Domestic violence election ban struck down
On March 9, MLAs voted to reject a motion that would have imposed a five-year ban on people convicted of family violence from running for territorial office. The current legislation disqualifies candidates or members with criminal convictions only if they are in jail, and does not apply to offences that don't result in jail sentences. Nunavut and Nova Scotia are the only territories in the country with similar bans.
Frame Lake MLA Kevin O'Reilly and Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green voted in favour of the motion, while 13 other MLAs voted against. Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli abstained from the vote. Nadli was convicted in 2015 of assaulting his spouse but was released from jail in time to be elected to a second term.
Tuktoyaktuk heroes rescue man from house fire
Jimmy Avik and John Tedjuk were hailed as heroes after rescuing a man from a house fire in Tuktoyaktuk on March 11. They reportedly pulled the man out of the house before the fire department arrived. John Tedjuk's father, Felix Tedjuk, who lived right across the street from the fire, said his son bolted out of the house after he heard his uncle yelling that there was a fire. NWT Fire Marshal Chucker Dewar said the two-family dwelling was badly damaged by fire, smoke and water. He added officials with his office visited Tuktoyaktuk to investigate and look for a cause of the fire.
NWT students get failing grades in math and English
Students in communities across the territory were severely behind in math and English, according to the Alberta Achievement Test (AAT) scores from the NWT. Just 10.6 per cent of Grade 6 students in the communities met an acceptable math standard during the 2015-16 academic year, according to AAT results calculated as a percentage of total enrolment. In Grade 9, there's less than a one per cent improvement. A mere 11.2 per cent of those students met the benchmark for math. Grade 6 and 9 students across the NWT write the standardized Alberta Achievement Test at the end of each academic year.
Nahanni Butte band ignores federal stop-work order
Nahanni Butte Chief Peter Marcellais said the federal government would need to seek a court order if they wanted to stop the band from clearing an old logging trail next to the community.
The band announced in January 2017 that it would start work on the road. On March 13, the federal government issued a stop work order. The logging road runs through federal Indian Affairs Branch lands.
The band funded the project, which would eventually be used in connection with the construction of an all-season road to Prairie Creek Mine. The order stated that anyone who contravened an order from an inspector could be fined up to $100,000 or six months in prison for a first offence, and a fine up to $200,000 or six months in prison for a second offence.
Darryl Boucher-Marlowe elected Lutsel K’e chief
Darryl Boucher-Marlowe received 103 votes during the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation election on March
28. Incumbent Felix Lockhart received 80 votes and Irene Catholique received 36 votes. Along with the other candidates and their families, Boucher-Marlowe was in the Zah Lockhart Community Hall when the final votes were tallied and announced.
Boucher-Marlowe said being active in the community that helped him win the election. After his win, Boucher-Marlowe said his priorities included finding ways to boost infrastructure and investment in Lutsel K'e, such as developing a hotel and restaurant to increase tourism. The said the restaurant’s menu would feature local meat and fish, which would also help create employment for harvesters. Other plans included finding ways to teach residents computer skills and working on ways to connect youth and elders.
Inuvik Native Band resurrected
After a quiet few years, the Inuvik Native Band was revitalized following an election on March 20. Lawrence Neyando was elected chief and acclaimed councillors were Vern Smith, Kelly McLeod, Amanda Vittrekwa, Richard Ross, Billie Lennie, Bernice Furlong and Barry Greenland.
The last election for the band was in 2012, with Herbert Blake winning his second term. Neyando was born in Fort McPherson and was living in Inuvik for the 18 years prior to the election. He said the role of the band would be to support elders, youth, the community and native rights. Neyando had also served on the Nihtat Gwich'in Council.
Phil Norwegian dies
Respected elder Phil Norwegian died on March 19 in Fort Smith at the age of 82. Norwegian was born into a family of eight brothers and sisters at Rabbitskin River and he lived in the Deh Cho intermittently throughout his life. Phil was best known for his work at Checkpoint, having built the area up before selling it.
After spending years in Fort Smith, he returned to Fort Simpson in 1979 and began trapping near the Checkpoint area – about 66km from Fort Simpson. Much of the material Phil used to construct Checkpoint with came from Fort Simpson's old community hall, which he manually hauled to the area until it was complete.
Donation saves Inuvik warming centre
The John Wayne Kiktorak Centre, formerly the Inuvik Emergency Warming Centre was saved from closure after it received a $38,000 donation from the Inuvik Firefighters Association.
The centre had been scheduled to shut down on March 31 if it didn’t receive new funds.
Hours, staff and expenses all had to be reduced to keep the centre open as long as possible.
Government funding keeps the facility operating during the harshest winter months but the board was hoping to make the centre a year-round option for people without homes. The centre had been averaging 15 to 18 residents per night. When firefighters realized the centre would be closing its doors without intervention, they decided to step in.