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AROUND THE NORTH: Young voices from the territory

Editorial: Looking back at 2018 in Inuvik
Jake Jellema, left, marches in the Inuvik Pride Parade with a rainbow peace flag with Abe Drennan. Samantha McKay/NNSL photo

NWT

NWT youth have an opportunity to help shape future climate change projects through one of several newly established Northern committees.One youth, ages 18 to 30, from each region of the NWT is invited to sit on the territory's Climate Change Adaptation Committee.

Jake Jellema, left, marches in the Inuvik Pride Parade with a rainbow peace flag with Abe Drennan. Samantha McKay/NNSL photo

Similar committees are being created in Yukon, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut.

"These committees are being created to enhance collaboration and co-ordinate climate change adaptation actions and investments in the North," states a bulletin advertising the program.

Committee members will meet about four times a year. Responsibilities include reviewing climate change proposals and helping to ensure such projects align with Northern interests.

The program is led by federal powers.

– Erin Steele

 

Occupational Safety and Health Week

Hay River

The North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week will be observed from May 6 to May 12.

The week is presented by the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) on the NWT and Nunavut.

In Hay River and some other communities, Safety Coffee Breaks with the WSCC are available. Representatives of the commission will come to a workplace with coffee and snacks and lead a safety talk.

The Safety Coffee Breaks are available from May 9 to May 11 in Hay River. Registration ends May 1.

– Paul Bickford

 

Tuktoyaktuk youth wins activism award

Tuktoyaktuk

Allysa Felix of Tuktoyaktuk was presented the Youth Activism Award from the Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife for her work to hold Rainbow Days in the hamlet earlier this year.

"I was chosen out of the whole NWT, so it feels pretty nice," said Felix. "First Nations are really fluid with gender and sexuality, Christianity erased all of that when missionaries came and I want to decolonize our communities."

Felix organized two Rainbow Days hosted at Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk in February.

Workshops, a lunch and a movie screening of Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things were all part of the initiative, which aimed to introduce the school and community to various types of human relationships and identities.

Chelsea Thacker, executive director of the coalition, presented Felix with the award at the celebration that followed Inuvik's pride parade April 21.

– Samantha McKay

 

Muskox draw applications open

Sahtu

NWT residents have until May 25 to enter into the 2018 Sahtu Muskox Draw.

If you received a muskox tag in any of the four previous seasons, you won't be awarded a tag this year, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) website.

"All entries from outside the Sahtu region must be post marked no later than May 15, 2019," states a bulletin advertising the draw.

Muskoxen are hunted under quota on Melville Island, Banks Island and four areas on the mainland, according to the department's website.

"Muskoxen in the NWT are managed by controlling the hunting season for resident and non-resident hunters," it states.

– Erin Steele

 

Education leaders meet new minister

Hay River

Education leaders from across the NWT met with Caroline Cochrane, the newly-appointed minister of Education, Culture and Employment, on April 17 to discuss new and ongoing initiatives in the education system.

Cochrane and Health and Social Services Deputy Minister Bruce Cooper led a discussion on the Child and Youth Care Counsellors Initiative.

Forty-two counsellors and seven clinical supervisors will be hired to work in schools and communities over the next four years. Participants discussed the new career and education advisors to be hired in the coming months.

Participants also received an update on Northern distance learning.

"I enjoyed my first opportunity to meet with board chairs," stated Cochrane in an April 20 news release, noting the progress on initiatives is encouraging.

"I look forward to working closely with the chairs, particularly in the areas of wellness and Northern distance learning, to enable more of our students to be successful."

– Paul Bickford

 

Innovating the way to sustainability

Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence

A free 12-week course that teaches participants to grow plants and fish in an integrated system is starting up in Fort Providence on May 1.

Northern Loco's gardening program is focused on Aquaponics.

"Aquaponics is a farming system which the waste produced (by) fish supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically," states a bulletin advertising the program.

"It's just really awesome!"

Participants – a maximum of eight –will share in the harvest of both vegetables and fish, it states.

Northern Loco is based in Fort Providence and its primary mission is "to create sustainable futures for Northern communities," its website states.

– Erin Steele

 

Fort Smith runway lighting to get upgrades

Thebacha/Fort Smith

The airfield runway lighting at the Fort Smith Airport will be rehabilitated thanks to $2,043,888 in funding from the Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP).

The funding will allow for the replacement of beacons, wind direction socks, apron floodlights, taxiway and runway signage, edge lighting and other airfield equipment stated a recent news release.

ACAP is administered by Transport Canada and provides financial support to eligible airports for the replacement of key infrastructure and assets related to safety, such as airside surfaces and lighting, emergency response equipment and mobile heavy equipment for airside operations.

Improvements to airport infrastructure are especially important in the NWT, where remote communities depend on safe, secure, accessible and reliable air travel.

Wally Schumann, the minister of Infrastructure with the GNWT, welcomed the funding.

"Reliable and efficient airfield lighting is vital to the effective operation of air services supporting the economic and social wellbeing of Northerners," he stated.

"Northern communities experience long hours of darkness for several months of the year making airfield lighting critical to safe air travel."

Schumann noted the rehabilitation of airfield lighting in Fort Smith will include the installation of LED lighting, creating efficiencies in the airport's operation through reduced electricity consumption.

– Paul Bickford

 

Arena to close in Norman Wells

Lli Goline/Norman Wells

Warmer weather in Norman Wells means a winter favourite is closing down for another season.

The Ray Persson Memorial Arena is expected to close soon, after warmer weather caused pooling in some sections on the ice.

"We are trying our very best to keep it alive," stated a town representative on Facebook.

The week of April 16, the arena closed at 5 p.m. each evening and was used as "open ice" for the remainder of the week.

No specific close date was apparent by press time.

"If things turn around we will repost new times," the representative stated.

– Erin Steele

 

Workshop on healing from a broken heart

Thebacha/Fort Smith

Salt River First Nation will be offering a two-day personal workshop in early May to help people heal from a broken heart.

In a call for participants, the First Nation noted there are over 40 loss experiences including death, divorce, moving, pet loss, change in financial status and loss of trust.

The free workshop will be held on May 4 and May 5.

It is designed to offer people a safe place to explore their beliefs about grief and determine a course of action to move forward with hope.

The workshop is open to all residents of Fort Smith.

– Paul Bickford

 

Park talks commence

Lli Goline/Norman Wells

Community members in Norman Wells were invited to the legion on April 23 to discuss planned upgrades to MacKinnon Territorial Park.

The park in Norman Wells currently includes eight non-powered campsites, washrooms, firewood, a picnic area and a playground.

The upgrades, slated for 2018-19, include adding a cultural interpretive area and an outdoor shower.

"This is your opportunity to voice any concerns, share your thoughts and provide (the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment) with feedback on your expectations about MacKinnon Park," states a bulletin about the meeting.

Community members can also fill out a survey to share their feedback.

– Erin Steele

 

De Beers plans info session in Fort Res

Deninu Ku'e/Fort Resolution

Representatives of the De Beers Group of Companies will be providing an update to Fort Resolution on its operations in the NWT.

Information displays will be set up at Deninu School from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on May 11. The company is inviting community members to drop by to discuss progress and environmental performance at Gahcho Kue Mine and Snap Lake Mine.

– Paul Bickford

 

Public auction date set for properties in arrears

Hay River

The Town of Hay River has set June 27 as the date for a public auction of taxable property in arrears to the municipality.

Council approved the date at its special meeting on April 10. The town has not had a tax arrears sale since 2013, which was for arrears from 2011.

The aim of this year's sale is to collect $248,967 in delinquent property taxes from 2016, either by encouraging property owners to pay the arrears or actually selling the property at auction. Judy Goucher, senior administrative officer with the town noted for the first time the town is using legal counsel to undertake the process.

She said property owners will have 30 days after the public auction to clear the arrears in order to not have their properties sold. The SAO noted the property owners have been informed of the process in a number of ways, including by registered letters.

Ruth Boden, director of finance and administration with the town, noted the minimum sale price of a property is set at 50 per cent of the assessed value.

The Property Assessment & Taxation Act of 1988 provides for the recovery of tax arrears by sale at public auction.

– Paul Bickford