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Year in review
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Deh Cho Drum: 2009 - The Year in Review
JanuaryIce crossings delayed Ice conditions delayed the openings of two ice crossings on the Mackenzie River in the Deh Cho in 2009. Progress on the crossings at both Fort Providence and N'Dulee was slowed by open leads of water. The crossing at Fort Providence opened to light traffic on Jan. 5 almost three weeks behind the Dec. 17 average, said Art Barnes, the regional superintendent of transportation for the South Slave region. The N'Dulee ice crossing was also delayed because the Mackenzie River was late freezing and when it did a large lead remained open.
Gold for the new year A Fort Simpson soccer team started the new year with gold medals. The Rebels won the U16 boys division at the Polar Cup in Edmonton from Dec. 27 to 30. The 15-member team went undefeated in three round robin games and kept that dominance in the finals. In the finals the Rebels played the Rio Terrence Titans from Edmonton winning 4-2 to claim gold. Young girl mourned in Fort Providence The community of Fort Providence mourned the loss of a preteen in January. Shayna Clarke, age 11, died of unknown causes in her family's home in the hamlet on Boxing Day. Friends, family and community members gathered on Jan. 8 to celebrate Clarke's life at a memorial service organized by staff and students at Deh Gah School where Clarke was a vibrant Grade 6 student. Clarke was remembered for her smile as well as her devotion to her family and friends and her enjoyment of fiddling, soccer, swimming and chatting online. Gym for Nahanni Butte The opening of a gymnasium brought new recreation opportunities to residents of Nahanni Butte. The long awaited building opened in late December and got its first use hosting the Christmas concert and feast. Community members are really excited about the gym, said Chief Fred Tesou, of the Nahani Butte Dene Band. "It looks really good. I'm pleased with it," he said. Nahanni Butte was the last Deh Cho community to receive a gym. Support for injured baby The community of Fort Simpson rallied together to raise funds for a baby that was burned in a household accident. Leanna Cazon and Jeremiah Martineau's 10-month-old daughter, Brooklyn Cazon-Martineau, suffered second-degree burns on 21 per cent of her body. The accident happened when an electric kettle filled with boiling water tipped over. As of Jan. 20 more than $6,500 had been raised for the Baby Brooklyn Fund. New dog control initiative A new initiative by the Hamlet of Fort Providence to control the community's dog population was hailed as a success. The hamlet sponsored a spaying and neutering program for dogs from Jan. 25 to 27. A total of approximately 30 dogs were operated on and were given vaccinations under the program. The hamlet paid for the expenses of all the procedures. The hamlet council developed the program as a proactive way to address the number of dogs in the hamlet, said Susan Christie, the hamlet's senior administrative officer. Talking to the premier Deh Cho leaders took advantage of a visit by Premier Floyd Roland to raise concerns about the quality of services and programs offered in their communities. Roland and other members of the territorial government including Michael Miltenberger, the deputy premier, were in Fort Simpson on Jan. 20 and 21 for a series of meetings. The officials spent a day with Deh Cho leaders. Chief Dolphus Jumbo of Trout Lake pointed out the community's need for a regular school. Chief Darcy E. Moses of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation raised a number of issues including the community's water treatment plant and the need for a nurse. Hot hockey action The Moosehide Mammas' Chicks with Sticks hockey tournament in Fort Simpson came to an early end due to rising temperatures. The ice in the arena lasted through the round robin play on Jan. 17 as temperatures rose to 12 degrees, but deteriorated to a point where the finals on Sunday had to be cancelled. Having won the round robin, the Hay River Hazards were named the tournament champions. Hall closes doors Dehcho Hall saw its last days of service in January. Staff with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, the Dehcho Divisional Education Council and Aurora College moved out at the end of the month. Built by the federal government in the late 1950s the 50-year-old building first served as Lapointe Hall, a residence for students attending residential school. The building housed a number of organizations for the years including Nats'enelu, the Open Doors Society, the Fort Simpson Historical Society and the John Tsetso Memorial Library. February
Highway pedestrian fatality A Trout Lake resident became the first fatality of the year on the territory's highway system. Fred Jumbo, 42, was walking on Highway 1 towards Fort Simpson on Feb. 3 when he was struck by a Ford F150 pick-up truck. The truck was heading out of the village when the collision occurred at approximately 10:05 p.m. near the second turn off to the Nogha Heights subdivision. Jumbo was pronounced dead at the village's health centre. A funeral service for Jumbo was held in Trout Lake on Feb. 7. Stronger RCMP presence for Wrigley After years of actively pushing for it the community of Wrigley was on the verge of receiving a stronger RCMP presence. The RCMP leased a house in the community to use as a patrol cabin. The detachment also has two positions, one for a corporal and one for a constable, which were specifically assigned for the purpose of enhancing the policing of Wrigley, said Sgt. Ron Prangnell, the Fort Simpson RCMP detachment commander. The plan was for the two officers to stay in the community for up to three days a week before returning to Fort Simpson where they'd live. Prangnell had no definite dates for when the enhanced service would start. Merchants' Bonspiel anniversary Sixty-eight people on 17 teams competed in the 20th anniversary of the Merchants' Mixed Bonspiel in Fort Simpson from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. The bonspiel has been held for 20 years at the current location but its origins can be traced as far back as the late 1970s. Leah Keats, the president of the Fort Simpson Curling Club, credited the amount of fun that everyone has at the event for the bonspiel's long and successful history. "That's what the Merchants is all about, it's just a fun weekend. Competition ends up being an afterthought," Keats said. Chamber president resigns Kirby Groat tendered his resignation as the president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce. Groat said he'd grown frustrated with the lack of participation in the chamber from the 36 paid members. Despite receiving reminders through phone calls and emails, few members come to the chamber's regular meetings, Groat said. There was also a lack of interest in the chamber's executive committee. At the time of his resignation Groat was the only person occupying a board position. Alternative energy projects for the Deh Cho When the 2009-2010 territorial budget was unveiled on Feb. 5 the Deh Cho was included. The region and many of its communities were specifically named in eight different initiatives in the proposed budget, primarily related to energy. Initiatives included testing an in-stream hydrokenetic generator in Fort Simpson and running transmission lines from the Taltson River power source to Fort Providence and Kakisa. The projects are all part of the government's energy priorities framework that calls for the exploration of renewable energy resources and the reduction of imported diesel fuel, said Dave Nightingale, director of energy planning for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Change in negotiation strategy In a moved designed to end an impasse in negotiations with the federal and territorial governments, the Dehcho First Nations' leadership gave their negotiating team new flexibility in their mandate. The issue of how to proceed with negotiations on the Dehcho Process and the Dehcho Land Use Plan, which had been stalled since June, occupied a full morning of the winter leadership meeting held from Feb. 24 to 26. The leadership unanimously passed a resolution that confirmed the completion, approval and implementation of the land use plan is the highest negotiating priority, but allowed negotiations towards an agreement in principal to occur at the same time. Family violence addressed A three-day workshop held in Fort Simpson put the spotlight on an uncomfortable issue. Twenty-five people attended the Dehcho Regional Workshop on Family Violence that was hosted by Dehcho Health and Social Services (DHSS) from Feb. 25 to 27. One of the goals from the workshop was to get feedback from DHSS staff and community representatives on the strategic family violence plan that Health and Social Services plans to create. Hamlet handyman remembered Fort Providence laid to rest a well known member of the community in February. Alister "Sandy" Geddes died in Yellowknife on Feb. 13 due to heart failure at the age of 78. The funeral service held for Geddes on Feb. 18 almost filled the community hall in the hamlet. Geddes will be remembered for his skills as a handyman and his eagerness to be involved in any construction project. "He was just a handyman for everybody," said his wife Harriet Geddes. March
Cadet first at national biathlon competition A cadet from Fort Simpson made history in March when she became the first cadet from the Northern Region to win a medal at the National Cadet Biathlon Championships. Cadet Alicia Norris won both a silver and a bronze medal at the competition that was held in Valcartier, Que., from March 1 to 7. Norris took the bronze medal for her individual performance in the junior girls 4.5km mass start race which she finished in 24 minutes and 18 seconds. Two days later she went on to win silver in the junior female pursuit race with a time of 33 minutes and 27 seconds. Heritage project gets funding Two societies in Fort Simpson celebrated the arrival of funding for a long-awaited project. On March 11, representatives of the Fort Simpson Historical Society and the Open Sky Creative Society signed a $250,000 contribution agreement with Cultural Spaces Canada. The money was for the Heritage Centre. The two societies have been working for a number of years on a plan to renovate the former Sacred Heart rectory, located on the village's main street, into a museum, gallery and gathering space. Ruling on Prairie Creek assessment The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-NWT (CPAWS) and Dehcho First Nations celebrated a favourable ruling made on the Prairie Creek mine. On March 5, the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board ruled all the physical works and activities associated with both the winter access road and the existing mine structures can be included in the scope of development for the Prairie Creek Mine environmental assessment. The decision was a result of a request for ruling submitted to the board on behalf of the two organizations. Both CPAWS and Dehcho First Nations argued that the winter road needed to be included in the assessment. RCMP assault trial adjourned The trial of a Fort Simpson RCMP officer charged with assault was put on hold on March 25. The trial of Const. Colin Allooloo was halted due to the unavailability of a witness. The charges against Allooloo stem from a Sept. 16, 2006 incident during which a teenager claims Allooloo pepper sprayed him in a holding cell. Expected video evidence was also missing from the trial. According to testimony from Sgt. Cliff McKay, who was in charge of the detachment at the time, after the alledged incident it was discovered that the video camera system wasn't functioning and hadn't recorded the night in question. Forum gives feedback on Traditional Healing Project Dehcho Health and Social Services' (DHSS) Traditional Healing Project took a step forward in March. DHSS held a Traditional Healing Forum in Fort Simpson from March 24 to 26 to gather community input on the project that has been underway for approximately two years. Participants examined obstacles that a report commissioned by DHSS identified including the idea that western medicine is superior to traditional medicine and the legal implications of offering the service. The project's goal is to create a service delivery model that will allow DHSS to offer traditional medicine to people who want that kind of healing, said Rene Lamothe, project co-ordinator. Wolfpack takes second at Cager The Wolfpack U-19 boys' team from Thomas Simpson School took second place in their division at the NWT Power Corp Senior Basketball Cager. The team, composed of nine players from Fort Simpson and one from Tulita, played in the competition in Yellowknife from Feb. 27 to March 1. The Wolfpack lost to Sir John, a Yellowknife team, by more than a 10 point spread in the finals. Forum examines business practices A forum held in Fort Simpson from March 16 to 17 was hailed as the first step in a new chapter of economics and business development in the Deh Cho. Approximately 50 people including local leaders, economic development officers and members of the Dehcho First Nations' various economic committees participated in the Deh Cho Economic Forum. The goal of the forum was to discuss economic development in the Deh Cho and the separation of politics and business within the Dehcho First Nations, said Cynthia Cardinal James, the chairperson of the Dehcho Economic Corporation. Hopes for Ranger patrol Recruitment work was ongoing in Fort Liard where a group of residents was trying to establish a Canadian Ranger patrol. Four residents- Phillip Bettale, Al Harris, Peter Bertrand and Lance While- were interested in creating the patrol. The men were receiving assistance from 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1CRPG), based in Yellowknife. In order to establish a patrol there have to be enough volunteers willing to join. A patrol normally has approximately 35 Rangers ages 18 and older, said Major Luc Chang, the commanding officer of 1CRPG. Soccer victors Home teams thrived during the Connie Loutit Memorial Tournament that was held in Fort Simpson from March 27 to 29. Soccer teams from the village competed in six finals and took the banners in five divisions including U12 girls, U14 boys, U19 ladies, ladies open and men's open. The seventh annual tournament drew out 41 teams that competed in nine different divisions. April
Mackenzie bison healthy Preliminary testing from a six-day monitoring survey indicated that the Mackenzie bison population is still disease-free. The herd, which numbers approximately 1,600, is the largest disease-free wood bison herd in Canada. Tests were conducted on 15 bison culled from the population near Fort Providence. The field tests that were conducted on blood samples from the bison showed that the animals weren't infected with either bovine tuberculoses or brucellosis. "The herd appears to be healthy and remains free of both of those diseases," said Brett Elkin, a wildlife veterinarian with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Sudden death in Trout Lake The RCMP conducted an investigation into a death in Trout Lake. Cpl. Dennis McLeod of the Fort Liard RCMP detachment said there was no sign of foul play in the death of Harold Jumbo, 41, who was found dead in a snowbank at approximately 1 a.m. on April 4. Jumbo was found as the result of a community search. The search was launched in the evening of April 3 when it was realized Jumbo hadn't been seen for awhile and was missing. He was found partially undressed in a snowbank. Successful Wrigley hunt Freezers in Wrigley were well stocked with caribou meat following a successful community hunt. Five hunters including Darcy E. Moses, Paul Nadjiwan, George Moses, Jamie Moses and elder Dave Horesay harvested 35 caribou during a three-day hunt. The group took a helicopter to Spruce Lake, approximately 97 km east of Wrigley. There were a few herds of barren ground caribou around the lake so it wasn't hard to find the animals to harvest, said Darcy E. Moses. Frustrated with power rates When the NWT Electricity Review stopped in Fort Simpson on April 8 they faced a room full of frustrated residents. Approximately 30 people gathered in the community hall to listen to and comment on the review the territorial government was conducting. Resident's tolerance for the current power regime and power rates is running out, said Peter Shaw, a long-term resident. "That rope around your neck is getting tighter and tighter and tighter, and I'd be the first to kick that box out," Shaw said. Climate change in Fort Simpson A climate change analysis report showed that Fort Simpson is warmer, wetter and snowier than it was 40 years ago. As part of their State of the Park Report, staff at the Nahanni National Park Reserve had a climate analysis conducted on the park and the surrounding area. The report showed that temperatures in the village are warmer now than in the past and particularly so from December to April. Findings also showed that summers in the village are wetter and more snow falls during all the winter months from November to February. Vatican experience Joachim Bonnetrouge said it was a moving experience to be in Vatican City while Pope Benedict XVI expressed "deep sorrow' for the role the Catholic Church played in residential schools. Bonnetrouge of Fort Providence was one of 23 delegates, and the only one from the NWT, invited to take part in the Assembly of First Nations' trip to Vatican City to meet with the Pope. Bonnetrouge and the other members of the delegation participated in a general audience with the Pope in St. Peter's Square on April 29. Later during a private meeting the Pope "expressed his sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the church and he offered his sympathy and prayerful solidarity," according to Vatican officials. Chamber of Commerce revived The future of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce looked more stable after its annual general meeting on April 21. During the meeting Lionel Nadia was acclaimed as the chamber's president. Colin Munro took the position of vice-president. The chamber had been without any board members since former president Kirby Groat resigned on February 3. Nadia said the chamber's top priority is to develop a new website that will showcase businesses in the community and spread information about the village. Leadership questioned in Wrigley The chief and council of the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation held onto power following a vote of non-confidence. Twenty-three people voted to remove the chief and council as well as the band's senior manger during a public meeting on April 26. Gaylene Moses, who chaired the meeting, said members felt the chief and council failed to address a number of concerns including general mismanagement, inappropriate spending and lack of communication. Despite the vote the leadership remained in place. Chief Darcy E. Moses said he planed to stay in his role until the next scheduled election. Preparations for the assembly Jean Marie River began preparations to host the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly. Residents are excited about the opportunity, said Chief Isadore Simon of the Jean Marie River First Nation. With the assembly a month and a half away band staff had already held to planning sessions to develop a list of things that had to be done including the construction of an arbour. May
Travellers isolated over H1N1 concern Five people in Fort Simpson underwent a voluntary seven-day isolation after vacationing in Mexico. William Michaud and his wife Amy and another couple with a child spent their holiday on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico at the end of April. Michaud said it was only after he and his wife returned to Fort Simpson that they heard about the outbreak of H1N1. None of the travellers were officially tested for the virus but after going to the health centre to be examined they were told that they should isolate themselves as a precautionary measure. "I wasn't worried at all, said Michaud. "I thought it was funny." Breakup excitement in the Deh Cho Water levels rose but didn’t cause any major problems in the Deh Cho this year during breakup. Most residents of Nahanni Butte spent the evening of May 7 on the banks of the Liard River as the water rose and the ice jammed. By 6:30 p.m. the river water had begun flowing over the roads in the lower lying areas of the community near the river. The water reached a critical level at 8 p.m. but half an hour later it started to drop and continued to do so. In Fort Simpson breakup went without incident. The ice broke in front of the community on May 8. Some water did flow across a short span of Mackenzie Drive, the road nearest the river, before receding but that is a normal occurrence, said Mayor Duncan Canvin. Negotiations progress All parties in the Dehcho Process left a two-day meeting in May feeling optimistic. Negotiating teams for the Dehcho First Nations, federal government and territorial government gathered in Fort Simpson from May 12 to 13 for the third meeting between the parties since negotiations resumed in March, after an eight-month delay. "We're all feeling this was a very positive session," said Tim Christian, chief federal negotiator on the Dehcho Process. The parties are now working together in a way that will help them reach an agreement, Christian said. Record finish for NWT hockey team Two athletes from Fort Simpson helped Team NWT make history at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. Sydney Rowe and Anthony Roche were part of the NWT's two teams that both earned identical sixth-place finishes at the championship held in Winnipeg from May 3 to 9. Sixth place is the best finish the male and female teams have had since the NWT began competing in 2004. 'It was "awesome" to make history as part of the men's team, said Roche, who played forward. Trapper numbers increase A tighter job market resulted in more people trapping this year in the territory, according to a government official. Across the territory the number of active trappers rose 19 per cent to 742 this year from 626 last year, said Francois Russouw, who works in fur marketing with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. The highest increase in trappers was in the Sahtu where numbers rose 50 per cent to 163 from 109. The Deh Cho had a 17 per cent increase to 123 from 105. Russouw attributed the increase in trappers to the economic slowdown that gripped the world economy. "There are less jobs in the wage economy and it's a nice way to earn an income," he said. Grass fire threatens houses A grass fire in Fort Simpson left one house with scorch marks on an outside wall and a blackened lawn on May 22. A resident overfilled their fire pit with wood and the resulting sparks ignited the grass between two houses at the end of 92 Avenue. The spread of the fires was assisted by "extremely dry conditions," said Pat Rowe, the fire chief with the Fort Simpson Volunteer Fire Department. It took firefighters approximately 45 minutes to extinguish the fires around the houses and put out the flames that had spread into the nearby bush. Election race for grand chief For the first time in six years there was an election race for the position of grand chief of the Dehcho First Nations. Four candidates, Elizabeth Hardisty, Ria Letcher and Jerry Antoine of Fort Simpson and Samuel Gargan of Fort Providence, campaigned in the election. The last race for grand chief was in June 2003 when Herb Norwegian was elected for the position after beating out four other candidates. During the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly in July, Gargan was named grand chief. Bison control strategies debated The question of how to deal with bison that wander into Fort Liard created some heated debate during a meeting between residents and staff with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) on May 14. ENR held a consultation meeting in the hamlet on the draft Wood Bison Management Strategy for the NWT. Al Harris, a long-term resident, said he and everyone else at the meeting wanted to discuss how to keep bison out of the community. Staff with ENR said they are developing a few strategies to minimize bison-human conflict. Shocking church break-in Members of the St. Raphael Roman Catholic Church parish in Fort Liard were shocked by a break-in. Overnight between May 30 and 31, minor damage was caused to the church and the priest's trailer. Six youth ranging between the ages of 14 to 17 were charged with break and enter to commit mischief. "That's the low of all lows for (anyone) to be doing that," said Joanne Deneron, a member of the congregation. Deneron said that she and many other people in the hamlet were shocked when they found out what happened. June
Choice of councillors in Fort Providence A record number of 24 people ran in the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation's election for the position of councillor in June. "There's never been this much," said Rosemary Minoza, the returning officer. During the last election in June 2007 there were only close to a dozen candidates, Minoza said. Voters also had a choice to make deciding between incumbent chief Berna Landry and Joachim Bonnetrouge. At the polls on June 16 Bonnetrouge emerged as the new chief with 210 votes. Nahanni park expansion tabled The Nahanni National Park Reserve took an important step towards expansion June 9. Jim Prentice, Canada's environment minister and minister responsible for Parks Canada, tabled legislation to expand the park's boundaries to cover approximately 30,000 square kilometres. Five residents of Nahanni Butte, Darrell Betsaka, Peter Marcellais, George Tsetso, Anna Tsetso and Elder Leon Konisenta, travelled to Ottawa to be part of the announcement. "This is really good news for the Nahanni," said Chief Fred Tesou of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band. The bill to expand the park received royal assent on June 18 and was supported by all of the parties in the House of Commons before moving to the Senate. Liidlii Kue First Nation elects new chief The Liidlii Kue First Nation elected Jim Antoine as its new chief on June 12. Antoine received 168 votes, defeating his closest opponent incumbent Keyna Norwegian by nearly 100 votes. The other candidates for the position of chief included Arnold Hope, Judy Sabourin and Lisa Thurber-Tsetso. An additional 22 candidates ran for the eight seats on the band council. New program graduates Five women from the Deh Cho celebrated their completion of the personal support worker certificate at a graduation ceremony in Fort Simpson on June 12. Evelyn Constant and Marilyn Bonnetrouge of Fort Providence, Barb McLeod of Fort Liard, and Betty Anne Betsedea and Jacqueline Elleze of Fort Simpson are the first graduates from the new Personal Support Worker Program offered by Aurora College. The five women who are already working as home support workers completed the two-year program in 16 months. Heavy equipment graduates Trout Lake residents celebrated the graduation of 10 women from the Introduction to Heavy Equipment Operation Course on June 19. The course was offered in the community from June 8 to 19. This was the first time in the territory the course has been offered to a women-only group. Only one of the 10 participants had any previous experience with heavy equipment. "We know we can do it," said graduate Mavis Wasp-Colin, who said she felt empowered by the course. Close call during boat accident A father and son had a close call when a boat trip went horribly wrong on the Mackenzie River. Kelly Penneycook and his four-and-a-half-year-old son Chayton McLeod were travelling from Fort Simpson to Jean Marie River on the evening of June 25. Somewhere below Rabbitskin River Pennycook was thrown from the boat. The boat with McLeod still in it continued along the river until it hit the shore and flipped upside down trapping the young boy underneath. After reaching the shore Pennycook was able to get back to the boat and rescue his son. The pair were found by Herb Norwegian and Petr Cizek who were travelling on the river. Negotiations with Imperial Oil stalled Delegates at the Dehcho First Nations' annual assembly were informed on June 24 that access and benefits negotiations with Imperial Oil for the Mackenzie Gas Project have hit an impasse. Shane Parrish, the assistant to the lead negotiator on the Dehcho First Nations' team, said differences arose over the harvesters and monitoring agreement. DFN wants compensation for both commercial and non-commercial harvesters as well as a monitoring project incorporating traditional knowledge as a key component. Imperial Oil said no to both requests, said Parrish. Guilty plea from pilot puncher A Fort Simpson man pleaded guilty on June 25 to a charge of interfering with a pilot during a flight from Fort Simpson to Yellowknife in November 2008. Stephen Waugh, 28, originally pleaded not guilty to the charge under the Aeronautics Acts for endangering the safety and security of an aircraft in flight, but changed his plea. The charge stems from a Nov. 6 incident aboard a Summit Air flight when Waugh hit the co-pilot on the arm and grabbed at his uniform. Traditional land overlap In June three bands began a process to resolve the overlap of their traditional lands. On June 17 Acho Dene Koe First Nation, the Nahanni Butte Dene Band and the Sambaa K'e Dene Band met for preliminary discussions. The issue of the overlap was raised after Acho Dene Koe signed a framework agreement with the federal and territorial governments allowing it to negotiate its own lands claim. Chief Dolphus Jumbo of Trout Lake said it would be every important that the discussions are done properly. "The land is very sacred and sensitive to us," Jumbo said. July
Quiet fire season in the Deh Cho If numbers continued along their current trend officials were predicting a quiet fire season in the Deh Cho in July. As of July 6 there had only been two fires in the region. Daniel Allaire, a forest officer in Fort Simpson with 32 fire seasons under his belt, said it was the quietest season he could recall. "This has been pitiful. I think we'll have a record year in low numbers," he said. At this point in 2008 there had been six fires in the region, a number that Allaire said was also well below average. Musician and songwriter launches CD With the release of his first CD No Straight Line Lindsay Waugh became a recorded artist. Waugh, a resident of Fort Simpson who's been writing songs since the mid-1980s, said it was surreal to have the project finished. "It's taken a lifetime so (it's) pretty exciting," he said. The songs on the CD are a mix of old favourites that Waugh has played at various functions in the village over the years as well as some new tracks that were written specifically for the project. Teenagers build canoe Seven teenagers in Fort Simpson built a fully functional birchbark canoe in the span of a few weeks in July. Bobby Cazon, Amber Allen, Micahel Kraus, Clinton Kraus, Nicolas dePelham, Jessie Tsetso and Paul Allooloo all participated in the traditional skills workshop that was offered by the Take a Kid Trapping Program in partnership with the Liidlii Kue First Nation. Under the guidance of Aaron York, a traditional arts teacher, the teenagers worked through the stages to create a 16-foot traditional Slavey style canoe. Cougar sightings increase Wildlife officials asked Fort Simpson residents to take extra precautions after cougar sightings rose in frequency in the village. The first sighting was reported on July 7 by two residents who were driving out of the village. A second sighting occurred on July 10 followed by another one two days later. This was the second year that a cougar has been sighted near the village. In 2008 a cougar was seen a number of times near Wild Rose. New housing units for Fort Liard A construction boom that expanded housing options in the hamlet was underway in Fort Liard in July. Beaver Enterprises L.P. was contracted by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to build 11 units during the season. The units included three duplexes, one with two bedrooms and two with three bedrooms, as well as five detached houses. "Everybody is looking forward to the new houses," said Wayne Newbury, the manager of construction for Beaver. Park expansion celebrated Almost a month after its official expansion the changes to the Nahanni National Park Reserve were celebrated in the Deh Cho. Dehcho First Nations and Parks Canada co-hosted a community celebration in Fort Simpson on July 16 to recognize the six-fold increase in the park's size. Residents of Fort Simpson and other Deh Cho communities as well as officials from all levels of government, including many chiefs and Metis presidents from the region, attended the celebration. The federal government was represented by Chuck Strahl, the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and Jim Prentice, the minister of Canada's Environment and Parks Canada. "We're celebrating something that is truly momentous," Prentice told the crowd. Tournament breaks attendance record The 10th anniversary of the Seven Spruce Golf Course's Best Ball Tournament set attendance records. Eighty-five golfers participated in the 36-hole, four-person, best-ball-style tournament from July 25 to 26. The attendance shattered the previous record of 68 golfers set last year. The tournament also marked the first time the seven new artificial greens at the course were officially open for play. "Perfect, they couldn't have been better," is how Byron Blyth described the new greens. Blyth, Jake Waugh, Bruce Waugh and Darrell Littlechild formed the tournament's winning team. Bridge delayed by a year The Department of Transportation announced that the Deh Cho Bridge will be open a year later than planned. Originally scheduled for completion in 2010, the bridge construction will now stretch into an additional season in 2011, said Kevin McLeod, the director of highways and marine services for the department, during a technical briefing in Yellowknife on July 28. The delay was caused in part by the findings of a review of the bridge design. An independent review of the original design made a number of recommendations concerning the bridge's superstructure. Because of the changes, ATCON Construction, the primary contractor on the project, was advised not to proceed with the fabrication of the superstructure and the deck until the design was finalized, said Andrew Gamble, the corporation's project manager. August
Fatal helicopter crash Two men died in a helicopter crash in a mountain range outside of Nahanni Butte on Aug. 4. The helicopter was owned by Wild Water Heli-Fishing Ltd., based in B.C., and contracted to Nahanni Butte Outfitters, a company that offers big game hunts in the Mackenzie Mountains. The incident occurred when the pilot lost control of the helicopter while trying to touch down on a ridge in the Franklin Mountains. The helicopter tumbled approximately 300 meters down the east side of the ridge. The two passengers died at the scene. The pilot, who was ejected from the Robinson R44 helicopter during the crash, survived with injuries. 20th year for youth games The Mackenzie Youth Summer Games celebrated its 20th year in Fort Simpson. Sixty-four students attended the summer games in the village that was hosted by the Mackenzie Recreation Association. Ranging between the ages of 10 and 14, the participants came from Trout Lake, Whati, Dettah, Ndilo, Fort Simpson, Fort Liard, Jean Marie River and Fort Providence. Crowd at the Petitot At least 420 people gathered between Aug. 5 to 9 at the Petitot River to participate in an annual summer gathering. The 12th Petitot Gathering was held at a site on the river approximately half an hour south of Fort Liard, just across the B.C. border. The attendance was one of the highest yet for the gathering, said Annette Gairdner-Loe, the chair of the steering committee for the gathering. People travelled from across the NWT, B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan to attend the weekend event. Chipsealed streets for hamlet The Hamlet of Fort Providence began a two-year project to chipseal all of the streets in the hamlet excluding those in the industrial area. The project, which is worth approximately $1.2 million, is expected to cut down on dust and muddy conditions in the hamlet, sad Susan Christie, the hamlet's senior administrative officer. Preparatory work including drainage improvements and embankment construction on the roads took place in 2009. Vandals damage swimming pool The Fort Simpson pool was broken into four times by early August. The fourth break-in, which occurred on Aug. 12, closed the pool for three days. The perpetrators entered the pool by unscrewing a bracket holding the plywood door onto the back of the building and slipping inside. Once inside the perpetrators threw the children's pool toys around and threw staff member's books and personal mail into the pool. An iPod Shuffle was also stolen. During the incident a hole was torn in the pool liner resulting in the closure. RCMP detachment at full strength The arrival of two additional constables brought the Fort Simpson RCMP detachment up to full strength. Const. Jesse Gilbert started work in the village on July 7 while Const. Glen Cameron had his first day on the job on Aug. 3. With their arrival the detachment had eight officers. Sgt. Ron Prangnell, the detachment commander, said this was the first time the detachment had had a full complement since he arrived earlier in the year. Having eight officers means that two can be on duty every shift so officer safety issues are met, he said. Deh Cho swimmers win medals The strength and skills of three Deh Cho swim teams placed them on the medal podium at the Mackenzie Regional Swim Meet in Hay River. The Trout Lake swim team won first place in the waterfront division at the Aug. 12 to 14 meet. They were followed by the Jean Marie River team in second place. In a field of four competitors, the Fort Providence club took second place in the pool division. Three-year plan Liidlii Kue First Nation started a process in August of engaging its leadership, members and employees to help identify a plan of action for the next three years. The band in Fort Simpson held a two-day strategic planning session from Aug. 19 to 20. The purpose of the session was to assess where the First Nation is at, and identify areas where work can be done during this term and decide the band's position on key issues, said Chief Jim Antoine. "We need to have a plan of action," Antoine said. Wrigley youth win handgames Young Wrigley handgames players captured $10,000 in prize money and proved they can hold their own against adults during the Pehdzeh Ki Annual Gathering. Six young players including Trent Cli, Napem Moses, Loyal Moses, Joey Moses, Ryett Cli-Moses and Brandon Moses won against a series of adult teams to take the first place purse at the gathering. The Wrigley youth beat six adult and elder handgames players from Tulita under the direction of Richard MacCauley in the finals. Territory-wide H1N1 immunization In preparation for the flu season, the office of the Chief Medical Health Officer announced that it was planning to vaccinate every resident of the NWT against H1N1. During a media briefing on Aug. 31 Dr. Kami Kandola, the acting chief medical health officer, said her office was encouraging all residents to get the vaccination against H1N1. The plan for the mass immunization included using mobile action teams to travel to each community to administer the vaccination. September
Fur styles on display The distinctive fashion styles of Dene Fur Clouds were on display in a Montreal museum during September and into October. A number of items made at the Fort Providence business were displayed and for sale at the McCord Museum. The pieces included a shawl poncho with a matching helmet hat and mitts, a fashion vest and hats with matching mitts. River levels reach high Heavy rains in the Deh Cho region contributed to the highest fall flow record for the Liard River and the Blackstone River since 2002. Water levels in the Liard River came up over two metres over four days which is unusual for this time of the year, said Roger Pilling, a hydrometric supervisor with Water Survey of Canada. At the Blackstone a new record of 405 cubic metres was set, nearly double the 2002 record of 220 cubic metres. RCMP officer found guilty Const. Colin Allooloo was found guilty of a three-year-old assault on a youth being held in police custody. Supreme Court Justice Leigh Gower convicted Allooloo on Sept. 9 of assault with a weapon in relation to the Sept. 16, 2006, pepper spraying of a youth, calling it a "serious breach of duty" for a RCMP officer entrusted to look after the well-being of a prisoner in custody. It was the testimony of Allooloo's co-worker Const. Sigmund Janke that convinced Gower of Allooloo's guilt. ATV crackdown Fort Simpson RCMP planned to crack down on underage ATV drivers after numerous complaints of reckless driving. The issue was raised at the Sept. 8 village council meeting. Sgt. Ron Prangnell, the detachment commander, said that stepping up enforcement of the municipal bylaws wouldn't be a problem but that community members would have to back the enforcement in order for it to be successful. Prangnell along with Mayor Duncan Canvin and Coun. Bob Hanna agreed that keeping children off of ATVs is largely the responsibility of parents. Two run for mayor The municipal election race began in Fort Simpson in September. Incumbent Duncan Canvin faced competition from Sean Whelly. The nomination period for village councillors had to be extended until Sept. 21 when not enough people put their names forward. Whelly went on to win the election on Oct. 19. Whelly received 269 votes compared to 87 for Canvin. Flu epidemic in Wrigley Approximately two-thirds of Wrigley's population had varying degrees of flu symptoms during three weeks in September, according to D'Arcy J. Moses, the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation's band manager. Most patients began to show improvements but a few cases progressed to pneumonia. Three people were medivaced to Fort Simpson. Moses used the outbreak to draw attention of Wrigley's desire to have a full time nurse stationed in the community. New radar for Fort Simpson The Fort Simpson Village Council agreed to buy a new radar device for the local RCMP detachment. Because the speeding tickets are made payable to the village it’s a common practice to buy the RCMP equipment to enforce municipal bylaws, said Mayor Duncan Canvin. The detachment requested a radar device worth $2,221 stating that their current one is archaic. Canvin said the purchase would be a good investment. October
Decreased number for park Fewer people took in the natural beauty of the Nahanni National Park Reserve this year, despite the park's growth in size. Chuck Blyth, the park's superintendent, estimated the drop to be about 20 per cent compared to previous years, though data was still being collected. The lower numbers could be a result of the downturn in the economy, Blyth said. Highlights of the park's year included its expansion. There were also 18 forest fires in the park including one that almost reached an outfitters' cabin. New bridge near Kakisa The new Kakisa River Bridge was officially opened on Oct. 5. The $18 million project included the construction of a wider structure and new approaches as well as the removal of the existing bridge. The original bridge was built around 1957 and had reached the end of its 50 year lifespan. The new bridge has a lifespan of 75 years. Man dies in rollover A passenger in an SUV died after the driver swerved to avoid a bison and rolled the vehicle ending up upside down outside of Fort Providence. The accident occurred as the vehicle was heading southbound around a corner near Chan Lake, outside of the hamlet on Oct. 2. The driver of the vehicle was not from the NWT. The other two male occupants of the SUV escaped without major injuries and did not have to go to the hospital, according to the RCMP. Projects keep Trout Lake busy Three projects simultaneously underway in Trout Lake meant jobs for virtually everyone in the community. "Everyone who wants to work can work," said Rick Phaneuf, the general manager for the Sambaa K'e Development Corporation. The projects that were underway in October included the relocation of the airport, upgrades to the winter road and improvements to Northland Utilities' tank farm. Out of a total population of 97 people, 25 adults were working for the Development Corporation, which had the contract for the three projects. Additional workers were imported from surrounding communities. Teenager's grave desecrated The family of a teenager who died in 1996 was dismayed by damage done to his grave in Fort Simpson. Marc Andre Lapierre's grave in the Fort Simpson cemetery was topped with a model red fire engine that was protected under a glass case. Vandals between the morning of Oct. 20 and 22 damaged both the fire engine and the case. The RCMP later identified two youths under the age of 12 as the perpetrators. Vehicle causes fuel spill A vehicle collision was responsible for a fuel spill that spread approximately 700 litres of home heating fuel across the driveway and backyard of a Fort Simpson residence on Oct. 26. A van backed into the fuel tank of a residence on 103 Avenue. As a result of the collision, the fuel tank tipped over sideways, severing the supply line to the house and releasing the fuel. After the collision the vehicle left the scene of the accident. The Fort Simpson Housing Authority, which manages the property, took charge of the clean-up. Vaccinations roll out The vaccination program against H1N1 began in the Deh Cho at the end of October. On Oct. 21 federal Health Minister Leona Aqlukkaq announced that Health Canada had approved the use of the vaccine. In the Deh Cho, Fort Liard was the first community to receive the vaccinations. The shot was offered to residents beginning on Oct. 26. Dehcho Health and Social Services already had a tentative schedule for vaccination clinics in place and was just waiting for the vaccine to receive approval, said Kathy Testso, the organization's chief executive officer. Celebration of elder's birthday Jean Marie River First Nation held a special party on Oct. 29 to celebrate Bella Norwegian's 94th birthday. Norwegian is the band's oldest living member. Thirty-eight people gathered in the community's gym to wish Norwegian well and share in a turkey dinner complete with all of the fixings. Norwegian was born in Fort Simpson in 1915 and moved to Jean Marie River after marrying Louie Norwegian. Mixed results for fall hunt The fall hunt brought mixed success to harvesters in communities across the Deh Cho. Harvesters in communities including Jean Marie River and Fort Liard counted the season as a success while those in Trout Lake and Kakisa got fewer moose than normal. Across the region many harvesters had similar reports of later than normal rutting behaviour possibly liked to above average fall temperatures and higher rainfalls and water levels. In Trout Lake Chief Dolphus Jumbo described the fall hunt as "very poor." In total community members harvested only five or six moose and a few caribou. November
Snowboard hill developed in Wrigley After a summer full of work the first dedicated snowboard hill in the Deh Cho was ready for use in November. The Pehdzeh Ki Snowboard Resort was the result of two-and-a half months of manual labour by the recreation co-ordinator and youths of Wrigley. The idea started when Shawn Alli, the co-ordinator got a snowboard, and suggested to the youths that the community could use a hill. Working together they cleared approximately 60 metres of trees and underbrush by hand off of a hill that drops from the community to the banks of the Mackenzie River. Carrying the Olympic flame Two teenagers from the Deh Cho became part of the 2010 Olympic experience when the torch relay made its stop in Yellowknife. Dori Ann Lefoin of Fort Providence and Gordon Thompson of Fort Simpson were both chosen by the territorial government to be among the people who carried the torch through the capital city. "It was very exciting and awesome," said Thompson. Both Thompson and Lefoin carried the torch for approximately 300 metres. Tourism operator honoured The Tourism Industry Association of Canada presented Ted Grant, owner of Simpson Air and Nahanni Mountain Lodge, with the Canadian Travel Press Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony in Saint John, N.B. on Nov. 3. Grant, a Fort Simpson businessman, is the first resident of the territory to receive the award. The award is given in recognition of a lifetime of work in the tourism industry, particularly for people who have been pioneers and innovators in pushing the industry forward. Grant was given the award in part to recognize the work he's done to help open the North as a tourism destination. Fort Liard goes to the polls Fort Liard's hamlet election was a rematch from 2007. Two years ago Wayne Newbury and Julie Capot-Blan ran against each other for the position of mayor. Both candidates came back again with Newbury hoping to win a second consecutive term and Capot-Blanc ready to move up from her current position as a councillor. The candidates both started campaigning in November. Bylaw officer's position upgraded Partially in response to the mauling of a family pet the Village of Fort Simpson made its bylaw officer a full time position. It's believed that Walter Blondin's dog Patches was attacked on Nov. 13 by the packs of dogs that roam Wild Rose Acres. Patches was left badly injured after being attacked while chained by his doghouse outside Blondin's home. During a session on Nov. 15 the village council passed a resolution to increase the bylaw officer's hours moving him from a part-time to a full-time position. Trout Lake Rangers refresh skills A small but dedicated group of Canadian Rangers refreshed their skills in Trout Lake in November. Led by instructor Sgt. Mark Bell, four members of the Trout Lake patrol participated in an annual. training exercise from Nov. 9 to 20. The patrol has between six and eight active members but some were unable to attend because of work and family obligations, said Ranger Sgt. Phoebe Punch, who’s in command of the patrol. In addition to Punch, participants included Master Cpl. Clinton Betthale, Ranger Ernest Lomen and Ranger Joyce Jumbo. Arctic Winter Games success Two Deh Cho athletes secured places on Team NWT for the 2010 Arctic Winter Games. Snowshoe biathlete Blair Kotchea of Fort Liard and cross-country skier Michael Gast of Fort Simpson both won spots in their respective divisions during the territorial trials in Hay River from Nov. 20 to 22. A total of 12 athletes from the Deh Cho competed in the weekend trials. The athletes gave strong performances despite having little to no preparation. Former leaders run in Wrigley Members of the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation had four former leaders to choose from as they prepared in November to go to the polls. Incumbent Albert Moses along with David Moses, Lloyd Moses and Tim Lennie had each already served as chief of the First Nation at least once in the past. The election also pitted family members against each other. David and Lloyd are brothers and Albert is their step-brother. Each candidate identified stopping the internal fighting and increased co-operation as the most important things that the new chief needs to focus on. On Dec. 10 Tim Lennie was elected chief. December
Dehcho First Nations receives award Dehcho First Nations was honoured with a national award for its work to protect part of Canada's boreal forest. During an awards ceremony in Ottawa on Dec. 1, Chief Lloyd Chicot of the Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation and Herb Norwegian, a former grand chief, received a Boreal Award for outstanding leadership by a community on behalf of the Dehcho First Nations. It was the third annual awards ceremony conducted by the Canadian Boreal Initiative. The Boreal Awards recognize leadership, innovation, co-operation and excellence by those who have made outstanding contributions to protect boreal forests. Diavik picks up in Fort Simpson Diavik Diamond Mines Ltd. announced that it has added Fort Simpson as one of the nine designated communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut where it will pick up employees. Previously Diavik had individual agreements with employees living in the village to cover the costs of the commercial flights they took to and from the mine. Now that the village has been made an official pick-up location all future employees will have their flights guaranteed, said Doug Ashbury, a spokesperson for the company.
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