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Newsbriefs: Monday, September 4, 2017
Grizzly bear killed in Inuvik
Inuvik
A grizzly bear was killed earlier this week after being spotted on Stringer Road, according to Norman Snowshoe, Inuvik Region superintendent with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
An officer put the bear down early Monday morning because it stopped responding to efforts to deter it, said Snowshoe.
The department was also investigating a possible wolf sighting as of Aug. 28.
Snowshoe said wolves usually avoid people, but residents should make noise if they see bears, and not surprise the animals.
Two other grizzly bears and a black bear were killed in the Inuvik region this year, while two black bears were captured and relocated.
- Kirsten Fenn
Legislature to return Sept. 19
The second session of the 18th Legislative Assembly is set to reconvene on Sept. 19.
This year is unique since the second session will be prorogued on Oct. 4 and the third session will begin on Oct. 17.
This will give MLAs the opportunity to discuss the outcome of a mid-term review, stated a news release from the legislative assembly.
The caucus gathered on Aug. 23 for a three-day retreat in the Inuvik region. MLAs and staff members travelled by boat to Reindeer Station, where they took part in meetings to review potential changes to the GNWT's 2016-19 mandate.
- Paul Bickford
Awards to honour fire safety service
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is seeking nominations for the NWT Fire Service Merit Awards.
The awards honour individuals and fire departments for contributing to fire safety. Individuals or community fire departments can be nominated by members of the public, fire departments or fire chiefs. The nomination deadline is Sept. 22.
Recipients of the awards will be announced during National Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 8 to 14.
- Paul Bickford
Safety warning in Sachs Harbour
Sachs Harbour
RCMP are reminding residents to be prepared when travelling over land or water after a hunter from Sachs Harbour was reported missing Aug. 22.
According to the Mounties, the man travelled out of the community alone on an ATV the previous evening with the intent of returning home the same night.
Carrying a trailer, rifle and a few food supplies, the hunter reportedly became stranded because of fog.
When he did not return to Sachs Harbour, a search and rescue was carried out to find him, RCMP said, but he eventually abandoned his trailer and found his own way home.
- Kirsten Fenn
Man beaten and robbed
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo
Behchoko RCMP are asking for the public's help after a man was swarmed and robbed by a group of youths.
The incident is said to have happened between 4 and 5 a.m. Aug. 29 in the Bay Island area, stated the Mounties in a news release.
The man was robbed and suffered serious injuries, stated police.
The group was reportedly wearing hoodies at the time of the attack. Police continue to investigate.
If you have information on this incident - call RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
- John McFadden
Inuvik spared from barge delays
Inuvik
A shipping delay that left some store shelves in Tulita bare the week of Aug. 20 is not expected to impact Inuvik, said Derrick Briggs, director of Marine Transportation Services at the Department of Infrastructure.
Deliveries of fuel and goods to Tulita and Fort Good Hope were a little more than two weeks late, but shipments to Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk were on schedule for this week, said Briggs on Aug. 28.
Last winter, the GNWT took over a fleet of barges and tugboats from now-bankrupt Northern Transportation Company Ltd.
The fleet was left in Inuvik and had to be brought to Hay River after break-up, which caused delays, he said.
A number of them needed inspections.
- Kirsten Fenn
Wolves spotted in Tsiigehtchic
Tsiigehtchic
People in Tsiigehtchic have been warning one another about wolves in the community, with one person posting in a community Facebook page last week that a dog had been killed by one of the animals.
Susan Craig, director of corporate services at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, confirmed the department had received calls.
Norman Snowshoe, Inuvik Region superintendent with the department, said he knew of approximately two wolf sightings in the community.
"Wolves are common sightings in the North," he said. "We do provide patrols to ensure that the communities are safe. But to deter the wolves ... I think we just have to use precautions like food management and garbage management."
- Kirsten Fenn
Indigenous languages growing
NWT
Tagalog, a language spoken in the Philippines, and Tlicho are the most common languages spoken in NWT homes after English and French, according to Statistics Canada (StatsCan).
The number of people speaking Tagalog at home in the NWT increased by over 58 per cent since 2011. StatCan found people are increasingly learning Indigenous languages as a second language, especially people under the age of 14.
- Emelie Peacock
Election for grand chief Sept. 11
Behchoko
The communities of Behchoko, Whati, Gameti, Wekweeti and Yellowknife which make up the Tlicho Nation will head to the polls to elect their grand chief, Sept. 11.
The advance poll took place on Aug. 30, and a mobile poll was out for Aug. 31. This is the 5th election for the Grand Chief of the Tlicho Government.
Current grand chief Ed Erasmus, Russell Drybones, George Mackenzie and Charles Nitsiza have all been declared candidates for the upcoming election. Polling stations open at 9 a.m., and results will be posted some time after the polls close at 8 p.m.
- Michele Taylor
New instructors 'live, sleep & breathe' yoga
Hay River
Hay River now has four women trained as yoga instructors and willing to pass on the secrets of the ancient physical and spiritual practice to others in the community.
That is the result - and was the plan - of a three-week intensive training session that concluded on Aug. 24.
Actually, six women completed the Aug. 1 to 24 course, but one is returning to school in British Columbia and the other is a former Hay River resident who now lives in Valleyview, Alta.
Jackie Scheller, one of the graduates, said she and the others in Hay River are going to get together this week to make plans and see what they need to do to get organized to offer classes.
"There are four of us here in town that will be looking to do something," she said.
However, Scheller is not sure when classes for others in the community will start.
She had previously practised yoga in a studio in Calgary for a couple of years and on her own in Hay River.
"Because I love yoga and I love what yoga does for you," she said of why she entered the intensive course. "And I think that Hay River definitely needs some yoga."
Debbie Langille is the graduate returning to school in Victoria, B.C., but she plans on coming back to teach yoga during the summer and maybe at Christmas.
"I pursued yoga for many years and so I have quite a lot of different experiences in yoga," she said.
"But it's the first time I ever had the opportunity to actually do any concentrated learning.
"So I dedicated the last month to just living, breathing and sleeping yoga."
Langille said the course was an unbelievable for the participants and the whole town.
"Things like yoga bring the whole community together and support life," she said. "Yoga is all about community and coming together and uniting as a group.
"It's an amazing experience."
The course was sponsored by the Town of Hay River and instructed by Edmonton's Sylvie Boisclair, a former resident of Yellowknife and owner/operator of Do Something! Yoga.
"It went so much beyond my expectations," said Boisclair of the course, who adds she can feel the graduates will bring yoga to Hay River.
Jim Darby, the recreation director with the Town of Hay River, is pleased the town now has qualified instructors.
"It means we've got a number of yoga instructors now that can deliver classes to the town," he said, noting they can instruct all ages.
As for when classes could begin for community members, Darby said that might be as soon as the middle of September. Prior to the three-week training course, there was no yoga instructor in the community.
- Paul Bickford
Revitalize language
Deh Cho
For anyone who missed the announcement at the 2017 Dehcho Annual Assembly, there is planning underway for delivery of a second Dehcho Dene Zhatie Language Revitalization Program, states information online.
Lois Phillips from Deh Gah School in Fort Providence is the community contact behind this second initiative and could best answer questions about this next program. Contact her at: Dahti_Tsetso@dehcho.org or admin@dehcho.org.
- Michelle Taylor
Fox Run set for September
Hay River
The Terry Fox Run is set for Sept. 17.
Participants can either walk or run in the annual event, which is being presented by the Town of Hay River's recreation department.
Pledge sheets are available at the customer service desk at the Rec Centre.
- Paul Bickford
Recreation leadership pilot program seeks students
NWT
The NWT Recreation and Parks Association is looking for 25 people to take part in a recreation leadership program which will run from October 2017 through to May 2018.
The program will teach recreation leadership competencies which will result in a certificate once the series is completed, stated a news release.
Courses are offered through online delivery, training will also happen through peer learning and practical assignments.
There are no fees to register for the pilot program, but you must be a member of your territorial recreation and parks association, have access to a computer and internet and complete the pilot-program orientation.
For more information on the program or to register contact Natasha McCagg at: nmccagg@nwtrpa.org, call 867-669-8375 or visit the recnorth.ca website.
- Michele Taylor
Greenhouse searching for board members
Inuvik
The Inuvik Community Greenhouse is looking for new board members to guide its direction.
The greenhouse is currently without a board chair and vice-chair, said executive director Ray Solotki.
She said the board usually has between six and 10 members and currently has space for new people.
"Without a good solid board ... it's really hard to direct how they want things to be done," said Solotki. "It's good to have more voices."
- Kirsten Fenn
Record number of whooping crane fledglings in Wood Buffalo
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A record number of whooping crane fledglings were spotted at and near Wood Buffalo National Park in late July.
Parks Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) detected 63 chicks, including four sets of twins, during an aerial survey.
"This is an exciting development for the whooping crane population and we are very pleased," stated Cam Zimmer, superintendent of Wood Buffalo National Park, in news release. "Our co-operative work with the Canadian Wildlife Service, and with partners in the United States, is an important component of our efforts to recover this endangered species.
"We are proud to celebrate this new conservation milestone during Canada's 150th year."
The previous record was 49 chicks in 2006.
Results are preliminary until analysis of data obtained during the nesting and fledgling surveys is completed by CWS in the fall.
During the nesting survey in mid-May, Parks Canada and the CWS detected a record 98 nests, which was a substantial increase over the previous record of 82 nests in 2014.
Wood Buffalo National Park and nearby areas provide the last natural nesting habitat for the endangered whooping crane. The birds are hatched in and near the park each spring and spend the winter at and near the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas before returning to the park the following year.
- Paul Bickford
Akaitcho Territory assembly rescheduled
Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution
The annual general assembly of the Akaitcho Territory Government has been rescheduled to Sept. 19 to 21 in Fort Resolution.
It had originally been set for July 26 to 28.
However, it was postponed because of the passing of Antoine Michel, a former chief of the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, who died on July 24 at the age of 64.
Michel was chief in the 1990s and again from 2010 to 2014.
The new date for the 25th-annual general assembly was set during a conference call by the chiefs of the Akaitcho Territory Government.
The assembly will be hosted by Deninu Ku'e First Nation.
- Paul Bickford
Anthropologist studying Mackenzie Delta
Aklavik
A German anthropologist is in Aklavik studying how people live and deal with changes in the Mackenzie Delta.
Franz Krause, from the University of Cologne, is living in the community with his family until mid-June of 2018.
His research is part of a larger project examining river deltas in four parts of the world, including in Kenya, Burma and Brazil.
"In public policy discourse, there's a lot of talk of river deltas these days, especially in the context of climate change," Krause said.
But much of the data on deltas is gathered from a distance, he said.
"Nobody actually speaks to the people who live there and have been dealing with various, drastic changes historically and recently," he explained. "So the point is to kind of flip that perspective a bit and say, okay, deltas matter ... but not only from a far away point of view."
For his field research in Aklavik, Krause hopes to take part in activities that are important to people in the community.
That could be going out on the land, hunting, fishing, travelling by boat, or setting up camp, he said.
After his research in the NWT is complete, Krause will return to Cologne to compare his work with the researchers studying the other three deltas.
- Kirsten Fenn
NFB and imagineNATIVE seek Indigenous artist for residency
NWT
The call is out for applications to develop and produce a selected project which focuses on artistic cultural experiences.
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and imagineNATIVE, are supporting the one-year residency. The selected artist will collaborate with the NFB Digital Studio in Vancouver. The artist will have the opportunity to spend time with the NFB team on the production and development of other projects. They will also take part in a DigiLab with a creative team to work on the project idea.
This will be the fifth collaborative project between the NFB and imagineNATIVE. The finished project will premier at the 2018 festival.
"We're thrilled to continue to develop, produce and present the latest work in our partnership with the NFB, and for artists to explore Indigenous storytelling using the newest cutting-edge technologies available," said Daniel Northway-Frank, imagineNATIVE's Industry Director.
Proposals are open for works in any digital medium and genre, such as mobile apps and locative media, interactive documentary, interactive animation, virtual reality/360 experiences, interactive photo essay, data visualization and physical installation with a development budget maximum of $50,000.
Applications are open to Indigenous artists across Canada starting Aug. 22 with a submission deadline of Sept. 18. The selected artist proposal will be announced Oct. 19 at the 2017 imagineNATIVE festival. Submission details can are available at imaginative.org.
- Michele Taylor
Man found dead at scene of boat fire
Iqaluit
RCMP found human remains at the site of a boat fire in Iqaluit Aug. 31.
That evening, police and the Iqaluit Fire Department were dispatched to a boat fire on the beach near the causeway.
"Human remains were located within the boat," stated Cst. Danielle Pollock in a news release.
After fire scene investigators examined the area, they determined foul play is not suspected, said Pollock.
The Office of the Chief Coroner has ordered an autopsy.
The deceased, a male, has not yet been identified.
The RCMP is asking the public to report any information it might have related to the incident.
- Michele LeTourneau
Man charged in firehall fire
Kugaaruk
A 21-year-old Taloyoak man has been charged with break and enter and arson following a fire at the Kugaaruk firehall on the afternoon of Aug. 28.
"The fire department was able to quickly extinguish the fire and limit the damage to the unoccupied building," an RCMP news release stated.
Based on an interview with fire chief Vince Ningark, CBC reported that early estimates of damage to the firehall were in the range of $10,000 to $30,000.
- Derek Neary
Qulliq Energy workers agree to deal
Nunavut
Unionized employees with Qulliq Energy Corporation have agreed to a four-year collective agreement that will give them a two per cent wage increase in 2017, retroactive to Jan. 1, one per cent more in 2018 and 2019 and another two per cent in 2020. Other benefits include special leave credits increasing to five days per year from four, new categories of special leave, compensation for employees who have to answer the phone or email after work hours, and quicker dispute resolution.
The deal, signed in August, is effective until Dec. 31, 2020.
- Derek Neary
The Maud leaves Cambridge Bay
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay
After years of debate and preparations, the recovered Norwegian wooden ship The Maud departed Cambridge Bay by barge on Aug. 29, en route to Norway.
Vicki Aitaok, who once led a group that opposed the removal of The Maud, said not all is lost.
"I'm always looking at things from a tourism perspective. It was a very interesting piece of conversation for visitors to Cambridge Bay," she said. "I would still continue to share the story as somebody involved in tourism myself. It's still a positive story."
Aitoak spoke fondly of Norwegian explorer Capt. Roald Amundsen, who led the ship on its Northwest Passage expedition in 1918-1920. She said Amundsen was respectful of the Inuit culture and lifestyle and strove to learn from it.
"It represents progress, and the strength of the culture," she said. The ship was later sold to the Hudson's Bay Company and it sank in 1930 while trapped in the ice of Cambridge Bay. The wreck was raised from the water last summer.
The 7,000-km trek to Norway is expected to continue after a winter stop in Greenland.
- Derek Neary
$175 million for Arctic marine systems
Nunavut
The federal government announced $175 million Aug. 27 to help protect Arctic waters as part of its $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan.
In a release, Minister of Transport Marc Garneau outlined seven measures, recognizing that "for residents of Canada's Northern territories, marine transportation is an essential lifeline."
The plan is intended to create "a world-leading marine safety system that provides economic opportunities for Canadians today, while protecting our coastlines and clean water for generations to come," according to the news release.
The government will spend $94.3 million over five years to support safer and more efficient Arctic resupply operations through the Federal Investments in Safety Equipment and Basic Marine Infrastructure in Northern Communities Initiative.
"The Government of Canada will enhance partnerships with Indigenous communities and Arctic stakeholders to establish low impact shipping corridors," according to the release.
"The shipping routes established through these initiatives will provide the infrastructure, navigational support and emergency response services needed for safer marine navigation, while respecting the environment and local ecology and cultures."
Iqaluit will get a new $29.9 million Arctic National Aerial Surveillance Program Complex, with a hangar and accommodations unit to further improve spill prevention.
Transport Canada's Marine Training Contribution Fund is worth $21 million over five years to "enhance and expand marine training and opportunities to underrepresented groups, including Indigenous people, Northerners and women in Canada's Arctic," according to the release.
Transport Canada's Office of Incident Management will be established with $16.89 million over five years. The intention is to "modernize and standardize the department's incident response processes."
The office will oversee the Incident Command System.
"This will improve the department's response capability in emergency situations and improve seamless coordination with other response partners."
Finally, Transport Canada's Community Participation Funding Program will be expanded with $13.4 million over five years, which will include expanding the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary in the Arctic.
- Michele LeTourneau
Peaceful protest against racism held in city
Iqaluit
Roughly two dozen Iqalungmiut gathered together at the end of the workday Aug. 25 to peacefully protest against racism, nationalism, white supremacy, bigotry and the recent happenings in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The protest, which attracted the approving honks of passing cars and emergency vehicles at the Four Corners intersection in Iqaluit, was organized by the Public Service Alliance of Canada's (PSAC) Nunavut Racially Visible Committee.
On an August weekend, white supremacists gathered in Charlottesville where violence erupted.
Nunavut Employees Union president Bill Fennell joined the Iqaluit protest.
"We're standing against everything the white supremacists stand for," Fennell said.
- Michele LeTourneau
Indigenous youth to advise federal minister
Ottawa
Maatalii Okalik, chief of protocol for the Government of Nunavut and former president of the National Inuit Youth Council, was appointed an independent youth advisor by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett Aug. 29.
Okalik joins two other youth leaders, Metis Gabrielle Fayant, and First Nations Andre Bear, who together will consult Inuit, Metis and First Nations youth on Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 66, which calls for government funding "for community-based youth organizations to deliver programs on reconciliation, and establish a national network to share information and best practices."
"I know they will be asking tough questions, listening, and will provide concrete recommendations on how to build and fund a network of Indigenous youth and community-based youth organizations, that will be able to deliver programs on reconciliation while sharing information, wisdom, and promising practices," Bennett stated in a news release.
- Michele LeTourneau
Snagging fish may be prohibited
Kugluktuk
Hunters and trappers were set to gather in Kugluktuk last week to discuss the practice of snagging fish in the Coppermine River.
The Kugluktuk Angoniatit Association, an arm of the Hunters and Tappers Organization, arranged the meeting, set for Aug. 31, because fishing rods with large hooks used to snag fish can cause significant harm to aquatic life.
"It's come up a few times. When people are snagging, they don't always land the fish so they get free and end up with these terrible wounds on them, probably with infections. It's just nasty looking and it's a waste," said Amanda Dumond, manager of the HTO, who added that the issue was raised at the HTO's annual general meeting earlier this summer.
Depending on the turnout at last week's meeting and how the majority of people in attendance feel, penalties for snagging could be introduced or, if snagging is not banned, lower-harm alternatives would be discussed, Dumond said.
- Derek Neary
On a voyage of learning
Gjoa Haven
Students in Gjoa Haven were eager to learn more about Canada after hearing from visitors who are part of the C3 expedition.
On Aug. 24, students from Quqshuun Ilihakvik and Qiqirtaq High School listened to details about the 150-day journey from passengers aboard the C3 icebreaker, a former Coast Guard vessel, which is travelling from Toronto to Victoria via the Northwest Passage. It is due to complete its voyage on Oct. 28.
"I really liked seeing where they are going on the boat ride," said student Peter Ikkutiluk.
Following the presentation, students from Alexandra Massie's Intermediate 4 class interacted with a large floor map.
Student Faith Palongayak said, "I liked being on the map and seeing where different places are." Massie noted that "the map activity was perfect timing. I'm just teaching my students the 'province song' to help them learn where each province is on the map. Actually being able to step on the map and move around was great hands-on learning for them."
- Derek Neary
Commemorating Terry Fox
Qausuittuq/Resolute
Qarmartalik School held its Terry Fox Run Aug. 25, the first day of school.
The event raises awareness of the fight against cancer. Students from kindergarten through Grade 12, accompanied by staff and guests from the community, ran 75 laps of the Ring Road around town, which is the equivalent of 168 km.
The RCMP provided traffic control to ensure the participants were safe.
Terry Fox was a Canadian who, in the early 1980s, set out to run from coast to coast despite having lost a leg to cancer. Starting in St. John's, he almost reached Thunder Bay, Ont., but was stopped by severe symptoms of spreading cancer and he succumbed to the disease shortly thereafter.
Since then, the Terry Fox Run has raised hundreds of millions of dollars to benefit cancer victims and cancer research.
- Derek Neary
Scholarships still available
Qikiqtaaluk/Baffin Region
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is reminding students it still has scholarships available for post-secondary education.
The scholarships are for the 2017-2018 academic year.
"This is the first year QIA is offering $200,000 in new scholarships in addition to its existing $5,000.00 per year John Amagoalik Scholarship," according the news release.
QIA has 80 scholarships to be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis to students pursuing from the 13 Qikiqtani communities.
- Michele LeTourneau
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