1257+:(677(55,725,(6 Sacred Heart victims honoured Volume 74 Issue 26 MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2019 $.95 (plus GST) Entrepreneurs shine Business owners and experts offer their advice on succeeding North of 60

Special edition Small Business Week

Reform founder talks resources

Families continue search for fishermen

Hurrying hard with Inuvik kids Dayna King, left, and Nikki Ashton – the co-owners of La Dee Dah Boutique in Hay River expanded with a second location in at the end of 2018. They're just the sort of merchants celebrated during Small Business Week, Oct. 20 to 26.

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Publication mail Contract #40012157 "Have a mentor. Don't try and do it all yourself and wear it all yourself."

7 71605 00200 2 – Bill Kellett of Kellett Communications, just one business owner who offers his advice to budding entrepreneurs this issue, page 5. 2 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 small business week NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, October 21, 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 as soon as we can. News Briefs How to vote today NWT Federal election polls will be from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today, Monday Oct. 21. There are three ways to verify your identity and cast a vote. First, show one piece of govern- ment ID with your photo, name and current address, or your driver's license. Second, you could show two pieces of ID, both with your name and at least one with your address. These could include your voter information card, and a bank statement, a utility bill and a student ID card, or any of the approved ID forms listed on the Elections Canada website. Third, failing all of that, you can still vote if you declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to your polling station vouch for you. NNSL file photo The voucher must be able to prove their The Northern Farm Training Institute is a shining example of a successful small business in the Northwest Territor- identity and address. A person can vouch for ies. Pictured in one of their greenhouses is Sheldon Nicholson, site supervisor for holistic management and only one person (except in long-term care insti- Jackie Milne, right, president. tutions). Visit elections.ca and click on "where do I vote?" to find your polling station location. – Craig Gilbert How to start a business in the NWT The Chambers are calling Resources are still important, but for startups, diversity is king NWT/Nunavut by James O'Connor The GNWT has also developed an former clients in 2017-18. Fresh off of the Opportunities North con- Northern News Services Agriculture strategy to encourage local The $204,000 Business Development ference in the capital, the NWT and Nunavut Small-and medium-sized businesses food production "and shepherd the sector Project Fund was divvied up among 40 Chamber of Mines and the NWT Chamber of make up about 90 per cent of all businesses towards commercial viability." applicants in 2017-18, as previously reported Commerce are holding a meet and greet for the in the . Efforts are also underway to revitalize in News/North. new crop of MLAs just sworn in. The GNWT states that those businesses the Lake commercial fishery, That funding aids business start-ups and But only one of them – R.J. Simpson – has provide employment opportunities, provide with a new fish processing plant in Hay expansions and allows artists and craft- RSVP'd. products and services and help to offset River. makers to buy raw materials. Since 2005- In fact Yellowknife MLAs and "peaks and valleys of our resource-based A revamped NWT Arts website now 06, the BDIC has approved 338 applica- Kevin O'Reilly are holding their own event the economy." includes a Where to Buy feature, which tions for a total of $2.4 million in Business same night, seeking feedback from constituents And the GNWT offers several programs connects regional, , and inter- Development Project Fund money. on their choices for cabinet and premier (they to assist individuals, entrepreneurs, busi- national customers to NWT-made art. The GNWT is attempting to support advertised it in Yellowknifer this week). nesses and groups. The territory's film industry has also economic diversification with investments The dinner is scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. Oct. In 2017-2018, $17.6 million in grants and seen GNWT help. Eleven film projects in agriculture, arts, commercial fishing, 22. contributions was provided to more than have received support under the NWT manufacturing, tourism, traditional har- "We appreciate that many of you spoke 500 individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses Film Rebate Program since the program vesting and the knowledge economy. during your campaigns ... to the importance and groups in the territory. launched in 2015, states the GNWT. Those The Support for Entrepreneurs and Eco- of a responsible and healthy mineral industry," "The Government of the Northwest rebates have leveraged around $1.5 million nomic Development Policy (SEED) is one an open letter from Mines chamber president Territories works every day to support in economic investment by film projects in of those programs. Gary Vivian and NWT chamber president Jenni entrepreneurs, Indigenous and community the NWT. Funding is available in six categories: Bruce. governments, and other organizations in Through the department of ITI, the • Entrepreneur Support – Craig Gilbert driving economic development across our GNWT develops, promotes and sustains • Sector Support territory," outgoing Minister of Industry, "an environment in which NWT entre- • Community Economic Development Aklavik man hurt Tourism and Investment (ITI) Wally Schu- preneurs and small business owners are • Micro Business mann stated earlier this year in a news empowered to invest, take risks and pros- • Business Intelligence and Networking in assault release. per," stated ITI information. • Strategic Investments Aklavik "While our economy relies on the "We do so with targeted policies, pro- Regional Economic Development Offi- A man sustained life-threatening injuries resource sector as its foundation, our gov- grams and funding initiatives – and in cers help with navigating the application following a serious assault in Aklavik earlier ernment has committed to fostering an partnership with organizations such as the process and provide guidance as business this month, say RCMP. economic environment where our residents Business Development and Investment Cor- owners move forward with their projects. Police responded to a residence in the com- can find success across a variety of sec- poration and Community Futures Organ- Keep in mind that the SEED Policy munity at around 4:40 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. tors," Schumann told the NWT Legislative izations. When businesses succeed, NWT Application Form is an application only and where they located a 36-year-old man who was Assembly earlier this year. residents have access to more opportunities, additional documentation may be required laying on the ground with serious injuries. "And while our economy relies on the and our communities grow more vibrant." to assess eligibility, notes the department. The injured man was medevaced to Yellow- resource sector as its foundation, our gov- The NWT Business Development and Completion of the application form does knife, and then to hospital in Edmonton. ernment has committed to fostering an Investment Corporation (BDIC) disbursed not guarantee funding for the proposed A 28-year-old man has been arrested in con- economic environment where our residents $7.7 million in new loans, subsidies and project. nection with the assault. can find success across a variety of sectors. contributions in 2017-18. That raised the Interested parties should contact the – Brendan Burke "But it is also this government's view BDIC's total loans to $46 million. regional office to set up an appointment. that true economic diversity for the NWT As previously reported by News/North, As previously reported by News/North. also means getting the most out of second- the largest clients in 2017-18 were in The SEED program is budgeted at $3.9 mil- Rescue tech tested near Tuk ary industries arising from our diamond the construction industry ($3.2 million); lion in 2019-20, just a touch more than the Tuktoyaktuk sector, while also working to branch out finance, insurance, real estate and leasing $3.8 million allocated last year. In a rescue scenario last month, RCMP and encourage the responsible development ($2.2 million); and retail trade ($1.1 mil- Another resource for businesses is Can- tested a marine vessel tracking system that led of new resources." lion). Then followed the South Slave ($3.5 ada Business NWT (CBNWT). them to the assistance of two fictional hunters One growing area is the tourism sec- million), followed by the Beaufort Delta A member of the Canada Business Net- outside of Tuktoyaktuk, an Oct. 10 news release tor. GNWT statistics show that in 2017-18, ($1.6 million), the Sahtu ($1.4 million) and work, CBNWT provides a wide range of said. visitors spent more than $203 million in the the Deh Cho ($616,500). In total, 93 per information on services, programs and regu- The exercise was designed to test the "Auto- Northwest Territories – more than $36 mil- cent of the loans went to clients outside of lations and will help to answer questions matic Identification System (AIS), (which) is a lion in gains since 2015. Over the same per- Yellowknife. about starting a new business or improving vessel tracking system that automatically pro- iod, there were more than 112,000 visitors The BDIC's business service centre an existing one, states the CBNWT. vides updates on a registered vessel's position," – an increase of some 25 per cent. assisted 296 people from around the terri- Canada Business NWT offers: according to the news release. New entrepreneurs have been welcomed tory in 2017-18. • A business library – with reference and In the news release, police took this as evi- to the territory through the Nominee Pro- Since 2005-06, the BDIC has approved research materials. dence of the importance of installing the system gram and the GNWT immigration strategy, 262 applicants for $92.2 million in credit • Video conference seminars – learning on vessels. which included streamlining the application facilities. sessions and half-day seminars on a wide – Nick Pearce for those looking to make the NWT their The BDIC's board of directors also wrote home, states the GNWT. off $3.3 million worth of debt among eight Please see Millions, page 6 4 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 small business week Hammer mine roads through North, says former Reform leader Preston Manning Western political icon says governments should balance economics and environmental concerns when it comes to development by Brett McGarry these wouldn't be easy and would ance has gone so far that for a Northern News Services require the cooperation of people who resource developer to harm a fish With a new territorial government may disagree on a lot of things, some- is an unpardonable sin but for an being sworn and a new federal gov- thing not seen a lot in today's politics. environmental requirement to kill the ernment on its way in, resource infra- This would include Indigenous job or income of a resource worker is structure projects have been a large partners. actually cause for celebration." topic of discussion for Northerners "You have indigenous leaders and Restoring that balance is some- casting their ballots. communities that have leaders who thing Manning says could be pion- Prominent conservative Preston are just as dedicated to respecting the eered in the North. land and the environment as those Manning spoke to a packed house of Taking questions from the crowd, elsewhere but I believe you have business insiders at the NWT Cham- Manning was asked about the cur- ber of Commerce's yearly conference, indigenous leadership who believe that has to go hand in hand with eco- rent election and how to alleviate Opportunities North. divisiveness in the modern political Manning had plenty of advice on nomic development." Brett McGarry/NNSL photo Manning said these coalitions landscape. how infrastructure projects could and Reform Party founder Preston Manning spoke to a crowd of could pressure the federal govern- "There is a lot of conflict and it's should be advocated for here in the NWT Chamber of Commerce members last week. ment to use its constitutional pow- amplified with social media these North. environmental protection and eco- "The fact we have difficulty mov- ers to establish corridors and create days and I think the one thing you "Transportation infrastructure partnerships between the NWT and can do as electors is analyse the par- corridors are and will be key factors nomic development. ing resources from the second largest • Indigenous Canadians need to be store of resources in the world, the provinces who want to establish these ties and candidates and figure out, are in the economic and social develop- corridors such as Manitoba, Saskatch- they polarizers or are they are they ment of Northern Canada," said the prominent participants in these coali- fact we have difficulty moving them ewan, and Alberta. trying to find some kind of consen- one-time leader of the Reform Party. tions from the start. from interior to tide water, is some- "(Being) the second largest nation thing that has to be remedied and the But at the end of the day Man- sus?" he responded. "The question is not whether but ning says there needs to be a balance what infrastructure is needed and in the world and hold(ing) the second federal government has the power to He said the ultimate goal of gov- largest stock of natural resources in do so," said Manning. struck between economic develop- ernment should be to reconcile con- how to facilitate and accelerate its ment and environmental protection, development." the world, is something to be proud But to advocate and really push flicting interests by non-coercive something that has been lost. means. Manning made four main points and not apologetic about," said Pres- for the corridors would require noth- "At one time Canadians were "I'm supposed to stay away from about how to go about this: ton. ing less than a "21st century political known for having a sense of balance • Transportation infrastructure Manning said the North should be effort equivalent to confederation and ... that was part of our national char- politics, so I've got to be careful," corridors are needed to tie the north better connected to the United States, building of the first CPR rail road." acteristic," said Manning. Manning laughed. together and move resources to the that it may more easily move mineral "Today I think what we need cor- He spoke of times in the 1920s Manning was the leader of the global market. and energy resources to our largest ridor coalitions which require gov- when economic development took Reform Party from 1987 to 2000, • The federal government has the trading partner. ernments, companies and citizens precedent over environmental protec- which evolved into the Canadian constitutional power to legislate rights He said if the federal government dedicated to created and maintaining tion and how that has shifted to pre- Alliance party which subsequently of way for such corridors. stepped up and legislated these cor- these transportation corridors," said cedent being placed on environmental merged with the Progressive Conserv- • Corridor coalitions are needed ridors, it would alleviate some of the Manning. protection. atives to become today's Conservative to push for a better balance between political deadlock we see today. Manning admits that creating "In B.C., for example, this imbal- Party. small business week NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 5 How to run a business in the North

We asked you! "What advice do you have for someone who wants with Brett McGarry and Nick Pearce to start a new business in NWT?"

[email protected]

Bill Kellett: Kellett Communications, a marketing communications company based in Yellowknife "Have a mentor. Don't try and do it all yourself and wear it all yourself. Being a small business owner can be a very isolating experience because if you keep it all on your shoulders then the burden can be heavy because there are a lot of things that are quite stressful. Money is a big one but also managing staff, HR issues, learning about paycheques, knowing where the next dollar is going to come from. There are things like the Chamber of Commerce where you can actually meet and find other entrepreneurs and learn from them so that you don't feel isolated and get the benefit of their experience. Personally I'm a part of a small advertising business network and it organizes agencies across Canada. They put on an annual gather- ing conference once a year and while the content is really nice, inevitably it's the comradery and peer network who gets your problems more than anyone else. Your network doesn't just have to be about building your business, it could be about running your business, owning your business and some small businesses have advisors or participate in advisory boards which are awesome.

Dave Connelly: On board of directors with the NWT Business Development Corporation "Consider very carefully when an economy will look like once the diamond sector has been removed and what discretionary spe- cialists and what sources of spending would be available to purchase your product. For the most part, the biggest purchasing sector after the diamond industry would be the government. So is the service or product you're offering resilient to the shrinking of the economy that will happen with the closing of the dia- mond industry? Or can you think of a product or service that will flourish as the economy shrinks? I would read or educate myself and find the projections from the Conference Board of Canada or the Canadian Home and Mort- gage report or any of the other organizations that are projecting a 20-year decline. If my product or service is not one that would flourish in a shrinking economy or in would not be adaptable to climate change and I was young I would consider finding a mar- ket that allows me to enjoy and thrive. I would think, what makes me happy and where in the world can I offer that product or service. The exception to that may be if my product or service is one that I can do using the internet and social media and then therefore is much less impacted by the economy where I live."

Alex Lowe: Manager of air service development with the Edmonton International Airport "There's an ever-increasing opportunity to get into export markets, to get into international markets, and to export your products beyond Canada into bigger markets in Europe and Asia. The boom in E-Commerce and the way people are shopping, (presents) a pretty interesting opportunity for small businesses to not just consider their local market or their domestic market but to consider if they have some- thing that might be attractive in another country. If you look at Canada, with a population of roughly 36 million people, it's fairly limiting. It's not a lot of people and it's a lot of logistics to cover. It's a great market, it's a great place to do business, but if a company wants to potentially scale-up and get to a larger potential client base, a larger demand, then there's countries in the world that offer much bigger popula- tions and potentially a bigger demand. In the old days, it was start local, sell in Alberta or the NWT, and then sell it in the neighbouring province, and then sell it all over Canada and then sell it in the U.S. There was kind of a progression. Now that's all changed. I think the opportunities don't have to go in any kind of order. I think a small business with the right sort of product can export to China or Japan or England or Germany of the Netherlands almost right away."

Jeff Chase: Director of local economy at the City of Edmonton My advice is look for supports that are available to help you, rely on your community and don't give up. I think it depends on what city or community you're in. There's lots of pro- grams from different levels of government to support entrepreneurs. Some- times people don't even know those exist. So it's important to take the time to do some research to find what supports are available. A lot of time there's so much going on that people don't always know and government isn't always the best at making sure it's accessible. It's just taking the time to look at the grants and the programs. That's important. Sometimes new small business owners will have a really great idea and they'll rush to implement that idea and sometimes, doing research ahead of time (helps.) For example, if you want to open up a restaurant, knowing what zoning and where it is and doing your market research really matters. 6 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 small business week Millions available for small businesses

How, from page 3 by discussing and considering alternatives; others need financing," states information variety of business topics. from the centre. • Computer workstations – access to publi- "The experienced and knowledgeable cations, directories and leading edge business staff of the Business Development Centre are products. dedicated to providing the help businesses • Information about how to start a busi- need to survive, grow, and profit. We want to ness in the NWT. see you succeed." Other regional CBNWT centres are: CBNWT is located in Yellowknife on Dogrib Area Community Futures; Sahtu the 7th Floor of the Northwest Tower, but Business Development Centre; Southwest services can be accessed and in each region Territorial Business Development Corpor- of the NWT. ation; Western Arctic Business Develop- One of those is the Deh Cho Business ment Corporation; and Business Development Centre, which offers business Development Services. loans to small business in the Deh Cho An organization that helps new and from its Fort Simpson office. The centre established businesses is the Northwest Ter- is a non-profit organization established to ritories Chamber of Commerce. provide business and economic development Established in 1973, the chamber has rep- throughout the Deh Cho region, "Improving resentation from every region of the NWT. the economic well-being of the communities It works in association with a network and their residents, one business at a time," of community chambers in Inuvik, Norman photo courtesy of Mary Caroline states the centre. Wells, Fort Simpson, Hay River, Thebacha Nico Todd-Cullen, left, Sasha Hill, Sue Lindberg and Bhreagh Ingarfield film "We understand that starting your own and Yellowknife. an episode of harvesting wild edibles near Blackstone Park in the TV show business is a difficult and intimidating ven- "The NWT chamber represents the inter- Wild Kitchen. ture. Whether you are just starting or have ests of members across the NWT. For over a number of years under your belt, compli- 45 years we have been the only pan-territor- the northern economy," states information Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the NWT cations can arise. Some can be addressed ial voice of businesses across all sectors of from the chamber. Chamber advocates and lobbies all levels The NWT chamber provides services of government on issues and initiatives through three core objectives: impacting the business community in the • Member service and marketing NWT," states the chamber. • Policy positions and advocacy services The NWT chamber represents more than • Administration and governance 90 members, advocates for business and industry across the territory, as previously The NWT Chamber works to promote reported by News/North. and create business opportunities, foster Membership benefits include discounts business development, and serve as a chan- through certain businesses and access to a nel for professional business relationships group insurance plan. between members, all level of governments Starting a business can be a daunting and business organizations, states the cham- proposition, however there are many sup- ber. ports available in the NWT. "Working with the community chambers, It's simply a matter of reaching out to territorial business organizations and the them to determine eligibility. editorial – opinions NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 7 No electoral system tampering needed Editor's note: The editorial in the Oct. 9 If that didn't happen, the commit- ings, one thing that we heard was that resentation, and perhaps talk of rigging edition of the Hay River Hub drew a strong tee recommended that a plebiscite be women are just as likely as men to get the system will fade away. reaction. The editorial follows; the letters are reproduced on this page. held on its suggested options, including elected in the NWT, if they run. That has Of course, women – just like men It seems all of the soul searching guaranteeing a minimum number of apparently always been the problem – – should always be encouraged to run over the past year about how to seats for women. getting women to seek elected office. for office and given the knowledge to increase the number of women in the Yet, in just one election, the NWT Of course, that didn't seem to apply do so. Legislative Assembly may have been a went from having just two female MLAs in the recent election as there were a While we say that the whole special waste of time, after all. to nine out of 19. How things change, healthy number of female candidates, committee process may have been a Without any government inference and quickly. and it proved conclusively that NWT waste of time, we will recognize that it and somehow rigging the system, We always thought that the ideas electors are more than happy to vote encouraged a territory-wide conversa- women are now well-represented in the on changing the electoral system being for them. tion about female representation in the territorial legislature. discussed by the special committee That is all good, and we hope that Legislative Assembly. Who knows? That It seems almost quaint to now read were undemocratic. continues. Assuming that the nine may have encouraged some women to the final report of the Special Commit- Not that we are against more female female MLAs run again in the next run. tee to Increase the Representation of MLAs. In fact, we are all for that idea. election, there will be that many incum- Still, running for office is a difficult Women in the Legislative Assembly, However, we don't see anything ter- bents, and you would normally think decision, both for men and women. submitted in June of this year. ribly wrong with the system. We didn't they would have a reasonable chance Now that there are more female Just a mere four months ago the and still don't see the current system at re-election. (Of course, judging by the MLAs in the Legislative Assembly, they goal was to increase female represen- as being designed in any way to keep recent election, incumbency could be a can be role models for women thinking tation in the Legislative Assembly to 20 women out of the Legislative Assembly. drawback in the NWT these days.) about entering politics. per cent in this past election. When the special committee Nevertheless, the Legislative Assem- Hopefully, a special committee will dropped by Hay River during its hear- bly now has a solid base of female rep- never be needed again. MLA Julie Green disappointed by editorial Dear editor, we needed to improve these dismal numbers policy changes such as ramping up campaign called Daughters of the Vote in February 2017 I was disappointed to read your Oct. 8 Hub so that women were represented in proportion schools and allowing parents to claim extraordin- and a series of election-preparedness workshops editorial about the historic victory that has given to the population as a whole. It wasn't a matter ary child-care expenses incurred because of their called Women on the Ballot last winter. Northerners their first gender-balanced of having a system of governance that MLA work. Some of the women we met with Many tireless volunteers have spent days Legislature: "We didn't and still don't see kept women out, but rather encouraging decided to become candidates and were elected. talking to women about issues ranging from the current system as being designed in women to develop the confidence and So yes, there is a direct connection between developing confidence and managing family any way to keep women out of the Legis- skills to try to get in. the committee's work and the record number of responsibilities while away in Yellowknife to the lative Assembly." Enter the special committee of MLAs women who ran: 22 in 2019 versus 10 in 2015. substantive issues of governance. There have also If that statement were true, then the appointed a year ago with me as chair. The effort that went into getting women on been many private mentoring efforts. NWT Legislative Assembly would have The committee travelled to 10 com- the ballot was not easy or a fluke. The Status of The nine female MLAs are now role models. had equality of women's representation munities to find out what it would take Women Council of the NWT has been offering Together we will bring real and lasting change long before now. While Hub readers were Julie GreeN to get women to become candidates. We campaign schools for women for years. Both to represent all northerners. We know that the fortunate enough to have a strong female met with women who held leadership MLA and I are system that existed before was not good enough, representative in Jane Groenewegen for many positions in community and Indigenous govern- graduates of the 2015 school. Once elected, we and we will work hard to change it so that others years, that was not the case for the rest of the ments as well as former MLAs. taught at campaign schools in Hay River, Fort can succeed. territory. The result, described in the interim report, Simpson, Inuvik and Yellowknife. Julie Green After the 2015 election all MLAs agreed tabled in March, were recommendations for I hosted a leadership development workshop MLA, Editorial overlooked support from other women Dear editor, tread. That is what you needed to acknowledge in your editorial, Let's hope that now, with nine women elected in the NWT, we I am writing in response to the editorial which appeared in the because that was the real achievement of that election. will see more balance coming into a world that is so badly out of Hub last Wednesday stating that a standing committee looking into These women, successful or not, are all winners. The doors that balance and a future that is more hopeful for us all. seeing more women elected into the legislature probably was not were once closed – whether real or imagined – are now open to Nancy Vail needed as it appeared that, with nine women elected, voters were everyone. To that end, they are an inspiration to us all. Yellowknife ready for a change and more balanced representation. While it is true that people were ready to vote for women, what the editorial overlooks was the encouragement and support women received from other women to put their names forward, nor did it acknowledge the hard work done by a handful of females to see that more women would run. This is no easy task for a gender which has had its voice forcibly or conditionally stilled for generations, and a gender that has only started to express itself in the public domain. We know that when men express themselves they are considered assertive, but when women speak up they are often called hysterical or much, much worse. And even after they are elected or move into positions of authority, they are fiercely harassed, making their job almost impossible. Just ask Chrystia Freeland, who has written extensively about the treatment she has endured. Here in the NWT, people such as Megan Holsapple started her work more than a decade ago, visiting the communities, hosting workshops and working on standing committees to provide women with the tools and support they needed to launch a campaign. Beginning last February, Julie Green – supported by Megan – hosted Saturday morning workshops for women to learn what was involved and presented in-depth information for several weeks on what candidates needed to do and what they might be up against. Both women worked tirelessly in their efforts to see more women in the legislative assembly. But most helpful of all, perhaps, was a Facebook page called Women on The Ballot started by Julie and contributed to daily by Megan in which every time a woman stepped forward, other women applauded their courage and offered continued support throughout the summer and during the campaign. There are many women who have said they would not have had the courage to run if it had not been for the unconditional support they received on that page. Some of us still could not muster up the courage to take that step. In your editorial, you said that the efforts of the standing com- mittee were probably not required since voters were ready to elect women. That is not the point. The point is that the women them- selves had to find it within themselves to pursue a path so few have 8 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 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 F ax: (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 F ax: (867) 874-2804 Email: [email protected] Mackenzie Delta office, Inuvik: Phone: (867) 777-4545 F ax: (867) 777-4412 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nnsl.com/inuvikdrum Baffin office, Iqaluit: Reliable, fast internet Phone: (867) 979-5990 F ax: (867) 979-6010 is just one of the items Email: [email protected] on the wish list for Website: www.nnsl.com/nunavutnews NWT businesses trying Kivalliq office, rankin inlet: Darrell Greer – Bureau Chief to make a go of it in a Phone: (867) 645-3223 F ax: (867) 645-3225 challenging economic Email: [email protected] environment that is the Website: www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews Northwest Territories. 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Advertising production Small business no easy Production co-ordinator: Jennifer Reyes Diana Mathisen • Zdena Kunderlik Randy Hiebert • Joshua Uson Customer service: Holly Yestrau [email protected] ADVERTISING feat in the North [email protected] Representatives: Petra Memedi • Laura Whittle James Boylan An important sector that must be encouraged to grow in the

Advertising co-ordinator: Zerline Rodriguez Administrative assistant: Emmanuel Ramos Northwest Territories Social Media co-ordinator: Vincent De Leon Northern News Services The business capacity and eco- CIRCULATION: There is no backup generator for The issue: nomic expertise hosted at the [email protected] the world wide web. Running a business in the Explorer Hotel from Tuesday to Circulation Director: Emma Thomas Jewala Jhankur An interruption in internet ser- NWT Thursday was, in a word, signifi- Subscriptions: vice can't be mitigated with diesel. cant. Many of the folks there were One year mail $90 We say: Online (entire content) $50/year It hamstrings any small business forward-lookers and trailblazers, instantly. It is estimated one day of Tap the mainline obsessed with the horizon and no lost internet service in Yellowknife strangers to adversity. NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED 100% Northern owned and operated evaporates about $4.75 million of (the internet), the under-funding of But it's hard to keep your eyes on Publishers of: Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News economic activity. community governments, the cre- the prize when the lights are flick- Yellowknifer • Hay River Hub NWT News/North • Nunavut News/North The Yellowknife and Northwest ation of a university in the city and ering. Hopefully, some of our new Member of: Canadian Community Newspapers Association Territories chambers of commerce the availability of land. MLAs and the candidates running Ontario Community Newspapers Association Manitoba Community Newspapers Association know these and many other things, It's worth noting the farther away in the federal election taking place Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association which is why they have quite cor- from the capital, the more challen- today had a chance to do some lis- Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta Press Councils Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce rectly been hounding political can- ges a business owner faces. Finding tening there. Contents copyright – printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited didates for commitments on the qualified staff would certainly be There are only so many govern-

We acknowledge the Nous reconnaissons subject for months. one. Another is simply the vast geo- ment jobs to go around. It must be financial support of l'appui financier du That said, navigating IT is just one the Government of gouvernement du graphical and logistical challenge stressed that small businesses are Canada. Canada. of the gauntlets facing current and of managing the transportation and an important job provider and thus,

Member of the Ontario Press Council. The Ontario Press Council prospective entrepreneurs. distribution of goods from a remote must be encouraged to thrive in was created to defend freedom of the press on behalf of the public and press alike, and to consider specific, unsatisfied complaints According to the NWT chamber, community. No doubt, no one is every community of the NWT. from readers about the conduct of the press in gathering and pub- lishing news, opinion and advertising. the top five issues facing their mem- going to be opening a hardware Obviously, upper levels of govern- Complaints should go to: bers leading up to the territorial store in Paulatuk anytime soon. ment must be part of the story – The Ontario Press Council, 2 Carlton St., Suite 1706 Toronto, Ont., M5B 1J3 and federal election season now The NWT chamber held a confer- the GNWT and the feds with hydro Email: [email protected] Fax: 1-416-340-8724 www.ontpress.com drawing to a close were red tape/ ence in Yellowknife last week called electricity, Canada or its Crown barriers to entry, the cost of living, Opportunities North that assembled corporations with the internet – but Send us your comments over-regulation, the mineral industry Email us at: [email protected] with the subject dozens of chamber members for it's the sort of people who pay hun- line "My opinion"; or send mail to News/North at Box and housing. workshops and networking, and to dreds of dollars to travel across the 2820, Yellowknife X1A 2R1; or drop your letter off at our office at 5108-50 Street. All letters submitted The Yellowknife chamber's list listen to heavy hitters like conserva- territory and attend workshops for must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number. We will do our best to ensure that was a little different. In the capital, tive darling and Reform Party found- three days that should be writing letters submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday are printed in Monday's News/North. top concerns were fibre redundancy er Preston Manning. the first draft. editorial – opinions NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 9 Secret vote for premier is necessary by MLAs Northern News Services only provides overwhelming power, it also pro- A recent News/North editorial ("Secret vote vides a raise in salary of $82,000 a year. Whew. makes charade of 'consensus' government," Oct. Over four years, that's $328,000. Wahway. 7) says, "the only logical explanation as to why You could say that's 328,000 reasons why a MLAs decline to openly declare their selections person might want to get even with you if he sees for premier and cabinet is because they don't you voting against him. Crazy man. want to be held accountable for them by voters." Let's go a little fur- Eschia! ther. That $82,000 is a As a former MLA, I couldn't disagree more. 77 per cent increase in Secret ballot voting is a fundamental part of dem- pay. Don't forget that ocracy. And declaring who you're voting for is the premier's pension like voting by a show of hands. will also increase by 77 I agree it's easier for Yellowknife MLAs to per cent, and the pen- announce who they will vote for because they sion lasts until a person have a party of seven MLAs working for Yellow- dies. That's another knife issues. And they will most likely vote for huge reason for them to other Yellowknife MLAs. be peeved at you. Meanwhile, MLAs from small communities To top it off, none WHEN work alone for their constituents. Being a one- of Canada's major par- THE man show is a very lonely act indeed, especially ties select their leader HEART when you're working for several communities. by a show of hands. Sniff, sniff. They are done by says No secret ballot as well. Declaring who you're voting for can be dan- Roy Erasmus Sr. is gerous for the MLA from a small community. If The only difference is a certified wellness someone that the MLA didn't vote for becomes that the membership counsellor and coach premier or a minister, the leader could withhold or votes for the leader, not who survived heart delay funding for projects in that MLA's district. only the MPs. disease. Not cool, man. And the MPs and The editorial tries to make a comparison to MLAs don't all declare party politics by saying MLAs and MPs are not who they're voting for. That's the true comparison. afraid to support their leaders while in opposition, An editorial in the Yellowknifer, "the Premier so why should our MLAs be afraid to declare who is not the Pope," (Oct. 11) also bashed the selec- And I doubt if it has ever been in place, marked ballot, to select two ministers from the they're voting for as premier and ministers. tion process for premier. because was the first premier North, two from the south, and two from Yellow- But there's no comparison whatsoever. No way, The editorial said by being a two-term pre- from Yellowknife and that was in 1983. We did knife. There is no such process, or ballot, for mier, Bob McLeod went against an unwritten rule Jose. not have another premier from Yellowknife until selecting the premier from a certain area. that premiers rotate between MLAs in the North, was elected in 2003; that is eight pre- People in party politics supporting their leader Any MLA can put their name forward for pre- is very different from a personal vote that could south, and Yellowknife. You think that's true? I miers later. Whoa! deny giving someone power and a very substantial don't. Yet, according to the Yellowknifer editor- mier, and MLAs vote for who they want. raise in salary. Certainly, when we voted for premier when ial, every third premier should have been from At any rate, I'm glad the process has been Let's look at what's at stake here. MLAs make I was an MLA in 1995, we were never told we Yellowknife. improved but not changed to make MLAs declare $108,000 a year. But being elected premier not should elect a premier from a certain area. There is also a clear process, with a clearly who they're voting for as premier and cabinet.

We asked you! What was the most rewarding thing you grew at with Eric Bowling the greenhouse this year? [email protected]

Janet Boxwell: Martina Israel: Gail Robson: Minerva Ward: Corbin Dempster: Leigh-ann Williams- "My carrots — the "My tomatoes, we pro- "I grew some raspber- "All the herbs and "I grew some nice Jones: secret is thinning duced a ton of cherry ries. My little toddler spices for cooking. It's tomatoes, a couple of "I grew carrots, beans them. My first time in tomatoes." loved them." nice to leave work and pears and strawber- and peas with my two- 13 years." pluck your seasonings ries." year-old daughter. It's from the garden." exciting to see their faces light up." 10 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 news Premier candidates promise shake-ups, fresh starts MLAs Cochrane, Lafferty, Simpson, and Martselos make the case to be the boss by Nick Pearce – Range Lake MLA Caroline ernment: stalled land claims, Fresh off her cabinet post climate change, land claims, majority of regular MLAs. He Northern News Services Cochrane, MLA Jack- slow action on the economy as education minister, Caroline a polytechnic university, and referenced Thursday's meeting With the territorial election son Lafferty, and the political dysfunction of Cochrane stepped up as one of social supports, Cochrane said with Indigenous leaders, who over, four premier candidates MLA RJ Simpson and Theb- the previous assembly. the more experienced members she'd be more collaborative – a expressed discontent with past turned to a smaller court of acha MLA After the new speaker is in the running. serious source of contention for relations. opinion Oct. 18 – the MLAs – one will emerge as premier chosen Oct. 24, MLAs can ask She pitched herself as a bal- regular MLAs who felt crowd- It's not enough to put in the legislative assembly who next week. one last round of questions of anced, accountable voice that ed out during the last assembly. "new faces" in an "old sys- vote a leader among them in In their speeches to MLAs, premier candidates before a would pay special attention to She similarly promised to tem" and expect change, he secret. the candidates acknowledged secret ballot vote is held in the the territory's most vulnerable tackle the uncertain economy said as he made a process- Out of the four hopefuls frustration with the past gov- legislative assembly. residents. Vowing progress on facing the Northwest Territor- heavy pitch, which put a pre- ies with two of the territories' mium on updating consensus three diamond mines expected government with a target audi- to wind down over the next ence potentially limited to the decade. MLAs assembled before him. "Our economy's in trouble," The government account- she said, noting small busi- ability track extended to nesses are also struggling. She bureaucracy. While claiming promised a 10-year economic a good relationship with most plan, including collaboration high level officials, he said "the with Indigenous governments buck had to stop somewhere." to keep the territory in the He said these bureaucrats black. should be accountable, but also have room for creative prob- 'True spirit of the drum' lem-solving. Jacskon Lafferty – with two "Nothing should be off the cabinet posts and a speakership table," Simpson said. behind him – brings the most experience into the race. 'At a crossroads' He made a full-throated Freida Martselos, chief defence of consensus govern- of the Salt River First Nation ment after four years of clash- before becoming an MLA, ing personalities, and political kicked off her speech by call- acrimony. In response to that ing out the uncertainty hanging recent history, Lafferty cast over the territory. himself as open minded, a For her, government's role good listener with whom regu- is to be a salve, providing "cer- lar MLAs could hash out policy tainty" and "hope." differences. Part of this effort would Lafferty said the drum- be settling stalled land claims shape of the assembly hall was as "quickly as possible," said no coincidence and called for Martselos. a new collaborative approach She noted increasing the that honoured the "true spirit of certainty around land claims the drum." would assure businesses look- He also sounded off on the ing for stability. need to support the small com- While saying the territory's munities "where most of us health-care is competitive, she live" – "places without all-sea- said it needed more support, son roads, banks, daycare ser- especially for long-term care. vices, full-time policing, hos- She also aimed to resolve pitals, or even decent foods," housing issues, transitioning Lafferty said. residents out of social housing and encouraging upgrades and 'Buck has to stop maintenance of homes. somewhere' Meanwhile, Martselos said R.J. Simpson oriented him- government should work to cre- self to an insider's audience, ate the polytechnic university decrying the "pettiness" of the with key investments going to last assembly. Inuvik and Fort Smith cam- "People have lost faith in puses. our system," he said, adding his Recognizing the concentra- vote often didn't matter under tion of wealth in Yellowknife, the "cabinet and three friends" she said other communities voting model that bypassed the should also benefit.

Nick Pearce/NNSL photo Monfwi MLA said he would listen to all voices as premier, as MLA did just that. NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 11 'We may never give up' Community and family searches continue for four fishermen missing since Sept. 29 by Paul Bickford Alberta and British Columbia. early on Sept. 29 to check fish- sing fishermen were not with Northern News Services "It's been tough, and that's ing nets at Sulphur Point, on the vessel or in the immediate The official search has been putting it lightly, if I had to put the south shore of Great Slave vicinity. scaled back for four fishermen it in words," said Courtoreille Lake east of Hay River. The vessel was brought missing on Great Slave Lake of searching without any sign They were scheduled to to the surface, but the anchor since Sept. 29, but searches of the missing fishermen. return before nightfall that day, points could not resist the wave by family members and Hay "We're not completely giv- but were reported missing in action and it sunk to the bot- River residents continued as of ing up, but it's exhausting. It's the early morning hours of tom of the lake. late last week. tiring," she said on Oct. 10. Sept. 30. "Under the circumstances "You just never really give "We may never give up." The fishermen were aboard and with the challenging con- up until you know for sure," The RCMP has identified a 33-foot aluminum hull vessel, ditions, a decision was made said Rosemarie Courtoreille of the missing fishermen as Dan- equipped with a pilot house, by RCMP to scale back the iel Courtoreille, 51, Michael two engines, VHF radio, life marine search, with the families photo courtesy of the Courtoreille family Alberta, who has two brothers Stacy Linington is a former president of the NWT among the missing fishermen. Courtoreille, 50, and Jason jackets and fishing equipment. notified of this change," stated The ongoing searches – on Fulton, 40, all from the Lesser On Oct. 1, a search air- an Oct. 7 news release from the Fishermen's Federation. the shoreline, on the water and Slave Lake area in Alberta. craft spotted the fishermen's police. "The decision included us in many ways," said Sgt. even from the air – involve The fourth missing fisherman partially submerged vessel in forecasts of deteriorating weath- Brandon Humbke of the Hay local residents and fishermen, is Stacy Linington, 59, from the area of Windy Bay on the er conditions predicting strong R iver RCMP. and family members of the Hay River. north side of Great Slave Lake. winds, rain and potentially snow "We are also thankful to missing fishermen who have The four men left the com- Three debris fields were found in the coming days." the citizens of Hay River, in travelled to Hay River from mercial wharf in Hay River near the vessel, and fishing A further aerial search supporting the families that equipment was recovered. could be scheduled in the com- came up to be closer during the In an Oct. 4 news release, ing weeks using Civilian Air search efforts. Hay River RCMP announced Search and Rescue Association Our thoughts are with the that, after an extensive aerial aircraft to inspect the west- families at this time." and water-based search over ern and southern shorelines of Community volunteers and the previous four days, they Great Slave Lake. family members of the missing were in a "recovery mode" for "If further evidence comes fishermen are continuing to the missing fishermen. to light, lifting the marine organize further searches. On Oct. 7, Hay River search suspension may be re- "Almost every day they RCMP announced that the evaluated," the RCMP stated. were out," said Beatrice active marine search for the The RCMP thanked com- Lepine, who has been help- four missing fishermen was munity members and other ing to organize assistance for being scaled back. organizations for assisting in family members of the missing

photo courtesy of the Courtoreille family The previous day four the search. fishermen at Soaring Eagle members of the RCMP's "We are extremely grateful Friendship Centre. Brothers Daniel Courtoreille, left, and Michael underwater dive team from to our partner agencies in their About 20 family members photo courtesy of the Fulton family Courtoreille from the Lesser Slave Lake area in Vancouver had inspected the courageous efforts to locate were still in Hay River as of Jason Fulton is from Alberta were among the four fishermen who went vessel and concluded the mis- these missing men, assisting late last week. the Lesser Slave Lake missing on Great Slave Lake Sept. 29. area in Alberta. 12 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 Our beautiful North

Vincent Ret WINNER Somba K'e/Yellowknife A plane flies over the sunset horizon in Yellow- knife. Submit entries via Facebook messen- ger to our NNSL.com page each week by 4 p.m. Thursday and we'll post the contest- ants each Friday on our Facebook page. They may also appear in this newspaper and other Northern News Servi- ces publications. The photo with the most votes at the end of the week's voting will receive $100. around the NWT NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 13 Around the North If you have an item of interest from your community, call (867) 873-4031, or email: [email protected]

Eric Bowling/NNSL photo 'Work bees' in hibernation Garfield Gill with the Inuvik Community Greenhouse washes out planters for a fresh start in the spring. Volunteer "work bees" spent the afternoon of Oct. 12 empty- ing water barrels, moving fridges and cleaning up the compost.

Ulukhaktok Corp. needs board members Ulukhatok Nominations for three members of the Ulukhaktok Community Corporation board of directors are opening up Nov. 1 and will run until Nov. 15, with the election of the new members taking place Dec. 9. An advance vote will be held Dec. 2. Anyone interested in running or voting should get in touch with the main office. Children's First Society announces Gala menu Inuvik Inuvik's Children First Society has announced the menu for its annual fundraising Gala, set for Nov. 2 with a Kentucky Derby theme. Tickets are $75 each or $640 for a table of 10 and includes a free drink and dinner. Auctions, a disc jockey and live entertainment will accompany the menu that includes Bourbon Pulled Pork, Chicken and Waffles and Creole Rice. Haunted Cabin coming to Wood Buffalo National Park Thebacha/Fort Smith Wood Buffalo National Park will be welcoming people to its Haunted Cabin as an early celebration of Halloween. The Oct. 19 event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Salt River day-use area on Pine Lake Road, about 24 kilometres south of Fort Smith in the northern Alberta section of the park. New this year will be a parade of dogs in Halloween costumes. People are also being invited to come dressed in costumes for a chance to win a prize. Town of Fort Smith seeks arts proposals Thebacha/Fort Smith The Town of Fort Smith is seeking proposals for the creation and installation of two community art pieces. One will be a metal archway for the gate at St. Isadore Cemetery. The other will be a mural on the front wall of Fort Smith Centennial Arena. The deadline for proposals is Nov. 6. Fall feast planned at Fort Smith museum Thebacha/Fort Smith Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre in Fort Smith will host its annual Fall Feast on Oct. 19, beginning at 6 p.m. The celebration of the season will feature homemade soups, breads and desserts. Plus, each person will receive a handmade bowl to take home. The licensed event is open to people 19 years of age and older. More information, including on the purchase of tickets, is available by contacting Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre. 14 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 news A better ice road Researchers investigate reinforcing winter lake crossings as season becomes unpredictable by Tim Edwards within the ice itself – in the "We call this micro Northern News Services NRC's 21-metre-by-7-metre ice reinforcement," he said. "Instead New methods may be used to tank in Ottawa, since 2018. Bar- of putting a membrane or a bolster winter roads in the NWT rette says they may be one year cable inside the ice, we can use within five years, if researchers away from taking it from the wood chips or fibres of various can convince industry and gov- lab to the field, perhaps Rideau kinds. We're not investigating ernment to use them. Canal, to test. that option at this time, but it is A National Research Council Testing involves putting something that is worth looking of Canada (NRC) team, man- enough pressure on the system into as well." aged by Paul Barrette, has been to actually break through the One benefit of the polysty- looking into using different ice, so safety becomes the most rene mesh is that it is relatively materials inside ice under winter important factor, he said. cheap and light, making it easier road lake crossings to help take Barrette says similar meth- to transport to remote locations. the weight off the ice alone. ods to theirs have been tried in It's similar mesh to what's been "Now the onus is on us to the field before. used in soil stabilization but convince (government and "We know from the last Barrette says the team is trying industry) that our solution can number of decades, way back to stay on top of the newest tech- be applied safely," said Barrette. to World War Two and even nologies in this regard. He likens the process to before that, that reinforcement Barrette believes these meth- using rebar to reinforce concrete. works," said Barrette. "But at ods will be necessary as our "Any road is as strong as its this stage, what we want to do is climate warms. weakest link," he said. "… the come up with data information In May, Norman Wells project is about reinforcing the that will convince stakeholders, Mayor Frank Pope told News/ (floating ice sections of road) essentially winter road operators North the growing instability of such that we don't need it to be as that this can work." the territory's ice road season is thick as it would normally have Representatives with the "a crisis situation." Last year's to be without reinforcement." GNWT's Department of Infra- season had periods of very warm The team has been experi- structure were unavailable to weather, on ice crossings already menting with its methods – lay- comment before press time. beset by low water levels, lead- photo courtesy of the National Research Council of Canada ing steel cables with diameters There is another method Bar- ing to intermittent closures A National Research Council of Canada team has been researching methods of three or six millimetres, or rette's team has bandied about as throughout the NWT's various to bolster ice roads in this 21-metre-by-7-metre ice tank in Ottawa, and are suspending a polysterene mesh, well, involving wood chips. ice road systems. hoping to field-test them in a year. photo stories NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 15

photos courtesy of Tessa Macintosh (From left) Paul Andrew, with his grandsons Ryden and Tydzeh, who flank former chief Jim Thom, and Michael Lafferty of Fort Good Hope. 'We called out their names' Ceremony remembers 'forgotten' children who died at residential school by Brendan Burke last name ought to be. pieces of their past; givings from the play just like we did back home in the claiming them back as members of Northern News Services For years, Kakfwi had no idea his land they grew up on. summertime,'" remembered Kakfwi. our family," he said. Helen. Charles. Georgina. relatives, the Laportes, were buried "We brought them berries, dry "I learned very quickly that it was "It's a powerful experience." For decades, their names went there. meat, things they would have grown not a good place." Plans to make visit a tradition unspoken. Their burial site remained It wasn't until Kakfwi began up on," recounted Kakfwi. He was beaten by a nun on the It's also an experience Kakfwi unvisited. Their stories were left researching his past; tracing his A drumming and fire ceremony first day, an act of cruelty and vio- hopes to expand on. The Oct. 3 visit untold. genealogy; sewing together an followed. lence that foreshadowed a six-month and ceremony was birthed from a They were forgotten. uprooted lineage, that he made the It was about bringing the children stay marked by whippings and abuse. brainstorming session Kakfwi had in On a sunny but sombre day in realization. closer to home, after they were taken Kakfwi was supposed to go back June at Turtle Lodge near Winnipeg. October, that changed. That was over a decade ago. from it. the following year, but his uncle, a Kakfwi outlined his wish to bring Stephen Kakfwi, joined by family Between those years, in visits to "They died alone in Fort Provi- riverboat pilot named Albert Laf- his family to the site in Fort Provi- members and community leaders, the monument and cemetery, Kak- dence, probably afraid and wanting ferty, intervened. "He radioed in and dence, and, in turn, the National called out their names. fwi quietly canvassed the children's to be with their mothers and fathers," demanded that I not be sent back. Research Center for Reconciliation "Helen Laporte." "Charles names; silently surveying the magni- said Kakfwi. So, I was saved by my uncle," said assisted by providing transportation Laporte." "Georgina Laporte", three tude of the monument. He knows what that's like. Kakfwi. costs for his family members. names among the 300 etched into "I've been going there for quite By 1960, most of Kakfwi's family, Kakfwi went on to become the Commissioner for the NWT, the aging face of a sprawling stone a few years, trying to figure out a his mother and father, aunts and premier of the Northwest Territories. Margaret Thom, who accompanied monument that rests in Fort Provi- way to relate to those children buried uncles, sisters and brothers, had been "We know what it feels like' Kakfwi at the recent ceremony, also dence. there," Kakfwi told News/North. taken to hospitals in Edmonton and "Myself, some of my brothers and played a role in putting the ceremony Each inscribing holds a child's lost After organizing a larger, family- Aklavik. Left with no one to look sisters, we all went to residential and visit together, he added. life, lost while attending Fort Provi- focused visit, arranging to fly his after him, Kakfwi, who grew up in school. So we know what it feels like "I think it may be the begin- dence's Sacred Heart Mission School, brother and sisters, scattered across Fort Good Hope, went to residential to be little kids taken away and being ning of a tradition for people to a residential school where Kakfwi's the Sahtu, to the monument, Kakfwi, school in Inuvik at the age of nine. far from our parents, being scared, go to Fort Providence and organize relatives on his mother's side were found a way. He thought he'd been going on an being abused," said Kakfwi, who something annually with community sent to in the 1800s. Not only did Kakfwi and his "adventure." now lives in Yellowknife. leaders there to honour and visit the Beside dozens of names, family, including his wife and grand- "I wasn't afraid. I thought, "man, That's why visiting the monument children." "unknown" fills the space where their children, speak the names of the this is going to be so good. I'm going is so important for Kakfwi. For a complete list of names, visit forgotten children, they brought them to see all my friends. We're going to "We're honouring the children and nnsl.com.

The monument displays the names of 300 children who died at Fort Providence's NWT Commissioner Margaret Thom addressed the attendees in Fort Provi- Sacred Heart Mission school. dence. 16 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 Sports & Recreation Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: [email protected] • Fax: (867) 873-8507 A great cross-section of people

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo The new executive of the NWT Recreation and Parks Association consists of, left to right: Kristen Tanche (Dehcho regional director); Rena Chapple (Sahtu regional director); Kyla Lesage (Yellowknife regional director); Derek Squirrel (Beaufort Delta regional director); president Cynthia White; and Mary Gordon (director at large). Missing are Tim Van Dam (South Slave regional director) and Betty Ann Drybones (North Slave regional director). NWT Recreation and Parks Association wraps up annual conference by James McCarthy Slave and Rena Chapple in the Sahtu. revolved around exploring what munities. It's a place to share ideas ity services for Fort Smith. Northern News Services White is pleased with the makeup people did for recreation in the past, and I will admit – I've taken some The annual awards were also Hay River of the new executive. how it came to be in the present and of the ideas from the conference handed out with six honours in total All seems to be well with the "It's great," she said. "All strong how we can define it for the future." and put them into place in my com- going to people from around the NWT Recreation and Parks Associa- people in the sector. We have people One of the keynote speeches this munity." NWT. tion judging by how things went in in health, we have people in munici- year included a presentation on the White is the director of commun- -with files from Paul Bickford Hay River earlier this month. pal government or band government. history of sled dogs in the North by The association wrapped up its So I think we have a really great Scott McQueen and his daughter, annual conference on Oct. 11 with cross-section of people." Jordee Reid. fact file its annual general meeting, where it White is also pleased to be White said their discussion was elected and acclaimed a new execu- returning for another year as presi- quite interesting. tive. dent. "Scott had some great stories NWT Recreation and Parks Cynthia White of Fort Smith was "I love this organization," she about his life growing up and they acclaimed to her third year as presi- said. "This organization serves a both took lots of questions," she Association Awards winners dent with three directors elected to broad spectrum of people in our said. "It was a different keynote two-year terms: Mary Gordon as a territory and identifies recreation from what we've had in past years director at large, Derek Squirrel as beyond sports, which I think for me but learning about a family history regional director for the Beaufort is incredibly important." of dog mushing was rather fascinat- Innovation Award – Karen Johnson, Yellowknife Delta, and Kyla Lesage as the direc- It will also be working on an ing." Scott McAdam Youth Leadership Award – Davonna Kasook, tor for Yellowknife. action plan to reduce its environ- This was White's sixth year Inuvik Tim Van Dam was acclaimed mental impact, such as by not using attending the conference and she Active Elder Award – Lena and Henry McKay, Fort Resolution to a one-year term as South Slave disposal plates and cutlery. said it's a delightful gathering every Canadian Parks and Recreation Association Award of Merit regional director and Kristen Tanche As for the conference itself, more time. – Doreen Nitsiza, Whati was acclaimed to a two-year term as than 100 people from all five regions "It's intimate and you sometimes Dehcho regional director. of the territory descended upon Hay don't get that with conferences," she Award of Excellence – Dale Loutit, Hay River Two other regional director pos- River, under the theme of Back To said. "Our staff does a great job of Honourary Life Membership – Joanne Ogina, Ulukhaktok itions were not up for election this The Future. coming up with the topics each year year. They are currently filled by "It was a very good turnout and I always hope people take what source: NWT Recreation and Parks Association Betty Ann Drybones in the North this year," said White. "The theme they've learned back to their com- that, the organizers pulled the plug on Oct. 12 and cancelled Canada's second consecutive Rugby World Cup without a the remainder of the event. win. sports Koe is now getting ready for The Masters, the first Grand Slam of event this season, and it begins in North Bay, Basketball coaches set Check Ont., tomorrow, Oct. 22. NWT with James McCarthy The North American Indigenous Games in Halifax aren't email: [email protected] It's a draw happening until next July but Basketball NWT already has its Kamaishi, Japan coaches in place. Canada's time at the Rugby World Cup in Japan is over Scott Green and Nick Diem were announced as the bench Kevin Koe snowed out for 2019. bosses for the girls and boys teams respectively on Oct. 16. Portage La Prairie, Man. Yellowknife-born Kyle Baillie and the rest of the team Green was most recently an assistant coach with the girls The Canad Inns Men's Classic in Portage La Prairie, Man., were set to take on Namibia in the final contest for both teams team that competed at the Western Canada Summer Games earlier this month featured a big field battling it out for a on Oct. 12 but organizers cancelled the game due to Typhoon in Saskatchewan back in August while Diem has plenty of $56,000 purse. Hagibis landing a direct hit on the community of Kamaishi, experience with basketball in the territory having been a head Kevin Koe and his rink were in the mix and had a great the site of the game, the night before. After the storm, the coach and assistant coach on several occasions. Diem was start to the event on Oct. 11 by beating Tanner Horgan of team decided to lend a hand and help members of the com- the assistant coach for the boys team at the Western Canada Manitoba in his opening round of the triple-knockout event, munity with the clean-up efforts. Summer Games. 7-3. But then the lights went out late Friday night and didn't The game officially went into the record books as a 0-0 When it comes to tryouts, the dates for that have yet to be come back on until it was too late to continue. Because of draw, meaning each team got two points but it confirmed finalized. sportssports && recreationrecreation NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 17 Inuvik Curling Club looks to the future

Rocks and Rinks program Nick Pearce /NNSL Photos introduced at East Three Victoria Bronzy throws her first rock on Thursday as teacher Nadine Wagner offers some guidance. see the country while curl- Elementary ing competitively, he said. by Nick Pearce All elementary students Overall, NWT Curling has a Northern News Services were welcome. five-year strategic plan to get Sports Card Inuvik Nick Saturnino, president 1,000 youth involved. As elementary school stu- of both the club and NWT Meanwhile, at East Three SOCCER dents threw their first stones Curling, said the group was Elementary, youth had the 1257+:(677(55,725,(6 on Oct. 9, Inuvik curlers are aiming to get the program to chance to a take a break from hoping it sparks a new passion Inuvik for years. After youth classes with a trip to the gym for the sport. get a crash course in the sup- and first chance at curling, AGE: 15 COMMUNITY: HAY RIVER As part of the Rocks and port at school and at the Sat- and the life skills that come Rings in-school curling train- urday session, they have the with it. Brianna was one of two Hay Riverites that ing session, gym teacher option to get involved with "It teaches them sports- joined the Yellowknife Bay Soccer Club at Nadine Wagner walked youth Junior Curling on Sunday. manship, teamwork," Nadine the Toyota U-15 Cup soccer tournament through the basics of the "We're trying to grow the Wagner said. in Edmonton earlier this month. Goodwin sport. Further events held in sport," he said. "Our goal is to "They actually have to also played with Team NT at the Western town over the coming days get 200 kids in junior curling work together — especially Brianna goodwin Canada Summer Games in August. will aim to spur further inter- in the next five years." in curling you need a plan of est, but the school session was Exposing youth to curling what you're going to do," she a fun first toss. will be key to the health of said, explaining it's never one "The kids really enjoyed it, the sport in town moving for- person setting the terms of a especially once they actually ward, he said. It's also some- team's strategy. "You have to got to throw the rock," Wagner thing that can be played at all have some manners in curl- said. "They had a great time." stages of life. ing." Wagner said students Elementary school stu- "You never know: you walked away with a basic dents getting started this week might have the next (NWT- knowledge of how to curl: can play well into old age, born curling champ) Kevin the rules, the scoring and the building a lifelong pastime, Koe. You never know." techniques behind the sport. he added. Though, they could always be Once started, there's also a restless. strong chance for youth curl- "They like to move," Wag- ers to head to the Canadian ner said about some jittery National Championship. The youth waiting their turn to NWT can send one boys and throw. However, they did one girls team and a lack of "really well," she said as they players means a committed waited roughly 30 minutes effort early could yield a good for their turn. Cheering while chance of being involved in they wait helps matters, and the competition. gives the students a chance "We don't have many kids to be involved as they watch participating, unfortunately," their peers curl. Saturnino said. "Any four Facilitated through the Inu- boys, or any four girls, that vik Curling Club, the attempt put a little bit of time into to increase interest in curling it, have a really good shot at continued with a free session going to a national champion- on Saturday, running at the ship." rink from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. That travel is a chance to

Students threw these rocks at East Three Elemen- tary School when a program that introduces kids to curling stopped in. 18 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 sportssports && recreationrecreation Hey, everyone … Daryl Morey was just uneducated, you see

Northern News Services eration Army did in1989. And now we have Xi Jinping, leader Of all the ways I want to go out, this is perhaps the way I of the Chinese Communist Party, who told the world on Oct. want. 13 that anyone who tries to "... split any region from China Shay Bradley was laid to rest on Oct. 12 in Kilkenny, will perish, with their bodies smashed and bones ground to Ireland, after succumbing a long-term illness but he got the powder." last laugh as he was being lowered into the ground. Bradley's I'm sure that's just Xi playing around. After all, I'm not voice began coming out of the coffin in the form of a pre- educated enough on the issue to know what he meant by that. recorded message, which sent the mourners into fits of laugh- Seems James has taken Ingraham's words to heart on this ter. His daughter told Sky News that her dad planned his final issue. Thanks, LeBron. Keep on digging … you may find act for a year with just a select few knowing yourself in China before you know it. about it. It was his way to say goodbye, she added. Simply awesome and a 10 for creativ- Pinball is back … praise Jesus ity. Sports There is no one person who bleeds Toronto On to less important things: Argonauts Double Blue more than Michael "Pin- Talk ball" Clemons. I always knew I was second. Cut Shut up and dribble with James McCarthy me open and Jason comes out of my veins. Remember when Laura Ingraham said that Anyway, Pinball is not only one of the great- about LeBron James? It was a stupid com- est Argos of all time but he's one of the smartest ment and not necessary but it turns out that's exactly what football people in the game. Which is why I greeted his return James wants us all to do now. to the team as general manager with all the giddiness of a James broke his silence on the kerfuffle involving the small child. Why the team let him go in the first place the NBA and China and, as I expected, he laid the blame squarely first time he was general manager is beyond me (he left on his at the feet of Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston own, but still) but he's back and that's all that matters. Rockets (at least he was as of press time this week). Morey Truth be told, Pinball didn't need this job. He's made a very was "either misinformed or not really uneducated" about the handsome post-football-playing living talking to people and situation, opined James. Even called Morey selfish. What a believe me when I tell you: when Pinball speaks, you listen. clown. You will never leave a seminar or workshop where he's the Reading his quotes from the scrum James had on Oct. 14, keynote speaker and not feel the urge to grab the closest piece I simply shook my head and I wasn't alone. Tens of thousands of weaponry within arm's reach and go to war for the guy. of people decided to give it to James, who normally isn't shy He is a masterful motivator and that's exactly what the Argos about giving his opinion on anything political and will use his need right now. platform to spread the word. But it was a tough week in China Clemons knows the game inside and out and led the Argos for him and the league, you guys. Your thoughts and prayers to some of its most successful times when he was head coach are needed now more than ever for James. between 2002 and 2007 and while that was then and this is It's awfully hard to take what he said about Morey serious- now, players will come to Toronto solely because of him. The ly considering this was the same guy who tweeted out one of team desperately needs a quarterback, something Clemons the more famous quotes from Martin Luther King on the 50th identified during his welcome-back press conference. anniversary of his assassination in 2018: Please stay forever, Pinball. Your adopted hometown needs "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things you. that matter." What's happening in Hong Kong matters because there And finally … are hundreds of thousands of people who are fearfully and Good Idea: A T-shirt depicting LeBron James as a member genuinely concerned for their future. The agreement which of the Chinese Communist Party. guarantees Hong Kong the ability to have freedom of speech Bad Idea: That it isn't really for sale. and freedom of dissent is almost half-over; it began once the Just wanted to throw this in there because it would sell like British handed back the region to China in 1997 in the Hong hot cakes. Kong Handover and lasts for 50 years. Check out Barstool Sports and its meme involving the best As I said last week, we've seen how China deals with dis- salesman China ever had on a T-shirt. The second it goes photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons sent among the peasants and you know the communist dicta- on sale, guess who's buying one? Maybe even two! Cotton Michael Clemons is the new general manager of torship is just waiting for the right opportunity to release the shrinks, don't you know. the Toronto Argonauts. Finally … someone with a hounds and put this situation to bed the way the People's Lib- Until next time, folks … shut up and dribble. clue will run the team. NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, October 21, 2019 19 20 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 21, 2019