Crater research in the NWT
Though dates were not yet finalized, a researcher from the University of New Brunswick announced she would be flying to a remote NWT lake, near the Nunavut border, to investigate the crater left behind by an asteroid 389 million years ago.
Graduate student Maree McGregor would fly by floatplane to Nicholson Lake from Flin Flon, Man., stopping at a fishing lodge on Mosquito Lake before arriving at Nicholson Lake, which would be her home for three weeks.
McGregor would be joined by at least one other person while collecting data around the lake by foot, canoe and Zodiac to get an idea of the extent of the crater and ascertain what its remnants say about the effect such impacts have on the land.
NWT reports one medically-assisted death
NWT Chief Coroner Cathy Menard confirmed to News/North that an NWT resident was granted
their constitutional right to die with dignity through accessing medical assistance in death (MAID). Along with Nunavut and Yukon, NWT is one of only three jurisdictions in the country that have not reported any medically-assisted death numbers or statistics to the federal government since legalization in June of 2016. Citing privacy concerns, the territorial government's Department of Health and Social Services – the body responsible for introducing jurisdictional guidelines for assisted death in adherence with the federal legislative framework – declined to comment on "specific numbers" for requests and deaths in NWT when asked to provide further details about the confirmed case.
Elections held across NWT
Ten communities held elections for either mayors and council or just council and Tuktoyaktuk also voted to free up its liquor regulations. Besides Tuk, Aklavik, Enterprise, Fort Liard, Fort McPherson, Fort Resolution, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tulita and Ulukhaktok all went to the polls Dec. 11.
Winnifred Cadieux became the mayor of Enterprise and Merven Gruben was elected mayor of Tuktoyaktuk. Andrew Charlie was elected mayor of Aklavik, Genevieve McLeod was elected mayor of Fort Liard, Louis Balsillie was elected mayor in Fort Resolution. Paulatuk elected a new council and in Sachs Harbour, Betty Haogak was elected mayor. Rocky Norwegian was elected mayor in Tulita and four councillors were acclaimed in Ulukhaktok. One councillor was acclaimed in Fort McPherson. Tuk also voted overwhelmingly, 168 to 76, to lift restrictions on possessing and transporting beer and wine within the community's boundaries. Restrictions on spirits, that no more than 2280 ml can be held, would remain in place.
Record year for whooping cranes
With 63 cranes born, the NWT's summer population of whooping cranes was booming in 2017.
Whooping cranes nest in Wood Buffalo National Park every year around May, and in 2017, there were 98 nesting pairs – a record number. The total population of the flock is 430 cranes.
The rebound was believed to be caused by an influx of juvenile cranes born in 2010. Cranes enter the breeding population at between three and five years old.
Every year, the cranes make the 4,000 km journey north from their wintering ground in Texas, near Aransas and San Antonio Bay. In summer 2017, Hurricane Harvey tore through the area, threatening the cranes' wintering grounds. But Parks Canada staff regularly communicated over email with their colleagues in Texas, and it looked as if the wintering grounds were largely unharmed.
Hay River woman firefighter of the year
Stacey Barnes was honoured as Hay River's Firefighter of the Year during the annual Firefighters' Ball on Dec. 2 at the Ptarmigan Inn.
Barnes was unaware she was going to receive the honour until her name was called. The Firefighter of the Year is selected in a vote among the members of the Hay River Fire Department. Barnes, 37, has been on the department since April 2016 and is also a council administrator with the Town of Hay River. Like all members of the Hay River Fire Department, she serves as both a firefighter and with the ambulance service. She planned to take an emergency response course in January and February.
Her husband, Junior Barnes, is a captain in the fire department and is a past winner of the award.
KFN votes to accept multi-million dollar settlement
Members of K'atlodeeche First Nation voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting a $28.3-million settlement for a promise made in Treaty 8.
In a referendum at the end of November, 97 per cent of members voted to accept the agricultural benefits settlement agreement negotiated between the First Nation and the federal government. Chief Roy Fabian said he was quite happy with the "almost unanimous" support for the process and the many years of work that led to the settlement. Overall, 309 people voted. Of that number, 299 votes were in favour of the settlement, three were against and seven ballots were spoiled. The vote involved the so-called cows and plows promises made in Treaty 8, signed in 1900. In Treaty 8, Canada promised to provide the Hay River Indian Band – now K'atlodeeche First Nation – with agricultural benefits, including farming tools, equipment and animals, once a reserve was established.
Loader falls through ice on Salt River
A loader from Aurora College tried to cross the Salt River ice road crossing and went through the ice Dec. 11. The college employee attempted to drive the 950 Caterpillar loader across the river without checking the ice stability. The ice road crossing, located approximately 20 km from the community of Fort Smith, is commonly used to access the fox holes on the Salt River First Nation reserve and for hunting wild game in the area. Temperatures combined with the saltwater of the river made for poor ice and unsafe conditions for vehicles. TDC Contracting was awarded the contract to remove the unit from the river and mitigate contamination to the river system. The replacement value of the loader was estimated at around $270,000.
Metis Nation to get membership cards
For the first time, the Northwest Territory Metis Nation will soon have membership cards.
A genealogist will work with the Metis Nation to verify family history. At the assembly in November, the first 10 cards were given out to the board members of the Metis Nation. That includes the executive and regional board of directors made up of the presidents and vice-presidents of the Metis Councils in Hay River, Fort Smith and Fort Resolution.
But those were the first of many more cards to come. A person with such a card would be eligible to benefit from a land claim agreement and be able to vote on the final agreement. Negotiations are still underway for that agreement. An agreement-in-principle on land and resources was signed in 2015. A final agreement would also deal with self-government.
Another step toward the Tlicho All-Season Road
A planned all-season corridor in Tlicho cleared another checkpoint in its road to becoming a reality.
The GNWT released proposal requests for the construction of the Tlicho All-Season Road (TASR), the would-be thoroughfare that's poised to provide all-weather access from Highway 3, west of Yellowknife, to the community of Whati. Through a "request for qualifications" the GNWT identified and invited three potential bidders – Aurora Access Partners, NAE Transportation Partners and North Star Infrastructure – to submit proposals for the road's construction. As of December, the TASR project was in the midst of an environmental review process, carried out by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board.
Technical and financial submissions are due on Aug. 9 and Aug. 29, 2018, respectively.
Dehcho woman wins trapping award
A 24-year-old woman from Fort Simpson was among several NWT residents recognized in 2017 for their trapping skills.
Jonah Sanguez was one of five people honoured in the youth category as part of the 2016-17 Trapper Recognition Awards. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced the winners Dec. 13. This was her first trapping award. The youth category honours the youngest person in the region who has sent fur to auction.
Sanguez, whose family hails from Jean Marie River, spent much of her young life learning traditions and being on the land. She traps martens, rabbits and squirrels, and sells her furs.
Sanguez credits her mother and uncles for passing down those trapping skills to her.