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I am glad to see Dez Loreen is carrying on with his great reporting around the Delta town of Inuvik, although some of the things he has to report on is none too easy to read, although well done.

For instance, the continuing problems with the youth, the vandalism in this Northern community, and in Behchoko, for that matter.

From speaking with a few like-minded people on a local level I don't really know that this is all a problem with the youngsters.

To my mind at least, young people don't intentionally want to do bad things like this. With teens especially this is usually a call for attention to some other deeper-rooted situation and mainly right at home.

When we immediately call for a curfew I want to suggest that there should be one for adults going out gambling or drinking, too.

Why should the youth be the only ones to suffer with all of these rules?

These types of "problems" to do with them destroying public property simply points to the fact that children do not feel loved.

Parents are out of town at work or go out every evening to play bingo, gamble or go drinking and leave these youngsters to fend for themselves.

Which is why I am also so impressed with the one story Dez wrote about the cultural activities held on a weekly basis at Sir Alexander Mackenzie elementary school in Inuvik, to allow the youngsters a taste of their own Inuvaluitun culture.

The three people involved - elder Sarah Tingmiak, drummer Brian Rogers, dancer Lillian Elias and principal Janette Vlanich - should really be highly commended for helping give the love to the youth there! Kuyanieni.

- Antoine Mountain is a Dene artist and writer originally from Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope. He can be reached at www.amountainarts.com