, regardless of who they love or their sexual identity," he stated in a news release.
"I commend NWT Pride for bringing people together to celebrate the diversity and courage of the community.
"Because of this work, NWT Pride has created a space where everyone is welcomed, and inspires residents through the workshops, events and activities it hosts over the weekend."
The GNWT recently became the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer a third gender identity on government certificates without the need for reassignment surgery.
There was no public Pride event held in Inuvik this year.
- Stewart Burnett
Mining, exploration meetings taking place across NWT
Mining and exploration is about to get new legislation in the Northwest Territories.
The Mineral Resources Act is under development as part of the GNWT's, stated a news release.
New legislation will absorb NWT Mining Regulations and govern rights, royalties, mineral reporting, claim staking and mineral leases.
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment began stakeholder engagements on the mineral legislation. It is now looking for feedback through its online platform.
A discussion paper, made available online, poses nine areas intended to guide feedback from the public and stakeholders.
"It is our duty as a government to ensure this industry is governed with clear legislation designed to maximize the benefits of responsible resource development to ensure a strong future for this foundational industry," stated ITI Minister Wally Schumann.
Public meetings on the new act are scheduled across the territory:
Yellowknife: August 28, Tree of Peace Friendship Centre, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Yellowknife (French Language): August 29, Explorer Hotel - Janvier Room, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Behchoko: August 30, Behchoko Cultural Centre, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Fort Simpson: August 31, Fort Simpson Recreation Centre, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Norman Wells: September 5, Royal Canadian Legion, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Inuvik: September 6, Midnight Sun Complex - Community Lounge, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hay River: September 11, Ptarmigan Inn, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Fort Smith: September 12, Roaring Rapids Hall Metis Council, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Michele Taylor
Cruise ship season begins
Ulukhaktok/Holman
The first of the season's cruise ships were scheduled to start arriving in Ulukhaktok as soon as Aug. 26.
Between late August and early September, five cruise ships are scheduled to stop in the NWT, with four stopping in Ulukhaktok and one in Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk.
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has been working with the Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization to prepare each community.
The department has provided training in hospitality, pricing art and cruise ship readiness. ITI has also invested in event infrastructure in Ulukhaktok and Tuktoyaktuk, including tents, bleachers, tables, chairs, stages, a speaker system and signage.
The Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization is working on a cruise ship strategy for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
- Stewart Burnett
Jail and Bail to raise money for cadets
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
A popular fundraiser is being revived in Norman Wells after a Jail and Bail event was scheduled as part of the annual Farmers' Market on Aug. 26, said Nicky Richards, economic development officer.
"Some people that have been in Norman Wells for the last 20 years or more will remember the Jail and Bail was quite popular back then," she said.
Local RCMP officers were asked to arrest the friends or family of those who paid the $10 fee.
Once they were placed in a special jail cell constructed for the event, they could either serve their time for ten minutes or pay $10 to be immediately released.
All funds were donated to the Royal Canadian Army Cadets.
The market was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the arena and the Jail and Bail was expected to run throughout the afternoon, Richards said.
The day was also expected to include a dunk tank and a bouncy castle, as well as competitive games including a Spaghetti Scavenger Hunt where participants had to use their mouths to locate candies and other items hidden within plates of spaghetti.
- Kassina Ryder
True North education program continues in Tulita
Tulita/Fort Norman
Chief Albert Wright School is hosting the True North education program again this year, said Karen Christiansen, program support teacher.
The program provides academic upgrading and adult education courses and is now available during the evening from Monday to Thursday.
True North was scheduled to finish at the end of last year, but it was unexpectedly continued this school year.
"It was something we weren't anticipating," Christiansen said. "At the last minute at the end of the school year, it worked out."
The program provides academic upgrading and adult education courses and is now available during the evening from Monday to Thursday.
As of Aug. 24, five students had signed up, said Christiansen.
- Kassina Ryder
Fort Liard youth travel to Fort Simpson for Dene Games
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
Fort Liard sent 17 youth to the Mackenzie Youth Dene Games in Fort Simpson from Aug. 14 to 18, said Sophie Kirby, Fort Liard's manager of recreation and youth.
Participants competed against youth from Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Wrigley and Fort Providence.
Games included archery, Dene baseball, leg wrestling, spear throwing, lacrosse and log sawing, as well as beading and craft-making.
Between competitions, youth went swimming in the Mackenzie River and participated in mini-scavenger hunts.
The week finished with a drum dance performed by the Liidlii Kue First Nation drummers.
- Kassina Ryder
Barbecue and baseball in Whati
Whati/Lac La Martre
The second annual Angus Young Memorial Baseball tournament was expected to feature a free barbecue for Whati residents on Aug. 26, said Victoria Wedawin, recreation programmer.
Hamburgers and hot dogs were available and a raffle was also expected to take place.
The tournament was open to local teams and was scheduled to run on Aug. 26 and 27, with the possibility of beginning the evening of Aug. 25 depending on the number of teams registered, said Wedawin.
- Michele Taylor
Plenty of winning and celebration at handgames
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
15 teams of eight players went hand to hand at the Fort Liard handgames for a chance at a piece of the $25,000 pot.
Arnold Hope took home $10,000 for first place, the Dream team won $7,500 for second place, third place, Fort Providence, took home $5,000 and Meander River's 8 of Us took fourth place and a $2,500 prize. Robert Loe, who organized the handgames with the support of the Chief and Council, said Margaret Klondike donated half of a moose hide as part of the celebrations and games.
"It was donated by one of the players on my team's mom, Margaret Klondike, and the winner was Lucy Simon out of Jean-Marie River." said Loe.
- Michele Taylor
Youth forum deadline approaching
NWT
Youth from throughout the Northwest Territories are encouraged to apply for the Northern Youth Leadership (NYL) Connecting Northern Youth to the Community, Culture and the Land Forum before Sept. 1, information from NYL said.
The forum is a seven-day camp in Yellowknife scheduled to run from Oct. 11 to 18.
It's available to youth between 14 and 16 from Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
There are four spots open to NWT youth and all travel and other costs will be covered.
In addition to work completed during the forum, participants must give presentations in about what they learned during the forum when they return to their home communities.
Applicants will be notified if they were accepted by Sept. 18.
- Michele Taylor
Fun activities in Fort Providence
Children and youth in Fort Providence were treated to a variety of fun activities the week of Aug. 21, said Beth Hudson, physical literacy co-ordinator with Deh Gah School. The school was closed last week while teachers attending training in Fort Simpson and Hudson partnered with the community's recreation department for the events.
To help keep the community's young people busy, Hudson said youth were invited to the community hall on Aug. 23 for an evening of colouring and board games, as well as healthy snacks.
Aug. 24 was scheduled to feature a water balloon fight followed by a campfire cookout with hot dogs and s'mores.
The event was expected to begin at about 6 p.m.
"We have 300 water balloons," Hudson said. "But it will probably only last a few minutes."
On Aug. 25, Hudson said the wellness centre was scheduled to open in the evening for a Youth Safe Space night where participants were invited to come play video games and watch movies.
- Kassina Ryder
Learning the ropes with goats and more
Hay River
The Northern Farm Training Institute is holding a course on Small Scale Livestock Sept. 2 and 3. No need for your own animals as there will be hands-on work with sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, cattle, chicken, geese, turkeys, ducks, livestock dogs and even a yak. The Institute wants you to get out and experience animals through classroom learning and see the potential for all types of food production in the North.
Sign up for one or two days by registering on Facebook or by email at: admin@nftinwt.com or call (867) 875-8111.
- Michele Taylor
Run seeks help
Inuvik
Natasha Kulikowski, who is organizing the 37th annual Terry Fox Run, is seeking volunteers for the event. The annual run will take place Sept. 17. Last year, roughly 50 people attended the run.
Volunteers are needed for the registration desk, water stations and barbecue. Anyone interested can contact Kulikowski at 867-678-5252.
- Stewart Burnett
Thebacha Campus to present Services Fair
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Aurora College's Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith will present its 12th-annual Services Fair in mid-September.
The fair - designed to welcome new and returning students to the campus and the community - will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 13 in the campus foyer.
Organizations and businesses can sign up for free booths at the Services Fair, which is open to all members of the community.
- Paul Bickford
Childcare Centre celebrates grand opening
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
Fort Liard has been without active childcare since the community's only day home provider moved away.
But now, after the grand opening Aug. 26, the Dezona Za Kue Childcare Centre will offer a place where children ca receive daycare.
Sophie Kirby, manager of recreation and youth, said the preschool shut down around four or five years ago when junior kindergarten was introduced into the school and when the day home owner moved away it opened up a need in the community.
"There was a day home for a while and was run by the social worker's wife and they moved out of Fort Liard and so I decided to open up a childcare centre to make childcare more accessible to people in the community."
Kirby said the childcare centre, funded through Education, Culture and Employment, will have four staff members and 12 spaces open for children ages six-months to three years.
- Michele Taylor
Hundreds of geese die
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
The carcasses of hundreds of snow geese dotted a lengthy stretch of land last week, while some floated lifelessly in the ocean near Cambridge Bay. Many people are wondering what killed the birds.
One possible explanation is exhaustion. That's Bobby Greenley's theory, one that some others in the community share. Greenley, chair of the Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization, said there had been sustained strong winds over a week, enough to potentially cause the young birds to collapse.
"I've never seen geese (die) like this before," Greenley said on Aug. 23.
"From what I've seen they're just young ones... I'm thinking it's just all natural. They couldn't make the distance across the ocean. Big winds, big waves when they landed - they're just so tired they couldn't keep their heads up, maybe."
Other explanations have been a lightning strike or disease, but older birds would have been equally affected under those circumstances, Greenley pointed out.
Gabrielle Lamontagne, a spokesperson with Environment and Climate Change Canada said her department is "aware of the situation" and would consider next steps in conjunction with the Government of Nunavut.
Greenley said he knows some of the carcasses have been gathered and sent out for testing.
As for the rest of the dead birds, he didn't see any way their remains could be salvaged. He said scavengers were already descending on some of them.
- Derek Neary
Police step up presence in manhunt
Kinngait/Cape Dorset
RCMP from Iqaluit were dispatched to Cape Dorset last week to assist in the search for David Mikkigak, who's been on the run from police for almost two months.
Mikkigak, 37, is facing charges of forcible confinement, assault and firearms-related allegations. RCMP accuse Mikkigak of using a high-powered rifle to shoot in the direction of some boaters earlier this month.
The ongoing ordeal hasn't caused a panic in Cape Dorset, however, hamlet senior administrative officer John Hussey said.
"I guess most people are being very cautious when they're going out to boat or pick berries," Hussey said, adding that students have returned to school. "They're still going about their business but they're just doing it a little more cautiously."
Everyone is hoping for a peaceful resolution, Hussey said.
"Everybody's aware of the situation, for sure, but it doesn't seem it's interfering with anybody's day-to-day lifestyle, other than the direct family members."
An RCMP news release on Aug. 18 included this message to Mikkigak: "You have people who care for your well-being, and that includes your family at home. They want to see you."
A subsequent news release stated that Mikkigak has a history of violence toward police.
- Derek Neary
Youth return from travels
Youth from the Kivalliq region who took part in the Northern Youth Abroad program this summer are on their way home after seven weeks away.
According to a list from Northern Youth Abroad, participants in the 2017 program included Naujaat's Brenden Angotingoar, Charmaine Putulik and Susannah Mablik; Baker Lake's Christopher Atutuvaa and
Victoria Piryuaq; and Joellen Netser from Coral Harbour.
-April Hudson
Smoke turns Kivalliq skies brown
Skies around Rankin Inlet darkened on Aug. 15 as smoke from forest fires drifted through the area, turning the sun red and prompting a public service announcement from the territorial government. The announcement from the Department of Health advised residents to take precautions when smoke is present and watch for symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath or light-headedness.
Tips to outlast the smoke included staying indoors with windows and doors closed, turning off air exchangers and limiting outdoor physical activity.
-April Hudson
Narwhal tags nearly half gone
Kugaaruk
As of Aug. 22, 62 of 148 narwhal tags had been given out through the Kugaaruk Hunters and Trappers Organization, according to manager Mark Karlik Jr.
It's an "open" hunt, so there is no limit on the number of mammals that a hunter can take, he noted. Hunters are responsible to report their kills to the HTO.
"If we get (down to) 10 tags left, we'll inform the public," Karlik Jr. said, adding that a draw will then be held for the last of the tags.
Many narwhal have been swimming close to the community, about five to 15 minutes away.
"It's not hard to find," he said.
The narwhal hunt will last until thickening ice brings an end to it, Karlik Jr. added.
- Derek Neary
Multiple rounds of sealift
Iglulik
The first barge of the season arrived on Aug. 21 and was offloading on Aug. 22.
With all the activity at the shore, and with multiple pieces of heavy equipment moving around pallets and other large objects, a reminder was sent out to the public and the cargo ship employees to exercise caution.
"Those pieces of equipment have blind-spots on them. We tell the parents to keep a little better watch on the kids because we don't want anything to happen," said Greg Morash, Iglulik's senior administrative officer, adding that vehicle operators were urged to reduce their speed.
The Nunavut Sealink and Supply Inc. ship was due to leave on Aug. 23, going to Hall Beach for a few days to offload goods and then make a return to Iglulik on Aug. 25 with more items to unload due to the way the ship was packed, Morash noted.
Most of what the Hamlet of Igloolik has on order will arrive at the beginning of September on a Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping cargo ship. The delivery will include new plexiglass for the arena. That facility recently had a wheelchair accessible ramp installed, Morash added.
- Derek Neary
New principal at Kiilinik High School
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
Kiilinik High School has a new principal, but he's not new to Nunavut.
Tyrone Power occupies the principal's office this year, drawn back to the territory after several years back in his home province of Newfoundland. His past stops have included Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet and Pangnirtung.
"I always knew that I was going to return to Nunavut at some point," he said. "I had worked previously in the Kivalliq and Qikiqtani regions in different capacities, and I always wanted to work in the Kitikmeot region. Cambridge Bay is a great community... I love working with the culture, the people, kids, parents, the elders and immersing myself more in the Inuit culture. To me it's a lifetime experience, and a very rewarding one."
Although some of the details are still in the planning stages, Power said there will be emphasis on parental engagement and cultural programming throughout the year.
- Derek Neary
Nunavut youth train at RCMP academy
Nunavut
Natalie Maerzluft of Iqaluit, Jalen Tagoona of Baker Lake and Lindsey Qanguq of Pond Inlet attended the RCMP's annual Depot Youth Camp Aug. 5 Aug. 12.
"They were treated like any other RCMP trainee, known as cadets," stated an RCMP news release.
The three Nunavummiut were among 30 youth from across the country selected to participate in training activities.
The youths, aged 16 to 18, came from six provinces and territories.
"The one week camp was an introduction into the world of policing and highlighted the training that is required to become a RCMP officer. The cadets were exposed to police driving techniques, police defensive tactics, firearms, applied police sciences, drill and physical fitness," according to the release.
"All our youth expressed that they had a fantastic experience! They all did a great job throughout the week and quickly made friendships and bonds that will last years."
- Michele LeTourneau
On the road to cannabis legalization
Nunavut
The Government of Nunavut (GN) has launched a survey to inform its future decisions once cannabis is legalized in Canada.
The survey can be found at the Department of Finance website, which is gathering information regarding how best to regulate the production, sale and consumption of cannabis in Nunavut.
Government liaison officers in the communities also have paper copies of the survey available.
Nunavummiut 16 years of age and older have until Sept. 22 to share their thoughts and opinions.
- Michele LeTourneau
Two Nunavummiut invested into Order of Canada
Nunavut
Mathew Nuqingaq and Tanya Tagaq Gillis were among 45 invested into the Order of Canada Aug. 25.
Nuqingaq and Tagaq Gillis were among 31 members to be invested, along with one companion and 13 officers.
Created in 1967, the Order of Canada, one of our country's highest civilian honours, recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation, according to the news release.
Nuqingaq, who resides in Iqaluit with his family, was recognized because he "is devoted to celebrating the traditions of his ancestors and to fostering the arts in Canada's North. A gifted jewellery maker, he has designed pieces that bridge contemporary style with classic Inuit imagery, and which have been sold and exhibited in Canada and abroad."
His studio, "a creative hub for artists as well as a centre for collaboration and mentorship," is noted.
Cambridge Bay's Tagaq Gillis is recognized as "award-winning and internationally acclaimed Inuk throat singer who has reinvented this traditional singing discipline."
Called a boundary-pusher, she is also noted for being a vocal proponent of Indigenous rights.
"She uses her art to highlight issues affecting Inuit communities and to promote the seal hunt as a critical component of Inuit culture. She continues to empower an entire generation of Indigenous youth throughout the Canadian Arctic and beyond."
- Michele LeTourneau
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