Too few are getting the jab, says Green Health minister is concerned goal of vaccinating 75 per cent of residents is in trouble 1257+:(677(55,725,(6 Reviewing sex assaults

Volume 75 Issue 48 MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021 $.95 (plus GST)

Hang in there!

photo courtesy of Ryan Barbeau Moose Kerr School student Colton Archie and physical education teacher Ryan Barbeau hold the bar for Rosalyn McDonald, who competes in the arm hang during a virtual Northern Games competition. The arm hang is a traditional Inuvialuit game for improving strength and endurance.

MLAs Friends, Comment: approve family recall on sober GNWT Michael leadership budget Chinna

Publication mail Contract #40012157 "It has had a lot of impact on traditional knowledge and on relationships between Elders and youth."

7 71605 00200 2 – NWT MP Michael McLeod describes one way climate change has affected the North as he talks carbon tax, page 5. 2 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 feature news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 3 Correction In the March 22 issue of News/North, in a story fact file titled Lutsel K’e chief charged with assault, impaired driving, News/North incorrectly identified the Local nwt covid-19 situation as of april 1 Authorities Election Act (LAEA) as the authority determining an official’s eligibility to retain their seat. The eligibility is in fact determined by individ- Active cases: 0 Days since first confirmed case: 377 ual communities, according to Crown-Indigenous Confirmed cases: 76 Days since last confirmed case: 3 Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC). News/North apologies for any confusion the error Recovered cases: 75 Vaccines may have caused. Completed tests: 16,084 First doses administered: 23,722 Negative tests: 16,014 Scan for the Second doses administered: 13,933 latest GNWT News Pending tests: 24 Covid-19 statistics Total doses administered: 37,655 Briefs Source: Office of the Chief Public Health Officer Diavik mine Covid-19 case is 'anticipated' variant RCMP plans to review sex Somba K'e/Yellowknife The GNWT says the B.1.1.7 Covid-19 variant is in the Northwest Territories. But since the infected party is a non-resident Diavik Diamond Mine employee, the case isn't being counted in the NWT's total. assault cases twice yearly This is the first time the "variant of concern," first detected in the United Kingdom and one of several now circulating around the world, has been confirmed in the NWT. A pair of variant cases were confirmed in the Yukon at the end of March. Chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola said she "anticipated" the arrival of variants here. But while new variants seem to spread more eas- ily than the original virus, "the same types of preventive strategies will be effective. There is strong evidence that the Moderna vaccine is very protective against the B.1.1.7 variant." She said there is no identified risk to NWT communities related to this infection. – Craig Gilbert WSCC appoints Jenni Bruce as chair of governance council NWT The Workers' Safety and Compensation Com- mission of the NWT and Nunavut (WSCC) announced Thursday the appointment of Jenni Bruce as the new chair of its governance council. The seven-person council oversees the WSCC's conduct of business and management while ensur- ing the viability of the Workers' Protection Fund. Bruce, who is also president the NWT Cham- ber of Commerce was appointed by Shane Thompson, Minister Responsible for the WSCC in NWT, in consultation with his counterpart in Nunavut, George Hickes. NNSL file photo Bruce replaces former chair David Tucker. A review committee examined NT RCMP practices in sexual assault investigations and, while officers were mostly – Blair McBride respectful, the committee found areas where the police force should improve. Lightning storms in Committees aim to improve investigations Arctic increasing Beaufort Delta into accusations of sexual violence Lightning strikes in the Arctic, including the like the Status of Women Council to ensure they transfer into the division. North Pole, have increased exponentially in the by Natalie Pressman Northern News Services investigations are thorough and impartial, "It's something that we monitor quite last decade, according to researchers at the Uni- NWT and to identify any systemic gaps or bar- closely to ensure that everyone is taking the versity of Washington who monitor global light- The NT RCMP will make changes to riers. appropriate training," said Aubin. ning strikes. practices on sexual assault cases following a While the report found that most RCMP He added, however, that further meas- The researchers say they tracked lightning committee's assessment. investigations of sexual assault are "thor- ures are clearly necessary given the report's strikes across the Arctic and found strikes One such improvement is bringing rep- ough, timely and conducted in a trauma- findings in spite of ongoing officer training. between June and August increased from 18,000 resentatives from the communities into the informed manner," SAIRC found officers' Louise Elder, executive director of the in 2010 to over 150,000 in 2020. Tallied with room, NT RCMP family violence coordin- personal opinions have sometimes appeared Status of Women Council of the NWT, lightning strikes across the planet, the new elec- ator Cpl. Jesse Aubin said at a press confer- in reports and that additional training is still pointed to the need for improvements con- trical activity in the North accounted for 0.6 per ence Thursday. needed to inform consent and combat rape sidering the territory's high rates of sexual cent of all recorded lightning strikes on Earth in Moving forward, the Sexual Assault myths. violence. 2020 – which is triple what was measured at the Investigations Review Committee (SAIRC) Among the cases randomly selected for A Statistics Canada report from Decem- start of the study. will be conducting reviews twice yearly, and investigation were those labelled "unfound- ber 2020 stated that more than half of both A cause for the shift has not been determined. releasing annual reports with its findings ed," meaning determined by police to have men and women in Canada's territories The study notes thunderstorms need humidity to and recommendations for improvement. not occurred or not be in violation of the have been victims of at least one sexual or form, so rapidly warming atmospheric conditions The next review is scheduled to take Criminal Code. physical assault since age 15. Women were in the Arctic are likely a factor. place this month, followed by another in In 2017, an investigation by The Globe reported to be three times more likely than – Eric Bowling the fall. and Mail found one in five sexual assault men to have been sexually assaulted at least He explained the move is a direct result of allegations reported in Canada to have been once since the age of 15. NWT leaders discuss consultations between the police and com- dismissed as unfounded. In the NWT, the report found that 52 per education system munity groups like The Status of Women Since then, Aubin said the RCMP has cent of women and 55 per cent of men had NWT Council of the NWT, speaking further to introduced training to improve the use of been sexually or physically assaulted since Elected education leaders from across the the importance of a collaborative approach. the unfounded classification and that the NT age 15 and those numbers were even higher NWT met on March 25 with Education, Culture Having an advocate from one of the RCMP adopted policies requiring super- for Indigenous groups. and Employment Minister R.J. Simpson to discuss smaller communities present is one change visory reviews on files that are deemed Elder said SAIRC has "a very commit- their joint work to further strengthen the junior that will help bring greater perspective to unfounded. ted group working to address this," and that kindergarten to Grade 12 system. the review process, Aubin said. Aubin told media that bias training, con- they are proud of the work that's been done They reviewed initial research findings on the Last month, the RCMP released a report sent law and common sexual assault myths so far. renewal of the junior kindergarten to Grade 12 outlining the findings of the SAIRC based training is also mandatory for all members "We believe that the work of the com- curriculum. The next meeting with Simpson is on sexual assault case files reviewed in of the NT RCMP. While officers are often mittee is making a difference and has the scheduled for April 27. December 2019 and June 2020. moving in and out of the territory, he said potential to have an impact on the RCMP – Paul Bickford The committee brings together members it's the commanding officer's priority that response to survivors of sexual assault," she of the police force with advocate groups members are properly trained as soon as said. 4 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 news MLAs approve 2021-2022 budget Members announce $4.278 million in new spending by Blair McBride credit to every member of the Northern News Services 19th Legislative Assembly and NWT demonstrates our shared com- MLAs have approved the mitment to working together Main Estimates for the 2021- for the benefit of all NWT 2022 fiscal year budget. residents.” The 2021-2022 Budget She committed to $4.278 proposes to spend $2 billion million in spending to be on programs and services in included in the 2021-2022 2021-22, the GNWT said in a Supplementary Appropriation news release Wednesday. No. 1. It will be further con- Each Minister and sen- sidered in the June 2021 sitting ior officials of departments of the legislative assembly. appeared before standing The appropriation includes: committees and the com- • $600,000 in mittee of the whole in the increased funding to move the legislative assembly to review NWT’s Midwifery Program department budgets over the into phase two of implemen- last few weeks. tation; Minister of Finance Caro- • $1.4 million in increased line Wawzonek and represent- Addictions and After-care atives of the standing com- Funding to establish a com- mittee on accountability and munity-based addictions and oversight also held discussion after-care fund ($750,000) and on several areas where addi- other community development tional resources would benefit resources ($650,000); GNWT image residents of the NWT. • $935,000 in increased Wawzonek has pledged to funding to support anti-poverty The executive council and MLAs worked together to develop a plan for Budget 2021-2022 that addresses include additional funding to efforts, including the Anti- in a fiscally responsible way the issues facing the NWT, said Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek. address those areas and ways Poverty Fund ($750,000), the to reduce overall spending to Round-table Advisory Council the Child and Family Services • Maintaining the court clerk Indigenous Recruitment Wiilideh MLA and chair of help offset these costs. ($110,000) and the Hay River Contribution. position in Hay River; and Retention Frame- the standing committee on "In the true spirit of con- Shelter ($75,000); Additional commitments • Providing resources to the work (prior to the start of accountability and oversight sensus government, the exec- • $743,000 in new funding will include: Hay River homeless shel- 2022-2023 business plan- also praised the work put into utive council and regular for Indigenous Patient Care to • Re-establishing funding ter to support its operating ning); considering the Main Esti- MLAs have worked together create four new positions to needed to complete caribou costs; • Examining and measuring mates. to develop a plan for Budget pilot a new approach to sup- survey work that was not • Developing an options the effectiveness of specif- "The work undertaken in 2021-2022 that addresses these porting Indigenous patients; completed in 2020-2021; paper for standing commit- ic program delivery by the recent weeks, including the issues in a fiscally respon- • A $500,000 increase in • Continuing to fund the tee review that discusses NWT Housing Corpora- unprecedented commitments sible way,” Wawzonek said. the Childcare Infrastructure Economic Development the review processes for the tion through the Govern- on policy, is a shining example "The work we’ve done over Fund; Officer position for the Affirmative Action policy ment Renewal process. of consensus government at the past several weeks is a • A $100,000 increase to Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk; (by March 2022) and the Steve Norn, Tu Nedhé- work,” he said. news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 5 Federal carbon tax is deemed constitutional by Supreme Court NWT Environment Advocate says carbon policy far from ‘aggressive action’ required

by Simon Whitehouse Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario chal- Northern News Services lenged the constitutionality of the federal gov- NWT ernment's pricing scheme based on the division Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament of powers and the fact that natural resources are for the Northwest Territories said this week he managed provincially. welcomes last week's Supreme Court of Canada Some provinces have also argued that they ruling which upheld the constitutionality of the already have their own climate-related policies federal government's carbon pricing. to fight climate change and charge the federal McLeod said the issue is a pressing one government with overreaching. for the NWT because of the impact of rising In a 6-3 decision on March 25, however, the temperature and as a result, the issue requires majority ruling was that the pricing scheme by national leadership. the national government is constitutional. "Climate change is significant in the North McLeod was also asked about his thoughts and it is something I hear about on a regular on neighbouring jurisdictions, like the provinces basis where people are very concerned about of Alberta and Saskatchewan, who posed consti- what is happening," he said. "There is lots of tutional challenges to the federal government's change happening that we have not seen in a carbon pricing efforts. life time." "We don't follow their lead and in the ter- McLeod said that climate change is affect- ritories it is different because we want to do our ing land, water and temperatures – symp- part to fight against climate change," he said. toms Northerners have long expected – but it's "Unlike Premier Kenney or in Saskatchewan, changing Indigenous people and cultures, as who want to be free to pollute and want to go well. back to that, the GNWT has worked well with "It has had a lot of impact on traditional the federal government to put a price on carbon knowledge and impact on relationships between and have a pricing system." Elders and youth because now a lot of Elders Ecology North stated in their March 30 can't talk about where the best places are to hunt newsletter that the ruling was positive news for or the safest areas to cross the river while it is the North. They also used the opportunity to forming," McLeod said. call for the federal government to strengthen He explained that because the conversations its climate plan and for the public to cooperate aren't happening, related vocabulary falls out of across jurisdictions to build a "just transition." use – negatively impacting efforts to revive and "This decision will protect all future climate use Indigenous languages in the North. action at the national level and, importantly, it In 2018, the federal government passed the will prevent future legal challenges from prov- NNSL file photo Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act which inces," stated the newsletter. The NTPC's Bluefish generating complex. "Climate change is significant in introduced a minimum national price on carbon "But the carbon pricing policy itself is far the North and it is something I hear about on a regular basis where people emissions. from the aggressive action we desperately need." are very concerned about what is happening," NWT MP Michael McLeod says. Man gets 16 months for trafficking Judge impressed with 21-year-old's 279 hours of community service while on bail by Eric Bowling in his pants at the time of the as a mitigating factor. lawyers’ recommendations. could leave the offender worse timless crime. Northern News Services RCMP raid. The hours Nawaz has Gorin characterized the off rather than assist in his "Trafficking in a hard drug Inuvik In delivering his ruling, spent, mostly loading boxes 19.8 grams as "not high-level rehabilitation. can have a devastating effect Osama Nawaz was sen- Territorial Court’s Chief Judge and shipments at a Muslim but certainly not insignificant Anything less than 16 in communities where it’s car- tenced Tuesday to 16 months Robert Gorin first said he was community centre in the GTA, either.” months, however, Gorin said ried out,” he said. "It’s not a in jail for trafficking crack "not sure what to make” of "speaks volumes to his level of He said that Crown Pros- would not be sending an victimless crime at all.” cocaine from Ontario to the the 279 hours of community remorse,” Gorin said. ecutor Jeffrey Major-Hans- adequate message of deter- Nawaz told that court that NWT. service Nawaz had completed Gorin also noted Nawaz’s ford’s submission of 18 months rence to others. He empha- he "takes full responsibility” Osama Nawaz was arrested while on bail, but later said he young age and lack of prior was reasonable, but pointed to sized the seriousness of the for his actions and hopes to on July 3, 2019 for trafficking was impressed by the hours. record in his ruling, which fell the defence’s argument that a offence, telling Nawaz that make positive changes once 19.8 grams of cocaine from the Gorin said that while he between Crown and defence lengthy period of incarceration drug trafficking is not a vic- released. Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has seen counselling taken on to Inuvik. He is also charged ahead of sentencing, he has with possession of a weapon never had a case where com- for having a knife concealed munity service was presented

Photo courtesy of RCMP Illegal drugs, $4,360 in cash, a knife and other items seized by Inuvik RCMP on July 3, 2019. 6 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 news Campgrounds to start opening May 14 Bookings for most parks begin May 4 by Blair McBride Campground; the Sahtu will open on May 15. Northern News Services • May 6 for bookings at the Prelude Campgrounds in the South Slave will NWT Lake Campground; open on May 17, with the exception of the NWT parks and campgrounds will • May 7 for bookings at the Fred 60th Parallel Territorial Park which will begin opening on May 14 with Covid-19 Henne Campground. not open this summer. protocols in effect. For every booking of five consecu- Campgrounds in the Dehcho will open The draw for extended-stay sites at tive overnight stays, a coupon for one on May 21, except for Blackstone Ter- Reid and Prelude Lake Territorial Park free night of camping will be automatic- ritorial Park which will open on June 4. Campgrounds will open on April 8. ally generated. Bookings made under the Campgrounds in the Beaufort Delta Ballots for the extended stay-campsite extended-stay lot draw will not be eligible will open on May 24, with the excep- draw will be due on April 6. Information for discount coupons. tion of the Happy Valley Territorial Park on the draw will be posted on the NWT Overnight stays at Reid Lake for Sun- which will not open this summer. Parks website. day to Thursday; not including weekends The Kakisa Day Use and Little Buf- The NWT Parks reservation site will or statutory holidays, will be discounted falo River Falls day use areas might be open in phases as follows: by 50 per cent. available for camping earlier, depending NNSL file photo • May 4 for bookings in all camp- Campgrounds in the North Slave will on conditions. Self-registration will be Campers can book sites in most NWT parks grounds except those in the North Slave; open on May 14. required and sites are available on a first- starting May 4. • May 5 for bookings at the Reid Lake The MacKinnon Territorial Park in come-first-served basis. news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 7 Health minister worries too few NWT residents are getting the jab Vaccine uptake, risk of Covid-19 variants changing the situation, says health minister

by Blair McBride settings like business capacity, sum- is enough is really up for debate at to News/North on March 23 that the lar pre-Covid-19 social activities ver- Northern News Services mer music festivals, family gather- this point. It depends on how well the easing of restrictions depends on sus Yellowknife where the vaccina- NWT ings and weddings, Green said. vaccine protects against the variants, assessing the risks of Covid-19 to tion rate is below 75 per cent. The NWT’s goal of vaccinating Green added the vaccination rate which I feel are now on the doorstep, NWT communities. "It would be really unfortunate to 75 per cent of the eligible population could affect Kandola’s review of the now that we know there are vari- Three factors in the assessment have surrounding communities real- by the summer is "now in ques- Emerging Wisely restrictions. ants in Yukon and Fort Chipewyan. are monitoring the transmissibility ly held back by their opportunity,” tion” due to changing circumstances, "The rate that we’ve all been It feels closer to home than ever and severity of Covid-19 variants; Cleveland said. "Likewise, it would according to Health Minister Julie discussing is 75 per cent,” she said. before.” monitoring the effectiveness of vac- also not benefit Yellowknife to be Green. "I think that rate is now in ques- cines, including how well they pro- held to a standard of a community While discussing the easing of tion to some extent, given changing Variant arrives tect against variants; determining up in the Beaufort Delta or in Nun- Covid-19 restrictions with Kam Lake situations such as the variants and Yukon reported a "variant of con- when the vaccine will be approved akput. Not to put people against one MLA Caitlin Cleveland in the legis- how transmissible they are, vaccine cern” March 25, and two cases of the for everyone; and what measures another, but we will have different lative assembly, Green said one fac- uptake, a number of other things that B.1.1.7 variant were reported at the should be kept in place to protect success at different points in time. tor in loosening the rules will be the may change the immunity level that Mikisew Cree First Nation in Fort children under 18 and others who Green responded that it’s unclear progress of vaccinations. we require in communities to say Chipewyan a day later. can’t receive the vaccine. if Kandola would make changes Chief public health officer that we are fully vaccinated.” A case at Diavik mine that won't "The Office of the Chief Public based on communities’ vaccine (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola said The health minister pointed to be counted in the NWT's total was Health Officer expects that scientific progress but that the GNWT doesn’t on March 10 that eased restrictions children and others who aren’t yet confirmed to also be a B.1.1.7 vari- data on transmission should start want to pit communities against each could come as early as April. considered eligible for the vaccine. ant April 1. to emerge in the coming weeks or other. Those restrictions would relate to "The whole business of how much Kandola explained in an email months,” she said. "That is definitely one of the risks Asked what the health response that the CPHO will be assessing in should be if it’s discovered the vac- deciding what detail to release to the cine prevents severe illness but public in terms of vaccination levels, doesn’t block transmission, Kan- whether it is feasible to release by dola said the NWT, Canada and community or by region,” she said. other countries would re-evaluate Territory-wide, there has been 58 the health burden of Covid-19 and per cent uptake of first doses of the review options to prevent death, ill- vaccine and 36 per cent uptake of ness and societal disruption. second doses, with community-level In the NWT, that would require uptake ranging from 40 per cent to measures "that are the least restric- close to 80 per cent, Green said. tive” to protect people who can’t Demographically, the highest receive the vaccine. vaccination rates are among elderly "If a very high proportion of the residents, and the lowest is among Canadian population is vaccinated the youngest residents. with a vaccine that effectively pre- Residents who are between 18 vents severe Covid-19 outcomes and and 34 are "well below” the 50 per deaths, we will achieve pandemic cent uptake in most communities, goals,” Kandola said. Green said. Cleveland also asked if restric- A total of 23,722 first doses, tions could be eased in communities and 13,933 second doses have been that have higher vaccination rates. administered as of Friday, according She presented a scenario where to GNWT data. NNSL file photo Ulukhaktok has vaccinated 75 per The NWT’s fifth shipment of the Dr. Kami Kandola, left, said the NWT, Canada and other countries would re-evaluate the health cent of its eligible population and Moderna vaccine arrived March 26. burden of Covid-19 and review options to prevent death, illness and societal disruption. wants to return to engaging in regu- It contained 16,300 doses. 8 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 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 NWT RCMP Com- South Slave office, Hay River: Paul Bickford, Bureau Chief manding Officer Phone: (867) 874-2802 Fax: (867) 874-2804 Chief Supt. Jamie Email: [email protected] Zettler speaks to Mackenzie Delta office, Inuvik: MLAs in a standing Eric Bowling Phone: (867) 777-4545 committee meet- Fax: (867) 777-4412 Email: [email protected] ing about policing in Website: www.nnsl.com/inuvikdrum January. This week, Baffin office, Iqaluit: RCMP ‘G’ Division Trevor Wright Phone: (867) 979-5990 released a report Fax: (867) 979-6010 Email: [email protected] based on a review Website: www.nnsl.com/nunavutnews of its sexual assault Kivalliq office, rankin inlet: case files between Darrell Greer – Bureau Chief Phone: (867) 645-3223 December 2019 and Fax: (867) 645-3225 Email: [email protected] June 2020. Website: www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews GNWT image

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Reporters: Simon Whitehouse • Natalie Pressman Blair McBride Review of RCMP sex Sports: James McCarthy – [email protected] Business: [email protected] Arts: [email protected] Photo Editor: Thomas Jono - [email protected]

Advertising production assault policy welcome Production co-ordinator: Jennifer Reyes Randy Hiebert • Joshua Uson Customer service: Holly Yestrau [email protected] Changes to standards and procedures will benefit victims

ADVERTISING Northern News Services [email protected] by other factors, like the fact that Representatives: In February 2017, a national 43 per cent of women were victim- Petra Memedi The issue: James Boylan • Brock Grills investigation by The Globe and Mail Sexual assault cases ized by someone they knew – either Advertising manager: Zerline Rodriguez revealed that one in three sexual near their house or behind closed Account executive: Laura Whittle assault cases reported to RCMP in We say: doors. Social media manager: Wesley Cook Victims deserve better Add in that a third of victims Administrative assistant: Miko Wu the NWT was ruled as "unfounded.” The article, which highlighted identified as homeless, a quarter CIRCULATION: the gap between reported sexual experienced problems with mental [email protected] Circulation Director: Amy Yang assaults and those that end up The SAIRC found that officers' health and one in five said some- Subscriptions: going to trial, created a national personal opinions were occasionally one made them feel responsible One year mail $75 Online (entire content) $50/year frenzy with calls for widespread included in police reports, and that for their own victimization, and you operational changes and the some of those opinions demonstrat- start to get a sense of just how lay- reopening of investigations. ed "a lack of understanding of rape ered each situation can be. This week, RCMP ‘G’ Division, myths and consent law.” Regardless of the circumstances their name for the Mounties in the Although sexual assault affect in which the crime occurred or the NWT, released a report based on people of all genders, women were severity of the incident, all sexual NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED a review of its sexual assault case three times more likely to report assaults are harrowing experiences, 100% Northern owned and operated Publishers of: files between December 2019 and being assaulted than men. which can have lifelong traumatic Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub NWT News/North • Nunavut News/North June 2020. Last year Stats Canada revealed impacts on victims. Member of: The division's commitment to that more than half of the NWT's It doesn't take a lot of time in an Canadian Community Newspapers Association Ontario Community Newspapers Association improving its handling of sexual residents were victims of physical NWT courtroom to realize how inad- Manitoba Community Newspapers Association Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association assault cases is a step in the right or sexual violence in 2018. equate our legal system is when it Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce direction. Moving forward, the Sex- Those numbers may seem shock- comes to showing compassion to Contents copyright – printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited ual Assault Investigations Review ingly high to some, but given that these victims. Committee (SAIRC) will be con- the territory's RCMP responded to This is all the more reason for We acknowledge the Nous reconnaissons financial support of l'appui financier du ducting reviews twice yearly, and 37,107 calls for service that year police to be as supportive and the Government of gouvernement du Canada. Canada. releasing annual reports with its when the population was 44,956, understanding as possible to those findings and recommendations for they would seem to add up. who are brave enough to come for- Member of the Ontario Press Council. The Ontario Press Council was created to defend freedom of the press on behalf of the public improvement. The scary thing is that those ward and share evidence in the ear- and press alike, and to consider specific, unsatisfied complaints from readers about the conduct of the press in gathering and pub- The fact that the committee numbers don't account for all the liest stage of an investigation. lishing news, opinion and advertising. Complaints should go to: announced the addition of an advo- people who were either too afraid, Police in the NWT have a hard The Ontario Press Council, 2 Carlton St., Suite 1706 Toronto, Ont., M5B 1J3 cate from a smaller community is too ashamed, or too mistrustful of job to do. They are often required to Email: [email protected] Fax: 1-416-340-8724 www.ontpress.com also promising. the system to bother reporting their respond to violent traumatic situa- However, in order to prevent abuse. tions. But that is a responsibility Send us your comments these reports from becoming rou- Indeed the same survey found that comes with the job and it is Email us at: [email protected] with the subject line "My opinion"; or send mail to News/North at Box tine box-ticking exercises, the force that across all three territories just one that must be taken seriously, 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off at our office at 5108-50 Street. All letters submitted will have to address the glaring one in eight victims surveyed ended especially when it comes to sexual must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number. We will do our best to ensure that gaps in police training and a lack up reporting the incident to police. assault, which has such a damag- letters submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday are printed in of education on sexual assault that The complexities of reporting sex- ing affect on those who experience Monday's News/North. were highlighted in the report. ual assaults is often exacerbated it. editorial – opinions NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 9 On sober leadership

Northern News Services immediate needs. Our home was always Friends, it’s always saddening to hear of open, for whatever people needed. This was the kind of "leadership” we get these days. the Dene way. Recently News/North had a story of one Of course people make mistakes, which of the NWT chiefs facing charges of assault they can be forgiven for. But when you hold and impaired driving. public office you have to be like the late One has to wonder just how Gwich'in Chief Johnny Charlie, low the depths we have to go to still widely admired throughout even get back to what we once the North. had. He was fond of saying that In the late ‘60s/early ‘70s, we along with his morning coffee he Dene made every effort to stand had to ask himself, "What trouble up for our land, even to the point have my people been up to over- of stopping a major pipeline. night?” Being Dene really meant some- Now that is the sign of a good thing! leader, one who puts the people As a columnist with this paper ahead of every kind of situation, I often have to play devil’s advo- good and bad. cate, going out on a limb now and Part of the problem is that then to get some kind of feedback MOUNTAIN we Dene let others – like the from a largely apathetic public. View GNWT’s Municipal and Com- I also hold many personal munity Affairs – tell us what we Antoine Mountain is a views, but when the voting is done Dene artist and writer should be doing. and counted I always go with originally from Radilih Under the present situation, the majority by recognizing and Koe'/Fort Good Hope. only a person who has done real He can be reached respecting the newly-elected chief at: amountainarts.com. time as a criminal – five years and council. or longer in jail – cannot run for My father was chief of Radelie public office. Koe, Fort Good Hope, for a good quarter of We need a thorough review of Northern a century. leadership, and not one controlled by the Of course this is a big job, pretty well government, to get back to real Dene leader- playing father to an entire small Northern ship. community, with all of its ongoing and Mahsi, thank you.

"When the (Fort Smith) Recreation Centre was being built, the seniors raised $35,000, the equivalent of $60,000 in today’s money, on the explicit understanding that the room would be leased and man- aged by the Seniors’ Society of that time and for generations to come," Mary Pat Short writes. photo courtesy of the Town of Fort Smith

Ft. Smith seniors want room of their own Editor's note: Mary Pat Short is president council of Fort Smith cancelled the four-year presidents of the NWT Seniors’ Society. hardly respectful. Name calling does not lend of the Fort Smith Seniors Society. lease it had signed in June 2020. The seniors When my brother, who visited Fort Smith a itself to problem solving. Dear editor, of Fort Smith felt blindsided by the decision few years ago, was told about our dispute with Communication, consultation, dialogue and This is a sad story which, we continue to of our elected officials, particularly as we the Town, he was puzzled and said, "I thought negotiation do. hope, will have a happy ending. It is also a have been exemplary tenants and have always northerners had a particular regard for elders.” As I said at the beginning, this column is story about the importance of honour, trust shared the room, with other groups doing In fact, that is true of people throughout the about honour, trust and commitment. Seniors and commitment. For 23 years, the Town of worthwhile, community-oriented activities. north including Fort Smith. It is the reason have lived long lives, and one of the lessons Fort Smith has leased a room in the Town’s It is a simple matter really. We signed a lease that scores of Fort Smith citizens have signed we have learned is that honourable people Recreation Centre to the Fort Smith Seniors with the Town in good faith and are simply a petition requesting that the Town Council fulfill their commitments and are trusted for Citizens’ Society. asking the Town to honour that commitment. reinstate our lease. doing so. When the Recreation Centre was being While we are pleased that some of the Unfortunately, not all of the Town’s elected We, the members of the Fort Smith Sen- built, the seniors raised $35,000, the equiva- Town Councillors have supported the seniors, officials have shown respect. iors’ Society are asking the Town’s elected lent of $60,000 in today’s money, on the we feel that other elected officials are out One councillor told the media about officials to respect and support the interests explicit understanding that the room would be of touch with the will of the people of Fort attending a meeting with seniors and stated, of the elders by rescinding motions that would leased and managed by the Seniors’ Society of Smith. "Council and administration was accused, by impede the commitment that they have made that time and for generations to come. We are grateful for the strong support of allegory, of being Hitler and Stalin.” It is true to us, and honouring our four-year lease. In January of this year, without prior the three local Indigenous leaders, three for- that seniors disagreed with this Councillor, Mary Pat Short consultation or any credible reason, the town mer mayors and the president and three past but his response was troubling, inaccurate and Fort Smith 10 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 11 Are Revolution green tech homes a solution to NWT’s housing woes? MLAs question use of fast-build homes powered by energy-efficient devices by Blair McBride sterilized.” consistent in-flow of homes, we can coordinate able to make it more efficient,” she said. "Often Northern News Services The tanks of the ventilation system and its costs.” in the North it seems we want to reinvent the NWT plumbing are located inside the house to pre- Frame Lake MLA Kevin O'Reilly said the wheel (with housing). Why don't we just have A combined heating technology and house vent them from freezing. Summerland demonstration house is a long cookie-cutter type buildings we can just bring design from a British Columbia-based com- The housing system avoids the "siloed” way from the communities of the NWT, and a up and erect? I like this because it's moving pany might hold solutions to some of the lin- style of conventional homes where aspects such trial unit in a Northern environment would be towards that a little more. We need to stop hav- gering housing needs in the NWT. as energy, the electrical grid and the house ideal to learn about its actual capabilities. ing grandiose plans and just have some units MLAs watched a virtual seminar from itself are separate. "(We need to) collect some cost data around on the ground.” ElectroMotion Energy CEO Jai Zachary dur- "We approach it as a complete, holistic life the capital cost up front and then the operations In response to a question from Kam Lake ing a meeting of the Standing Committee on cycle approach that will have these benefits and maintenance over time versus a traditional MLA Caitlin Cleveland about the lifespan of Economic Development and Environment last that we like to call revolutionary,” Zachary housing unit because I think that's what we the housing system, Zachary said the structure week. said. need to get our hands on to convince others itself is designed to last 50-60 years. Speaking from Summerland, B.C, Zach- A third solution the inclusive housing units that this is something worth trying,” he said. Potential invasion by pests like termites are ary presented the Revolution Northern Hous- provide is faster construction using fewer work- Great Slave MLA Katrina Nokleby said the deterred because the SIP panels are made of ing Platform: a $350,000 home built from ers. homes and the price sound good but she would either resin-based oriented strand board (OSB) pre-made panels equipped with a specialized The structural insulated panels (SIPs) that also need to see a working demonstration unit or fibreglass. heating unit. The company has one complete make up the homes can be transported to a in the North before she can commit to it. Dehcho MLA Ron Bonnetrouge expressed house that functions as a demonstration model community site by plane, barge or truck and "Any time that you can create a system in Summerland. put together on site. where you are in control of all the parts, you're Please see Some, page 15 The Revolution unit includes a heat pump The simple design of the homes mean and a combined heat and power (CHP) plant they require few skilled tradespeople or heavy that replaces a conventional furnace. It runs off machinery to construct, Zachary said, adding of natural gas, propane or diesel – if the latter that the houses can be assembled in just one is the only option in a community. week by local people. What sets the Revolution apart, Zachary ElectroMotion aims to build a network of explained, is how well it captures the heat pro- people who worked on constructing the homes duced in electricity generation. to go to other communities when they build "More than two-thirds of all the fuel used Revolution houses and "train the trainers.” to generate power is lost as heat,” he said of "(Based on) our analysis and from what existing structures, citing the United States we've been told, there's a significant housing Department of Energy. "So using Paulatuk as shortage (and) many thousands of homes are an example, we calculated that over the last required up North. And really, the long-term 20 years enough heat has gone into the atmos- plan is to have our system as a cookie cutter phere to melt an iceberg the same size that process in different communities,” he said. sunk the Titanic.” Individuals could be trained to maintain The Revolution grabs the thermal energy to and service the homes instead of company per- heat the home and heat water. It also generates sonnel having to go to the communities. six kW of electricity as a by-product that goes In an interview with NNSL Media after the back into the power grid for use by other homes seminar, Zachary said the $350,000 baseline in the community. cost for one combined Revolution housing unit The system, in turn, significantly reduces would be higher if powered by diesel. energy costs compared to a conventional home. Purchasing only the unit and not the home By giving back electricity, it offers even more is possible for retrofitting an existing house, savings. with a unit geared for natural gas costing The housing system aims to solve another $29,900 and for diesel about $39,950. problem that plagues many Arctic homes: The price could be reduced further if a mould growth. community opted to buy several units at once, Its ventilation system minimizes temper- and the expense of transporting the hardware ature differences inside a room, such as in the and construction materials to remote com- centre compared to beside a window due to munities would be factored into the total cost, thermal differences. he added. "You can go to the corner or to a wall and "We've had discussions with the NWT the temperature will be the same,” Zachary Housing Corporation about this. We're not try- said. "It gives a more comfortable feeling. It ing to make money off transportation costs,” prevents moulds from growing because we can Zachary said. "From what I understand, there control moisture in the air. We also figured out are homes quoted through RFPs (requests for a way to sterilize the air using ultraviolet-C proposals) for over $1 million, which is mind- (radiation). The air is circulated, refreshed and numbing. If we can coordinate and have a

image courtesy of ElectroMotion Energy The panels of the homes are transported flat to a community site and can be erected in one week. It’s promoted as requiring few tradespeople due to its ‘cookie-cutter’ design. 12 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 news New book tells Gwich'in stories Our Whole Gwich'in Way of Life Has Changed is culmination of 20 years of interviews with 23 Elders by Blair McBride They figured there's a lack iliar with Gwich'in culture, Northern News Services of information about Gwich'in McCartney did a tremendous NWT Elders (and) it would be won- amount of research to give A new book offers read- derful if Elders could share context to the Elders' stories. ers a glimpse of traditional their knowledge for the pro- Most chapters of the book Gwich'in life directly through ject,” said McCartney, who is include side notes that con- the stories of Elders. an associate professor and oral tain genealogical, historical Our Whole Gwich'in Way history curator at the Univer- and linguistic information that of Life Has Changed is based sity of Alaska, Fairbanks. helps contextualize the stories. on interviews with 23 Elders "I met with Elders along speaking about their lives with the GSCI to ask them Translation challenges growing up in the Beaufort what was important to pass on Alestine Andre, who Delta and northern Yukon. to the next generation. (Our worked as a translator and The Elders recount trad- team) interviewed them at fish assisted with logistics, said itional activities like hunting, camps and at people's homes.” one of the biggest challen- fishing and trapping, their Most of the interviews took ges was accurately conveying culture and interactions with place in Aklavik, Inuvik, Fort Gwich'in concepts in English. Euro-Canadians. McPherson and Tsiigehtchic. "That's tricky even for me Published in late 2020, the Several Gwich'in speakers as a speaker,” said Andre, who book is the result of two dec- helped translate the interviews is currently retired but used ades of work, after the first when Elders spoke in their to work for the GTC's depart- interview took place in 2000. first language. Others were ment of cultural heritage. Leslie McCartney – an conducted in English or a mix "Let's (take) the term 'din- anthropologist and co-author of Gwich'in and English. jii zhuh'. For myself and our of the 717-page tome along Elders who can speak, it clear- with the Gwich'in Tribal Intense interview process ly means 'people from here.' Council (GTC) – was brought McCartney described The loose term in English is into the project in the late the process as intensive as it 'native to a particular place.' 1990s. involved a lot of people with A good example would be my The GTC, previously different skills. father when he was alive in the known as the Gwich'in Social "Interviews were tran- 1990s and seeing on television and Culture Institute (GSCI), scribed, edited and published. the San people in the Kalahari prepared a strategic plan to We were still using tapes Desert (of southern Africa). document, preserve and pro- at that time and digital still My father called them 'dinjii mote Gwich'in culture, lan- wasn't there yet. I think there zhuh.' The people from that guage and values, McCartney were over 60 hours of record- land.” said. ings, and that all had to be "They outlined different translated and transcribed.” Elders happy projects they wanted to do. Since the project is aimed to share stories One of them was doing biog- at a general audience of read- The highlight for Andre raphies of prominent Elders. ers who might not be fam- in being part of the book was seeing how happy the Elders photo courtesy of the Gwich'in Tribal Council were to share their stories. "The Gwich'in people "Now you see me here at my camp. I live here alone. Everything I have around are story people, like many me is done by my sons for me. I am still able to see my net. I check the net Indigenous people around the and I cut the fish. I do this by myself," said Mary Firth, who still lives in Fort world. We need to tell stor- McPherson and spends her summers at her fish camp at Nataiinlaii. ies, we're interested in stories. (The Elders) were happy to tell such as respect, honour, love, Not even on their feet, very grandchildren. That's what us about their travels on the laughter/humour and spiritu- clean. Not like today. Boys go they wanted and it was done,” land, whether they were walk- ality. The Elders explain what hunting and they're just full of Andre said. ing or going by dog team,” she those values mean to them. blood when they come back. McCartney hopes the book said. "Their early lives on the Catherine Mitchell, from It's not good. They're not hunt- communicates a better under- land – you could tell it was a Aklavik, talked about respect ers. They're careless.” standing of the history and good life they were talking in the context of hunting. More than half of the culture of the Gwich'in in the about. It wasn't just a subsist- "When Dad or other men Elders were in their 80s when NWT. ence life to survive but also came home, they had these they were interviewed. One of "The Elders wanted to give birth, death and tragedy. It's wrappers for toboggans. It was them – Sarah Simon – was 99. the next generations a sense all there.” the carry-all,” she recalled. All of them, except for one, of pride of being Gwich'in, The book's stand-out chap- "They were so good at hunt- have since passed away. and pride in their culture and ter for Andre is the final one: ing and the way they handled "I think they were happy how their ancestors lived, and 'Listen to What I'm Saying.' it was clean. You don't see a knowing that they told their the legacy they gave the next It details Gwich'in values stain on the toboggan wrapper. stories to be shared with their generation.” NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 13 Around the North If you have an item of interest from your community, call (867) 873-4031, or email: [email protected]

CPR training on the horizon Deline CPR is one of the most important things someone can learn in their lifetime and the Deline Got'ine Government (DGG) will be giving people the chance to learn it. There is a training workshop scheduled for the commun- ity arena on April 7 and 8, the times of which are yet to be announced as of press time. Because of the current Covid-19 restrictions in place, seating is limited to the first 20 who sign up. You can get in on the workshop by contacting Dawn Baptiste at the DGG office. – James McCarthy Deninu K'ue elects two new councillors Deninu K'ue/Fort Resolution Deninu K'ue First Nation in Fort Resolution elected two coun- cillors in a March 18 by-election. The two winning candidates are Dean McKay and Dave Pierrot. McKay received 36 votes and Pierrot earned 35 votes. They were chosen from a field of seven candidates, which included Sam O'Reilly (34 votes), Gordon Beaulieu (32 votes) Margo Edjericon (25 votes), Kirk Fabien (18 votes) and Cindy Villeneuve (18 votes). The two new councillors have been elected for four-year terms. – Paul Bickford NWT leaders discuss education system photo courtesy of RCMP NWT respectful restoration Elected education leaders from across the NWT met on March Alfred Itsi of Fort McPherson assists Const. Scott Thomas with plaques commemorating Const. Edgar 25 with Education, Culture and Employment Minister R.J. Simp- Millen, who died in the line of duty Jan. 30, 1932. The rebuilt monument features plaques in Gwich'in, son to discuss their joint work to further strengthen the junior English and French. kindergarten to Grade 12 system. The meeting focused on the education system and structure, Fieldhouse in Yellowknife late last month and the entrants includ- Support Group resumes in-person meetings language and culture, programming, and staff. ed a group of eight from Fort Smith. Inuvik The education leaders also reviewed initial research findings Jerry Wald won the men's singles in what was perhaps his Cancer patients and survivors needing some face-to-face sup- on the renewal of the junior kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum. final tournament in the NWT as he beat Yellowknife's Brooke port can now once again meet up with the Inuvik Cancer Support They meet multiple times a year to review current work and to Harker in the final on March 28 in straight sets: 7-6, 6-1. Group, which announced it was returning to regular meetings plan for future initiatives. Wald then teamed up with Larry Van Beek for the men's March 25. Offering peer support for people affected by cancer, The next meeting with Simpson is scheduled for April 27. doubles but they lost in the final to the Yellowknife duo of KM the group had to suspend meetings during the pandemic, but is – Paul Bickford Safat Rashif and Nikki Gohil by scores of 6-4 and 6-3. back in action. Now, meetings are every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. Joan Bevington and her partner, Tamara Jovic of Yellowknife, at Ingamo Hall. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, only 10 people Fort Smith serves up winners won the women's doubles over the Yellowknife tandem of Anita can participate at a time. Somba K'e/Yellowknife Aogaa and Hiro Kobayashi in straight sets: 6-4, 6-4. People interested can contact Ruth Wright at 867-678-0801. Tennis NWT hosted its March Tournament indoors at the – James McCarthy – Eric Bowling 14 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 news A bright light goes out A son of Fort Good Hope, Michael Chinna studied at night to become a power engineer

by Simon Whitehouse Canol Trail often – a place he visited many times. she recalled. Northern News Services Johnson added he was amazed at Chinna's ability to navigate In 2014, Chinna moved to Whitecourt, Alta., where he Radilih Koe/Fort Good Hope on the land and find people when they were located "in the attained a job with Genalta Power. During that time, he spent Friends and family recalled the joy that Michael Chinna middle of nowhere." three to four hours a night studying independently toward his brought to their lives after the Fort Good Hope man died tragic- "There is sort of a funny story that kind of connects a few certification, Bayha said. ally while working for the Northern Territories Power Corpora- of us that if he heard of a friend that was out in the bush, the "He did that for four or five years almost and was pretty tion in March. first thing he would often try to do is get stoked to become a first-class power engin- Chinna, who would have turned 40 on April 5, was involved off work and go find them," Johnson said. eer," she said. in an on-the-job accident at Yellowknife's Jackfish Generating "It was almost like this challenge that he He was hired by NTPC in 2018 and also Plant. would take on and he would show up right attained power systems electrician certifica- The incident remains under investigation by the Worker's at the moment you needed the most help." tion in 2019. Safety and Compensation Commission. That Chinna was so well connected "He was always in touch with his mom. Longtime friend Armin Johnson, who lives in Whitehorse, and that he passed away with family and He called her every day to give her an update heard the news while he was racing dogs in Alaska. He recalled friends by his side, made word of his death on his course and his life in Yellowknife," how he and Chinna became friends during their "formative" 20s a little easier to accept, Johnson added. said Bayha. "It was always his favourite while residing in Norman Wells in the 2000s. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many thing to be learning and on-the-job training At that time, Johnson was a federal employee while Chinna people have been dying alone while in hos- experience." was working with Imperial Oil. pital, he said, and it's important that Chinna She also spoke to his sense of humour "We were the same age and we just hit it off," Johnson was with people who loved him during his and love of travelling. remembered. "I don't know too many guys like him and it's just final moments. "He was always full of jokes and was crazy how an accident like that can happen to the real bright Samantha Bayha, Chinna's partner for michael chinna one of the funniest people I knew," she said. lights of the world, like Mike." eight years, said the two met in Norman "He was always big on travelling, spent a lot Over the years, the two grew apart geographically as John- Wells in 2013. She remembered his strong of time in Ireland and always talked about son moved to Whitehorse and raised a family while Chinna work ethic and commitment to achieving a first-class power travelling." moved south. But Johnson said he was always appreciative of engineering classification, as well as his warmth to his family, Chinna was expected to return to Northern Alberta Institute how Chinna kept in touch, made trips to Yukon to see him and children and people he knew. of Technology (NAIT) to finish his studies in first-class power planned excursions on the land together. "He was just a great, caring and loving guy," said Bayha, engineering in Edmonton in May. Johnson said Chinna's late father Alexis was a highly-skilled who's originally from Tulita. "He always worked hard and his He is survived by his mother Una and his sisters Nancy, bushman, which was an enthusiasm and passion shared by motto was 'No matter what.' Cathy and Jill. Michael in his youth. "He was definitely an outdoors person who loved the moun- A memorial is expected to be announced this summer, pend- The younger Chinna loved the mountains and spoke of the tains and loved kids. His niece and nephews were his world," ing Covid-19 restrictions being eased for gatherings.

x0p31Axy N4ystdJxl4 news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 15 Latest Whati outage has MLA up at arms over NTPC 'neglect' It's time to connect the community to the grid, says Jackson Lafferty by Blair McBride Northern News Services Whati Whati’s second major power out- age in less than two months is exhausting residents’ patience in the Tlicho community. Monfwi MLA Jackson Laf- ferty said Tuesday in the legislative assembly that Whati experienced an outage in February that lasted longer than 20 hours. "It was a level-three power fail- ure, the Power Corporation’s high- est level of emergency. The culprit was the community’s out-of-date diesel generators,” Lafferty said. "Just consider if it was -50 or -60. Good thing it was -15 C and -20 C at that time.” Lafferty might be getting a sense of déjà vu after he reported the same problem on Feb. 3 when he described a 20-hour rotating power outage that photo courtesy of the Tlicho government hit Whati on Jan. 13-14 after two of its three generators failed. A power outage during the summer in Whati is an inconvenience. But 20 hours without hydro in the dead of winter – or even "When power goes out, maybe the first moments of spring – could be deadly, according to Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty, who says it's time to connect Whati to it’s an accident, but if two go out, it’s the territorial power grid with a transmission line. neglect,” he said in the assembly at the time. Addressing Diane Archie, min- actively working with the Tlicho expedited because the community On Feb. 3, Archie said a new Lafferty said last week the solu- ister responsible for the Northwest government on this project and are wants to prevent this from happen- generator is set to be installed within tion to the remote community’s Territories Power Corporation meeting this week to be able to ing, the 20-plus-hour power outage. the year in Whati, which is expected power woes is for it to ditch the old (NTPC), Lafferty asked for an discuss the creation of a working Is that possible?” to improve service reliability. The diesel generators and get hooked up update on the possible connection group.” Archie said her department power plant in the community isn’t to the Snare Hydro grid, which is of Whati with Snare Hydro or with Lafferty said Whati is tired of hopes to finalize the routing of the scheduled to be replaced in the next about 54 km east of Whati. a transmission line directly into the the discussions and consultations line project with the Tlicho Govern- five years. Its proximity to the power station community. over the transmission line and mini ment. Once that is completed more The minister is set to meet with is a "sad irony” Lafferty said, as it is "Right now we’re advancing, hydro initiative, which he said has technical work would be done to the Tlicho Government in Behchoko the closest community in the NWT planning, consulting, and engaging been talked about for more than 20 assess the cost of the line and pre- on April 17 to discuss the Whati to the complex but is not yet con- the activities, which involves the years. pare a funding application to the transmission line. Also on the agen- nected to it. construction of the 60-kilometre "I would like to know whether federal government’s Investing in da are the Whati access road off "Yellowknife, on the other hand, transmission line to be able to that (working group) will be estab- Canada infrastructure program. Highway 9, Highway 3 safety issues, which is on the Snare Hydro grid, is replace the diesel electricity genera- lished during the life of the 19th She said the costs weren’t yet the Slave Geological Province Cor- four times the distance, and they are tion,” Archie responded. Assembly? We still have two and a known but hopes to have an applica- ridor and the mini-hydro project in on the system,” he said. "I do want to note that we are half years. I would like for this to be tion ready within the next 12 months. Gameti. Some skepticism from the MLAs Four, from page 11 some skepticism of the Revolution unit, saying he doubts the power companies in the NWT would "entertain the idea” of excess power going back into the grid. He also wondered how environmentally friendly the units are if they can be powered by diesel and emit greenhouse gases. Zachary acknowledged that the company prefers to power the Revolution device with natural gas or propane but would use diesel if that is the only fuel available in a community. However, he said the unit is still more efficient than a typical diesel plant, which loses most of its energy through heat. "Yes, the Revolution would use diesel but it's only going to use diesel when you need heat. That adds a three-to-one advan- tage of reducing the amount of diesel consumption at the power station that's in the community,” Zachary said. Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson, who chaired the commit- tee meeting, said he has been in contact with Zachary for several years and is interested in the Revolution homes for his Arctic constituents. "We're waiting for units and we just don't see them coming quickly enough,” Jacobson said. "And we have young families that need units. And I think the biggest thing for me is the time frame (Revolution) units could be built in. It's the 'build it and they will come' model.” Jacobson said he has put Zachary in contact with the com- munity corporations in his riding so they could possibly form a partnership to begin building Revolution units. Though no one is currently living in the company's Revolu- tion demonstration home in Summerland, Zachary said Electro- Motion has spoken with other communities in the province about potentially building thousands of units over the next few years. 16 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 Sports & Recreation Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: [email protected] • Fax: (867) 873-8507 Biathletes hit the target

Davin Swallow of Hay River heads out to begin his race during the Polar Cup 2 races in Yellowknife on March 27. Hay River and Yellowknife square off in Polar Cup 2 by James McCarthy nonetheless. Northern News Services Polar Cup 2 happened at Somba K'e/Yellowknife the Yellowknife Ski Club James McCarthy/NNSL photos One of the often-used on March 27 and 28, the Annika Pellissey of Hay River reloads her rifle during action in the Polar Cup 2 races in Yellowknife. terms in hockey is the home- second set of races between and-home. the biathlon clubs from Hay competition. knife was a double-winner on side and he said the condi- lanes so the wind conditions Biathletes in Hay River River and Yellowknife. It was The races were held over the weekend as she won both tions couldn't have been bet- for the sight-in would be the and Yellowknife had their the return set of races follow- two days with day one featur- of the races in the juvenile ter. same as the wind conditions version of the home-and- ing the first set in Hay River ing interval starts and day girls division with teammate "Whoever dialed up the during the race,” he said. home, a bit more spaced out in early March and it gave the two seeing the mass start Leah McShane finishing weather did a great job,” he "We adjust during the sight-in than what they do in hockey, competitors a chance to get events. runner-up on both occasions. said. "Beautiful sunshine, for that wind. Unless things but it was a home-and-home in another round of serious Mina Lockhart of Yellow- Nikolas Hawkins of Yellow- meaning the targets were drastically change within the knife flip-flopped places beautifully illuminated, and time between the sight-in and with Hay River's Hunter lends itself to some really racing, we know we've com- fact Groenewegen in the juvenile good shooting. There were pensated for the wind.” biathlon results boys division – Hawkins won plenty of cleans and four-out- Travelling out of territory file the interval start race with of-fives.” has been a no-go for obvious Groenewegen snagging the Before racing began, Lir- reasons but that hasn't stopped mass start victory. ette took his competitors to the Hay River crew from get- Interval start – March 27 Mass start – March 28 The other double-win- the targets for what's called ting in some solid training. Biathlon Bear 2-km Biathlon Bear 1.5-km ners on the weekend includ- a sight-in, which helps each Lirette figures the team 1st – Jaxin Coombs (HR), 10:13.0 1st – Jaxin Coombs, 7:24.4 ed Jaxin Coombs, Kason biathlete determine the wind has had around 50 practices 2nd – Elijah Engen (HR), 14:23.5 2nd – Elijah Engen, 7:31.1 Coombs and Elie Lepage, all and give them an idea as to in total this season at home 3rd – Davin Swallow (HR), 17:59.0 3rd – Davin Swallow, 12:35.9 from Hay River. how the bullets will travel. base. Chuck Lirette was one of "We try to have the kids Midget girls 3-km Midget boys 2.5-km the coaches on the Hay River sight in over on the right-hand Please see next page 1st – Clare Engen (HR), 18:14.1 1st – Kason Coombs, 12:03.3 2nd – Avery Groenewegen (HR), 20:05.8 2nd – Sebastian Berrub, 14:53.0 3rd – Adele Russell (HR), 25:20.4 3rd – Sachey Pellissey, 17:50.4 Sports Card Midget boys 3-km Midget girls 2.5-km 1st – Kason Coombs (HR), 15:26.2 1st – Avery Groenewegen, 13:46.3 biathlon 2nd – Sebastian Berrub (YK), 22:54.3 2nd – Clare Engen, 14:57.6 1257+:(677(55,725,(6 3rd – Sachey Pellissey (HR), 23:44.5 3rd – Tessa Stewart, 15:53.7

Juvenile girls 4-km Juvenile girls 3-km AGE: 12 Community: Hay River 1st – Mina Lockhart (YK), 20:08.4 1st – Mina Lockhart, 14:28.7 Hunter was one of the group of 14 who 2nd – Leah McShane (YK), 21:36.3 2nd – Leah McShane, 15:13.4 made the trip in to Yellowknife for the 3rd – Millie Hunt (HR), 29:49.3 3rd – Millie Hunt, 22:44.3 Polar Cup 2 races late last month. He’s been part of the biathlon program at Juvenile boys 4-km Juvenile boys 3-km the Hay River Ski Club for the past three 1st – Nikolas Hawkins (YK), 23:36.6 1st – Hunter Groenewegen, 19:19.1 years and Chuck Lirette, his coach, said 2nd – Hunter Groenewegen (HR), 28:39.0 2nd – Nikolas Hawkins, 22:52.4 he’s one of the more well-rounded ath- letes he has on the roster. Junior girls 3-km (novice) Junior girls 2.5-km (novice) hunter groenewegen 1st – Penelope Berrub (YK), 26:09.8 1st – Lexus Pellissey, 17:40.9 2nd – Lexus Pellissey (HR), 26:54.6 2nd – Penelope Berrub, 17:42.8

Junior boys 5-km Junior boys 3.75-km 1st – Elie Lepage (HR), 23:42.2 1st – Elie Lepage, 19:00.9 2nd – Grayson Groenewegen (HR), 26:20.6 2nd – Grayson Groenewegen, 21:02.1

Senior girls 4-km (novice) Senior girls 4-km (novice) 1st – Annika Pellissey (HR), 36:18.0 1st – Annika Pellissey, 24:58.9

Source: NWT Biathlon sports & recreation NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 17 My new favourite football player, you ask? Lavel Dumont Northern News Services absolutely nothing to be kind to someone and The Busch Beer Company is getting into the believe me – we need all the kindness we can wedding business with a new contest announced get right now. on March 24. Makes sense, right? I mean, copi- There are people who have had little to no ous amounts of beer just make weddings go human contact thanks to lockdowns which have down a bit smoother. lasted longer than they should have, in some Anyway, the barley-sand- cases, and people are mental- wich producer is giving three ly drained. Go see someone, lucky couples the chance to have check in, talk to them, ring their a wedding at a farm in either Sports doorbell. People need a friend North Dakota or Idaho, two right now more than ever. states where the company owns Talk land. They’ll pitch in for every- with James McCarthy Impressive so far thing: wedding planner, a DJ or The name Connor Bedard band, wedding cake, hairstylist may not be on the lips of most and make-up and – my personal favourite – people who follow sport but in the hockey non-alcoholic beverages. That’s a bit of a head- world, it’s a name which is causing plenty of scratcher until you realize that it’s an American tongues to waggle. beer company. Most American beers are devoid Bedard is playing in the Western Hockey of alcohol and taste in the first place so you’d League this season as a 15-year-old, which is never know the difference. one year younger than the standard entry age Anyway: of 16. He’s doing so under what’s called ‘excep- tional player status’, known as the John Tavares Be like Lavel Dumont Rule, which means he’s proven to the WHL So you’re playing football in your front brass that he would be better served continuing yard all on your own. Someone driving by his development in major junior hockey instead notices it, gets out and offers to toss the pigskin of destroying everyone else in bantam or minor around with you. Your first reaction would be midget. It’s so rare that Bedard is just the sev- like many: run inside and shout "STRANGER enth player to be granted such status and the DANGER!” first in WHL history. Not in this case, though. Lavel Dumont, who He’s making quite the impact with the plays with the University of Toledo’s football Regina Pats with seven goals and 10 assists team in Ohio, is the stand-up man who decided in his first eight games. That’s 1.89 points photo courtesy of the University of Toledo Athletics to give a young man someone to have a catch per game on average, which is a better pace Lavel Dumont, who plays with the University of Toledo’s football team in Ohio, with. Kristi Kopanis, a reporter with one of that Tavares, Shane Wright – who’s currently is a stand-up guy. Toledo’s local TV news stations, put the story playing in the Ontario Hockey League – and on her Twitter feed and it’s a wonderful tale. Connor McDavid. All of them were given the that goes in. She didn’t. Dumont said it all began last summer when same status with Tavares and McDavid going Bad Idea: Celebrating an outside jumper that What’s funny about it was the guy who he was driving by and figured he would get out on to somewhat decent careers in the National rims out. was holding her microphone even turned to and join him because the young boy looked like Hockey League. It’s an sports adage as old as time: never, give her a high-five, knowing full well it was a he enjoyed football. It became a fast friendship, Now, being a stud in junior doesn’t equate ever celebrate too soon. brick. Didn’t even have the heart to tell her she which included quite the gathering on the boy’s to future stardom in the NHL (see Alexandre Anna Hoffman, a reporter with WMBB-TV missed. But the bigger problems with that? No 16th birthday as Dumont brought a bunch of Daigle and Pavel Brendl) but the numbers are in Panama City, Florida was out and about masks and a high-five with bare hands. I mean, teammates over to the house to join in. impressive. He’s draft-eligible in 2023 and if he doing a live hit at a local basketball court late super-spreader, amirite? It’s a friendship Dumont said will keeps up these numbers, he will either be the last month. She decided to take a shot and it Hoffman took it all in stride and joked about probably last forever – the young man even next McDavid or Brendl. looked good in the air, even appeared to be it at her own expense but I shall leave you with made Dumont a 99 on Madden NFL 21 – and heading in as it rolled around. Hoffman turned two words. from the looks of it, he’s not wrong. It seems And finally … back to the camera and threw her arms in the Nick Young. simple enough but it bears repeating: it costs Good Idea: Celebrating an outside jumper air, proclaiming that she made it. Until next time, folks … Shooting competition took place indoors

Continued from previous page ready for the 2022 Arctic Winter Games but they have been change in terms of their competitive categories,” he said. "The postponed indefinitely. younger kids only shoot in the prone (position) but if the Arctic "These kids have worked really hard and I'm very proud of Lirette said with the cancellation of the Games in 2020 and Winter Games are delayed, they'll have to do prone and stand- the work they've put in,” he said. "We have a new garage that the indefinite postponement of the upcoming Games, it could ing (when they move up) and standing is a big transition. It we've constructed at the (Hay River) ski club so we can bring mean tough times for biathlon. takes around a full season for most kids to make that transition the kids inside, especially in February when it was just so cold, "Time is moving on and some of these kids are going to and get them comfortable shooting standing.” and we can still keep shooting with the air rifles.” To compensate for the indoor conditions, the dimensions of which are understandably a bit smaller than the open air of the outdoors, everything is scaled down by a factor of five, he added. "For example, the outdoor targets are 50 metres back and the target itself is five inches, it would be 10 metres back and one inch in the garage,” he said. "It's just as effective in the gar- age in terms of their development as if we could get outside.” Annika Pellissey raced on her own in the senior girls div- ision but she still got in two races and she said she felt great out on the course. Even if she layered up a bit heavier than she would have liked. "I put too many layers on and I was overheating,” she said. "I had the jacket on and the sweater and a thermal and my uni- form on. It affected my skiing a bit because I was getting too heated but that was it.” Any thought of taking off a layer? Nonsense. "I thought about it but I just played it cool,” she said. "I sighted in with it and I would have to take my armband off so that would just add more time on.” The one thing Pellissey noticed right away about the course in Yellowknife was the undulation – plenty of hills. "We don't have such big hills in Hay River,” she said. "Everyone else is skiing up the hills and here I am doing a waddle-like stride going up. I got the hang of it, eventually.” The end goal for this season was to try and get the athletes 18 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, April 5, 2021 19 20 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, April 5, 2021