Social limits could lift in late April Health officials concerned some vaccine appointments are being missed

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Black Press Media buys Knifer parent company

Volume 49 Issue 100 friday, MARCH 12, 2021 75 CENTS ($1.00 outside city)

Scratching out a living

Natalie Pressman/NNSL photo Jane Arychuk started ArTech Engraves two years ago with her husband Gordon. They run the business out of their Yellowknife home with past and upcoming designs lining their home office walls. Read the full story inside.

Artists seek A bleak MLA doesn't research midwinter like leasing funding read from south

$1.00 outside Yellowknife Publication mail Contract #40012157 "It's important we remain committed to a world where women have a meaningful seat at the decision-making table." 7 71605 00100 5 – Premier Caroline Cochrane reflects on the implications of International Women's Day, page 10. 2 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 news Yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 3 Correction A column in the March 10 issue of Yellowknifer, fact file Been there, done that, page 9, indicated incorrectly that the Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks nwt covid-19 situation as of March 11 Association is a division of the GNWT. This is not the case. The NWTRPA is an independent non- governmental organization. Yellowknifer apologizes Active cases: 1 Days since first confirmed case: 356 for the error. Confirmed cases: 74 Days since last confirmed case: 17 Recovered cases: 69 Vaccines News Completed tests: 15,175 First doses administered: 17,057 Negative tests: 15,106 Scan for the Second doses administered: 11,151 latest GNWT Briefs Pending tests: 17 Covid-19 statistics Total doses administered: 28,208 YK1 spends only one-fifth of Source: Office of the Chief Public Health Officer $2.4 million in Covid-19 funding Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1) has spent just about one-fifth of the almost $2.4 million it received from the GNWT for expenses related to Covid-19. Gathering limits could Tram Do, director of corporate services with YK1 said in a trustees board meeting on Tuesday that the district would return to the government the funds it doesn't end up using. "As of February 2021 we have spent in total $429,428," Do said. "Money is spent for ease by end of April teachers, custodians, casual wages, technol- ogy and operations and maintenance." The majority of the funding was intended Residents missing vaccine appointments for hiring additional teachers at Sir John by Natalie Pressman 17,057 first doses and 11,151 second doses of Franklin high school, but due to a lack of Northern News Services the Moderna vaccine to the territory's adult space the district only hired two teachers. Restrictions could ease by April population. The funds came with 114 Chromebook Covid-19 restrictions could ease as To commemorate the 22,000 Canadians laptops for students to use. soon as the end of April, according to Dr. who have died from Covid-19 and the mil- Yk1's funding share comes out of a Kami Kandola, Chief Public Health Officer lions whose lives have been impacted, Prime $12.4-million pot from the GNWT that was (CPHO). Minister Justin Trudeau declared March 11 distributed to schools across the territory last Kandola made the announcement during a national day of observance. All GNWT fall. a press conference last week. Her comments buildings flew their flags at half-mast. The funding is meant to be spent by June were in response to a petition urging public "I hope all Northerners will take a moment 30, 2021, Do said, though YK1 is hopeful that health officials to bring performing arts back out of their day tomorrow to think about the any unused funds could be carried into the to the NWT. immeasurable impact Covid-19 has had on next school year. She said a meeting has been set up with the lives of many and pay tribute to the many – Blair McBride OCPHO staff and that more details would people who could continue to contribute to be available with the Emerging Wisely phase the fight against the virus," Premier Caroline NWT at front of pack with three roll-out – set to come out in April. Cochrane said. "We couldn't do it today. We couldn't do "So many of you have endured hard- Natalie Pressman/NNSL photo new $15.20 minimum wage it two weeks ago. But towards late April, yes, ships and challenges in the last year, and Dr. Anne Marie Pegg, territorial The minimum wage in the NWT will there is a strong possibility we can do it," our government is committed to making medical doctor said up to 40 per increase to $15.20 per hour on Sept. 1, 2021 Kandola said. sure that residents emerge stronger from the cent are not showing up to vaccine from the current rate of $13.46 per hour. Kandola said we are in a race between pandemic." vaccines and variants. With a surge in vari- appointments in certain time slots. Employment Minister R.J. Simpson announced the wage increase in the legisla- ants in Canada's south and potential March Missed appointments, lost doses tive assembly Thursday. break travel on the horizon, she said she NWT residents are not attending booked used," she said. "But people are no-showing "(The increase) makes it the second high- remains hesitant to further open establish- vaccine appointments, and doses could be for their appointments and there could be a est minimum wage in Canada behind Nuna- ments and allow for larger gatherings at wasted as a result, territorial medical doctor vaccine vial that's opened and if there aren't vut," said Simpson. something like outdoor concerts before more Dr. Anne Marie Pegg said at a press confer- enough people to provide all of the doses, it's "Since the last increase in 2018 the cost of people are vaccinated. ence Wednesday. a potential that those doses could be wasted." living and the average hourly wage has risen. "We only would need one UK variant at a In certain 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday mor- Each vaccine vial has 10 doses and once This increase ensures that the minimum wage live concert before we can get to that vaccine ning time slots, Dr. Pegg said no-show rates punctured, must be used within six hours to doesn't fall behind. It brings our minimum to level that we need, and that could produce a have been as high as 40 per cent. avoid waste. average wage ratio more in line with the rest significant strain (on the public health sys- "The vaccine doses are very precious, and So far the no-shows have only led to of Canada and makes us more competitive tem)," she said. every time we open a vial of vaccine, we thirty doses being wasted across the terri- with our neighbouring jurisdictions." As of March 6, the NWT has delivered want to make sure that the entire vial gets tory. The increase comes as the GNWT is aware of the impacts the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employees and businesses, Simpson said. MLAs have over the last several months Black Press Media acquires pressured Simpson to increase the minimum wage, and have cited the wage top-up pro- gram as an example of how taxpayers are already subsidizing a minimum wage of $18 per hour. NNSL, Canarctic Graphics – Blair McBride Archie gives update on Deal, in works for months, closes March 31 Tlicho all-season road by Natalie Pressman Owing to the public health limits brought "We look forward to supporting these Construction on the all-season Tlicho Northern News Services on by the pandemic, Black purchased NNSL newspapers, their associated digital oper- Highway will resume in the spring, after it After almost 40 years of independent without a site visit, a new experience for the ations and printing plant as we move forward wrapped up for 2020 on Dec. 15. publishing, Northern News Services Limited publisher. out of the pandemic," O'Connor said. "These In an update on the project in the legis- (NNSL Media)'s six newspapers will soon be Karen Sigvaldason is president of NNSL papers and digital platforms provide an lative assembly Wednesday, Infrastructure under Black Press Media's ownership. and Canarctic and the daughter of founder extremely valuable service across the North." Minister Diane Archie said the project's target After months of negotiations, Black's pur- Jack "Sig" Sigvaldason, who passed in 2018. Jack Sigvaldason launched the Yellow- completion date of the fall of 2021 is still on chase of NNSL and its printing subsidiary, "My father, Sig, believed passionately in knifer newspaper in 1972 after being fired track despite a six-week pause in construction Canarctic Graphics, will close April 1. the strong role of NNSL and Canarctic in from News of the North, the now 75-year-old last spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A B.C based publisher, Black operates serving the people of the North," she said. weekly paper servicing the territory. Starting "To date about 97 kilometres of embank- more than 170 community newspapers and "I am confident that Black Press Media will the Yellowknifer from his kitchen, Sig later ment construction and 45 kilometres of gravel news sites across Canada, as well as Hawaii, continue that tradition." bought the paper that fired him in 1979 and surfacing has been completed," and three of Alaska and Washington State. Included in the deal are NNSL's two acquired Canarctic Graphics 10 years later. the highway's bridges have been built, with News of NNSL/Black Press negotiations weekly Yellowknifer newspapers, Nunavut While Valpy emphasized that the editor- the fourth due to be constructed in the sum- surfaced last month though no agreement to News, Kivalliq News, the Hay River Hub, ial focus won't be changing with the new mer, Archie said. purchase had yet been reached. Inuvik Drum, News/North and the NNSL. ownership, he said that NNSL would be able The completed two-lane gravel highway "I don't expect that there will be any com and Nunavutnews.com websites. to offer a larger market to advertisers under will provide year-round access from Highway change whatsoever beyond what we've always Black Press Media president and CEO Black Press's improved digital capabilities. 3 to the community access road to Whati at done, which is report the news and express Rick O'Connor said the group has had a "It's a digital world out there. People love kilometre 97. our opinions about what's going on locally," favourable experience with community reading newspapers, but they also like going – Blair McBride NNSL Media publisher and CEO Bruce papers in Canada's North following their on their phones, tablets, and home comput- Valpy said after addressing the companies' 2013 purchase of Whitehorse based Yukon ers," he said. "We'll be in all of those places, employees. News. with more muscle." 4 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 news YK arts group seeks $15,000 grant

Natalie Pressman/NNSL photos Ryan Kooymans, Brooklin Kooymans and kids Evie and Hank, left, and Joanne Fairbrother Haley Doucet, left, and Joanne Fairbrother sang the Old and Haley Doucet, right, took their Expedition Old Town tour Sunday afternoon. Pilot's Monu- Town tour's praises as it concluded at Grogono's Glassworks ment and guide Roland Laufer were listed as highlights by the group. shop. Yellowknife Artists Co-operative strives to better support YK artists by Natalie Pressman among the ideas being discussed. and Davies said running a focus "Our job now is to dig into Cafe, Pilot's Monument, Weaver Northern News Services By March 15, YAC will learn if group would be a key first step. research and to survey and evalu- and Devore, Bullocks Bistro for Yellowknife artists may soon see it has secured a seed grant, which "Everyone has different ideas ate," Grogono said. bannock and jam, and Old Town new infrastructure and development would allow YAC to conduct ful- of what this might look like, so we Last weekend's Expedition Old Glassworks to make glasses with opportunities, though exactly what some research to determine a focus would like to build a more cohesive Town, a series of walking tours Grogono. remains to be seen. for its project. After that, the group idea of what it is we would like to highlighting cornerstone establish- The tours were fully booked The Yellowknife Artists Co- will seek further funding to carry see in the end," Davies said. "As ments and the neighbourhood's his- within days. operative (YAC), led by Old Town it out. researchers, our job is to bring that tory, was a way for YAC to return to "We had to pull our radio ad," Glass Works and Bike Works owner University of Calgary professor all together and see what's feasible the public arena. Grogono said. Matthew Grogono, has partnered Jennifer Leason and research asso- to sustain in the long run. We don't "We wanted to do something The event's success, he said, fur- with researchers at the University of ciate Erin Davies are collaborating want to fly up and do something simple, creative, and embrace the ther emphasizes the community's Calgary to determine where there with the cooperative to support the elaborate that the community can't local attributes of history and art appetite for something more. are gaps in the Yellowknife artists group's research and establish what sustain in the end." and make it accessible and free," "Just seeing the satisfaction that community and what can be done is feasible. Founded three years ago, YAC's Grogono said. (participants) are getting when they to fill them. If the $15,000 seed grant comes members insist that Yellowknife is Eight tours of eight people fol- leave. It tells me boy, there's some- Music programs, art space and through, it would be mostly directed brimming with artists whose needs lowed guide Roland Laufer over thing really not being addressed language revitalization projects are towards hiring a research assistant, are not being met. the weekend to the Dancing Moose here," he said. news Yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 5 Surge in "disrespectful" caribou hunt ENR is already investigating the illegal harvest of more than 50 caribou this winter by Natalie Pressman life officer Lee Mandeville said he As temperatures continue to Northern News Services has laid charges of up to $30,000 per climb, Thomson expects the coming The Department of Environment hunter for violations like abandoning weeks will be some of the busiest of and Natural Resources will be ramp- wounded animals, hunting while the hunting season. ing up enforcement efforts against inebriated, illegal possession of meat, The minister emphasized the need hunters that break the law after it was littering, hunting within the mobile for hunters to exercise their right to reported that more than 50 caribou core Bathurst management zone. hunt respectfully. While the depart- have been illegally harvested this In his column earlier this week, ment can employ certain enforce- winter. longtime Northerner Steven Ellis fur- ment and preventative actions, "it's The issue of improper hunting ther highlighted the issue with stories about respecting the zone, but also carried out along the ice road, is one of ENR officers "shell shocked" by respecting the hunt and the harvest. that ENR faces yearly. However, the what was found around Lac de Gras, Only take what you really need," 50 cases of illegal harvesting that, an area just east of the Bathurst herd Thompson said. ENR has been called to investigate no hunting zone. "When I talk to Elders and lead- eclipses the 10 incidents reported as ers, there are real fears that these of this time last year. A war zone practices will push us towards a After hearing reports of improper Ellis describes the area as "a future no one wants to see. One hunting practices along the winter war zone," with bullets whizzing where caribou aren't there, one where road to the diamond mines, Earl around dangerously and wounded, their children won't be able to bring Wikimedia photo Evans, chair of the Beverly and unharvested caribou being left to die. meat home for their kids." Peary caribou on Bathurst Island. Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Having grown up on the land Board, went to investigate. What Mandeville said seeing "the cruel he found were a number of dead, act of leaving live wounded animals unharvested caribou and hunters on the land," is upsetting for officers shooting without retrieving their and harvesters who are themselves kills. connected to the land. Concerns over declining caribou "I became an officer because I populations are well known in the want to do my part in helping con- North as herds like the Bathurst cari- serve our animals and to ensure that bou have shrunk to a fraction of their future generations like our grandkids former size. ENR reported approxi- can enjoy what privileges we had as mately 8,200 Bathurst caribou in kids," Mandeville said. 2018, less than half of the 20,000 "Inexperienced hunters just have reported only three years prior. no respect for the animals." In a press conference Tuesday, Reflecting on his 55 years of ENR Minister Shane Thompson hunting, Evans said the problem of called attention to "illegal, disre- improper harvesting practices is get- spectful hunting practices," further ting perceptibly worse. threatening the caribou population's "When I first hunted caribou, it recovery. was not like that," he said. "There In response, Thompson said the were less animals being taken and department is increasing enforcement taken in a more respectful way. Every along the winter road and increasing piece of meat was taken and used up." education efforts through programs As a possible explanation for the like hunter education, family trapping surge in poor hunting practices, Evans and classroom seminars. Thompson said that Elders are moving away added, however, "our work can only from hunting as more inexperienced go so far. hunters take their place. "There is also an element of per- An interest in hunting, he said, sonal responsibility when exercising is a good thing but he counselled the right to harvest." the importance of taking the time photo courtesy of the Government of the Northwest Territories Fines under the Wildlife Act vary to "speak with an Elder that has that ENR Minister Shane Thompson, ENR officer Lee Mandeville and Earl Evans emphasized the depending on the infractions. Wild- knowledge. need for hunters to act responsibly and treat the land with respect. 6 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 news Yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 7 MLA urges GNWT to stop leasing offices from Northview Rent money should stay in territory, not go to southern property owners, says Johnson by Blair McBride it manages a $28 million portfolio to-own versus the policy to make Northern News Services of 109 leases comprising 190,846 sure we're not in fact paying a pre- Yellowknife North MLA Rylund square metres of office space, many mium to any of these southern land- Johnson is calling on the GNWT to of them in downtown Yellowknife. lords?" he asked. stop leasing office space from North- The department also provides The department will review the view Canadian High Yield Residen- facility management support services leases as they expire for the cost tial Fund. for 72,601 square metres of owned benefit analysis, Archie said. Speaking in the legislative assem- office space. "In accordance with the policy, bly Tuesday, Johnson said the com- we undergo lease versus own analysis pany has "repeatedly showed little Millions of rent dollars proposed on new lease contracts with interest in our community." should stay in NWT terms of over 10 years," Local landlords are key parts Those millions of dollars could The GNWT leases 72 per cent of of community identity and should be going to local landlords, Indigen- its general office space and owns 28 reinvest rents back into the com- ous development corporations and to per cent, she said. That breakdown is munity but Yellowknife doesn't have "anyone willing to make sure that our influenced by location, local market enough local owners, he said. GNWT image government's rent money stays in this conditions, operational needs, assess- "Thousands of our housing units Too many properties in Yellowknife are leased from wealthy territory," he said. ments and also availability of capital. and millions of dollars worth of com- property owners in the south who have little interest in North- Turning to Infrastructure Minister In a Committee of the Whole mercial office space are owned by Diane Archie he asked how much the meeting on Wednesday, NWTHC southern REITs or various southern ern communities, according to Yellowknife North MLA Rylund government pays per year in leases to vice president Jim Martin said analy- multibillion dollar investment funds. Johnson. southern landlords. ses in 2017 showed it is cheaper to These landlords have long treated "Every year we pay about $18 mil- own property than lease. real estate as an investment rather Just before the sale to Starlight proper consideration of its policy. lion," Archie responded, adding that "The landlords would have been than the offices and homes we work and KingSett last year, Johnson said "Our current policy requires that the GNWT is in compliance with its factoring in profit components and and live in," Johnson said. the landlord has a "near-monopoly the GNWT only lease at a rate no property policy. reflecting the cost of the construc- The MLA spoke just over a year on rental apartments in both Yellow- greater than the cost of ownership. But Johnson suggested it's cheaper tion," Miller said. "To construct, for after Northview Apartment Real knife and Inuvik." If we're going to sign a lease at a for the GNWT to own buildings than the Housing Corporation at that time, Estate Investment Trust was pur- The situation with leasing in cost greater than owning a building lease them. it was actually cheaper than leasing. chased by Starlight Investments and Yellowknife has been such that leases it must be to a northern business. A "We built a giant building, and There are a number of factors that KingSett Capital for about $4.8 bil- at a higher rate – rather than owner- lease ownership analysis is required we decided not to lease it," he said, had to be considered in this. As costs lion. ship - were justified to support north- for every building and every GNWT referring to the Tatsaotine Building do change over time, it is important The company owns dozens of ern businesses, Johnson explained on lease signed over five years and those on 49th Street. Originally called the to have more frequent assessments, commercial and residential proper- Tuesday. premiums can only be paid to north- New Government Building, it opened and we are doing that." ties in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Iqal- But over a period of years, prop- ern companies," he said. in 2015. A spokesperson for Northview uit and thousands across Canada, erties were sold and resold and the Johnson then pointed to Depart- "Will the minister commit to Canadian High Yield Residential according to its online portfolio. GNWT renewed the leases without ment of Infrastructure data showing doing a cost benefit analysis of lease- Fund was not immediately available. 8 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 Editorial & Opinions Published Wednesdays and Fridays Comments and views from Yellowknifer and letters to the editor

P.O. Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R1 Office: 5108 50th Street, Yellowknife Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507 Toll free: (855) 873-6675 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nnsl.com DJ Drygeese, left; Edward FOUNDER (1934-2018): Sangris, Dettah chief of J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason the Yellowknives Dene PUBLISHER, CEO: Bruce Valpy – [email protected] First Nation; Randy Bail- Chief Financial Officer: largeon, Cody Drygeese Judy Triffo – [email protected] and Bobby Drygeese per- COORDINATING EDITOR: form a prayer ceremony Craig Gilbert– [email protected] as Verna Crapeau feeds the fire with tobacco dur- ACCOUNTING: [email protected] Florie Mariano • Salleah Wagas ing a demonstration in December. Editorial board: NNSL file photo Bruce Valpy • Craig Gilbert • Emily McInnis

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Customer Service: Holly Yestrau [email protected] governments CIRCULATION: [email protected] Circulation Director: Amy Yang GNWT advances Indigenous cultural awareness Subscriptions: Print: (mail) $95/year and sensitivity training while Ottawa drags its feet Online: (entire content) $50/year Northern News Services changed that. In this space one week ago, the While it was Falconbridge that pro- GNWT got a bit of a thrashing over its The issue: duced most of the 237,000 tonnes of longstanding ineptitude in achieving Indigenous relations deadly arsenic trioxide dust at Giant, a representative workforce. We say: it was the federal government's lax Indigenous employees have held Ottawa falling short regulations that made it possible. steady at approximately 30 per cent The mine disrupted the Yellowknives' of territorial government staff for dec- traditional land use. NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED ades despite making up close to half Lena Black, assistant CEO with the 100% Northern owned and operated the NWT's population. Nations Declaration on the Rights Yellowknives, said federal ministers Publishers of: Yellowknifer is not changing its of Indigenous Peoples, treaties and have, at least, consented to proper Inuvik Drum •Kivalliq News Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub tune this week, but we're prepared to Indigenous rights, Indigenous law, mental health, addictions and hous- NWT News/North Nunavut News/North give some credit where credit is due. and Indigenous–Crown relations. ing supports to overcome a "chronic On Tuesday, the GNWT rolled out Some of those studies will be lack of resources that our community Member of: Living Well Together: Indigenous Cul- painful because cruelty is part of our has faced, even while one of Can- Canadian Community Newspapers Association tural Awareness and Sensitivity Train- country's past, unfortunately. But it's ada's richest gold mines profited on Ontario Community Newspapers Association Manitoba Community Newspapers Association ing for government employees. Public history that ought to be learned, not our land." That's a start. Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association servants are required to learn these forgotten. NWT MP Michael McLeod has Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils lessons over 12 months. Good. Meanwhile, in the hallowed halls of been providing assurances since Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce If our government is truly commit- our nation's political epicentre, a peti- January 2020 that he's on-board with Contents copyright – printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited ted to attracting more Indigenous tion is winding its way through Parlia- an apology. Some federal ministers staff, then creating an environment ment. More than 32,000 signatures have agreed to open a negotiat- where their co-workers are better were attained in an appeal to Ottawa ing table on the issue – after two educated in history, customs and for a formal apology and financial requests from the Yellowknives for an Send us your comments legends can only help the cause. compensation for the Yellowknives apology and compensation and, now, You can e-mail us at [email protected]; mail to Box 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off It's not that the GNWT lacked Dene First Nation after decades of a petition. at our office at 5108-50th Street. entirely any sort of cultural aware- damage caused by Giant Mine. The GNWT's workforce, when sit- All letters submitted must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number so that we ness training prior to this, it's more a Deserving recognition for her role ting down to absorb the events of the can confirm it came from you. Not all letters will necessarily be published. Pref- matter of the previous program didn't in heightening awareness of the issue past through updated Indigenous cul- erence is given to short letters of broad interest or scratch beneath the surface enough is YKDFN member Morgan Tsetta, an tural awareness and sensitivity train- concern. We particularly encourage new contributors as and was outdated. Indigenous filmmaker with a large ing, will be reminded that the federal we attempt to publish a cross-section of public opinion. Indigenous organizations, com- and growing social media following. government has never been swift in Letters of more than 300 words, open letters and munity residents and Elders were She leveraged that following to get providing reparations, and it often those published elsewhere are seldom used. We reserve the right to edit for length or taste and to asked for input in Living Well Togeth- much more weight behind the peti- takes considerable pressure before eliminate inaccurate or libelous statements. We may also choose to use a letter as the basis er, which is only appropriate. The tion. Canada's legislators buckle. for a story. new course will delve into the legacy "I knew it was an issue that would Once again, history is repeating of residential schools, the United get a little attention," Tsetta said. She itself. commentary Yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 9 Can't win 'em all Northern News Services In last week's column, I made a mistake. A rather big one. The NWT Recreation and Tales from Parks Association is a non-profit association. It is not a part of the GNWT. So, I am sorry the dump for making that mistake and I do apologize to them, the GNWT and anyone else who may be Walt Humphries is a well-known affected by that blunder. What makes it even Yellowknife artist and prospector. worse, is that when I think about it, I sort of knew that, but somehow when writing the col- in a line waiting to be picked. It could be a umn, I did not catch the error. There is no one nerve-wracking experience and was filled with to blame for it but myself. several variables. How well did you know the I may not fully agree with the way the team captains, how popular were you and how Walk to Tuk has changed, but it still gets good of a player did they judge you to be? I people out walking and that is a good thing. A always felt sorry for the last three or four to be little fresh air, exercise and sunshine is good picked, especially if I was one of them. Sports for the soul and helps combat cabin fever and were never really my thing. pandemic fatigue. I know that the priority list and getting Yes, we are now into another pandemic picked to play on a team are two entirely dif- year and need to prepare for it. People are ferent things, but they do feel the same and getting vaccinated but every jurisdiction in I think the various governments need better Canada seems to have a different vaccination coordination and explanations for why. They schedule and priority list. A different defin- could call it the "vulnerability list," rather than ition of essential worker and list of those who the priority list. Words can have unintended are most vulnerable and least vulnerable. It connotations. How do you explain to young would certainly help the public if they had adults, to those under 18 and to little kids that one worked out ahead of time and coordinated they are so low on the priority list, they should their messages because it is really confusing a be vaccinated last or may not be vaccinated at lot of people. all? How sad is that? I understand that coming up with priority Since this is going to be going on for groups is a lot more difficult than one might months, I really think we need to rethink some imagine. Especially when everyone wants of the words we are using, and the govern- their group to be one first. In a way, that is just ments need to explain things a whole lot bet- human nature and people ask, "how come that ter. Not just to adults but to young adults and group is getting the vaccine, and we aren't?" kids. It is a reality that adults often forget what It doesn't help lessen the angst, when the it was like to be young, a teenager or a kid. news shows those who get needles are all Going from being a kid to a teenager and from Here comes the sun excited, happy and relieved. Meanwhile others a teenager to a young adult is stressful enough are being told it will be months before their at the best of times. Throw in all the changes turn comes around. This says that they are of a and Covid-19 rules make it that much harder. lower priority and the word priority can imply So, for everyone's mental health, we really that they are somehow less important or valu- need to think about this and send everyone able. No one wants to be told that. more positive messages, not confused or nega- In a way, it reminds me of when I was a tive ones. This applies to the news media and kid in school and a sports event was about to their endless cycle of news briefings reporting happen. The teacher would pick the two top the number of cases and little else. players, ask them to be team captains and then On the brighter side, the days are get- they got to take turns picking who would be on ting sunnier and the migratory birds will be their team. All this while everyone else stood returning soon. A focus on better prizes

Dear editor, On March 5, 2021, the column Tales from the Dump focussed on the Walk to Tuk Pro- gram. Columnist Walt Humphries writes regularly with insightful, informative and often cheeky pieces. I enjoy reading it. On March 5, the columnist was wrong. He chose to wag his pen at the Government of the NWT, panicked bureaucrats and the cheap GNWT. All wrong. His ire was raised due to the lack of a t-shirt. The Walk to Tuk Program is a 11-year Wikimedia Commons photo project of the NWT Recreation and Parks Vitamin C is quite acidic so it's a good idea to rinse out your mouth after- Association (NWTRPA). The NWTRPA is a photo courtesy of Thorsten Gohl wards chewing your dose, columnist Aaron LaBorde writes. Sheena Labrecque, left, and Nimi- non-profit organization that functions on fund- Northern News Services ing applications. The organization is run by a sha Bastedo stay warm as they take Less meat, less cancer Many people take extra vitamin C dur- Colon cancer represents about 12 per board of directors from across the NWT and part in the walk in 2020. ing the winter months and some take it in a staff of six people. It is not a large govern- cent of all newly-diagnosed cancer cases in the form of chewable tablets. Vitamin C is Canada. Six symptoms to watch for include: ment department. The programs also include quite acidic so it's a good idea to rinse out Elders in Motion, On the Land Programs, Priority. This year we joined walkers from 31 unexplained weight loss, blood your mouth afterwards chew- Reconciliation initiatives and more. NWT Communities. There were teams across in the stool, changes in bowel ing your dose. This will reduce Every year, until this year, participants the NWT representing family, friends, col- habits, thin loose stools with diar- any adverse etching of the tooth in Walk to Tuk, received a t-shirt. This year, leagues, schools and businesses all with their rhea or constipation, abdominal NWTRPA made a responsible decision to own goals to improve the health of their com- enamel caused by the acidity of swelling and pain and fatigue. move away from the t-shirts and munities. Sponsorship from many the vitamin C. To reduce the risk of colorectal focus on better prizes. The t-shirts businesses helped make it happen cancer, stop smoking, eat less red had become a major financial and readers For the months of January and Hyperwhatsis? meat (limit to twice per week), administrative responsibility as February we were all on the move Since the legalization of increase fruit and vegetable con- well as an environmental burden. write to conceptually walk the shore marijuana in Canada in 2018, sumption and exercise daily. Not so big a task in the first years of the mighty Mackenzie River/ there have been more reports of of the program but with nearly Deh Cho/Big River from Zhatıé cannabis hyperemesis syndrome Capsule MedTalk 6,000 participants this year – it had become Kue/Fort Providence to Tuktuuyaqtuuq/Tuk- (CHS). This syndrome, although Comments A pharmacist's main job is to huge. Anyone who wanted a t-shirt could toyaktuk, a total of 1,658 kilometres each way. ra describes the recurrent epi- talk to people about their medica- order one. Many of us made it all the way back. That's a sodes of nausea and vomiting Aaron La Borde is tion so they get the best results This year, I was pleased to once again lot of footprints. and generalized abdominal pain a pharmacist at from their medication. Com- captain a team for Walk to Tuk called YK1 Thank you to NWTRPA for this excellent experienced by chronic users of Sutherland Drugs. municate before you medicate is Walks the Talk. Our members are Yellow- annual inspiration. Let's not stop now. The cannabis products. The simple a good rule to live by. Let your knife Education No. 1 people, family and weather is warmer. The days are longer. Let's solution is to stop using cannabis or at the pharmacists use their knowledge to increase friends. We started the team seven years ago keep moving. Just step outside. very least, reduce the usage. your knowledge about the drugs you need to demonstrate our commitment to healthy liv- John Stephenson to take. ing in keeping with our Health and Wellness Yellowknife 10 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 commentary Women's Day a global celebration

Today we commemorate International Women's Day, a global celebration of the women and girls in our lives who have made immeasurable contributions to making the Northwest Territories, Canada, and the world, a better place for everyone. A little over a century ago, women were fighting for the right to vote, and the right to stand for office. Fast forward to 2019, and Northwest Territories residents voted in the first gender-balanced Legislature in Can- adian history. This wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for trailblazing femin- ists and activists who fought for what they believed in and chal- Guest lenged the status quo Comment of a system that was created with a signifi- Caroline Cochrane cant gender imbal- is the MLA for Range ance. Lake and premier We have made of the Northwest great strides as a Territories. society to advance gender equality – but we still have a lot of photo courtesy of Krystal Pidborochynski work to do. Women continue to face gender- based barriers and discrimination, and these Housing Minister Paulie Chinna, then-Justice Minister Caroline Wawzonek, Premier Caroline Cochrane, Inuvik Twin obstacles make it difficult for women to get Lakes MLA Lesa Semmler, then-Health Minister Dianne Thom, and then-Infrastructure Minister Katrina Nokleby discuss an equal footing. We must continue to work the close gender parity in Assembly on International Women's Day 2020. together to develop and implement strategies to eliminate these barriers, prevent violence progressive world. However, women remain They are scientists who have helped develop against gender-based discrimination, patri- against women and girls, update policies and underrepresented in public life, and decision- vaccines to protect residents and communities archal values, and systemic gender oppression programs to promote the development of making. Some of the best responses to the from the virus. They are the educators who that has held women back from being equal women in leadership positions and continue COVID-19 pandemic have been led by women have adapted and have continued to educate participants in our society. the momentum as we strive to achieve gender – not only as politically-elected leaders, but at the future generation of leaders. As we celebrate the creativity, solidar- equality. the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. International Women's Day was estab- ity, and resilience of the women and girls all The full participation and leadership of They include health care professionals, from lished in the early years of the 20th Century around us, it's important we remain commit- women in all aspects of society enriches the cleaning staff to doctors, who continue to put to promote equal rights. These efforts laid the ted to a world where women have a meaning- lives of us all, and supports a kinder, more their lives at risk every day to help people. foundation for women to continue the fight ful seat at the decision-making table. commentary Yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 11 A bleak and chilling midwinter read

Northern News Services through the novel and doesn't let up and carefully crafting the perfect con- Moon of the Crusted Snow by until the last page of this book. Just clusion. Part of the horror of this story Waubgeshig Rice follows a long as Evan's community finds a sustain- also comes from the familiarity of winter on an Anishinaabe reserve in able solution to surviving the winter, this apocalyptic world. Northern Ontario after, the reserve is thrown off Rather than being set in a nuclear inexplicably, the world balance by Justin Scott, a winter or in a distant future with talk- suffers a complete and white man and a stranger to ing robots or mutated animals, the permanent blackout. the community, who drives world of Moon of the Crusted Snow Bringing the apocalypse his snowmobile into Evan's is exactly like ours but with a power front and centre, seen reserve and demands to be outage. Even just thinking of the mostly through the eyes sheltered. 2021 Texas power crisis or the global of Evan, a cautious man Scott was such an incred- experience of people buying out gro- with a young family, ibly anxiety inducing figure, cery stores, having to homeschool Rice makes the end and the string of unexpected their kids, and moving back in with of the world feel like deaths that followed him like family in the COVID-19 pandemic, something that happened book a shadow only added to the this novel feels disturbingly close to yesterday rather than a review creeping sense of dread I got the experiences of today. distant and impossible Grace Guy is a lifelong from his introduction. It was If you're a fan of Watership Down, thing. Thrilling, well Yellowknifer and lover of also just deeply frustrating to The Marrow Thieves, Louise Erd- paced, and horrifyingly literature. watch as Scott tries to take rich's novels, or are just looking for immediate, Moon of the over the reserve and notice a great northern read, Moon of the Crusted Snow is a bleak how his presence escalates Crusted Snow is absolutely worth it. midwinter read that chilled me to the even the smallest of actions into a With cannibalism, cults, and the ever- bone. fight for power. present horror of colonialism played I have been reading a lot of horror Halfway between a methodic out on the small stage of an isolated lately and this one is absolutely one murder mystery and a manuel for Anishinaabe reserve, the eerily relat- of my favourites. Rather than specific reclaiming Indigenous identity and able atmosphere of survival in the photo courtesy of James Hodgins scary moments, Moon of the Crusted Anishinaabe cultural practices, Moon North extends beyond the page for Thrilling, well-paced, and horrifyingly immediate, Moon of Snow is built on a sense of uneasi- of the Crusted Snow was slow but any reader who is familiar with the the Crusted Snow is a bleak midwinter read that chilled ness that starts up in earnest half way never boring, always plotting ahead cold. columnist Grace Guy to the bone. 12 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 photo story photo story Yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 13

When complete, team Jedi's carving will appear as a woman Art that will melt – your heart? on the moon reaching towards the heavens. snow-carving Feature by Natalie Pressman

Northern News Services masterpiece. Because inviting Robyn Scott and Wiley Wolfe are two-thirds of Shovels drawn and saws artists from across the border team Freezies. They're building a bear hugging at the ready, Yellowknife's is not possible this year, the a tree. prized snow carving competi- snow sculptures decorating tion has begun. Yellowknife Bay will be made Until March 14, eight entirely by local carvers. teams are competing for First, second and third place top prize from turning their teams will be announced and 8'x8'x8' snow cubes into prize money allocated once something, well, far less snow sculptures are complete at the cube-like. end of next week. Visitors are Carvers have five hours encouraged to check out the a day from March 5 to 14, artists' progress as they work using any tools or equipment on their blocks next to Snow- necessary, to create a snow- buddy's winter garden.

Derrald Taylor, Eli Nasogaluak, top, and John Sabourin make up team Jedi. Taylor is the art- Laine Brazeau and Joey Klein start chiseling ist behind the 'As Spirit Told' ice sculpture that away at their soon-to-be fox and raven sculpture Joey Kline, Laine Brazeau and Cynthia Pavlovich are three of four team Synergy members. appeared in Somba K'e Park earlier this year. on Friday afternoon. For team Ptarmigods, Maddy Tetreault carves the bird's body. 14 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 commentarynews

Michael Burns/Curling Canada photo Making it all make sense Team NWT skip Greg Skauge, left, and third Tom Naugler survey the situation in between shots at the Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary this past Tuesday. Bomb scare at Polaris Lounge

Northern News Services detachment and the Explorer Hotel front desk 50 years ago both received anonymous calls, the caller said Yellowknife City Council passed a bylaw that a bomb was set to go off in the lounge. to deal with water rates and the installation of Police cleared the bar but found no bomb. water meters. In 1969 the City lost $161,000 RCMP Staff Sgt. Rod O'Brien said the police on the supplying of water. The new rates and believed the threat was called in by a drunk. water meters were set on the basis that a profit would be made. 20 years ago Retail and wholesale spend- 40 years ago ing was up across the Northwest Beer prices at some Yellow- Territories according to Statis- knife bars had gone way up. tics Canada figures from the The reason was a 60 cent per GNWT Bureau of Statistics. case increase in bottle deposit In the NWT, the value of charged by the manufacturers to retail sales rose 6.5 per cent to liquor sales outlets in the NWT, $395.3 million in 2000 from double the original deposit. $371.0 million in 1999. That five cent per bottle Wholesale spending rose 7.7 increase resulted in an increase per cent to $158.9 million in of bar prices of 10 cents to 20 2000 compared to $147.5 mil- cents, depending which bar. lion in the prior year. Prices at the Gold Range LOOKING For 2000 the combined and Gallery since there was Back retail spending in the NWT and entertainment on stage, prices Nunavut was $581.8 million, up were an additional 20 cents with from $544.5 million the year per bottle for a total of $1.85 a Candace A. McQuatt prior. bottle. Prices at the Rec Hall raised to $1.80 a beer. 10 years ago The government liquor control system Michael Gilday joined the men's relay team representative said the increase was effect- at the World Short-Track Speedskating Cham- ive in all Western provinces and was a result pionships in Sheffield England, where the relay of increased glass prices combined with the team went on to win gold in the 5,000 metre incentive for consumers to return the bottles. final. Canada finished ahead of Germany to claim victory. 30 years ago Gilday said the team wanted to finish the Polaris Lounge patrons had their evening season with the world title. Gilday and the cut short by a bomb scare. Canadian squad moved on to Warsaw, Poland According to lounge staff, the local RCMP for the World Team Championships. Yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 15 Sports & Recreation Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: [email protected] • Fax: (867) 873-8507 Hockey Night returns to Fort McMurray Yellowknife's Ethan Anstey and Fort McMurray Oil Barons set to resume AJHL season by James McCarthy When it came to Anstey, Northern News Services he had to isolate here in town Ethan Anstey has been before making the trip down. waiting for this moment since "I had to spend seven days around last fall and he's plan- in isolation at home, then I ning on making the most of it. flew into Fort McMurray on The 18-year-old will get Feb. 21, had to isolate seven the chance to play actual more days when I got there, hockey again as he and his and our first practice was on Fort McMurray Oil Barons March 1," he said. teammates will suit up for The league announced on their first game since late March 5 that it had conducted November as the Alberta testing on all of its players, Junior Hockey League will coaches and staffs before they resume its 2020-2021 regular resumed operations and all season tonight. The league 367 tests administered came has been on hold since Nov. back negative. 21 following the Alberta gov- Unlike his teammates, who ernment's suspension of all weren't able to do anything activities owing to the second ice-related while they were wave of the Covid-19 pan- waiting to return, Anstey had demic. the luxury of playing in the Needless to say, Anstey Yk Rec Hockey League while said it's been a long enough he was back home, something wait. he said he was most apprecia-

"The one thing I've missed tive to be able to do. photo courtesy of Fort McMurray Oil Barons the most is the competitive- That gave him a bit of a ness of it all," he said on Tues- jump when practice resumed, Ethan Anstey, seen during a pre-season game with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in November 2020, day. "Getting back to practice he said. will be back on the ice tonight as the Alberta Junior Hockey League's regular season resumes. made things more exciting "My teammates were tell- and made it more real." ing me I looked fast out there will take place at all for the will square off against one "I think they just want the win it all," he said. "The way The AJHL announced it and I didn't really notice," remainder of the campaign. another with a total of eight players to get some exposure we jelled in the early going, would be returning to play he said. "I just thought I was The Oil Barons play in the games scheduled. to scouts," he said. "A lot of I've never been a part of any on March 1 and everyone keeping up better." North Division and will kick Following the end of that, guys in this league end up other team like that. We were involved with every team had The rest of the season off the first cohort against the the league will take a short going to school after they play so close right away and we to go through stringent test- will see the teams playing Spruce Grove Saints. Tonight break in order to set up new and I'm sure that's why they bonded. No one's a cancer in ing before practices could in cohorts within their div- and tomorrow will be the first cohorts. want us to do it this way." the locker room and it's just a resume. ision; no inter-divisional play of four weekends the two teams Something else which is Had there been a playoff, special bunch of guys." new is no playoffs. The teams Anstey has no doubt this team But at the end of the day, will play out the remainder of had a chance to go deep. Anstey is just happy to get the re-jigged schedule and that's After all, when the season back playing. it – no champion crowned. resumes, they will be atop the Like the good old days. Anstey said it's going to North Division with four wins "When I practice, I get By the numbers be weird but he has an idea out of their first four games. excited thinking about it," he Even in times of Covid-19, ports stat packs have returned as to why the league is doing From back in November. said. "I can't wait to play a to Yellowknifer. Standings and top scorers will appear it that way. "I think we had a chance to competitive game again." Fridays. If you'd like your league featured, call the sports line at 766-8257 or email [email protected]. Volleyball

Yk Volleyball Association round two standings 2. 6-Pacl 2 1 as of march 12 basketball Hockey A division 3. YKDFN Spikers 1 2 4. Team North 0 3 yk basketball association men's league stand- Yk Rec Hockey League Standings as of march Team W L ings as of March 12 12 D Division 1. DCL Detonators 4 1 A division Team W L 2. Safe Sets 4 2 Team W L 1. Nuggets (tie) 14 3 Team W L OTL Pts. 3. Can't Block This 1 3 1. Bumpin' Uglies (tie) 3 1 1. Bureaucrats (tie) 14 3 1. Ace 16 1 0 32 4. Avery Cooper Crushers 0 3 1. Coyote's Muktuk Snappers (tie) 3 1 3. Jazz 15 4 2. Fuel Flo 14 2 0 28 3. 2 Legit 2 Hit (tie) 1 3 B division 4. 76ers 10 8 3. Weaver and Devore 13 4 0 26 3. No Chalkers (tie) 1 3 5. Spartans 6 12 4. Slayers 7 10 0 14 Team W L 6. New Team 2 16 5. KaSteelHeads 6 9 1 13 1. Can't Get It Up 4 0 E division 7. Fruit Punch Ballers 2 17 6. Carl's 5 9 3 13 2. All Blacks 2 2 Team W L 7. Diamond Glass 5 10 2 12 3. Setters of Catan 1 2 source: Yk Basketball Association 1. Harley's Ball Busters 5 1 8. Aurora Ford 5 10 1 11 4. Blue Balls 0 3 2. JTFN Defenders 3 3 9. J-Tech 4 9 3 11 3. Crowe MacKay Number Crunchers 2 3 10. Eagles 2 13 2 6 C Division 4. BFTA 1 4

Note: Overtime losses are worth one point Team W L source: Yk Volleyball Association source: Yk Rec Hockey League 1. The Young and the Rest of Us 3 0 16 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 Yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 17 18 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 business Yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021 19 Unique memories from common items

Natalie Pressman/NNSL photo Jane Arychuk started ArTech Engraves two years ago with her husband Gordon. They run the business out of their Yellowknife home with past and upcoming designs lining their home office walls. Yellowknife couple behind the business take pride in transforming everyday objects in beloved products Northern News Services Arychuk's Trotec laser machine. When ouring those who have passed. ArTech has There is something special about a she returned, she and worked with families personalized product that is uniquely your Gordon got to work on to create crest plates, own. designs for the upcom- plaques, garden signs For Jane and Gordon Arychuk, creat- ing holiday season. and bench plates. ing those things "is an honour." Since the pandemic Back "When people come ArTech Engraves has been in oper- hit, she said they have and pick that up, and get ation since October 2018. In that time, been as busy as ever – to business emotional, it gets to us Jane and Gordon have engraved count- even without craft sales with Natalie Pressman too," Jane said. "We've less Christmas ornaments, cutting boards, and markets. spent so much time with travel mugs, cake toppers and pieces of After a surge in that person and those home decor. orders around Christmas, Jane said the images that we almost have a relationship One new addition to their product line business has stayed busy. with that person as well." is a set of wooden hearts engraved with "The pandemic has really encouraged She and her husband are constantly family names to be hung on rear view people to shop local, and I hope that as the creating new partnerships and collaborat- mirrors. North, as Canada, as the world opens, that ing to make customers' visions come to "It has been interesting to go to the people are now aware of what is available life, but they also have the creativity and grocery store and see all these cars with locally and will continue to use local busi- freedom to explore their own project ideas. rear-view mirror hearts," Jane said. ness," she said. There are always new designs, Jane Creating a new, post-retirement busi- She called supporting local business said, but people come to them for our ness, wasn't something Jane had been a "symbiotic chain," as local businesses, old stuff as well and ask about trad- planning. in turn, often purchase locally as well, itional designs of moccasins and drums, She recalls Gordon investing in a laser by sourcing materials close to home and for example. engraver years ago as a supplement to providing products for other local shops Right now, engraving Yeti travel mugs his work as an artist. When she and and organizations. makes up about half of the business. some other family members dabbled with When they started the business, Jane "The best thing is that we enjoy it," the machine, making gifts and designs said some of the biggest learning they had Jane said. for friends and neighbours, they saw the to do was around marketing and social "We enjoy creating different things potential for more. media. As it stands, the business runs just for people, working with them, creating After retiring as president of Aurora off of Facebook. something Northern, something to sym- College, Jane flew south for a Calgary Beyond mugs, plaques and door signs, bolize family, something that's special and training course on how best to use the one product that Jane takes pride in is hon- only for them." 20 yellowknifer, Friday, March 12, 2021