Travel is discouraged, but borders stay open NWT has zero active cases but officials worry about second wave elsewhere

1257+:(677(55,725,(6 GTC wins GG's award for history Volume 75 Issue 31 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2020 $.95 (plus GST) Paradise in a pandemic

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo Treena Eyford and Mark Benoit have just opened a new business in Hay River called Paradise Pets selling pet and farm supplies. Read the full story on page 10.

Comment: New Fort Smith Covid book Burnt artist's work tracing app Snow holds selected by live in NWT tales of the land Purolator

Publication mail Contract #40012157 "It's an incredible experience, but it's also one of the most challenging things I've ever done."

7 71605 00200 2 – Author Nadine Neema wrote an illustrated book about the annual Tlicho Trail of our Ancestors canoe trip, page 15. 2 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 3 Did we get it wrong? News/North is committed to getting facts and fact file names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you nwt covid-19 situation as of Nov. 26 spot an error in News/North, call (867) 873-4031 and ask to speak to an editor, or email editorial@ nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as Active cases: 0 Days since first confirmed case: 252 soon as we can. Confirmed cases: 15 Days since last confirmed case: 15 Recovered cases: 15 Common symptoms: Fever, (60 per cent), muscle News Completed tests: 7,489 aches or pain (53 per cent), cough (53 per cent), Negative tests: 7,474 sore throat (33 per cent), diharrhea (13 per cent), Briefs Pending tests: 29 difficulty breathing (seven per cent)

Source: Office of the Chief Public Health Officer Covid-19 tracing app

photo courtesy of Fort McPherson RCMP Fort McPherson RCMP seized more than 18 litres of vodka from a vehicle now online in NWT on the Dempster Highway Nov. 23. But while number of infections explodes in neighbouring RCMP seize 'significant amount of alcohol' on Dempster Highway provinces and territories, NWT drops to zero active cases Tetlit' Zheh/Fort McPherson Fort McPherson RCMP seized "a significant by Natalie Pressman next steps. amount of alcohol" on its way to the commun- Northern News Services The news release states that all data pro- NWT ity, where liquor is restricted, on Nov. 23. vided to the free app is securely stored and The NWT is now among the Canadian They intercepted a vehicle on the Dempster protected based on a security assessment jurisdictions covered by the Covid Alert Highway carrying the equivalent of more than from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Secur- contact tracing app. 18 litres of vodka in bottles of various volumes. ity and BlackBerry. Premier Caroline Cochrane and Prime The alcohol "significantly exceeded the quanti- As cases continue to rise across the coun- Minister announced Nov. 27 ties allowed under the NWT Liquor Act," the try, the app serves as another tool to prevent that the territory would be joining Prince Mounties stated. the spread of Covid-19. Edward Island, , , As the investigation is ongoing, the RCMP In the last seven days alone there have , , , remind residents who have information about been 36,357 new cases across . , and Newfoundland and Labrador suspicious activity to call the detachment at The NWT is the only province or ter- where the app is already available for down- 952-1111. ritory to not have reported any new Covid load. Anyone with information who wishes to cases in that time. The territory has seen a "Our biggest priority is protecting the remain anonymous can also contact Crime total of 15 positive test results since the pan- health and well-being of our residents and Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or text: "nwtnutips" demic began. All have recovered. There are communities," Cochrane said in a news plus your message to 274637. still 38 tests pending in the NWT as of Nov. release. "As cases continue to rise across the – Natalie Pressman 25. On both sides of the NWT, the other ter- country, the Covid Alert app will help limit ritories have reported a rise in cases with 14 the spread of the virus in the Northwest Ter- more positive test results in over the Former deputy minister faces ritories and provide comfort and peace of past week, and 85 in . preliminary hearing in stabbing mind to residents as we continue to navigate All three provinces bordering the terri- Somba K'e/ this difficult time. I strongly encourage all tory to the south have seen thousands of new Former NWT deputy minister Willard residents to download the app." cases in the last seven days alone. 's Hagen's court case is moving forward with a The technology works by sending out staggering 9,109 new cases is exceeded only screenshot image preliminary hearing next year. randomly-generated codes to other nearby by the 9,721 in Ontario, which has a much If an app user tests positive for that have the app installed. Defence lawyer Peter Harte appeared in larger population. Covid, they are provided with a court Tuesday on behalf of Hagen who was A user who tests positive for Covid-19 The more users that download the app, charged in February with aggravated assault. receives a one-time key from their health the more effective a tool it is for contact one-time key to input into the app The charges against Hagen have not been authority to enter into the app. Other users tracing. Since its launch, there have been and it will notify other app users proven in court. who have been within two metres of that more than 5.5 million downloads across with whom they may have been in The victim of the alleged assault was found individual are then notified and directed on Canada. contact. with a stab wound in his abdomen downtown in the early hours of Feb. 28 of this year. After obtaining a search warrant, RCMP seized a knife, two winter jackets, and three cellphones from Hagen's Yellowknife residence. Travel discouraged with The preliminary hearing is set to proceed on Jan. 13, 2021. Hagen resigned from his post as the Depart- ment of Lands deputy minister last September following a racially charged Facebook comment vaccine still months away attacking Frame Lake MLA Kevin O'Reilly. Hagen is also a bush pilot and founder of Aklak Air. He is the former president of the 'It's better that we have a different type of Christmas' Gwich'in Tribal Council, former director of the Métis Development Corporation, and a former by Simon Whitehouse population," she said. essential travel. chair of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Northern News Services Cochrane took part in a news conference "I think the message right now is that the Board. NWT with chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kan- risk is high throughout the Northwest Territor- – Natalie Pressman Premier Caroline Cochrane says that a pos- dola after a week that saw a spike in national ies and throughout Canada and throughout the sible vaccine for Covid-19 isn't expected until rates for Covid-19, including in neighbouring world," the premier said. Bouchard returns spring and as the virus rapidly spreads across jurisdictions of Yukon, Alberta and Nunavut. "The risk is high, the second wave is hit- Canada, her government is asking residents to Cochrane and Kandola said while rates of ting harder than I think anybody would have as deputy mayor avoid non-essential travel. the virus remain low in the NWT, it can be projected. It's going to be tough for parents and Hay River "We are hopeful that it will be released in expected that there will be an increase here, tough for students. Coun. Robert Bouchard has been reappointed the spring ... is what we're looking at," Coch- too. "Unless it's essential travel, we're recom- deputy mayor of the Town of Hay River. Coun- rane said Nov. 27. "We are seeing the impact of the second mending that people not return home or make cil passed a motion to name the deputy mayor "And (first ministers) all agreed across wave across the country, including our North- sure that if they do, follow the orders and for 2021 during its Nov. 16 online meeting. Canada that there would be a protocol in how ern neighbours to the east and west of us as we self-isolate." Bouchard, who has been deputy mayor since we deal with the vaccinations." grapple with increasing numbers," Cochrane Kandola said she's recommending people the last municipal election, was the only mem- She said rollout will start with those deter- said. "Our success at limiting the number of "stay put" for Christmas as she expects Covid ber of council to put his name forward for the mined to be at higher risk, such as senior cases can be attributed to our pandemic efforts rates to climb higher across the country in the position. citizens. to protect our residents, and communities." coming weeks. Under the Council Procedures Bylaw, a dep- "We are then working with the health-care Kandola and Cochrane are not telling trav- "For a whole host of reasons it's better that uty mayor is selected in November of each year. providers, those who are providing support ellers not to enter the NWT for Christmas, but we have a different type of Christmas this year, – Paul Bickford to health care, and eventually to the general they are recommending that people avoid non- and we stay put." 4 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 news Communities concerned about cost of Covid-19 self-isolation Territory is back to zero active cases; 15 people have tested positive and recovered

by Natalie Pressman Northern News Services NWT It has been eight months since the NWT declared a public health emergency and as experts continue to better understand the Covid-19 virus, the chief public health officer (CPHO) is considering changes to self-isolation requirements. CPHO and the GNWT are looking into expanding locations for mandated self-isolation periods, as well as options for controlling costs at isolation centres. Changes in public health orders by the CPHO could allow greater flexibility in where self-isolation is permitted for residents returning from travel outside the NWT. From Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, the GNWT Covid-19 Coordinat- ing Secretariat held five engagement sessions with community governments, business stakeholders and Indigenous governments to gather input on the possible isolation centre changes. The GNWT released the What We Heard Report summarizing that feedback on Nov. 24. The comments, though varied on how best to move forward with changes to isolation protocol, were mostly in support of reducing isolation centre costs to taxpayers. NNSL file photo Organizations outlined concerns surrounding community The shuttered Mackenzie Hotel in Inuvik was kept busy this year as a GNWT isolation hub. transmission of the virus from larger regional centres that smaller community residents must visit for services. Community GNWT's costs for implementing the public health orders of the ating Secretariat will assist the CPHO in adapting public health governments also expressed worry over limited health-care facil- CPHO, engagement groups said the GNWT "should only be pay- orders that affect locations where mandated self-isolation can ity capacity and staffing shortages. ing if it is needed after absolutely necessary travel." take place. The feedback will also allow the GNWT to make In engagement sessions, community government representa- The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) and better informed decisions about changes and/or adaptations to tives spoke about a lack of enforcement services as a concern for the secretariat also heard from representatives through letters policy related to controlling costs at isolation centres. self-isolation to expand to the smaller communities. and previous comments provided to other government depart- "It's important we hear, value, and learn from different per- Deputy chief public health officer Dr. Andy Delli Pizzi sug- ments, which have been included in the report. spectives as we make decisions," Premier Caroline Cochrane gested testing as a tool to determine eligibility for isolating in The report is "one of many tools that informs the OCPHO said. "A co-ordinated and collaborative approach to making smaller communities, and repeated testing for those isolating in about viewpoints across the territory," the GNWT stated in a public health order decisions will allow the GNWT to determine the communities to address anxieties over community spread. press release. how best to assist each unique community when it comes to As isolation centres account for more than half of the The engagement sessions conducted by the Covid-19 Coordin- carrying them out." news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 5 Translators: the next generation A cohort of interpreters first trained in 'the 1990s is nearing retirement and MLA Jackson Lafferty hopes GNWT Indigenous language scholarships will create more speakers

by Blair McBride producing enough results, enough individuals Northern News Services coming out of the program to start interpreting? NWT I'm not sure if it is, but we have to look at the The GNWT is offering programs aimed at overall programming that we're currently deliv- Indigenous language revitalization but some ering – to train, to mentor, to give scholarships, Indigenous people wonder whether the initia- to revive, revitalize our language. We have to set tives are sufficient. some programs that are strictly (geared) towards The Department of Education, Culture interpretation." and Employment (ECE) has, over the last few Existing language programs aside, Lafferty months, opened applications for the Indigen- thinks more should be done to use the know- ous Languages Revitalization (ILR) Scholarship ledge and resources of the working interpreters program and the Mentor-Apprentice Program before they retire. One possibility he suggested (MAP). is interpreters mentoring more than one student ILR offers $5,000 scholarships for up to 10 at a time. students pursuing a post-secondary program focused on Indigenous language revitalization. Help students in communties: MLA The budget for the ILR program was He also thinks more can be done to help increased to $100,000 this year, and new and young language students in their own com- current NWT interpreters and translators have munities. been invited to apply to further boost their train- "There's quite a few (youth) actually showing ing and skill development. interest but there hasn't really been much pro- After it launched in 2018, a total of 29 gram development within the communities," he students have received scholarships, said ECE said. "We need to expand beyond Yellowknife. spokesperson Jaimee Kepa. It could be a hub, but ... we have 33 commun- photo courtesy of Eva Anandi Brownstein Those students have enrolled in the Uni- ities that we need to reach out to and develop Margaret Leishman, left, Eva Anandi Brownstein (behind camera), Aline Gar- versity of Victoria's Certificate in Indigenous programs. And so a lot of community members gan, Jonathan Antoine (behind camera), Alisha Moses, Helen Kotchea, Elaine Language Revitalization and its Bachelor of don't want to leave their own community or Lamalice (kneeling down) and Robert Lamalice on the scene of preparing a Indigenous Language Revitalization program; family. I'll be part of the push in the February- moose hide during the filming of Nahe Náhodhe, six short videos filmed at and the University of Alberta's Canadian March session (of the assembly), and start focus- the Katł'o'deeche First Nation showcasing language, culture, knowledge and Indigenous Languages and Literacy Develop- ing on the community-based level." ment Institute summer session programs. Language capability by the numbers on the land activities released earlier this year. Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty MAP pairs a fluent speaker with a student The GNWT's language programs come at hopes the GNWT's language scholarships will attract a new generation to trad- for one-on-one instruction, following a model a time when the state of the nine Indigenous itional languages. that ECE calls a "celebrated best practice in languages of the NWT show mixed levels of Indigenous language instruction recognized fluency compared to decades ago, according to as a certified interpreter by the GNWT in 1982. "The GNWT should really be reinstating the worldwide as a successful method of reviving 2019 data from the NWT Bureau of Statistics. But while she supports MAP and the ILR interpreter/translators program and (offer) it in endangered languages." There have been modest declines in about scholarships, to her what worked in the past the region or the community," she said. The program began in 2019 and for 2020- half of the languages since 1989, according to could work in the future. On-the-land learning sessions, which can 2021 it will be available for up to 10 pairs the report Ability to Converse by Region 1989 "The interpreter/translators program that also happen near communities, are also as old of mentors and apprentices from six region- to 2019. used to be offered through Aurora College, as they are useful, Sundberg said. al Indigenous governments in Inuvialuktun, Tłıcho had 2,135 speakers in 2019, up from I think that program was successful but they "Some programs are just for a day, some Gwich'in, North Slavey, Dene Zhatié, Tłıcho 1,511 in 1989, but down from 2,235 in 2014. closed it back in the late 1990s. It gave a lot of are for a few days, some just a week, a couple and Dene Suline. South Slavey had 1,313 speakers in 2019, opportunities to people to work in a lot of dif- of weeks. But this is one of the programs that Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty sees the ILR up from 1,259 in 1989, but down from 1,443 ferent areas in their language. They (could) work I hear people say is effective, because you're program as a good step forward and hopes that in 2014. in radio stations and to be language or cultural immersed right in the language, you're out on it can help foster a new generation of speakers North Slavey has declined slightly, from instructors. They could do medical interpreting, the land with Elders, and they're really encour- who can take over when the current cohort of 33 1,054 in 1989 to 1,039 in 2019. court interpreting, any kind of translation work aged to speak their language to the students," interpreter/translators retire, which many will Inuktitut speaker numbers have grown from that's out there." she said. "And the youth as well are encouraged ready to do in a few years. 180 in 1989 to 207 in 2019. One issue that came up with the Aurora pro- to ask questions about the language and it's just "It is very important that we have the con- Inuinnaqtun has also seen its number of gram was that students didn't want to travel to a natural setting. That's one of the effective ways tinuation of interpretation services, the resource speakers rise, from 208 in 1989 to 233 in 2019. Yellowknife or Fort Smith for the course, Sund- I think. pool that we've had over the years since the The number of speakers of Gwich'in fluctu- berg said. They preferred to receive the training "People are slowly relearning this tradition. 1990s until today, and we don't seem to be pro- ated in those years but in 2019 stood at 264, the in their own communities "where they could be Maybe they need to put more money into this ducing enough language interpreters across the same number as in 1989. closer to the resource people" and work with the kind of program." NWT," said Lafferty, who regularly speaks in Mary Rose Sundberg, a professional Tłıcho Elders, she explained. Tłıcho in the legislative assembly. interpreter based in Dettah, is pleased the gov- "We're fortunate that we have people that ernment is offering financial assistance with the have been in the system for quite some time MAP program, one that she said has worked in now. They were trained back in the 1990s when other regions of the NWT. there was the language bureau. But those indi- "It really takes people's effort on both sides. viduals are coming close to retirement, and we I think if they really want to learn, they will need to be ready for them. I don't think we are." learn if they're determined. I'm glad finally the With that goal in mind, he questions the government is doing something to put that extra effectiveness of the MAP initiative. effort in there to help the regions to learn their "It's been there some time now. But is it language," said Sundberg, who was first hired 6 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 news Leela Gilday brings Dene language to new production of Handel's Messiah theatre company Against the Grain incorporates minority voices across Canada by Blair McBride there," she said. A second portion was filmed Northern News Services in Yellowknife. NWT Gilday's videos will be among 12 perform- The NWT's own Leela Gilday give a Dene ances from artists across Canada that will take on the centuries-old opera Messiah by comprise the show's broadcast. The Toronto George Frideric Handel next month. Symphony Orchestra will provide the backing Her performance is part of the larger Mes- music. siah/Complex, a new interpretation of Han- As excited as Gilday is about the Messiah/ del's composition by Toronto theatre company Complex project, when Ivany initially brought Against the Grain, which incorporates minor- the idea to her she admits to feeling somewhat ity voices across Canada for the production's intimidated. broadcast in December. "My degree is in opera ... (but) I went into "What is it to take something that wasn't songwriting shortly after I graduated, and I born in Canada, to Canada? And what does it haven't really performed opera in over 20 look like to interpret that in your own relation- years," she said. "I've always had a love for it. ship with the music, and the land? That's how When I decided to go in a more songwriting I interpret Messiah/Complex," said the show's direction it was more that I wanted to express Inuvialuit-Dene co-director, Reneltta Arluk. my own creative voice, tell my own stories of Gilday will sing I Know That My Redeem- the North, of Dene, through my songwriting. er Liveth from the third part of Messiah in So I have actually really missed singing in this photo courtesy of Amos Scott Sahtúot'ıne, the language of her home commun- way." Leela Gilday inside a bush tent near the Stagg River, where her video for the ity of Deline. As Canada approaches its first Christmas Messiah/Complex show was filmed. "(Against the Grain director Joel Ivany) season in the Covid-19 pandemic, most people invited me to make the piece my own," said can't get together the way they'd like to for them was a priority for Ivany. ing water, celebrating the importance of nature, Gilday. "I wasn't restricted to using the text or family gatherings or musical performances, "Opera is held by many voices, and he's just and how we sustain off the land, and then the the language in the way it was originally used. such as Messiah. amplifying those voices," Arluk said. future. What is the future of Indigeneity? What So I rewrote the piece to reflect my spiritual In that context, one of the main aims of Arluk acknowledged that the original con- is the future of the Dene?" connection to the land and water and the earth. Messiah/Complex is to take the show to the text of Messiah might seem like an odd fit to For Gilday, regardless of the religious beliefs And then I sat down with my mom and a few of audience instead of the other way around. the environment of the NWT. of her fans or of the audience, spiritual music my aunties, and we translated it into Dene K'e "(It's) a really good way to keep that joy and The opera was, after all, written in England can still give people a sense of peace when and I sang that piece." that connection to Handel alive. But because in 1741 using Christian imagery of the death and many families won't be able to meet this holi- Gilday's singing was featured in a video people couldn't gather, it just made sense to resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, she said day season. filmed last week near the Stagg River, between invite singers from every province and territory Gilday applied the concept of resurrection to the "Providing that kind of comfort and solace Yellowknife and Behchoko, for the visual part to take part," said Arluk, who was born in Fort importance Indigenous people place on water. and enjoyment, even if for just an hour I think of her performance. Smith and is also the Banff Centre's director of "Resurrection can be seen as the transforma- it's really worthwhile," she said. "We went out and shot on the land in front Indigenous arts. tion of water, and how water is life internally The free show of Messiah/Complex pre- of a bush tent, feeding the fire and then there's Most of the 12 singers in the show are Black, and externally around us. When you look at it mieres on Dec. 13 and registrations can be some really cool, very Northern scenes in Indigenous and people of colour and including like that, and using the perspective of celebrat- made online. news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 7 Gwich'in Tribal Council wins GG award for oral heritage project Online atlas showing traditional landmarks and place names result of 20-year project by Eric Bowling Northern News Services Inuvik Efforts by the Gwich'in Tribal Council to preserve its people's history are not going unnoticed. The GTC was named this year's recipient of the Governor General's award for Excel- lence in Community Programming on Nov. 23 for a project mapping heritage sites created with the help of Elders. Over the last 20 years, the GTC's Department of Cultural Heritage, previously known as the Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute, has been working to map and name heritages sites throughout the and Yukon. Called the Gwich'in Goonanh'kak Googwandak: The Places and Stories of the Gwich'in, the project was borne out of a desire of Elders to preserve names from oral histories of the Gwich'in people. With the help of more than 74 Gwich'in Elders and traditional land users, this has accumulated into the creation of an online atlas, as well as official recognition of Gwich'in place names. "I have always admired the Elders and their knowledge about the land and place names," said GTC director of culture and heritage Sharon Snowshoe. "One time I was watching two Elders in my office as we were trying to clarify a place name on a large wall map and it was like these two Elders were right in their element and it was such as joy to watch, as they knew their land so intimately. I will always appreciate the time spent on this project, working closely with Elders and recording their knowledge." Aside from ensuring historical place names are not lost to history, the project also helped increase awareness of the photo courtesy Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI Gwich'in people's ties to the land. During colonization over the Gwichya Gwich'in Elder Hyacinthe Andre recalls the names of important places around the Nihtavan Dini- 19th and 20th centuries, many place names for rivers, lakes, inlee to his daughter Alestine near Tsiigehtchic, also known as the Arctic Red River, in the summer of 1993. mountains and settlements fell into disuse or were renamed by Europeans. forum are administered by Canada's History Society. Janet Walker, president and CEO of Canada's History Society. One of two projects selected for the award, which comes "With this project, the Gwich'in Tribal Council's Department Using the atlas, the traditional names, pronunciation, the his- with a $2,500 prize, the awards will be formally presented of Cultural Heritage has connected past and present, giving a tory and usage of heritage sites can be referenced. Check out the during a virtual Canada's history forum Nov. 27. The prize and voice to stories that enrich our understanding of Canada," said Gwich'in Atlas by visiting atlas.gwichin.ca. 8 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 1257+:(677(55,725,(6 Editorial & Opinions Published Mondays Comments and views from News/north and letters to the editor Yellowknife office: Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R1 Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507 Toll free: (855) 873-6675 Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Website: www.nnsl.com Alexandria Cath- South Slave office, Hay River: Paul Bickford, Bureau Chief olique, left and Phone: (867) 874-2802 Fax: (867) 874-2804 Saniz Catholique Email: [email protected] model community Mackenzie Delta office, Inuvik: crafts from Lutsel Phone: (867) 777-4545 Fax: (867) 777-4412 K'e artisans. The Email: [email protected] Website: www.nnsl.com/inuvikdrum Caribou People Baffin office, Iqaluit: Creations online Phone: (867) 979-5990 store is the perfect Fax: (867) 979-6010 Email: [email protected] example of made- Website: www.nnsl.com/nunavutnews in-the-NWT ingenu- Kivalliq office, rankin inlet: Darrell Greer – Bureau Chief ity. Phone: (867) 645-3223 photo courtesy of Pat Kane Fax: (867) 645-3225 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews

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Reporters: Simon Whitehouse • Natalie Pressman Blair McBride Covid-19 was a vague and distant threat last December.

Advertising production Production co-ordinator: Jennifer Reyes This holiday season, it will affect everything Randy Hiebert • Joshua Uson Northern News Services online and paying online was sup- Customer service: Holly Yestrau [email protected] What a treat is was to see the The issue: posed to be the next big thing and ADVERTISING world-class beadwork on offer at hampered holidays connect retailers with new mar- [email protected] Representatives: the Caribou People Creations online kets and consumers with different Petra Memedi • Laura Whittle store featured in News/North last We say: products and make things easier James Boylan week. out-maneuvre the pandemic and more convenient and reduce Advertising manager: Zerline Rodriguez The Lutsel K'e-based online store the administration associated with Features coordinator: Emmanuel Ramos Social media manager: Wesley Cook has artisanal items from card hold- physical paperwork and record- Digital advertising representative: Echo Xin ers, purses and mitts to moccasins, K'e band office, said craft-makers keeping? How did all that morph

CIRCULATION: earrings and sewing kits. There's sometimes line up with their prod- into companies charging conven- [email protected] even a (sold out) tipi lamp. ucts when Christmas market sea- ience fees for buyers using a format Circulation Director: Amy Yang Northerners are not strangers son hits. Now, the queue of people that reduces the number of people Subscriptions: One year mail $75 to surviving in a headwind, which waiting to buy can stretch into they have to pay and physical space Online (entire content) $50/year is what the pandemic and public space. it has to own or lease? It's like a health lockdowns represent to Unlike Rodney Dangerfield, this library charging a levy for using an entrepreneurs. The Caribou People store is going to get some ser- online search instead of the card Creations founders had survival in ious respect. Take our money, for catalogue. NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED mind when they created the store example, please. So there are two examples of 100% Northern owned and operated Publishers of: as a bridge between homegrown Contrast this with the real Grinch how to make money. One keeps it Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub talent and the global marketplace. move by the new owners of what in circulation in the NWT. The other NWT News/North • Nunavut News/North Member of: It's been 30 years since the bricks used to be known as Northview puts it on a spreadsheet to benefit Canadian Community Newspapers Association Ontario Community Newspapers Association and mortar store that would sell the REIT, now named Northview Can- shareholders, many of whom are Manitoba Community Newspapers Association Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association wares of some residents in town adian High Yield Residential Fund, surely well-to-do. Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce closed, taking away the primary emphasis on the high yield and December is at the door. Not Contents copyright – printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited source of income for some of them. fund. They really went for it, trying everyone has more to go around. Tourist traffic and word-of-mouth to add a web payment fee to the Many have less, many have not We acknowledge the Nous reconnaissons financial support of l'appui financier du buzz were the ingredients for suc- bills of any of their Inuvik tenants enough. But if you do have a Christ- the Government of gouvernement du Canada. Canada. cess for Terri Enzoe. But an online who paid through a new online por- mas list with names still on it, why portal allows the First Nation to tal. not have some fun with words and Member of the Ontario Press Council. The Ontario Press Council was created to defend freedom of the press on behalf of the public bypass the barriers thrown up by The timing of the attempt get some retail therapy at the same and press alike, and to consider specific, unsatisfied complaints from readers about the conduct of the press in gathering and pub- the pandemic. Tourists can shop at what the NWT rental officer time? Anyone can visit the Caribou lishing news, opinion and advertising. Complaints should go to: from their living rooms and with said amounted to an illegal rent People Creations store online but if The Ontario Press Council, 2 Carlton St., Suite 1706 Toronto, Ont., you do find yourself in the capital, M5B 1J3 travel restrictions in place and increase with no due process or Email: [email protected] Fax: 1-416-340-8724 fewer people flying anywhere, it's notice was downright shameful. It Just Furs in Old Town has a galaxy www.ontpress.com not much of a leap to suggest some took a complaint and possibly news of choices made with care and con- Send us your comments of them have more cash in-hand to coverage to prompt the company to trol by NWT Artists Guild members Email us at: [email protected] with the subject line "My opinion"; or send mail to News/North at Box spend on souvenirs because of trips do a 180 and back off on the new – and masks and hand sanitizer at 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off at costs. the door. our office at 5108-50 Street. All letters submitted they postponed or cancelled, saving must be signed with a return address and daytime money on airline tickets or hotels. Just the idea of a convenience Buying local isn't just a clever telephone number. We will do our best to ensure that letters submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday are printed in Rosie Catholique, who manages fee is laughable. Remember when slogan, it can make a world of dif- Monday's News/North. the physical store at the Lutsel shopping online and reserving ference for our neighbours. editorial – opinions NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 9 Burnt snow

We asked you! with Paul Bickford

[email protected]

When do you think the Christmas season begins?

photo courtesy of Antoine Mountain Charlie Neyelle, left and . Charlie drew a map on a pack of ciga- rettes for the dog-mushers first run, to Gameti. Northern News Services It was then that Kieran Moore got to be Friends, the title here refers to this author, smitten by the driver, one Bear Lake Alexie Kieran Moore's adventures amongst the Tauye, a well-known medicine man. Northern Dene of Deline. One of the stories told around campfires As a novice on the land in the early was of the man being threatened in a Yellow- 1970s, the Irishman had to be knife bar by another Dene, to taught everything about our ways buy him a drink. Without a word of doing things. the medicine man scooped up a This one has to do with how bunch of change from the table, we scoop away the top, drifted, presenting his accoster with a layer of snow to get at the lower, single block of metal! Gabrielle Vienneau Ashley McKay crystallized bottom, to make tea. Among the countless stories "I think the Christmas season begins "Nov. 1, because it's after Hallow- The top part gives you a burnt to while away the rest of your after Remembrance Day when all the een." taste to your tea. Covid-19, is the one of this Bear lights come out in the community on Burnt Snow makes for some Lake Alexie mysteriously leaving fascinating reading, at least for Rae Lakes to go on to Deline, the houses." myself. Fort Franklin, at the time. My generation was born right MOUNTAIN A search party was sent out to on the land, so whatever has to find out what happened to their do with these kinds of real-life View guest. experiences is what I live for. Antoine Mountain is a It was only later, when the Dene artist and writer And for Kieran Moore, appar- originally from Radilih author got to Deline himself ently. Koe'/Fort Good Hope. did he find out that the way the Having moved to Canada from He can be reached medicine man made it all the way the Green Isle at an early age he at: amountainarts.com. there in the melting Spring was to just wanted to taste for himself wait, each time, for the ice floe to every adventure to be had out there. get to his end of a lake, get his dogteam on One of his best involves Bear Lake board and sail off to the other end! Alexie. Even upon arriving near Deline without As a log builder for hire the author was on the wind to make it there, he simply piled up the roof of the to-be community hall, busy his supply of spruce boughs, firewood and shingling. tent poles, setting the entire mass on fire, on a One of them noticed a speck way out on melting ice floe! the Rae lakes, now Gameti, thinking that it Luckily enough a local, Charlie Neyelle, might be a lone wolf or lost caribou. just off work as the school's janitor, saw the Dominik Poirier Langford Richard Moore But when it began weaving, as a dogteam strange light far off from shore, on the water "I think that normally it's more like "The first of December. We go start- does, they were surprised to find that it was and came to the rescue! Dec. 1. But since Covid I think people ing to eye up the natural Christmas actually a man coming into town with dogs, The photo is of Moore and Neyelle, Char- in the middle of the melting spring. lie having drawn a map on a pack of cigarettes feel like they want to put up the tree that we look for, and then we go In a while the whole community came to for the dog-mushers first run to Gameti! Christmas lights and they want to put and harvest that tree about a week see what was going on. Someone went in a These just barely touch on a volume chock up the trees because they feel like before Christmas." canoe to the ice's edge, to help the driver load full of the amazing daring-do's of our Kieran they need that spirit in the house." up his team to get to the shore. Moore, in Burnt Snow! Mahsi, thank you. 10 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 business Paradise Pets opens in Hay River With business in their blood, couple uses Covid-19 as a trial by fire for new store Northern News Services opened on Nov. 9 in the Caribou Obviously, I was fully employed at the The store also sells pet toys and Both Eyford and Benoit are from At a time when many businesses Centre. Ford dealership at the time." supplies for fish tanks. business families. are struggling and some are even That's partially because the store's Eyford returned to her job at Right now, Paradise Pets also sells Benoit's family owns Eagle 88, closing because of Covid-19, a Hay opening wasn't really advertised, she Aurora Ford in early July, but she left live tropical fish. while Eyford's grandparents operated River couple is going in the opposite said. that work in mid-October to concen- "And I think eventually I'll get into J and M Wholesale, a grocery store direction. So she and Benoit decided on a trate on the new business. the small little critters – the hamsters that once existed in Old Town. Treena Eyford and Mark Benoit soft opening and to let the community The store sells food for a variety of and that kind of thing," said Eyford, "We're pretty proud just because have just opened a business called learn of the store by word of mouth. pets, including cats, dogs, fish, birds adding there won't be sales of dogs we're both from families that have had Paradise Pets, which offers pet sup- Eyford said business has been and hamsters. and cats. businesses in Hay River," said Eyford. plies and farm supplies. good so far. They both admit to being a little While she and Benoit are co- nervous about opening a new busi- owners, he continues to work full- ness in the face of a time at Eagle 88 pandemic. Enterprises and she However, that works onsite at the nervousness seems to new store. have found an equal Back Paradise Pets sells match in an entrepre- pet supplies and food, neurial spirit and an to business along with feed for admitted stubborn- farm animals like ness. with Paul Bickford chicken, pigs and rab- "You've got to be bits, along with hay stubborn in order to and straw. own a business," said Benoit. "We The new store builds on a business would know within the first six at Benoit's Farm in Paradise Valley, months. Covid is the best time to where they had been selling farm open, because it's your worst time. So supplies. you're going to know if you make it or In March, Eyford received a tem- if you're going to break it right away." porary layoff because of Covid-19 The co-owner added that some from her job in the service department businesses open in good times, only at Aurora Ford. to later experience bad times. "We just turned it around from you "If you can make it through the could look at it in a bad way getting worst of times, your good times are laid off from your job and having to coming," he said. be at home and having to home school Eyford said it's a bit of a gamble your kids," she said. "We just took it opening during a pandemic. and decided to make an opportunity "And we are still nervous," she out of it." said. "Because you never know if a Eyford said they decided to take it second wave is going to hit." to the next level. Paul Bickford/NNSL photo Eyford said that some people are "We had looked at a couple of Treena Eyford and Mark Benoit have just opened a new business in Hay River called Paradise surprised to see the new store, which locations (but) it never panned out. Pets. The store in the Caribou Centre sells pet supplies and farm supplies. news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 11 Whati road renamed Tlicho Highway 'The new name underscores the importance of this new highway for the Tlicho region' by Natalie Pressman Northern News Services Whati The new all-season road to Whati will officially be called the Tlicho highway, or Highway 9, the GNWT and Tlicho Government announced in a joint news release on Nov. 24. "The new name underscores the importance of this new highway for the Tlicho region, which will provide year-round access to Whatì and increase the window of access for the winter roads to the com- munities of Gamètì and Wekweètì," the release states. Currently, the Gameti and Wekweeti winter roads can only open after the Whati winter road has opened. When the all-season Tlicho Highway opens, the win- ter roads to Gameti and Wekweeti are expected to open sooner and close later. The Tlicho Highway, set to open in 2021, is an example of an infrastructure project that will con- tinue to "inject money into the economy," and "pro- vide business and employment opportunities," that are key to the Covid economic recovery strategy, the news release states. Since September 2019, the new highway's con- struction has employed 256 people, 109 of them local residents. Nearly 10,000 hours of local job training have been offered, 97 kilometres of right-of-way clearing has been completed, 85 km of embankment has been constructed and 48 bridge piles have been installed. "This road is the result of many years of planning, partnerships and hard work by former and present leaders and our collective governments," said Tlicho Government Grand Chief George Mackenzie. "This is the way any projects on Indigenous land should be developed. Our partnership with the GNWT and (general contractor) Kiewit has been a great success for our people and companies, and there is great potential for future projects in our region." The new highway will help reduce the region's cost of living and support new social opportunities, while NNSL file photo attracting interest in the exploration and development Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty, left, Whati Chief Alfonz Nitsiza and Infrastructure Minister Wally Schumann stick of natural resources, according to the news release. their shovels in to the soft ground to signify the start of construction of the Tlicho Highway. 12 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 news Fort Smith artist delivers A 'love story' painted by Melanie Jewell will appear on millions of Purolator packages by Blair McBride to do it because otherwise I would regret it. Once Northern News Services they broke it down I thought it was great and I NWT would do it again in a heartbeat." People across Canada and even across the Purolator has been planning the program for world will be able to hold a glimpse of NWT cul- a while and several months ago began searching ture in their hands this holiday season. for potential artists in each province and territory. The art of Fort Smith's Melanie Jewell is being The company sought young artists from outside displayed on Purolator's Holiday Box Collec- the mainstream whose artwork represents their tion, which features the artwork of 13 emerging home in Canada, said Laurie Weston, director of Canadian artists. The art will appear on the 46 retail with Purolator. million packages the company plans to send out "We scoured social media platforms and arts this season. councils (across Canada) for emerging artists," "I was inspired by my home com- Weston said. "For Melanie we munity of Fort Smith," said Jewell, went to the NWT Arts Council whose work has included a mural in and asked them about creative a waiting area at Stanton Territorial artists in the NWT. She was rec- Hospital. ommended by another artist there "I wanted the box to tell a love as well. We knew right away story. The background of the box when we saw her art that she was shows the Slave River and a land- the one to design our holiday box. slide. It has three characters in the "She really captures her cul- foreground. There is a young Dene tural background and the feel- couple who had a baby and a young ing of the NWT. The different man has a gift for the new mom. motifs, the Indigenous feel. It "On the other side (of the box) really resonated with me. She there is an alternate universe with a captures the mood perfectly and whooping crane holding its baby and Melanie Jewell also the holiday season." a bison giving a gift. The animals are This is the first time Purolator from Wood Buffalo National Park. has put the art of emerging Can- It's an anthropomorphic universe of animals wear- adian artists on its boxes for the holiday season. ing clothes. I was going for something whimsical For the project it partnered with art supply chain and not overly Christmasy. A winter scene that has Michaels, which along with Purolator will sell the a wholesome feel to it." 13 different artistic boxes in its outlets. They'll be Jewell was contacted in early October by public available in a few weeks. relations firm Weber Shandwick who worked with Jewell hopes the boxes will stir memories of Purolator on the project. people spending time with their families since She said the deadline was "aggressive" and many people won't be able to hold family gather- photo courtesy of Purolator short but she enjoyed the experience. ings this Christmas due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Fort Smith-inspired art of Melanie Jewell is displayed on Purola- "I was doubtful (at first) because the email was "Just that wholesome feeling that they connect tor's post boxes, part of its Holiday Box Collection that features the work so vague and it was out nowhere. But I knew I had with," she said. of 13 artists from across Canada. NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 13 Around the North If you have an item of interest from your community, call (867) 873-4031, or email: [email protected]

photo courtesy of Hay River Health and Social Services Authority thank you Artist Archie Beaverho, right, donated a work to the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority on Nov. 9 in appreciation of care he once received at the health centre. "They did look after me really good," said Beaverho. The Behchoko artist said he told himself that he would give something to the community and that has turned out to be a painting, which was accepted by Erin Griffiths, CEO of the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority. The artist said he worked for over a month on the three-piece painting, which has a theme of health.

DKFN selling bulbs Election day had been planned for Dec. 14 at Kitti Hall, how- Two candidates have also withdrawn from the race for mayor. for Christmas tree ever with the acclamation declared there will be no need to hold Three candidates for the local district education authority a vote. were acclaimed at 3 p.m. Nov. 23. They are Roberta Alexie, Deninu K'ue/Fort Resolution Denise Firth and Martina Tetlichi. Deninu K'ue First Nation (DKFN) in Fort Resolution is sell- Community art show at Now, running for council are Joyce Blake, Shaylene Blake, ing bulbs for a Christmas tree in memory of loved ones who have Robert Greenland, William R. Koe, and Richard Nerysoo. Shayl- passed away. Northern Life Museum ene Blake, Krista Jerome and Richard Nerysoo are running for Bulbs are $5 each. Thebacha/Fort Smith mayor. Election day is Dec. 14. They will be placed on a tree outside the Deninu K'ue The grand opening of a community art show will take place at – Paul Bickford Development Corporation office complex. 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 in Fort Smith. All proceeds will go to the cost of a community Christmas The show is being presented by the Northern Life Museum lights competition. and Cultural Centre. Nominations announced The last day to purchase a bulb will be Dec. 9. It will showcase artwork from Fort Smith artists. for hamlet election – Paul Bickford Select pieces in the exhibit will be for sale. Enterprise – Paul Bickford The nominees have been announced for the Dec. 14 elections Laverna Klengenberg not seeking re-election at the Hamlet of Enterprise. Barbara Hart and Malcolm MacPhail are the candidates for Ulukhaktok Several drop out of council race mayor. When the dust settles after election day in Ulukhaktok Dec. The nominees to serve as councillors are Allan Flamand, 14, one thing is already certain – the hamlet will have a new Fort McPherson Barbara Hart, Craig McMaster, D'Arcy J. (Moses) Nyback and mayor. Of the seven nominees who put their names forward for elec- Outgoing Mayor Laverna Klengenberg, who has held the role tion to Fort McPherson's four council positions, two have pulled Please see next page since 2016, is not seeking re-election, leaving the position vacant out, leaving five in the running. with two contenders, Joe Nilgak and Joshua Oliktoak. Hamlet staff penned a thank-you letter for Klengenberg, rec- ognizing her for her dedication, hard work, commitment and time away from her family. "You were a champion for our people and fought for what was best for our community as a whole," states the letter. "You spoke on behalf of council and the community with wisdom, thought and determination. Advance vote for the election is Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the community hall. Election day is the next week, running from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also up for grabs are four council seats, with three councillors – Margaret Kanayok, Delma Klengenberg and David Kuptana, seeking re-election. Also throwing their hats in the race are Jean Ekpakohak, Helena Ekootak, Janine Harvey, Celine Joss and Gilbert Olifie. – Eric Bowling Entire hamlet council acclaimed Tuktoyaktuk All five council seats in the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk have been acclaimed after nominations wrapped up Nov. 16. A Nov. 19 announcement declared the five new councillors and congratulated them on their acclamation. Joining hamlet council in 2021 will be Shawn Lundrigan, Tyrone Raddi, Tianna Gordon-Ruben, James Stevens and Ryan Yakeleya. Four of the councillors will serve two-year terms while one will sit for one year. 14 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020

ATN, from page 13 Darren Sopel. Voting on election day will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the hamlet office. There will be an advance poll on Nov. 30 with voting tak- ing place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the hamlet office. New exhibit opening at Fort Smith museum Thebacha/Fort Smith A new exhibit called The Land Provides is opening at Northern Life Museum and Culture Centre in Fort Smith. The grand opening will take place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 26. The Land Provides is an opportunity to share stories and history about the lives of Northern Indigenous peoples and their relationship with the land. Fort Smith seeking committee members Thebacha/Fort Smith The Town of Fort Smith is seeking expressions of interest from community members to sit on an ad hoc committee to review the municipality's Council Honorarium Bylaw. The deadline for expressions of interest in Dec. 4. – Paul Bickford Community Corp. gives gas to Inuvialuit hunters Aklavik Any Inuvialuit in Aklavik looking to go out on the land and hunt caribou this winter is being offered free gas. A Nov. 20 announcement from Aklavik Community Cor- poration states the ACC is willing to provide gas to house- holds so they can harvest caribou for their families. Limited to one assist per household, the offer requires harvesters to have their own equipment for hunting. Anyone who takes advantage of the offer is asked to submit a photo of their harvest or their family working with the caribou remains. For further information, residents are asked to call ACC manager Shauna Charlie at (867) 978-2414 or email her at [email protected]. – Eric Bowling Farmers market sets AGM in Fort Smith Thebacha/Fort Smith The Desnede Farmers Market in Fort Smith has set its Paul Bickford/NNSL photo annual general meeting for early December. o tannenbaum The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 at a location One-year-old Edie Venne checks out Christmas trees lining the walking track at the Hay River Community to be determined. At the AGM, board positions will be available. People can Centre at the beginning of the Festival of Trees Nov. 21. The trees will remain on display until Dec. 20. The only vote if they have paid $20 membership fees for the 2020 event moved to the community centre this year from its usual location at Princess Alexandra School, which is season prior to the meeting. unavailable because of Covid-19 restrictions. The Festival of Trees is presented by the Parent Action Commit- Organizers hope to provide a virtual link to the gathering. tees at four schools in Hay River. – Paul Bickford news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 15 author pens illustrated book on yearly Tlicho canoe trip Book was illustrated by Behchoko artist Archie Beaverho by Natalie Pressman Neema has known many of the youth on the trip their whole Northern News Services lives. Wekweeti Watching the way they learned from Elders and lived on the The annual Trails of our Ancestors canoe trip is a rite of pas- land is how characters started to form and the story that Zoe sage for many Tlicho youth. had suggested years prior became realistic. Each year, nearly 100 participants spend 10 days paddling Neema said she sees her audience in two groups, Tlicho between communities, learning stories of ascendants and living readers and others. She hopes both groups can learn about the out on the land. Agreement and that Journey of a Travelling Girl will inspire a Nadine Neema explains that in many ways the trip is trans- want to delve deeper into its importance. formative. She hopes to "contribute to a heightened awareness about "They begin to learn parts about their own selves and their the trails (trip) ... and also maybe it inspires others to write tradition and taking their place within that, in ways that, I think about their own experiences on the trails." many of them haven't really before," she said. In addition to her work in the Tlicho communities, Neema In her new book, Journey of A Travelling Girl, Neema delves is also a professional musician. She has released four albums, into the transformation the trip inspires in one young paddler, opened for Elton John, Joe Cocker and Cyndi Lauper and was 11-year-old Jules as she travels from Snare Lake, Wekweeti to mentored by the late Leonard Cohen. Behchoko to attend the Tlicho Agreement ceremony in August Journey of a Travelling Girl is available for purchase and 2005. Neema will also be hosting a virtual launch on Tuesday Nov. 24. While Jules starts off dragging her feet, she soon gains an The launch will include readings, a question and answer appreciation for Tlicho history and culture. period, book giveaways, and discussion with Tlicho govern- Neema said she sought to strike a balance between educat- ment culture and lands protection director Tammy Steinwand. ing readers about the 2005 Agreement – the first combined The virtual launch can be streamed through Neema's Facebook land claim and self government agreement in the NWT, and page, as well as through the Heritage House, The Yellowknife second of its kind in Canada – while maintaining the fictional Book Cellar, and the Tlicho page at 7 p.m. MT. story aspect that she hopes audiences "love to read." In the new year, Neema plans to virtually visit the Tlicho Neema spent many years living in Wekweeti and has herself schools once they've had the chance to read the book. embarked on the Trails of our Ancestors canoe trip twice. While she couldn't travel North for the 15th anniversary of The journey is both internal and physical, she said. the Tlicho Agreement, Neema hopes to come up to the terri- "It's an incredible experience, but it's also one of the most tory next summer for the 100 year anniversary of Treaty 11 challenging things I've ever done." and speculates an in-person event for the book may be possible As the Dechi Laot'i First Nation band manager in the '90s then. and early 2000s, Neema had witnessed many Trail of our While Neema admits the process of writing a book is not Ancestors groups depart and return over the years. Later, as without its challenges, sharing Tlicho culture and stories, she part of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council team, she again watched said, "is something that I've always felt very privileged to be from the sidelines as she collaborated on preparing the Tlicho's part of." transition to self-government. After the Agreement was signed, Neema wrote a guest col- umn in News/North about the importance of the claim and the festivities that followed its inception. John B. Zoe, chief nego- tiator for the Tlicho agreement, later suggested she turn that piece into a children's story. Neema liked the idea but wasn't sure how exactly she would do it. photo courtesy of Nadine Neema It wasn't until 2012 that Neema traveled back up North from Nadine Neema says the Trail of our Ancestors Montreal to take ship on the journey. She returned again the trip is a rite of passage for many Tlicho youth and following summer. That's when the story really began to take in many ways, a transformative experience. shape, she said. 16 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 Sports & Recreation Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: [email protected] • Fax: (867) 873-8507 Inuvik's toughest mudders 'The coolest part about it is you get to grind it out and experience something unusual' by Eric Bowling who would have been running their obstacles, using stairs, Northern News Services in the 20-to-30 C Texas heat, equipment and other odds and Inuvik instead were enduring -10 C ends around the Midnight Sun Sub-zero temperatures, temperatures in Inuvik. But Complex. minimal sunlight and icy they didn't skip a beat. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., roads aren't usually the ideal "The coolest part about it is the team ran laps throughout conditions for a day-long you get to grind it out and con- town, picking their favourite marathon, but four Inuvik ath- nect with people and experi- streets and paths, but as the letes showed that was merely ence something quite unusual day raged on and the tem- an illusion as they completed that you might not experience peratures plummeted into a 24-hour race held across the for any other reason," said the night, they finished the planet on Nov. 7. Urquhart, who organized the second 13-hour portion of the Normally, the world's most team. "I'm really thankful I race at the MSC. dedicated runners and athletes had this group of people to "For one of the obstacles make an annual pilgrimage to share it with, it was great. we had to do a challenge compete in the World's Tough- "And thankful to be able to listening to the song Baby est Mudder. This year, it was do it in town." Shark, and do a push-up supposed to be held in Dallas, While normally a 24-hour every time you heard the Texas, but instead it's gone death race combining a trad- word 'shark'," said Geo Pas- digital due to the pandemic. itional obstacle course inter- cal. "There's different types This meant the athletes, weaved with eight kilometres of Baby Shark you can listen Dave Urquhart, Stephan- of running track, because ath- to, from metal, to country, to photos courtesy of Stephanie Leduc ie Leduc, Geo Pascal and letes were competing remotely Geo Pascal, left, Amelie Mainguy-Deslandes, Stephanie Leduc and Dave Amelie Mainguy-Deslandes, the team had to get creative for Please see next page Urquhart pose with the flag in between laps during the World Toughest Mudder digital race Nov. 7. They completed the 24-hour marathon in Inuvik. sports & recreation NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 17 Four athletes take part in 24-hour challenge Inuvik's, from page 16 more of an endurance-test than a fitness one. their grit with a touch of nutritional science. he's already got his ticket. But it took several months of training to get to As the night wore on, the racers would find "Hopefully we can all meet up and go to Christmas. the point where they could handle it. themselves devouring nutrition bar, pizza, Nevada next year," said Urquhart. "I think all "Once you hit the 12-hour mark, every- "We did a lot of group training," said bacon, instant noodles or other high calorie of us have our own personal goals. This part thing just shuts down. Your feet swell up, and Leduc. "We ran a lot around Boot Lake, we food after each lap to keep their bodies for me I consider kind-of off-season, because things you wouldn't even think start to hurt, ran in town. We would get together and do so fuelled. Urquhart noted the human body is training for an ultra is very different than never mind trying to stay awake for 12 hours. outside training in the summer. A lot of run- only capable of absorbing 60-90 grams of training for anything else. "For me, especially this was a challenge ning, a lot of push-ups, a lot of squats. Some carbohydrates per hour during exercise, so it "We'll see Geo doing 400-pound dead because before this I never really ran more of our workouts were an hour-and-a-half to made their dietary choices far simpler. lifts out there, and I'm going to try and put a than five kilometres. Then I started hanging two hours. Now in recovery mode, the fearsome four- little bit of muscle back on my frame. In June, out with Steph and Dave and next you know "We're always constantly training; part some – most on their first time, aside from there's some really great 24-hour obstacle we're running for 24-hours." of our lifestyle is being fit. This was a little Urquhart who's now done the race four times course races. There's one in Canada called the As all four were already in incredibly good bit more insane than all of us, but we all got – say they can't wait to do it again, regardless platinum rig race in June. physical shape to be able to consider taking a convinced to do it." of whether it's back to the normal gathering or "Everyone here doesn't know that they're contest like this on, Leduc noted the race was To keep up their pace, the team combined handled digitally like this year. Urquhart said going, but they might be."

Amelie Mainguy-Deslandes and Geo Pascal perform push-ups to various renditions of Baby Shark as one of the 'obstacle' challenges of the World's Toughest Mudder 24-hour marathon. At right: The Inuvik competitors take a breather before starting another lap. Below, right: Running past the new Inu- vik Performance Pavilion. Bottom: racing off into the sunset.

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AGE: 16 COMMUNITY: FORT SMITH Finnlay is on the NAIG Female Soccer training squad for the 2022 Canada Summer Games. She also plays in the women's hockey league. She has been to the Arctic Winter Games for Snowshoe Biathlon twice and works hard to be a Finnlay leader in work ethic and attitude on all of Rutherford-Simon her teams. 18 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 30, 2020 19 20 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 30, 2020