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The frustrations of telephone systems and bureaucracy

I really have to agree with Roy Erasmus, “Laughter is good medicine!”

I sure could use some laughter right this minute.

Today, I’m fit to be tied. I needed to clarify some information with the Government of the Northwest Territories bureaucracy and I couldn’t get anyone in the offices. So, out of desperation, I phoned the Legislative Assembly. No one home, “Leave a message,” it says on every answering machine in English and French.

I saw an ad in the paper for meetings the GNWT are holding on manufacturing strategy in the NWT. One of the drop-in sessions is in Norman Wells on Wednesday, October 17th at the Legion, but the 17th falls on a Tuesday. I wanted to check on the dates, so I phoned their office. There must be about eight or nine departments that the answering system put me through and not one answered.

The NWT is in a world of its own. We are ruled and controlled by this huge government bureaucracy in Yellowknife and the thirty or so scattered communities carry on as best they can. The GNWT puts their information and rules in the three weekly newspapers. Rules nobody reads except nosy people like me, because I must be on top of the information I write about.

We in the Sahtu region should all plan to gather for this meeting. I don’t know how we will find out the exact date, because there are no radio stations in Norman Wells. Perhaps the Inuvik radio station will announce the right date?

I see in the News North, the RCMP want more Indigenous officers. In the past, we've had a few Aboriginal RCMP stationed in the Delta region. They were so smart and handsome in their uniforms.

Aboriginals are so proud of their own people when they take up a profession. And, to be an RCMP officer is very tough.

Before we had a government in the NWT; we only had the RCMP in communities. They were like family. People loved them. We also had Aboriginals who worked with the RCMP called special constables. I will say one thing; the NWT was more exciting in the good old days before the government. The RCMP was our government and they did a great job. We owe them thanks.

There was a huge write up about the MacKenzie River in the Globe and Mail on Oct. 10. Canada’s largest watershed is in the midst of a rapid and uncertain transformation they report. It looks like some researchers need a holiday so they can go see the Federal government to get some money to do more research. Our beautiful MacKenzie River is crying for the good old days. The days when we had two paddlewheelers, steamboats and many, many other boats traveling all the way to Aklavik and the Beaufort Sea.

Anyhow I must thank the Lord for a beautiful fall. Today is Oct. 12 and still no snow which means I got my yard cleaned.

Take care and love everyone.