Letter warns against outing bootleggers Tsiigehtchic council is wrong to focus on symptoms of alcoholism, Lawrence Norbert says

1257+:(677(55,725,(6 Smith, Inuvik schools win at Spike It! Volume 74 Issue 29 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2019 $.95 (plus GST) McDonald's run pays for teen's trip to tournament

Trace Arey, a Grade 9 student at Paul William Kaeser High School in Fort Smith, needed money to travel to Yellowknife for a tournament. His parents had an idea. Our Speeding Southern up the scientists beautiful Internet in visit NWT for Ulukhaktok Northern

North knowledge courtesyphoto Mitchell of Lisa

Publication mail Contract #40012157 "I never I asked for any special treatment. I don't do that." 7 71605 00200 2 Speaker Frederick Blake Jr. found some controversy on social media after a hunting trip last week, page 4. 2 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 news After petition, Tsiigehtchic creeps closer to hamlet status If you have something to say about it, MACA will accept submissions until Nov. 15 by Eric Bowling moves to the desk of the min- the main motivations for the he said. "Then there's a charter Northern News Services ister responsible for the depart- petition in the first place was election where two additional Tsiigehtchic ment for approval. establishing a separate muni- councillors from the general A petition to change the "Once that happens, the cipal council from the band public are elected. If we go to charter community of Tsiige- deputy minister briefs the new council. Currently, the com- hamlet status, there would be htchic to a hamlet is picking minister of MACA, and the munity leader is also the band two organizations, a hamlet up steam. minister makes the decision chief. council and a band council, not On Oct. 29, a representa- to proceed or not," said senior Only band members are merged together in any way." tive from the department of administrative officer Grant able to serve on the council, As a hamlet, those prob- Municipal and Community Scott. "Then the department further limiting the inclusive- lems would be eliminated. A Affairs (MACA) presented an puts together an implementa- ness of community leadership. municipal council seat would information session to explain tion plan and gets the ball "Whenever you have a band be open to any resident who is the legal differences between rolling. election, whoever is elected as interested in running. the two designations and get "If there's no opposition and Chief is automatically Mayor Scott noted most of the feedback from residents. the minister decides to proceed of the charter and three mem- questions were just seeking Anyone who missed that with it, it could happen as soon bers who are elected to band clarification. One thing that meeting has until Nov. 15 to as April 1, 2020." council are automatically came up was if operations and contact MACA. The file then Scott explained one of appointed to charter council," maintenance funding would change if the community became a hamlet, but the fund- ing would remain the same. "The ball is in Yellowknife's court," he added. "There was a handout given out by MACA and we have extra copies at the front desk for anyone in the community to look at. It NNSL file photo describes the differences in Now a charter community, Tsiigehtchic could be structure, size of the council, a hamlet as soon as April Fool's Day 2020, with a that sort of thing. "Anyone can come and municipal council and leader elected separately have a look at it." from the band. This was the first step a petition with 26 names was imum requirement. The peti- MACA was legally required completed in the community tion was sent to MACA on to do to begin the process after — one more than the min- March 11. Our beautifulnews North NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 3 Did we get it wrong? News/North is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in News/North, call (867) 873-4031 and ask to speak to an editor, or email editorial@ nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in Our beautiful North Submit entries via Facebook messenger to our NNSL.com page each week by 4 p.m. Thursday and we'll post the contest- as soon as we can. ants each Friday on our Facebook page. They may also appear in this newspaper and other Northern News Services publi- cations. The photo with the most votes at the end of the week's voting will receive $100. News WINNER: Rosario Banday (left) Briefs Somba K'e/Yellowknife RCMP seek missing dirt bike Woke up seeing this view. Hay River An man was charged in connection with a series of "night time activity occurrences." According to police those occurrences took place in Hay River over the past week, and came with episodes of property theft. They're looking for the owners of a number of recovered items, including keys, tools, cases and electronic devices. Still missing is a red and white 2012 Honda CRF 150F motorcycle. Police say the dirt bike may have already been sold, or stashed somewhere in the town. If you have information relating to this motorcycle or any of the other thefts, contact Hay River RCMP at 874-1111. Lyndsay James Vanderlee, 31, of Leduc, is charged with theft and misuse of credit card, theft under $5000, possession of property obtained by crime and failure to abide by bail release conditions. He's scheduled to appear in Yellowknife Shari Caudron court Dec. 8. He'll stay in custody in the capital Somba K'e/Yellowknife in the meantime. The charges against him have not been proven in court. Ravens over Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife. – Craig Gilbert Buildings get traditional names NWT Buildings in Fort Simpson, Inuvik and Yellowknife have new names. The office building in Fort Simpson at 9902- 98th Avenue has been named the Chief Baptiste Cazon Building to honour the respected Fort Simpson Elder and Chief of the Łíídlii Kue First Nation from 1955 to 1974. The office building at 106 Veteran's Way in Inuvik has been named the Kigiaq Centre. This name, meaning "Beaver Centre", and honours Josh Baton the traditional Inuvialuktun name for the area Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson around Inuvik, Kigiaqvik, or "place of beavers." The building located at 5015 – 49th Street Stunning in Fort Simpson. in Yellowknife has been named the Tatsaotıne Building. The name means "copper people" and is one of the traditional names the Yellowknives Dene use for themselves in the Yellowknife dia- lect of Chipewyan/Dënesułiné. "These GNWT owned office buildings have been named to reflect the culture, heritage and history of the communities where they are located," Premier Caroline Cochrane said. Residents suggested 89 different names for the new buildings before a committee submitted their recommendations to former Premier Bob McLeod earlier this year. – Craig Gilbert Christmas sale season starts Hay River The annual Christmas Craft Sale at Diamond Jenness Secondary School will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 30. The sale is being presented by the school's Parent Action Committee. All items for sale will be homemade. Meanwhile, Ecole Boreale will hold a winter market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 1. The market will feature food, crafts, art and jewellery. The Ecole Boreale Grad Committee is seek- ing vendors interesting in participating in the event. – Paul Bickford Metis Nation to gather in Hay River Hay River The Northwest Territory Metis Nation will hold its annual general assembly in Hay River from Nov. 26 to 29. The organization represents Metis councils Paul Falvo in Hay River, Fort Smith and Fort Resolution. Tuktoyaktuk – Paul Bickford Kids lace them up way up in Tuktoyaktuk. 4 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 news Speaker says Facebook furor was a big misunderstanding Freddy Blake Jr. argues claims he received special treatment while hunting are false

by Eric Bowling A Facebook post, which road. About an hour-and-a- when the road was last closed "It's just the pros and cons everybody else." Northern News Services News/North was not privy to, half later, Blake was able to in September when a tanker- of social media, I guess," said The Department of Infra- Frederick Blake Jr., the purportedly claims Blake was cross and proceeded to James truck carrying Liquefied Nat- Blake. "There were people structure later confirmed newly-acclaimed Speaker of receiving special Creek. ural Gas closed the road but who were waiting in town to that the gate on the Demp- the Legislative Assembly, treatment because E v e n t u a l l y hunters were still allowed to go hunting. There was another ster Highway was closed as a says a vague Facebook apol- of his title. they came to a use it. vehicle 20 minutes behind us courtesy to travellers because ogy he posted Nov. 1 was in Blake said he point where the "The road was open on and they came across and it was closed on the response to a misunderstand- was waiting for road was closed. the NWT side, so we never went up. It wasn't like they side. ing that blew out of proportion the Peel River Blake said thought anything of it," he only let me across, it's the They also confirmed a on social media. ferry to cross he was allowed said. way it sounded but it's not the contractor had allowed some In the post, he apologizes if the Dempster through the James "We were told as long as we case. I never I asked for any people through the gate he upset anyone "the other day Highway while Creek road clos- were going hunting we could special treatment. I don't do though they were not supposed when we went to the moun- on his way to ure by a worker go by. They did that earlier that, I was waiting just like to. tains." The other day he is an area near the manning the gate this fall. I remember because referring to is Oct. 28, when he Yukon border. A FREDerick BLAKE JR. and kept going, I did a post notifying people and a friend went caribou hunt- few other hunters saying he assumed that you could cross the gates ing just inside Yukon territory. were waiting further down the the same rules applied as to go hunting. I just thought it was a similar situation." Blake said he did not catch anything but his friend shot a few caribou and they shared them. Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson said one of his con- stituents phoned him about a "concern" but he had spoken to Blake about it and considered the matter resolved. Blake said the whole thing was blown out of proportion and whoever lobbed the com- image courtesy of Facebook plaint misread the situation The Speaker of the NWT Legislature, Freddy and the whole thing snow- Blake Jr., had to deal with some fury on Facebook balled. recently. news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 5 Tsiigehtchic letter questions 'outing' of bootleggers Lawrence Norbert calls for resources to combat addiction by Nick Pearce including illegal alcohol sales and Northern News Services drug trafficking that targets the com- Tsiigehtchic munity's "most vulnerable citizens." A Tsiigehtchic resident is con- Currently, there are no dedicated cerned after the community's council police officers in the community. recently encouraged residents to "out" Instead, the six full-time RCMP offi- bootleggers. cers stationed Fort McPherson are In a letter to NWT media outlets, responsible for policing Tsiigehtchic. Lawrence Norbert wrote that while it "(Their) visits in the community "might seem laudable at first glance, are done based on the time of the year it would also appear they're doing it (freezing and break-up of ice) and half-ass backwards by attacking the availability of the members," Plourde symptoms (bootlegging) instead of wrote. the root causes of addiction." She wrote that public assistance The council of the charter com- is one tool RCMP use to investigate munity posted a letter dated Oct. 28, alcohol and drug-related offences. and shared it on social media. The That means RCMP members can poster states that council is concerned suspect illegal activity, but they need about alcohol entering the community evidence to further their investigation and the harm it causes to residents. and seize alcohol or drugs. Nick Pearce/NNSL photo It further states that the identities "The RCMP is using differ- Lawrence Norbert of Tsiigehtchic is concerned over the charter community's council encour- of bootleggers are widely known, ent tools to investigate alcohol and aging the community to "out" producers and sellers of illegal alcohol. including by police. drug-related offences, and the public's "The use and abuse of alcohol in assistance is one of them," she wrote. for respected Gwich'in Elder Annie time nurse outside of break-up and public amends and apologize for their our community damages people, fam- "That's why information provided in Norbert, who passed away in Septem- freeze-up. former deeds and actions, plus the ilies, children and Elders," it states. a timely manner by community mem- ber, followed by his cousin in Octo- "Also, the reality is that the addict consequences of those actions, not The poster implores residents to bers can help with evidence to sup- ber, two losses he said "might have hit can only go out to some southern only on the community but also on "out" bootleggers and drug dealers to port the investigation and ultimately the community hard. treatment program ... but unfortunate- families, (including) broken relation- RCMP officers and "stop the damage convictions through court." "I don't know why people decide ly will come back to the same drink- ships, violence, poor school attend- being done to our citizens." Norbert was one of the first resi- to go out and start selling," but it's ing and drugging environment with ance." The Community's Senior Admin- dential school survivors to publicly probably the allure of the cash that little or no professional counselling Norbert told News/North he is istrative Officer Grant Scott declined speak about the system's sexual and can be made he said. support," Norbert wrote in his letter. unsure if that would happen. Accord- to comment on Norbert's letter, but physical abuse, and he helped estab- Norbert said there are few eco- He said education addressing ing to him, "outing" current bootleg- said the posters were the result of lish the Grollier Hall Residential nomic opportunities in the commun- addiction would be of benefit. It gers, however, would simply lead to community council deliberation. School Healing Society in 1998. ity, which he described as only hav- would also be helpful, he adds, for someone else taking their place. Chief Phillip Blake was unavailable He told News/North he would ing "a certain amount of jobs" and a former bootleggers to help current "You lessen the demand. You for comment. rather the discussion focus on root limited economic base, in addition to ones transition away from the life- have people going out for treatment. In a statement emailed to News/ causes of the offence. trapping no longer being a viable full style. You have community healing. There North, RCMP spokesperson Julie "I've never bootlegged, but I've time profession in the area. His letter also supports "commun- might be less demand for bootleg- Plourde explained that substance been a customer," he said. He added There's also no full-time counsel- ity reconciliation," which he describes ging," he said. "(But) there's always abuse was a "top priority" for RCMP, that he spent the last few years caring lor in the community, and no full- as having "former bootleggers make room for the next bootlegger."www 6 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 news The happiest meals Fort Smith family resells McDonald's so son can attend volleyball tournament by Ezra Black the Lawrie Hobart Memor- of five burgers that would be Northern News Services ial Volleyball Tournament in hand-delivered within eight Thebacha/Fort Smith Fort Smith last month, which hours if they paid a $10 deliv- Between enrolment, equip- earned them a spot at last ery fee. ment and the need for teams to weekend's Spike It! volleyball Eight customers came habitually crisscross the North tournament in Yellowknife. forward and Merrick was to play something as routine Trace and his teammates dispatched to the Walmart as a volleyball game, the cost competed in the tournament McDonald's where he ordered of keeping a child in organ- but to pay for the boy's meals 30 burgers and 20 chicken ized sports in the NWT can be and a $330 bus fair to Yellow- nuggets at a cost of about $175. staggering. knife, Mitchell launched a Fries were forbidden as it For some families, the need proven fundraising idea she was assumed they wouldn't to fundraise is of paramount learned while growing up in travel well. importance, which is how Fort Inuvik. "I got a special request Smith resident Merrick Arey "I remember being young from a friend of ours who found himself in the middle and people would come in wanted quarter pounders, fries of a fast-food reselling venture off the plane with a bunch and chicken nuggets and I was last week. of burgers," she said. "Usu- like, 'whoa take it easy buddy, Arey bought dozens of ally Big Macs or Tim Hortons I don't know if you're going McDonald's hamburgers in and through word of mouth be to want those fries because Yellowknife to resell them in like, 'hey we're selling this in he's going to drive back,'" said Fort Smith so his son could front of the Northern Store. If Mitchell. attend a volleyball tourna- you want one come on down.'" Merrick purchased the ment. Her partner, Merrick Arey, order at around 3 p.m. and "We have Tim Hortons in happened to be in Yellowknife immediately started the long Fort Smith and we appreciate last Wednesday after a friend drive back to Fort Smith, having it," said Lisa Mitch- who owns a taxi company arriving at around 11 p.m. ell, the boy's mother. "But for asked him to drive a client "The cab stunk like people who don't get out of the from Fort Smith to the capital. McDonald's all the way back," community very often, hav- "The guy needed a driver said Mitchell. ing a Rotten Ronnie's burger and my spouse has a Class 1 The food was delivered is kind of a treat, so a lot of (licence)," explained Mitchell. to grateful customers and the people when I delivered the Figuring her neighbours entire enterprise netted the burgers were laughing." would pay a premium for couple $80, which they gave Mitchell's son, Trace Arey, McDonald's, Mitchell pitched to their son, she said. a Grade 9 student at Paul Wil- her scheme on a Fort Smith How do you keep 11 Big liam Kaeser High School, is community Facebook page. Macs, 10 cheeseburgers and photos courtesy of Lisa Mitchell an avid student athlete. Her clients would be Mildred Martin holding her recently purchased bag of McDonald's. His team won gold at allowed to order a maximum Please see Lettuce, page 7 news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 7 Lettuce left out The happiest, from page 6 someone was selling Big Macs The study, commissioned nine quarter pounders with on Facebook and in my head by CIBC, identified enrolment cheese fresh and tasty after I thought it's got to be my fees and equipment costs as spending nine hours in the mom,'" said Mitchell. "I think the two major barriers stop- backseat of a car? You hold the he was embarrassed, slightly." ping children from participat- lettuce, of course. Though the sum was rela- ing. The decision to go sans-let- tively small, the money will Canadian parents are tuce on all burgers meant they help keep Trace in organized spending an average of $953 were still appealing, even after sports. per year for a child to par- spending all that time in the The boy plays hockey, vol- ticipate in a sport, according back of a taxi, said Fort Smith leyball and basketball and is to the study, which found 82 resident Ashleigh Stokes. signing up for Arctic Winter per cent of survey respondents "The food is great because Games trials, which represents knew a child who had been it is a treat to have McDon- a substantial cost to his family. prevented from playing a sport ald's," said Stokes, who ordered "Plus you have tourna- due to the cost. four cheeseburgers. "It's still ments," said Mitchell. "These Still, Mitchell said keeping good. It's still delicious." tournaments are costing any- her son in sports is worth the When Yellowknifer reached where between $1,000 and price. Janine Martin, another cus- $3,000 between hotels and "Sports are keeping him tomer, the food was still in her meals. I made a joke yesterday away from making poor anti- fridge. and said we're going to have to social lifestyle choices," she "We're going to check it cancel Christmas." said. "And he and his buddies out at lunchtime today and see Mitchell's worries are are often at the house and they how it is," she said. shared by a number of Can- all play the same sports. So if Word of Merrick's McDon- adians. According to a 2014 I have to pay ... for these sports ald's run had spread to Trace's study, one in three of the for my kid, just so I can get school. nation's kids are not partici- them through a healthy child- "My son was like, 'mom, pating in organized sports hood and keep them busy, then my teacher just told me that because it's too expensive. I'll do that."

Trace Arey's parents resold dozens of McDonald's hamburgers, and a number Derek Martin was happy to receive his sack of McDonald's, freshly delivered of chicken nuggets, to raise funds so he could attend the Spike It! volleyball from Yellowknife. tournament in Yellowknife. 8 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 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 South Slave office, Hay River: Paul Bickford, Bureau Chief Phone: (867) 874-2802 Fax: (867) 874-2804 Email: [email protected] Mackenzie Delta office, Inuvik: Phone: (867) 777-4545 Fax: (867) 777-4412 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nnsl.com/inuvikdrum Baffin office, Iqaluit: Phone: (867) 979-5990 Fax: (867) 979-6010 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nnsl.com/nunavutnews Kivalliq office, rankin inlet: Darrell Greer – Bureau Chief Phone: (867) 645-3223 Fax: (867) 645-3225 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews

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Advertising production Housing Corp. messed up with Concept Energy contract, Production co-ordinator: Jennifer Reyes Diana Mathisen • Zdena Kunderlik Randy Hiebert • Joshua Uson but that shouldn't reflect on all GNWT companies Customer service: Holly Yestrau Northern News Services munities, awarded by Infrastructure. [email protected] The issue: Alfred Moses was able to hang Mistakes like the Concept Energy ADVERTISING A cautionary tale [email protected] his hat on a housing announcement debacle are going to happen. The Representatives: near the end of the 18th Legislative for GNWT contracts Petra Memedi • Laura Whittle powers that be ought to have known James Boylan • Echo Xin Assembly. We say: awarding a large contract to a com- Advertising co-ordinator: Zerline Rodriguez At the beginning of August, the Don't let one bad apple pany ill-equipped to carry it out was Administrative assistant: Emmanuel Ramos GNWT's Housing Corporation, which spoil the whole bunch a bad idea. Social Media co-ordinator: Vincent De Leon he was responsible for, cut the rib- But Northern contractors that CIRCULATION: bon on a 17-unit affordable housing employ Northern people who spend [email protected] development in Inuvik. ing modular homes. The bid for the Circulation Director: Emma Thomas their paycheques in the North rely Jewala Jhankur It was an example of everything $9.3 million contract was far too on contracts awarded by the GNWT, Subscriptions: going according to plan. New, low, said Cleary. The company was the federal government and muni- One year mail $90 Online (entire content) $50/year efficient housing for a vulnerable not properly vetted, he said. cipal governments. Without this population in a fairly remote corner Concept also owed nearly $2 mil- activity, there can be no hope of of the territory, plus the benefit of lion to the NWT Business Develop- diversifying the economy and the NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED 100% Northern owned and operated the much-needed employment that ment Corporation – an amount that impending diamond mine closures Publishers of: Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News was created during the construction has yet to be paid. loom even larger. Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub NWT News/North • News/North phase by Inuvik-based Cofly Con- The contract was cancelled in In southern Canada, contracting Member of: Canadian Community Newspapers Association struction. 2017 after Concept Energy failed to is more cutthroat. There, dozens or Community Newspapers Association Community Newspapers Association At the time, Moses said he had deliver on most of the work. hundreds of qualified companies Weekly Newspapers Association Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association "faith that this work will continue No one employs more people in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils compete for tenders. Up here, that Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce because it is the right thing to do." the territory than the GNWT. But the isn't always the case and the GNWT Contents copyright – printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited His heart was in the right place. government may support even more should not be faulted for seeking

We acknowledge the Nous reconnaissons The same can be said for the folks employment downstream through out a Northern solution to a North- financial support of l'appui financier du the Government of gouvernement du at the housing corporation who the millions of dollars worth of con- ern problem. Canada. Canada. in mid-2016 – according to Allan tracts it awards every year. Concept Energy was not able to to Member of the Ontario Press Council. The Ontario Press Council Cleary, a a former construction A cursory review of a list posted deliver on the contract but Northern was created to defend freedom of the press on behalf of the public and press alike, and to consider specific, unsatisfied complaints manager at the agency -- bypassed to OpenNWT.ca (which is not a companies still deserve the benefit of from readers about the conduct of the press in gathering and pub- lishing news, opinion and advertising. an established review process and GNWT organization, so the figures the doubt. They provide jobs to hun- Complaints should go to: approved what proved to be a prob- aren't official) shows in fiscal 2018- The Ontario Press Council, 2 Carlton St., Suite 1706 Toronto, Ont., dreds of Northerners and will be key M5B 1J3 lematic contract to Concept Energy 19, 729 contracts were awarded Email: [email protected] Fax: 1-416-340-8724 to the territory weathering whatever www.ontpress.com Services Ltd., the company owned by GNWT departments. This covers economic storm is heading our way. by Rocky Simpson, who is now the everything from about $10,000 for When awarding contracts, the Send us your comments Email us at: [email protected] with the subject MLA for Hay River South. an ATV for the Lands department in government should make sure a line "My opinion"; or send mail to News/North at Box Cleary says Concept's proposal the Sahtu to $15,000 for a colour 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off at company can do the job. But North- our office at 5108-50 Street. All letters submitted to build 19 two-bedroom duplexes photocopier for Justice in Fort Smith ern companies should always come must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number. We will do our best to ensure that contained all sorts of red flags. The all the way up to just shy of $15 first wherever and whenever pos- letters submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday are printed in Monday's News/North. company lacked experience build- million for "goods" for all NWT com- sible. editorial – opinions NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 9 Remembering tomorrow Northern News Services ite, the reporter's note that she herself was Friends, one of the things caught off guard to the point of which happen in a PhD setting is not having a speech prepared, is that you usually have a tonne or something we need to be aware two of reading to do. of. Towards the end of my regular The ‘progressive' leadership coursework we were assigned a she keeps touting could mean total of 120 textbooks to read. anything, and one someone new You had to be able to talk intel- to any politics will usually use, ligently about these, along with all to give you the idea that things the mountain of backup reference are going to change. In this case, material, to put it all into scope. balancing your father's mining What this is all about is to books and a few questioned port- teach you to think critically about MOUNTAIN folios in northern government the issues at hand, that is to find does not quite cut the bannock and use the guiding principles at View and lard. play. Antoine Mountain is a What people want more is a Dene artist and writer You are then able to put it into originally from Radilih proven record. Even the former practice, to focus on what is going Koe'/Fort Good Hope. premier, an entire career bureau- on around you. For instance, the He can be reached crat, was long on support for Big change in leadership in the North, at: amountainarts.com. Oil, when everything else in the with more women in the Legisla- economy failed to back it up. tive Assembly, on the outside, looks to be When you think on it, this is the way col- a good thing, especially since this has been onialism works. The real boss in any case is favoured as the way to go. in Ottawa, where the big bucks come from. What is surprising is that we now have We in the North are more or less toeing the a new woman premier, in the person of line, even with the Dene Nation, the new along the lines of what we need, a real pro- nam War was still raging, with body bags Caroline Cochrane, a Metis from northern president a former MLA. Say what you will gressive. hauling young soldiers back daily from the Alberta. of the former, Bill Erasmus, but he never His book takes us back to a time when front and revolution everywhere. This early on I was especially glad to worked a day in his life for government. leadership was something you put it all on Yet, now, with climate change, racism read a piece about her from News/North's The title for this particular column, the line for, when the only thing a desk was and colonialism to deal with, we still have Nick Pearce. Remembering Tomorrow; From SDS to Life good for was to grab a bite at or sit on. our chance to save what we do have. "Pro- Whilst I was pleasantly surprised that she After Capitalism, being the memoirs of a At the time of Albert's writing, though, gressive" or not we have work to do. Mahsi, got in rather than the Old Boy's Club favour- political renegade, Michael Albert, is more the lines were more clearly drawn. The Viet- thank you.

We asked you! with Eric Bowling and Paul Bickford

[email protected] "What does Remembrance Day mean to you?"

Alina Villeneuve, Aliana Gruben, Zandra Blake, Kaycee Campbell, Dexter Noksana, Angel Esau-Minakis, Inuvik: Inuvik: Inuvik: Inuvik: Inuvik: Inuvik: "The poppy is very "It's where you remem- "We remember people "To not forget what "To remember all the "A bunch of soldiers important." ber the people that who were in battle." people who died in the soldiers who died in died to save our coun- have fallen." war did for us." the war." try."

"Why do you wear a poppy?"

Lily Lau-a, Don Mabbitt, Peter Magill, Jenn Saffrey, Hay River: Hay River: Hay River: Hay River: "For the respect for the "Just to remember "Because I'm proud "So we never forget, veterans." the fallen heroes that that I'm free, and and because the fought in the wars." that's due to the sac- money goes to an rifices of those who important cause." served in all conflicts." 10 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 news Health dept. hosts B.C. 'poly-substance' experts Experts coach NWT professionals on drug, alcohol abuse in pregnant women by Simon Whitehouse education, intervention and supports around substance use. Northern News Services They are hoping their speaking engagement will lead to better gov- Somba K'e/Yellowknife ernment policy but also more responsible usage among the public. In an era where cannabis is legal and vaping is becoming more "So we are not just addressing people with addiction problems culturally prevalent, the GNWT Department of Health and Social but all women and those who want to know if they can use can- Services aimed to find answers for Northerners about substance nabis while breastfeeding." use in a workshop for childbearing women at the Chateau Nova Greaves said she was impressed with the GNWT's approach. in Yellowknife last week. "The Government of the is really pro- Dr. Nancy Poole and Dr. Lorraine Greaves, both of the Brit- gressive in the sense that they are starting on this process of doing ish Columbia-based Centre of Excellence for Women's Health education about poly-susbstance use," she said. "They aren't silo- met with more than nearly 80 professionals that included doc- ing substances one by one but are really concerned about how can tors, nurses, community justice and case workers, government we talk about them together." employees and non-government organizations as part of a feder- Toni Anderson, co-chair of Moms Boobs and Babies, which ally funded public education campaign on poly-substance abuse. is a territory organization that advocates for young breastfeeding A person with a poly-substance dependence is addicted to mothers, said it is common for young mothers to ask questions being in an intoxicated state without a preference for one par- about substance use, particularly alcohol and cannabis in and Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo ticular substance. This can refer to the combination of alcohol around the time of pregnancy. The organization hosted a Face- Dr. Nancy Poole, left, and Dr. Lorraine Greaves, and illicit street drugs, or the misuse of prescription medications. book Live event on Wednesday night that provided a forum for of the Centre of Excellence for Women's Health The event, called "Doorways to to Conversation: Substance mothers to submit questions to the two doctors. in Vancouver, led a workshop for health care Use with Girls and Women in Pregnancy and Beyond" allowed "I have only (received) positive feedback about the event and professionals from across the NWT last week. for participants to learn the latest research women's health around I think a lot of questions were answered. I really appreciated it substance use and also address some common myths. because there are a lot of myths around substance use." pregnancy period as well as birth control and family planning." "We were invited here by folks in the government who are Tracey Pope, a manager for persons with disabilities with the Pope said she works closely with the issue of Fetal Alcohol thinking through strategies for working with women who use department of Health and Social Services attended the workshop Syndrome Disorder (FASD) – a lifelong disability that can be substances," Poole explained in an interview with News/North. and said it was a positive opportunity for all workers who work found in the north related to alcohol consumption patterns in the "We want to focus on both women in general, but specifically closely with women's health to network and be updated on the North. those in pregnancy and we're trying to bring some of the latest latest in substance research. She said that the topic does have a cultural stigma around it research of what we know of some of the effects of those substan- "So one of the benefits was the openness to learn latest and it can make it a difficult subject to discuss sometimes. ces on women's health." research of legal substances and how it effects women differ- A workshop that provides leading research, however, can help Poole and Greaves said with the legalization of cannabis and ently than men," she said. "Definitely the theme was around those who might be scared to ask questions to "have that conver- the increased use of vaping, providing the latest research from pregnancy and poly-substance use, but it was also important that sation and make discussion more universal around alcohol and their institution can help the government provide quality health it highlighted aspects like breastfeeding and recognizing the pre- substance use." news NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 11 Sharing the night sky

A photo recently submitted of the aurora borealis over Yellowknife aurora skies by Vincent Ret. Indigenous governments of the North are looking to work with the Canada Science and Technology Museum and reconnecting with traditional cultural use of northern sky knowledge. photo submitted by Vincent Ret

Indigenous groups working to collaborate elders' star knowledge info with western science by Simon Whitehouse and their respect for nature and how they have communities in the NWT are both interesting community is continuing to work with elders Northern News Services culturally reflected on spiritual matters. ideas so to draw commonalities and differences and families to transcribe their knowledge and Somba K'e/Yellowknife Pantalony said he came away from the NWT among perspectives. added she is glad the visitors were interested in An initiative by the Canada Science and excited about the possibilities of developing She said the Tlicho, for example, have oral work they were already doing. Technology Museum in Ottawa to broaden the relationships with Indigenous communities to histories and legends that they have transcribed "I think it is timely that we are working with understanding of how humans have interpreted both explore a wider understanding of what such as the legend of the Two Sisters and Boy them and I am glad they came and are inter- the night sky, while helping Indigenous people night sky study is and has been in Canada. in the Moon. She said over the next year, the ested in being a part of it," she said. reconnect with traditional astronomical know- ledge, spear-headed consultations throughout Star knowledge symposium NWT communities last week. Pantalony said the museum is facilitating an Several Indigenous governments greeted international symposium focused on Indigen- representatives from the national museum to ous star knowledge in Ottawa next Septem- begin the process of working together to share ber. The event, which he hopes will involve Indigenous star knowledge. Northern Indigenous representatives, will bring David Pantalony, a curator for physical international traditional knowledge keepers science and medicine with the museum and a from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, small team from the institution visited repre- Hawaii, South America and Canada and U.S. sentatives from the Yellowknives Dene First The idea is to involve Indigenous people so Nation in Dettah, the Tlicho government in they can exchange ideas and shape the event in Behchoko, and both the Inuvialuit Regional a culturally appropriate way – away from the Corporation and the Gwich'in Tribal Council practices of typical academic conferences. in Inuvik to try to begin a process of exploring "We are planning on holding it at a farm near traditional knowledge about how the night sky Ottawa where a sacred fire and ceremonial ele- and constellations have been used traditionally ments can be included and where it can be prop- by northern Indigenous peoples. erly hosted on Algonquin territory," he said. "The national science museum has Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault, director of been around for about 50 years and it has the department of Culture and Lands with always had a strong astronomy component, the Tlicho government said she welcomed the but it was always very western," Pantalony opportunity to work with the southern repre- explained. "We have often always focused sentatives in the unique project. on telescopes, astrophysics and big, space- "For them to come and say we are doing related equipment and that is very western." this research it is really exciting," she said, add- Pantalony said when the museum did a major ing it is a constant work in progress to retain upgrade of its facility in 2017, questions arose traditional knowledge to revitalize the culture. within the institution of how well science was "Especially at a time when we are losing our understood in Canada and what astronomy elders quickly and there is such a rich know- and star knowledge actually means to different ledge among our older populations." cultures within. This led to the museum reaching out to New museum needs perspective Indigenous communities across the country Steinwand-Deschambeault said the com- who have access to traditional knowledge keep- munity recently received approval from the ers who have used night sky knowledge in their chief and council for a museum to be built in own ways. the near future and work has been ongoing on accumulating historical and cultural knowledge. Tapping traditional knowledge The challenge in the community is to transcribe "We have an incredibly rich country with for younger generations Indigenous perspec- cultures that have thousands of years of key tives from elders who lived directly on the land observations and knowledge transmissions and and who used star knowledge in traditional ways of interpreting the night sky," he said. cultural practices, such as for navigation. "Our overall goal is to work with our part- "Typically the people we are trying to reach ners toward the revitalization of (star) know- are around 70 years old and up who really ledge and to show how important it is to lived out on the land and we find that elders communities trying to reconnect with their even in their 60s didn't grow up in that (kind of cultures." environment)," she said. Pantalony said understanding the history Steinwand-Deschambeault said the inter- of star knowledge can give insight into how national symposium, as well as learning about Indigenous communities have understood land star knowledge from neighbouring Indigenous 12 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 news Ulukhaktok to get its own Internet Woman taking training to operate community network, aiming for higher speed at a lower price by Tim Edwards owned by the community and operated as not- Northern News Services for-profits. Ulukhaktok The Internet Society has been deploying A young woman from Ulukhaktok is under- variations of the community network model taking training to bring higher-speed and around the world for 27 years, though this is its cheaper Internet to her community. first project in North America. Sydone Okheena, 20, is in Hawaii undertak- "[It's best suited] for communities where ing training to operate a community network, there may not be a market-based solution for which will be built with backing from the them to connect to the Internet," said Buell. Internet Society. "When you have a community like Ulu, "The Internet service right now in which is 400 people, very isolated but also very Ulukhaktok, all we have right now is 3G cell small geographic-size-wise, we find that you service and Northwestel, which is really expen- can deploy a small-scale network and it will sive," said Okheena. work much better for them than then some of the The plan for the community network is to alternatives that they have right now. bring in LTE service, which is close to being LTE is a good option for Ulukhaktok, says 4G. Buell, because it provides decent speeds inexpen- Download speeds in Ulukhaktok can be sively and is simple to maintain and operate. as slow as 1 megabyte-per-second, according An immediate challenge for the community to Mark Buell, the Internet Society's regional is that Internet-providing satellites mostly orbit bureau director for North America the Equator, which makes it hard to get the right "With this network, we should be able to angle to hit them from this far north. Angela Gzowski/Internet Society photo get the speeds up 10 times or more at a lower In 2020 and 2021, Buell says many low- Sydone Okheena, 20, is learning how to own and operate a community net- cost, though the details remain to be seen," said Earth-orbit satellites that will have better cover- work, which she intends to set up for Ulukhaktok. Buell. age up north, which the Internet Society hopes Buell says the Internet Society has also and how to own one and run one," said Okheena. The Internet Society is backing the project to access for Ulukhaktok. brokered pro bono training for Okheena and She got involved with the project last year with $20,000 to cover the price of antennae and Once the network begins in the coming other community network leaders around the through her job at the Inuvialuit Regional Cor- routers plus other startup costs, and it negotiates year or two, the speeds will be higher but once world. poration, which is a local partner. deals on the equipment, said Buell. The society these satellites are accessed, speeds should be Okheena said she is excited to take the train- She attended a summit held by the Internet is now trying to negotiate an affordable price high enough for users to, for example, stream ing – it's her first trip out of Canada – and to Society in Inuvik last year and began a series of for satellite bandwidth, or "back haul." Netflix. come back and work on the project, and hope- training programs leading up to this one. Buell says the lower costs come from these Northwestel also recently told media it fully make a project that will give employment "I hope to accomplish it in a year or two," negotiations, cutting out the internet service intends to access low-Earth-orbit satellites for to others in the community as well. said Okheena. "It's going to take time but I hope provider as well as the having the networks its services. "You learn all about community networks to accomplish it." NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 13 Around the North If you have an item of interest from your community, call (867) 873-4031, or email: [email protected]

Hay River remembers About 85 people attended a candlelight vigil on Oct. 6 in memory of RCMP Const. Christopher Worden, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Oct. 6, 2007. A procession from the Rec Centre to the RCMP detachment preceded the vigil.

Course covers mining safety camp is set to be held in Fort Liard Jan. 6 to 17. Participants are required to make at least one active com- Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard Those who complete the course will earn various safety mute to school or work between Nov. 2 and Nov. 29. Those looking to kick start their careers in the mining certifications and tickets. An active commute is anything that is not driving. industry will have their chance to enrol in a 75-hour course – Erin Steele To be eligible to participate, you must live in the Mackenzie thanks to the Mine Training Society. Region (defined as the Deh Cho, South Slave or North Slave). "Get your mine safety skills in shape at the Mine Training Event encourages environmental "For each week that you participate, your name will be Society's Mine Safety Boot Camp," according to a bulletin on entered in the draw for a grand prize," states a bulletin on social media. commuting social media. "Complete the course and you'll meet the mining indus- Deh Cho, South Slave, North Slave "For each day that you participate, your name will be try's safety requirement in the NWT, Nunavut, Alberta and The Mackenzie Recreation Association is encouraging entered into a weekly prize draw." federally-controlled jurisdictions." individuals and groups to live active and commute environ- The winner of the grand prize will receive a fat bike. Interested individuals have until Dec. 6 to apply. The boot mentally for their chance at prizes. – Erin Steele Sober fun ensues Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence Adults 19 and older who are looking for sober activities will get to partake in a variety of fun thanks to the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre. An event called "Sober Fun Night" is set to take place Tuesday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the friendship centre. "Come hang out – have some sober fun," states a bulletin on social media from the centre. Each evening will include a sharing circle followed by vari- ous activities. Participants can expect activities that include games, movies, cards, storytelling and crafts. Coffee, tea and light snacks are also set to provided for each Sober Fun Night. – Erin Steele Fundraising is tasty work Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence Those who have a sweet-toothed person on their Christmas list will have their chance to double up on their generosity this holiday season. Everyone is invited to support the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre through its Chocolate Wishes for a Merry Christmas fundraiser with Purdy's Chocolates. The chocolate can be purchased as Christmas gifts for friends and family online or orders can be placed directly with the friendship centre. "And remember – there's no Ho Ho Ho rule that says you can't treat yourself," states a bulletin on social media. "To ensure a Christmas delivery all orders must be placed and paid for by Nov. 20." – Erin Steele Holiday help offered Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence

Please see Nobody, page 14 14 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 around the NWT

Courses, from page 13 Those needing some extra support for the holidays will have an opportunity to participate in a Christmas hamper program thanks to the Salvation Army and the Zhati Koe Friendship Centre. Low-income families are invited to register for the holiday food and toy hamper program in Fort Providence by Nov. 30. "Applications are here at the friendship centre for those who would like to apply," states a bulletin on social media. Applications are accepted Monday to Friday, 1-4 p.m. Photo identification for all adults in the family, identifica- tion for children, proof of residency and proof of income are required when applying for the hamper program. – Erin Steele Nobody's perfect at parenting Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson A parenting program offered by the NWT Health and Social Services Authority aims to highlight that "Nobody's Perfect" while offering group support to caregivers. "The group will focus on what you as parents want to learn about and will provide free childcare during the sessions to any parents who want to attend," states a bulletin on social media. All parents and caregivers with children under the age of six are invited to participate. The program is set to run until Dec. 3. Sessions are scheduled to take place each Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the club lounge at the rec centre. – Erin Steele

Inuvik Legion set for Nov. 11 photo courtesy of Corin Thompson Inuvik A full program is in place for the Inuvik Legion's celebration GNWT honours of Remembrance Day. Starting with a colour march and a series long-serving employees of musical pieces including the National Anthem, Last Post and The 2019 GNWT Long-Service Awards were presented on Oct. 16 to territorial government employees in Hay the Lament, the morning will include two minutes of silence, River and surrounding area. an address from the president of the Legion, laying of wreaths and a reciting of In Flander's Fields. On hand to receive the recognition in person were, front row, left to right: Corin Thompson, Finance, five years; Following the ceremony at the Legion, snacks will be Faye Nadia, Finance, 15 years; Maureen Maurice-Landry, Justice, 20 years; Tina Marie Gargan, Justice, 15 presented to children at East Three Elementary School while years; and Michelle Staszuk, Finance, five years; and back row, from left, Eric Beck, Environment and Natural a service will be held at the Inuvik Cemetery, with food and Resources, 30 years; Ian Lafferty, Infrastructure, five years; William (Bill) Ahenakew, Infrastructure, 20 years; refreshments to follow. The ceremonies begin at 10:40 a.m. Kathleen Graham, Industry, Tourism and Investment, five years; Deborah Hirst, Infrastructure, 15 years; Bob – Eric Bowling Kelly, Industry, Tourism and Investment, five years; and Scott Farrell, Infrastructure, five years. photo stories NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 15 An early Halloween halloween Feature by Eric Bowling

Northern News Services games and crafts were set up Halloween came early in for the evening. Prizes were Inuvik. Kids got together at handed out for best costumes the Midnight Sun Recreation but everyone got what was Complex Oct. 26 as dances, really important – free candy.

Oni (Japanese demon) Bobby-Lynn McAllister and leopard Amanda Park take a break from the dance floor.

Alianna Gruben and Ariana Ruben strike a pose on their way out of the party.

Keira Arey wonders why her ride, Tye, stopped.

Ninja warrior Lance and Fireman Luigi Sudsudan Paxton Baryluk goes full pixel as the Mine Craft slow down for a minute to strike a pose. hero.

Pirate queen Svetlana Dulay works on some arts and crafts. Glen Rogers clowns around after the contest. 16 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 Sports & Recreation Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: [email protected] • Fax: (867) 873-8507

photo courtesy of Katie Boyd James McCarthy/NNSL photo East Three Secondary's 15U girls squad captured the Tier 2 banner at Senior Spike It! in Yellowknife on Christian Gordon of Fort Smith volleys one high Nov. 3. They are, from left, Aubri Kirby-Lundrigan, Amber Lennie-Ipana, Seigna Hult-Griffin, coach Chrissy in the air during the 15U boys Tier 1 final of Senior Hvatum, Adrianna Hendrick, Pearl Gillis and Kyra Buckle. Missing is coach Katie Boyd. Spike It! in Yellowknife on Nov. 3. Communities take their half Inuvik and Fort Smith win banners at Senior Spike It! by James McCarthy in the 15U squad winning gold and flew back from home on top of the While they got a good run for U19 boys claim bronze Northern News Services he said there was no doubt in his world after both 15U teams claimed their money, the boys held together as During the same weekend, the Somba K'e/Yellowknife mind that they were going to win. their respective Tier 2 championship a team and brought the banner home. U19 boys took the bronze medal With eight banners up for grabs, "We knew we had it," he said. banners while the 19U boys took "We lost our first set really ter- and the girls came within shooting the chances of a community taking "Went unbeaten, just like we did at the bronze medal and girls finished ribly, but we picked ourselves up for distance of the podium. something back home was pretty (the) Lawrie Hobart (Memorial Tour- fourth. the second game," said Amos. "It Considering it was a rebuilding good. nament)." "Overall, they did pretty well," was really close until we got up eight year for the girls, coach Nichole In the end, it all worked out for The Huskies were indeed the said Jeffrey Amos, who coached points. McDonald said the team had quite a Paul W. Kaeser High School of Fort stronger of the two teams as they the 15U boys. "All but one of our "We knew we were the stronger showing for having just taken up the Smith and East Three Secondary of frustrated St. Pat with long runs of seven boys has ever touched a vol- team, but we met our match. Even sport and chalked it up as a strong Inuvik. points, aided by Coleman who was a leyball before this season, but until myself, we were a little uncertain learning experience for the girls. PWK ended up with two banners beast at the net. His efforts won him early September there was no skill because it was so close." "These girls played in a tougher when all was said and done as the the division's most valuable player development. Meanwhile, the U15 girls also pool, against the top teams. They Huskies copped the 15U boys Tier honour. "I'm very thankful that about half took the banner after three sets. played hard right up to the bronze 1 banner (overall champions) thanks There was also a bonus prize for of the team are first-years, so they're "They played together as a team. and lost a tight game," she said. to a straight-sets win over St. Patrick the team as it was agreed that if they eligible for the same category next It was intense, every point we all got "For the six weeks of practice High School of Yellowknife while the won, they were getting Fatburger year." caught up in," said coach Chrissy they had together, they did quite 19U boys won the Tier 2 banner by before heading home. He noted the boys were tested Hvatum. "They brought each other well. There were a few new players, beating Diamond Jenness Secondary "We wanted to win to get that," all the way to the end, with the last up every single time they were down. but they played some really good School of Hay River. said Coleman. game going to five sets between the They kept it positive and played to games." Dean Coleman played a huge role East Three Secondary's teams two squads. have fun." -with files from Eric Bowling

2019 Canada Winter Games team this past February in Alberta. He had two games on Nov. 8 against Peter de Cruz of Swit- Stephen Dunbar of Yellowknife will serve as the assistant coach zerland and John Shuster of the U.S. to wrap up the round-robin sports while Kerry Wheler of Yellowknife is the team's manager. with the playoffs for the top eight teams starting on Nov. 9. The territorial trials for the team selection will be held at the See the next edition of NWT News/North for the recap. Check Yellowknife Ski Club from Dec. 12 to 14. with James McCarthy Meeting of the minds email: [email protected] Kevin Koe looking good Somba K'e/Yellowknife Pictou County, N.S. The Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT handed out its The latest stop on the Grand Slam of Curling circuit saw the annual awards in the capital on Nov. 9 but before that happened, Cross-country ski coaches named best teams in the world at the Kioti Tractor Tour Challenge in there was business to be done. NWT Pictou County, N.S. The Sports Circle's annual general meeting happened earlier Cross Country NWT has its coaching staff in place for the Kevin Koe and his rink were among the men's teams and in the day with the usual fare of AGM-related materials on the 2020 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse next March. they got off to a good start by winning their first two games of agenda. The announcement was made on Nov. 1 with Mike Argue the speil. Koe knocked off Mike McEwen of Manitoba, 7-4, in Aaron Wells, the Sports Circle's executive director, said of Yellowknife returning as the team's head coach. He was in his first game on Nov. 6 and followed that up with a 7-2 victory there was a look back at the year that was, a look at the finances charge of the 2018 squad and was also the head coach for the over Bruce Mouat of Scotland the following day. and elections to the board of directors. sports & recreation NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 17 Sport North adds two new members NWT , NWT 55-Plus Seniors Games Society become official territorial sport organizations by James McCarthy Northern News Services Somba K'e/Yellowknife The number of territorial sport organiza- tions (TSO) in the NWT has grown by two. NWT Boxing and the NWT 55-Plus Seniors Games Society are the two new members of the TSO family after both were approved by the Sport North board of directors, bringing the number of official TSOs in the territory to 32. Doug Rentmeister, Sport North's executive director, said the board met on Nov. 1 and made it official. "They were approved pending some missing pieces, which were sent in quickly, and we're glad to announce that they are now part of Sport North," he said. To become a TSO, a group must be incor- porated under the NWT Societies Act and be in existence for at least one year before acceptance. It must also have a minimum of 20 members in at least two communities, have qualified coaches to deliver programming and be volunteer-based in terms of its board of directors. "The Societies Act is to protect the volun- teers and that makes everything official," said Rentmeister. Boxing, though, received a bit of an exemp- tion from the community participation require- ment and it all had to do with coaching, said John Stanley, NWT Boxing's president. "The two communities was always the obstacle for us," he said. "We had been look- ing into this since 2010 but there's a new board in place (at Sport North) and we explained to photo courtesy of 2018 Canada 55-Plus Games them that specialized coaching, especially with Tennis player Jerry Wald of Fort Smith was part of the Team NT delegation at the Canada 55-Plus Games in Saint John, a combat sport, is tough and thankfully, they N.B., in August 2018. The NWT 55-Plus Senior Games Society, which organizes the NWT's participation at the biennial understood." national event, is one of two sport organizations now recognized by Sport North. The plan now, said Stanley, who himself is a nationally-certified Level III coach, is to get out since 1987 and I think we have the chance to the responsibility of funding TSOs directly The networking aspect is something Hirons into communities and begin training coaches. build a great team. I've been to the Games instead of Sport North under a new system of was most excited about because a lot of sports "We don't have people in the communities several times before as a coach when I lived in three-year funding agreements. which are currently TSOs are official events in who have boxing backgrounds," he said. "A lot Newfoundland and it's such a fantastic experi- "We still apply to the GNWT for funding the Canada 55-Plus Games. of coaches have training in soccer or hockey ence for young people. We have a lot of good, and we receive it but becoming members of "We've had swimmers and golfers and curl- or some other sport but boxing isn't a big one. strong athletes here and we just need to get the Sport North gives us access to a lot of addi- ers who have participated before, for exam- It's important to get people properly trained drive to want to do it." tional resources," said Hirons. "We can access ple," she said. because boxing is a sport where there's an The 55-Plus society has been an official things such as insurance, legal advice, oppor- "We would love to have more people par- increased risk of injury so we want to make organization since 2016 when it registered as tunities to network, things like that and I hope ticipating and being able to work with other sure the athletes and coaches are cared for and an official society and the ascension to TSO it will have an impact." sports such as softball (slopitch) and hockey know how to do it right." status made Joan Hirons quite thrilled. It means a more formal process for recruit- could mean that more people and communi- Because there's now an official TSO for Hirons has been one of the big advocates to ing volunteers. ties get represented." boxing, that means an official territorial cham- get the society recognized as a TSO and she "We used to put the word out and asked Hirons is the society's secretary as she isn't pionship can be hosted, meaning boxers won't said it's been a long process. who wanted to make the trip," she said. "Now, allowed to serve as president because of her have to travel down south to compete at a prov- "We've been attending the Canada 55-Plus we can go through a proper process to get our position on the Canadian Senior Games Asso- incial event to qualify for a national champion- Games as a territory for many years now," she team together." ciation as the NWT representative. ship. There's also the ability to send boxers back said. "The reason we became a society was to the Canada Winter Games, the first such because we had received funding from Sport opportunity coming as early as 2023, and that North in the past to help with our uniforms, has Stanley excited. pins to trade and a small travel subsidy." "That's our end goal," he said. "We haven't But that changed when the Department of had a boxer from the NWT attend the Games Municipal and Community Affairs took over Sports Card VOLLEYBALL

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Community: Fort Smith AGE: 14 Trace was part of the 15U boys squad from Paul W. Kaeser High School which won the Tier 1 banner at Senior Spike It! in Yellowknife on Nov. 3. Like the rest of his team, he ate well following the win thanks to his coach wagering meals at Fat- TRACE AREY burger if they won. 18 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 sports & recreation Jr. NBA expands in Hay River Program now includes children in Grades 1 to 3 by Paul Bickford Jr. NBA, then Steve Nash Youth Northern News Services Basketball, was brought to Hay Hay River River several years ago by Finno The Jr. NBA program in Hay Celestin, who recently left the com- River has expanded to include munity. younger players. Celestin offered the program to "This will be the first time it will students in Grades 4 to 7 at Prin- be hosted for Grades 1 to 3," said cess Alexandra School and at Ecole Jason Morrissey, the new co-ordi- Boreale. nator for Jr. NBA in the community. "I very recently became the co- The program has previously been ordinator of the Jr. NBA program in open to students in Grades 4 to 7 Hay River," said Morrissey. "I took and will continue to be. it over maybe a couple of weeks When registration closed on ago." Nov. 1, there were 34 young players However, he has had experience signed up. with the program in the past, includ- Jr. NBA is offered across Canada ing while teaching in Deline when – where it was known at Steve Nash a coach started a Steve Nash Youth Youth Basketball until a couple of Basketball program. years ago – and the United States. "So I was a helping coach in that "Its purpose is to bring basket- program," he said. "I wasn't the co- ball development and the fun of ordinator, but I helped out with it." basketball and learning through bas- This year, Morrissey's seven- ketball to youth across Canada at year-old son, Brayden Morrissey the community level, and to do it in will be participating in Jr. NBA the right way," said Morrissey. for the first time, and he is looking "It's a research-based practice. It forward to it. follows the Canada Support for Life "I've been wanting to do this Jr. program's long-term athlete devel- NBA since I was five years old," opment model." said Brayden, who adds that his Jr. NBA is designed to make bas- friends are also excited about Jr. ketball fun for young people so they NBA. can develop and progress through For the children from Grades the sport, he added. 1 to 3, the program focuses on the "Not just to learn basketball and fundamentals, like how to pass and the skills, but also to use basketball receive a basketball and how to as a vehicle to develop their char- shoot. acter and transferable skills like A focus on the fundamentals sportsmanship, co-operation and continues for participants from setting goals." Grades 4 to 7. The 10 weekly sessions for par- "However, there'll be an increased ticipants from Grades 1 to 3 will be focus on learning sports skills offered after school on Tuesdays in and those technical skills associ- the gym at Harry Camsell School, ated with basketball, and they'll do beginning on Nov. 12. some small-sided games, as well," Meanwhile, the 10 weekly ses- said Morrissey. "So that's where sions for Grades 4 to 7 will be that competitive aspect comes in, offered after school on Thursdays at as well." Princess Alexandra School, begin- This year, there will be four Paul Bickford/NNSL photo ning on Nov. 14. coaches for each section of the pro- Jason Morrissey, a teacher at Harry Camsell School pictured with his seven-year-old son Along with those two schools, gram. Brayden Morrissey, is the new co-ordinator of the Jr. NBA program in Hay River. This year, the there will be participants from Every participant in Jr. NBA gets program has been expanded for interested students in Grades 1 to 3, along with, as usual, Ecole Boreale, along with some a jersey, a drawstring bag, a basket- those in Grades 4 to 7. home-schooled children. ball, a certificate and a poster. NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, November 11, 2019 19 20 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, November 11, 2019