Hang in There!

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.

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