Cabinet minister and Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya made his first court appearance in Tulita on Thursday since being charged with sexual assault.

His appearance was confirmed by Crown attorney Janice Walsh.

"The Crown elected to proceed by indictment," said Walsh.

Yakeleya's next court date is set for Sept. 25 when he is scheduled to enter a plea to the charge.

- Cara Loverock

Forest fire rundown

Although the official forest fire season runs until the end of September, cold wet weather means the worst of the summer fires are now behind us.

According to Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), there have been a total of 240 fires this year. A total of 305, 344 hectares of forest were destroyed this season by fire.

The region hardest hit by fires was the North Slave. That area lost over 169,000 hectares of forest. The South Slave lost over 118,000 hectares. The Mackenzie Delta, Sahtu, and Deh Cho regions by comparison all lost fewer than 8,000 hectares to fire.

- Brodie Thomas

Teachers targeted in break-ins

Teachers' homes in Tulita were targeted in a string of break-ins during the month of August. Four homes were broken into and two others showed signs of attempted break-ins.

"Some people have been charged but the investigation is continuing. Most of the people affected were teachers and there was significant damage in some of the residences," said Const. Jesse Gilbert with the Tulita RCMP detachment.

He said food and liquor was taken from the residences. Some valuables that were stolen have been recovered.

Both youth and adults have been charged but names are being withheld pending a court date, at which time the names of the adults will be released.

- Brodie Thomas

Two directors down

The Town of Hay River will be losing two directors this fall.

The announcement was made during the town's council meeting last Monday. The town's director of recreation, Ross deBoer, is scheduled to leave Sept. 12 and Linda Folks, director of finance, will be leaving her position as of Nov. 28.

The town has not announced a replacement for either job.

- Cara Loverock

Water conference in Good Hope

Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope

People from around the NWT and as far away as Fort Chipewyan, Alta., will descend on Fort Good Hope this week to discuss water concerns in the North.

The water conference, which comes on the heels of a recent trip by K'asho Got'ine Chief Frank T'seleie and other leaders to a similar conference in Fort Chipewyan, is scheduled for Sept. 2 to 5.

"It's about making people aware that we have to start getting active to protect our waters. What people are dealing with in Fort Chipewyan, we're going to be dealing with in the future if things keep going the way they are now," said organizer Edna Tobac.

"Development is moving so fast and it's affecting our waters. We have to protect our waters for our children and our grandchildren."

Northern leaders like Stephen Kakfwi, Francois Paulette and Bill Erasmus are expected to participate in the conference, as well as territorial and federal government representatives, said Tobac.

- Jennifer Obleman

New fire truck on its way

Tsiigehtchic/ Arctic Red River

The volunteer fire department in Tsiigehtchic will be getting a new fire truck in the coming weeks. The truck was originally scheduled to be in Tsiigehtchic on Thursday, Aug. 28, but had some mechanical issues and will now arrive a few days later.

Greg Zimmerman is the assistant fire marshal for the Inuvik region.

"They already have an older truck. This new one is basically called a pumper tanker. They have a larger water tank that allows you to hold more water since there are no fire hydrants in a town of Tsiigehtchic's size," he said.

- Brodie Thomas

Memorial handgames tournament

Tulita/Fort Norman

Drum dances, cookouts, live entertainment, a talent show and bingo games were scheduled to take place in Tulita over the long weekend as part of the community's annual handgames tournament.

"This is the seventh annual," said Suzie Silastiak, who is helping to co-ordinate the event.

"Last year they changed the name to the Victor Menacho Memorial Handgames Tournament."

As of Tuesday, there were already 16 teams registered for the event. Organizers were hoping a total of 28 teams of eight would take part.

Opening ceremonies for the tournament were slated for Friday, with the festivities expected to wrap up on Monday.

- Jennifer Obleman

Gardening

Enterprise

The community garden in Enterprise is full of vegetables that are ripe and ready for residents to pick. "We have a wonderful community garden here," said Enterprise hamlet SAO Scotty Edgerton.

Potatoes, beets, beans and cabbage are among some of the fresh vegetables available. In its second year of operation, the garden belongs to the hamlet and is open all day. The veggies are free for anyone interested to stop in and take some home for dinner.

- Cara Loverock

Under construction

Whati/Lac La Martre

As of last week, there were eight people working for the Lac La Marte Development Corp. But there are so many projects underway, by the end of this week, general manager George Nitsiza expects that number will jump to 20.

"We're just working on the school, painting outside the school," said Nitsiza.

"The school hasn't been painted for about three or four years now."

The development corporation is also working on six new houses, he said, adding construction is expected to wrap up in December or January.

- Jennifer Obleman

Back to school

Behchoko/Rae-Edzo

Students hit the books once again at Chief Jimmy Bruneau school in Behchoko last week.

"Classes started yesterday morning," school secretary Sasha Sage said Tuesday. "We're just ready to rock and roll."

There are 427 students enrolled this year, which Sage said is up a bit from last year.

The school also welcomed four new staff this year, she said.

- Jennifer Obleman

Canoes races held

in McPherson

Tetlit'Zheh/ Fort McPherson

The community of Fort McPherson held canoe races on the evening of Aug. 20.

The races were a big success for the most part, although time did run short. The event ran from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

"We ended up canceling a few of the races. There were lots of people there to begin with but it was getting late," said Joyce Storr with the community's recreation department.

They held different classes such as men's doubles and women's doubles. The races were held at the boat launch which is known locally as "down below Happy's."

"We call it down below Happy's because Happy lives up on top of the hill," said Storr.

- Brodie Thomas

On the land

Gameti/Rae Lakes

Educators in Gameti are gearing up for their annual barren lands trip, which is expected to take place some time in September.

"We do our orientation out on the land so new teachers and returning staff really get the history, language and culture, what our people have been doing for thousands of years, to really know who the Tlicho people are," said Lucy Lafferty, director of education for the Tlicho region.

Although she has been part of the trip in the past, last year Lafferty was unable to attend the annual outing with community services and school staff. She's looking forward to this year's trip, however.

"I'm hyped to go," she said. "I just love going out there."

- Jennifer Obleman

New staff at historical society

Lli Goline/Norman Wells

Sarah Hockridge recently began working at the museum in Norman Wells.

Yasuyo Fursato, who previously worked there for four years, had a baby boy this month.

"She's really going to be missed here," said Peggy Pouw, curator/manager of the Norman Wells Historical Society.

The museum was busy last week with all the extra people in town for meetings of the Sahtu Dene Council and the Sahtu Secretariat Inc., Pouw said. The historical society has also kept busy with work on its 1921 oil cable rig and the restoration of the old RCMP shed, she added.

- Jennifer Obleman

Creating Futures

Hay River

The South Slave Divisional Education Council (SSDEC) brought together close to 200 educators from eight South Slave schools. The event took place on Aug. 27 to 28 in Hay River. The Leadership for Literacy initiative was the focus of the workshop. Various school staff learned about how to improve student learning.

Educators also heard from speakers, including former Minister of Education Dr. Leroy Sloan and Faye Brownlie, a literacy expert and author.

Awards were handed out for the 2008 SSDEC Excellence in Education. Recipients included the Fort Smith Interagency Group, which was recognized for the creation of the Phoenix School Program, and SSDEC Supervisor of Schools Lawrie Hobart, who passed away suddenly in December. His award was accepted by his wife Janie who was given a standing ovation upon accepting the award.

- Cara Loverock

Grad Ceremony

Tuktoyaktuk

The 2008 graduating class of Tuktoyaktuk held its graduation ceremony last Friday at Mangilaluk school. Teacher Audrey Walker said there would be at least seven students graduating, and possibly an eighth. That student was just waiting on some exam results.

The ceremony was followed by a feast for students, their families and speakers at the ceremony.

"They're doing a buffet supper so we have turkey, roast beef, caribou, fish, salads and bannock," said Walker.

- Brodie Thomas

Berry picking

Aklavik

Folks in Aklavik have been heading out to the bogs to start picking cranberries. Community Wellness worker Chris Main said things had been quiet during the first few weeks of August, but there is now more and more activity in the community as people return from summer vacations.

"Some people have been returning from shingle point. I think most people are spending their days getting ready to go back to work. A lot of people have been out berry picking, mostly cranberries," said Main.

He said you can still find some blueberries if you go looking for them, but they are mostly finished.

- Brodie Thomas

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