8 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, May 8, 2017 Editorial & Opinions Published Mondays COMMENTS AND VIEWS FROM NEWS/NORTH AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OFFICE: Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R1 Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507 Toll free: (855) 873-6675 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Road dispute needs Website: www.nnsl.com SOUTH SLAVE OFFICE, HAY RIVER: Paul Bickford, Bureau Chief Phone: (867) 874-2802 Fax: (867) 874-2804 E-mail: [email protected] MACKENZIE DELTA OFFICE, : Stewart Burnett a calming solution Phone: (867) 777-4545 Fax: (867) 777-4412 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nnsl.com/inuvikdrum GNWT should seek BAFFIN OFFICE, : Phone: (867) 979-5990 Fax: (867) 979-6010 E-mail: [email protected] compromise over Website: www.nnsl.com/nunavutnews KIVALLIQ OFFICE, RANKIN INLET: Nahanni Butte Darrell Greer – Bureau Chief Phone: (867) 645-3223 Fax: (867) 645-3225 E-mail: [email protected] clearing of route Website: www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews

"We look forward to an explanation for their actions PUBLISHER: J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason – [email protected] and will meet them in the Supreme Court if this is GENERAL MANAGER: Michael Scott – [email protected] MANAGING EDITOR: Bruce Valpy – [email protected] their venue of choice." ACCOUNTING – [email protected] – Nahanni Butte Chief Peter Marcellais after the Judy Triffo • Florie Mariano • Salleah Wagas Elain Asombrado GNWT filed a notice of injunction in March. Senior editor: Mike W. Bryant Assignment editor: James O'Connor Northern News Services News editors Mike W. Bryant • Randi Beers • James O'Connor A Dene band that defied the Adam Kolberg threat of legal action by the GNWT Sports: James McCarthy – [email protected] in order to build a road was hacking Business: [email protected] Arts: [email protected] through much more than brush and trees. Senior reporter: Jessica Davey-Quantick Reporters: Kassina Ryder • John McFadden Nahanni Butte simply got tired of Shane Magee • Robin Grant • Kirsten Fenn regulatory delay and started slicing Emelie Peacock April Hudson/NNSL photo Editorial board: through the bureaucratic red tape Nahanni Butte Dene youth helped clear an old logging road near the community Bruce Valpy • Mike W. Bryant James O'Connor it believed was holding back its by hand last winter. Heavier machinery was also used to help avert what the band Advertising production chance for economic development called an emergency as elders ran out of firewood and needed the fresh supply. Production co-ordinator: Jennifer Reyes in conjunction with a proposed mine The GNWT considered the action an end run to open the road for a new mine. B.V. Logsdon • Diana Mathisen • Zdena Kunderlik Randy Hiebert • Natalia Hunt • Wesley Cook near the community. Customer service: Holly Yestrau On March 28, the Department of region are controlled by the com- their self-importance and need to [email protected] Lands filed a notice of injunction missioner until Nahanni Butte's land 'protect' the public. ADVERTISING with the Supreme Court of the NWT, claims are settled. The hearing between the band [email protected] Retail advertising supervisor: Marlee Currie seeking to stop Nahanni Butte band As you'll read in today's News/ and the GNWT in front of NWT Representatives: Terry Dobbin • Dawn Janz members and associates from "tres- North, Nahanni Butte is now pulling Supreme Court judge Shannon Clarissa Neyando • Andrea Beacock Hayley Shortt • Shannon Michel passing" on territorial lands. The out of the Dehcho First Nations, the Smallwood in Yellowknife was Features co-ordinator: Zerline Rodriguez department also filed a statement all-season road to the mine again adjourned April 7. Administrative assistant: Lucy Escalante of claim with the courts regarding at issue. The GNWT has held the position CIRCULATION: the road. But in March, the band was that Nahanni Butte is trying to [email protected] David Hovey • Ryan MacWilliams The department claims Nahanni defending allegations of "trespass" manoeuvre an end-run around the Subscriptions: Butte is trying to speed up develop- levelled against it by the GNWT as a environmental protection process in One year mail $90 • Two year mail $125 Online (entire content) $50/year ment of Canadian Zinc Corporation's land use permit would be needed to order to speed up development of Individual subscriptions, multiple user rates on request Prairie Creek Mine by getting around use heavy equipment on the land. Prairie Creek Mine. However, after an environmental Marcellais the band retained a lawyer and NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED 100% Northern owned and operated assessment pro- said the band vowed to fight the injunction, the Publishers of: THE ISSUE: Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News cess required for had asked for GNWT declared it would seek a solu- Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub DEVELOPMENT NWT News/North • News/North construction of a the department's tion outside of court. Member of: Canadian Community Newspapers Association road to the mine. WE SAY: assistance in put- Outspoken NWT Senator Nick Sib- Ontario Community Newspapers Association Manitoba Community Newspapers Association Currently, a ting together an beston, who hails from the Deh Cho Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association TERRITORY A FRUSTRATING Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association proposed all-sea- application for a region, has even called for an apol- Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils PLACE TO DO BUSINESS Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce son road to the land use permit ogy from the territorial government Contents copyright – printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited mine has been in early February for what he termed its " terrible"

We acknowledge the Nous reconnaissons languishing before the Mackenzie and has been waiting to sign off on decision to take legal action against financial support of l'appui financier du the Government of gouvernement du Valley Review Board for three years. the final application. the band. Canada. Canada. Although the old logging road "After more than 48 days, our We're not sure if that's called for

Member of the Ontario Press Council. The Ontario Press Council Nahanni Butte was clearing – it fin- operating season is coming to an but surely cooler heads need to pre- was created to defend freedom of the press on behalf of the public and press alike, and to consider specific, unsatisfied complaints ished in late April – did not overlap end and the use of heavy equipment vail in this dispute. from readers about the conduct of the press in gathering and pub- lishing news, opinion and advertising. with the proposed all-season road, is pointless as we will soon be under It's amazing anything except Complaints should go to: the GNWT noted it follows "the spring thaw conditions," Marcellais frustration and frost flourish in this The Ontario Press Council, 2 Carlton St., Suite 1706 Toronto, Ont., M5B 1J3 same general path." stated in an e-mail. territory. With its overlapping juris- E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 1-416-340-8724 www.ontpress.com The statement of claim sought "Once again, we are confused by dictions and multi-layered approval unspecified damages, costs, an government officials who claim to processes, this is a frustrating place SEND US YOUR COMMENTS E-mail us at: [email protected] with the subject injunction against the band and want to work with us to help us navi- to do business. line "My opinion"; or send mail to News/North at Box possession of the road, arguing gate the complex bureaucracy ... and The Nahanni Butte Dene Band's 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off at our office at 5108-50 Street. All letters submitted the band has "damaged territorial when it's obvious they cannot sim- frustrating struggle to find a better must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number. We will do our best to ensure that lands." The document claims ter- plify the process in a logical manner, way of life for its members is just letters submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday are printed in Monday's News/North. ritorial lands in the Nahanni Butte they resort to calling attention to the latest sad example of this.