1. food and drink

More help for hungry
Arctic Food Bank opens doors at Midnight Sun Mosque
Volume 51 Issue 11
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015
75 CENTS
Cautious
greeting for
offshore drilling
Students learn
to clean up
some reindeer
Shooting team
hits the mark
in Yellowknife
Publication mail
Contract #40012157
Talk through
the hand
Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
Ventriloquist Mark Crocker was the headline performer May 3 at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex at the annual Children's
Party sponsored by Inuvik firefighters.
community
2 INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015
School recognizes its volunteers
Honours those who help out with
Eagles and Wolves designation
by Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
If you can fly like an eagle
or run like a wolf, East Three
might have a place for you.
B o t h
wings of the
schools have
been selecting "honorary
Eagles
and
Wolves" for
the last two
years or so. It's a way of recognizing some of the nonstaff members who are helping to shape the school into
something special, according
to principal Deb Reid, who
introduced the program.
The volunteers who help
out at the schools in various capacities
would
be virtually
impossible to
replace, Reid
said, and they
deserve the
recognition the
program gives them.
She began the local program by naming several
honorary Eagles – the mon-
COFFEE
Break
iker of the school's athletic
teams – before expanding it to
the elementary side's Wolves.
It's a model she worked
with at a previous position in
the NWT, and one that met
with enormous success.
"The honorary Eagle
and honorary Wolf awards
are given out to people in
the community who help
our school," Reid explained.
"They are nominated by staff
members and students."
The nominees are "given a
little certificate and a posting
on Facebook," she said. "Last
year we honoured members
at the assembly and we try to
honour them at an assembly
as well."
The latest inductee to be
announced as an honorary
Eagle is Stacey Christie, one
of Inuvik's best all-round athletes and a regular volunteer at
the school.
She joins other notables as
an honorary Eagle, including
Steve Cockney and Donald
Kuptana for their work promoting the Northern Games,
respected Gwich'in elder
Winston Moses and Charlie
Kasook.
The first honorary Wolves
were Emma Dick, and Angus
and Frieda Alunik.
The Aluniks are particularly well-known for their
work in providing opportunities for the students to learn
traditional skills, in which
they are masters. They've also
worked with various other
organizations doing the same
kind of work.
photo courtesy of Deborah Reid
Sports enthusiast Stacey Christie is welcomed to the secondary school's ranks
of honorary Eagles on May 5 by East Three principal Deb Reid. The program
provides recognition to some of the many volunteers who offer their services
to the school.
Reid said the selection of
Winston was also a personal
favourite. He spoke to the
students in an end-of-school
address last year that "went
over very well."
Stacey was a bit reluctant
to do an interview, but said her
nomination "was a very pleasant surprise."
"I am happy to help out and
volunteer and to see the youth
participate in sports," Christie
added. "I have been coaching
here since 2009. I personally
enjoy the skill development
part over coaching."
She's been especially
focused on coaching and
teaching volleyball, which has
been her favourite sport over
the years.
"I've been working with
the youth in the gym... and
it's a lot of fun and it helps
keep me active," Christie said.
"Volleyball in particular has
been my passion sport. I simply enjoy it."
Reid said she expects to
make one more selection of a
honorary Wolf before the end
of this school year.
feature news
INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015 3
Correction
The federal government is now asking companies doing offshore drilling
to pay a $1 billion security deposit.
Incorrect information appeared in an
Inuvik Drum story April 23 ("Review
board talks offshore drilling"). The
Inuvik Drum apologizes for any confusion or embarrassment the error may
have caused.
NEWS
Briefs
Council won't cross
Hay River picket line
Inuvik town council members
will not be attending the NWT Association of Municipalities conference
at Hay River this week.
Mayor Floyd Roland said the
prospect of crossing a picket line to
get to the conference as the ongoing
strike of the Hay River municipal
employees continues was enough to
convince council to cancel.
Roland said he surveyed the council members by telephone over the
issue, since the last council meeting
was cancelled due to lack of quorum.
The members he was able to
reach all agreed it would be best not
to attend.
The conference was moved to
the Hay River Reserve in a bid to
avoid any picketers, but the municipal employees are planning to set
up picket lines at the conference site.
Searchlight bid ends
Inuvik musician Abe Drennan
has failed to make it to the fourth
round of a nation-wide music contest.
Drennan announced last week
that he didn't get past the third round
in the CBC Searchlight contest for
new Canadian musicians.
"It was super fun though, and
great exposure."
Peer retreat upcoming
The Fostering Open eXpression
among Youth (FOXY) program is
accepting applications for summer
retreats planned for July 23 to 31 and
Aug. 6 to 14.
"We will be holding two peer
leader retreats this year for young
NWT women," said executive director Candice Lys. "We are super
excited to announce that this year
participants will receive two high
school credits for their active participation in the retreat, and two additional credits for their completion
of a community project when they
return to home communities."
All expenses for participants,
including travel from their home
communities to Yellowknife, is covered through the generous support
of the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Arctic Inspiration Prize and
other sponsors.
Women aged 13 to 17 can apply.
Greenhouse meeting
The Inuvik Community Greenhouse will hold its annual general
meeting on May 9.
The board has been struggling to
recruit more members to serve as directors for at least the last two years,
and also has been unable to pass
some amended bylaws, said chairperson Kristen Callaghan.
The board is also likely to face
questions about the fees it charges
members as well as compulsory
volunteer hours for gardeners. Last
week, a debate on those issues erupted on Facebook.
Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
Mayor Floyd Roland, Abdallah Mohamed of the Inuvik Muslim Association and Muhammad Ali of the Muslim Welfare Centre,
help open the Arctic Food Bank May 1 at the Midnight Sun Mosque.
Second food bank
opens up in town
Muslims reach out to community
from Midnight Sun Mosque
by Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
After more than a year of effort,
Inuvik's second food bank officially opened May 1.
The members of the Midnight
Sun Mosque have been working for
months on the food bank, which
has been set up in a converted
trailer on the same site as their
place of worship.
More than a year ago, recognizing the existing Inuvik Food Bank
was stretched to its limits trying to
cope with the town's needs and had
no realistic prospect of expanding,
the Muslim association reached
out to the Muslim Welfare Centre
organization located in Toronto.
The plan then was to open a
second, complementary food bank,
with plans to also begin offering
selections of country foods provided by donations from local harvesters.
The initial estimates said it would
require a budget of about $100,000
to open the centre. After representatives of the Muslim Welfare Centre toured the area in April 2014,
the organization readily agreed
to pitch in, said project manager
Abdallah Mohammed and centre
spokesperson Muhammad Ali.
Originally, the members hoped provide traditional foods could run
the food bank could open during afoul of government regulations.
the winter, but were unable to keep
McLeod said, though, that new
to that schedule.
harvesting regulations introduced
Maurice Williams, a board late last year allow for harvesters
member at the mosque who also to donate some of their catches,
serves regularly as the imam for which will likely provide a way for
services, said "it is indeed a beauti- the centre to operate within the
ful day that, finally, one year after rules.
trying to put everything together,
Along with the hoped-for country foods, the food
we are able to open
bank, which has two
and go into operation.
large freezers, will
"We are going to
be bringing in other
try out best to provide
meat staples such as
the traditional foods
chicken and beef from
in terms of fish and
Edmonton, Williams
caribou and meats
said.
like that," he said.
Currently,
the
Such foods are
freezers are empty,
often craved by the
Margaret Miller
but Williams said that
indigenous population,
particularly
won't be the case for
elders who have a
long.
consistent preference for the foods
That's something the Inuvik
of their youth.
Food Bank hasn't been able to offer
That's an ambitious plan and the due primarily to space restrictions.
food bank may have to negotiate
"I wish we had this much food,"
around some government restric- Margaret Miller, a member of the
tions to be able to offer it.
Inuvik Food Bank's board of dirMunicipal and Commun- ectors said a bit wistfully as she
ity Affairs Minister Robert C. toured the Arctic Food Bank.
"We do the best we can with
McLeod, one of the MLAs for Inuvik, attended the opening ceremon- what we have," Miller said. "We've
ies and acknowledged the plan to been working with them since they
"We do the
best we can
with what
we have."
first approached us. We showed
them what we offered our clients
and they've been to our board
meetings. We're not in competition,
we're serving the same people."
The centre also features traditional staples such as rice and
canned goods, which it has in
ample supply.
"We know that the cost of living in the North is very expensive,"
Williams said. "And even though
many people may have jobs, some,
especially those with families, the
elderly, those who are disenfranchised from us (have more problems).
"We thought we could make life
easier for those people. The food
bank is open for everyone who
needs help," Williams added.
Arlene Jorgensen, the CEO
of the Beaufort-Delta Health and
Social Services Authority, called
the Arctic Food Bank "a great asset
to our community."
"We can always use more organizations that are working to support
the community and those that are in
need. And I think it's a great thing
for people in the community who
want to support an organization
supplementing the needs in our
community."
4 INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015
news
Inuvialuit sign
new agreement
Discussions planned to continue
with Government of the NWT
by Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
A dialogue between
the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) and the GNWT
on matters of mutual concern
will continue in a formal fashion after a new memorandum
of understanding (MOU) was
signed last week.
Premier Bob McLeod
and some cabinet members met privately with IRC
chairperson and CEO Nellie
Cournoyea and other board
members on April 27 to sign
the intergovernmental agreement on programs and services co-operation and coordination.
The agreement is to begin
to jointly negotiate on a range
of topics including health and
social services, culture and
language, income support,
housing, economic development and policing and justice.
The IRC is the latest
BOB MCLEOD: Premier
says, "We are committed
to working together."
to sign the MOU, which
follows similar agreements struck with five other
aboriginal groups including
the Gwich'in Tribal Council.
"These talks have been
going on for a couple of
years," said Clayton Balsillie, director of aboriginal consultations and
relations for the GNWT.
engaging aboriginal govern"Last year, they were ready ments."
It's too soon to speculate
to sign, but for some reason
on what specific policies
the timing just wasn't right."
and
details
"It's basically a process
might come out
document which
of the talks,
allows both parBalsillie said.
ticipants to get
That's for the
together on a
negotiations to
regular basis."
establish.
That's
in
Bob Simpson, the interaccordance
gover n ment a l
with GWNT
affairs direcpolicy to consult
tor with the
extensively with
IRC, said talks
aboriginal governments, Balbetween
the
Clayton Balsillie
sillie said.
IRC and the
"This is to
GNWT have
set the stage
been ongoing
for each respective gov- for several years on an
ernment to sit down informal basis.
and discuss priority issues,"
He said the MOU is similar in scope and nature to
he said.
"It's a forum for discuss- agreements on resources
ing these various topics. It's struck earlier.
part of our commitment to
The agreement simply
strikes a formalized partnership specifying a framework
as to how those talks will
continue, he said.
The meeting was organized on a somewhat lastminute basis, he said, and
wasn't technically a closed
session. The discussions continued well into the evening
before the MOU was truck,
Simpson added.
"This agreement will
formalize the GNWT's
government-to-government
relationship with the IRC
and identify areas of
co-operation for improving
programs and services in the
Inuvialuit Settlement Area,"
McLeod stated in a news
release.
"We are committed to
working together as partners
for the benefit of the Inuvialuit."
He was not available to
comment directly on the
issue.
"Inuvialuit have battled
for appropriate and effective
delivery of government programs as far back to the beginning of residential schools,"
said Nellie Cournoyea in the
same release.
"The IRC is looking
forward to implementing
this agreement that clearly
identifies Inuvialuit priority programs, projects and
improvements to program
areas."
The agreement is for a
four-year term and commits
IRC and GNWT elected leaders to meet at least once a
year to consider items for
discussion.
"Last year,
they were
ready to sign,
but for some
reason the
timing just
wasn't right."
NEIGHBOURLY
News
Meagan Leonard is a reporter with
News/North. Send your ideas
to [email protected]
Betting on breakup
Aklavik
The arrival of spring in Aklavik is being marked with the
18th annual David Husky memorial ice pool.
Community members are invited to come down to the
hamlet office and make three guesses as to when the ice on
the river will move past the marker. Whoever gets the closest
time will be awarded $100 and a plaque. Participants have
until May 20 or until the ice moves to place their bets, said
recreation coordinator Mary Gordon.
All the mothers in town will be spoiled on Sunday with
a stew and chili lunch at the community hall, complete with
games, cake and prizes. Everyone is welcome.
New Mountie welcomed
Aklavik
The Aklavik community justice is hosting an open house
May 9 at the RCMP detachment starting at 2 p.m. The
group's Facebook page invites the community to welcome
the new corporal and get updates on what the community
justice, RCMP and other organizations have to offer the
community.
Hot dogs, cup cakes, cookies, coffee, tea and juice boxes
will be available.
Busy with fishing
Ulukhaktok/Holman
Residents of Ulukhaktok community are making the
most of the short fishing season that started in April and lasts
until June when the ice will become too thin, according to
the hamlet office.
Many families have traveled to nearby lakes and set up
camp hoping to bring home some tasty lake trout for fish
fries and family gatherings.
The season overlaps with the peak time for geese hunting
so members of the hamlet will be busy out on the land for
the next few weeks.
Cultural lesson at school
Tsiigehtchic/Arctic Red River
Students at Chief Paul Niditchie School will be taking
part in a cultural lesson, learning how to make the most of a
reindeer kill by stripping meat from three heads, said principal Darcy Douglas.
The heads were donated to the school by the community.
Senior students will learn how to dress the heads and all
the meat will afterward be donated to the elders.
Each year the school teaches how to dress a different
animal. In the past the lesson involved beavers, geese and
rabbits.
Travelling science show
Tuktoyaktuk
Students at Mangilaluk School have had a busy week
leading up to spring break, said principal Agnes Cudmore.
Children in all grades were treated to science presentations demonstrated by the University of Alberta DiscoverE
program.
Students from the university traveled to Tuktoyaktuk to
help out with experiments and other classroom activities.
Science Rendevous also visited the school this week to
work with students in the classroom with sessions on different topics. After the break, the focus will shift to mental
health month, with community co-ordinators visiting classrooms and highlighting some of the main issues and letting
students know what resources are available to them.
sunwatch
Date
April 30
May 1
May 2
May 3
May 4
May 5
May 6
Rise
5:53 a.m.
5:38
05:38
05:33
05:28
05:23
05:18
Set
11:55 p.m.
12:00 a.m.
12:04
12:09
12:14
12:19
12:24
Sunlight
18:01
18:16
18:26
18:35
18:45
18:55
19:05
Information from timeanddate.com
opinions
INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015 5
Sad to see the need
for second food bank
Northern News Services
points raised in its recent economInuvik now has two food banks ic strategy report, which seeks
fresh ideas on how to bolster the
open. While that's good news in
economy.
some quarters, there's an arguIt's not quite clear whether the
ment to be made that it's both
territorial government has quite
shameful and embarrassing.
the same understanding,
The members of the
although Industry, TourMidnight Sun Mosque,
ism and Investment Minwith some help from the THE ISSUE:
FOOD BANKS
ister David Ramsay reiterMuslim Welfare Centre
ated the need to diversify
in Toronto, opened the
WE SAY:
the economy during a
Arctic Food Bank over the SHAMEFUL
recent visit.
weekend.
THAT INUVIK
So it's not at all surThe official opening
NEEDS TWO
prising that there's a
came May 2.
huge need for services
Without doubt, those
such as a food bank.
two organizations should be
The long-established Inuvik
applauded for stepping forward
Food Bank has done its best to
after recognizing the need for
keep with the demand, but it's
another food bank here in town.
been a Herculean task
It's the need for a
to manage that with
second food bank that's
modest funding.
disturbing.
Margaret Miller, one
With a population of
of the directors of the
a bit more than 3,000
Inuvik Food Bank, said
people, and being a
she is very happy to see
regional government
the Arctic Food Bank
sub-capital, it seems
open.
astounding that there
"We're complimentary
should be the kind of
services,
not competsocial needs such as
SHAWN
ing," she said. "I only
those demonstrated in
GIILCK
wish we have this much
Inuvik. But no one who
food at our location."
lives here should serWhile there's no easy solution
iously argue that there isn't.
to all of this beyond a total reThe economy in town has
imagining of the town's economy,
been in a flat line for some time
it's clear that Inuvik residents will
now, perhaps a couple of years
continue to rally together to assist
or more. Energy costs have
one another while they wait for
increased precipitously over the
better days.
same period as employment has
fallen and businesses have closed.
The high cost of transportation
to reach or leave Inuvik is also a
compounding factor. Chances are
there are some people who might DO YOU THINK OFFSHORE
DRILLING IS GOING TO BE AN
want to leave to look for more
ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO THE REGION,
opportunities who don't feel they
OR DO YOU THINK IT'S TOO
can afford to, and thus are left in
DANGEROUS?
limbo. It's a hellish existence if
No, I don't think there are enough
you can't afford to live where you
safeguards.
are and you can't afford to leave
either.
100%
While people are accustomed
We need the jobs and money it will bring.
to a boom and bust economy
here, many are saying it's perhaps
0%
the lowest ebb they can remember.
HAVE YOUR SAY
The municipal council is well
Do you think there a need for a second food
aware of how precarious the situa- bank in town? Go online to www.nnsl.com/
tion is becoming. That's one of the inuvik to vote in this week's poll.
NNSL WEB POLL
INUVIK OFFICE:
Shawn Giilck (Editor)
Deanna Larocque (Office assistant)
169 Mackenzie Road, Box 2719 Inuvik, NT, X0E 0T0
Phone: (867) 777-4545 Fax: (867) 777-4412
Toll free: (855) 873-6675
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.nnsl.com/inuvik
Published Thursdays
PUBLISHER: J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason – [email protected]
GENERAL MANAGER: Michael Scott – [email protected]
Also read in Aklavik • Fort McPherson • Ulukhaktok
Sachs Harbour • Tsiigehtchic • Tuktoyaktuk
NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED
100% Northern owned and operated
Publishers of: Deh Cho Drum • Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News
Yellowknifer • NWT News/North • Nunavut News/North
Hay River Hub
Member of:
Canadian Community Newspapers Association
Alberta Press Council
2010
ADVERTISING – [email protected]
Advertising Manager: Petra Memedi
Call collect (867) 873-4031
or (867) 777-4545, and leave a message
PUBLISHING OFFICE:
Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R1
Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.nnsl.com
Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
CAPTIVE AUDIENCE
Jessica Crawford and her daughters Sabrina and Autumn were enjoying the
children's party thrown by the Inuvik firefighters May 3.
SEND US YOUR COMMENTS
Letters to the editor are welcomed by
the Drum, especially new contributors. We
attempt to publish a cross-section of public
opinion. Not all letters will necessarily be
published. Preference is given to short letters of broad interest or concern.
Letters of over 200 words, open letters and those published elsewhere are seldom used. We reserve the right to publish
excerpts, to edit for length or taste and to
eliminate inaccurate or libellous statements.
We may also choose to use a letter as the
basis for a story. All letters submitted must
be signed with a return address and daytime
phone number.
Opinions expressed in letters and by
columnists are those of the author and
are not necessarily shared by the editor or
publisher.
Contents copyright. Printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited. No
photos, stories, advertisements or graphics may be reproduced in any form, in
whole or in part, without the written approval of the publisher.
Member of the Alberta Press Council, an independent, voluntary body that
serves to protect the public's right to full, fair and accurate news reporting.
As a non-judicial, non-government review board, the Press Council considers
complaints from the public about the conduct and performances of weekly
and daily newspapers in Alberta and the NWT. The press council encourages
the highest ethical and professional standards of journalism. It serves to preserve the freedom of the press and provide a forum for greater understanding.
Complaints should go to:
Alberta Press Council, P.O. Box 21067,
We acknowledge the
Edmonton, AB., T6R 2V4
financial support of the
E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 1-780-435-0441
Government of Canada
www.albertapresscouncil.ca
through the Canadian
Subscriptions
One year mail $65 • Two year mail $115
Online (entire content) $50/year
Individual subscriptions, multiple user rates
on request
Periodical Fund (CPF) for
our publishing activities.
6 INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015
news
Reservations over
offshore drilling
Imperial Oil finds lukewarm reception
from audience during visits to Inuvik
by Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
It's clear many people in
Inuvik have serious reservations about the prospect of offshore drilling in the Beaufort
Sea in coming years.
Representatives of Imperial
Oil held a public information
session April 23 at Ingamo
Hall to update Inuvik residents
on the company's plans.
While there was relatively
little new information in the
presentation, it was clear the
company was garnering no real
support from residents, even
though they wouldn't be as directly affected by the drilling
as some of the coastal communities.
It didn't take long for questions to come bubbling up from
the audience and for the meeting to become emotional for
some people.
One woman tearfully told
the panel that she hoped the
company was thinking about
the impact of its actions and
the lifestyle of people who live
along the coast in particular.
"What about us?" she said.
"This is how we eat!"
Evan Birchard, one of the
Imperial Oil representatives,
responded with reassurances.
"I understand your concerns," Birchard said. "We
want to prevent accidents and
incidents."
Birchard said the main danger from any drilling activities
is the fearsome power of the
Arctic ice and its unpredictability.
That's why the equipment
is being designed with a "quick
disconnect" system that will
allow the drilling ships to
Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
Evan Birchard of Imperial Oil was one of the presenter April 23 during a public information session
on the company's plans to establish an offshore
drilling site northwest of Tuktoyaktuk by approximately 2020.
move as necessary, he said.
The company is also working
on a system to track ice movements in "real time" to have
the most up-to-date information possible.
However, he also said
plainly it's the company's position that a same-season relief
well isn't feasible for even an
exploratory well. That means
if something went wrong at an
exploratory drill site, such as a
blowout, the company would
have to use alternate methods
to try to contain the spill in
a timely fashion, something
which is already technically
challenging due to Arctic conditions.
That's something that didn't
sit well with most of the people
in attendance.
Members of the Inuvik
Hunters and Trappers Committee were some of the most
vocal people in the smallish
audience of perhaps 25 or 30
people, many of them government employees.
"At the end the day we're
the ones (who will be) without
a culture," Richard R. Gordon
said. "That's what we're trying
to protect."
Jerry Lennie asked whether
"anyone has had any experience with blowouts in the Arctic." Birchard said no.
Patrick Gordon was also
openly critical, telling Birchard and the other Imperial Oil
representatives they were talking as if "the project is going
ahead," rather than still waiting
for several levels of regulatory
approval to rule on whether
any drilling will be permitted.
Shirley Kisoun was openly sceptical of the company's
claims that many jobs and economic benefits will be created by even an exploratory
program.
People in the area have
heard such claims before, she
told the Imperial Oil panel, and
"the employment stats haven't
changed."
The company is holding
similar meetings throughout the Inuvialuit Settlement
Region, the representatives
said.
photo stories
INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015 7
A trip to reindeer station
ON-THE-LAND
Feature
by Deborah Reid
Northern News Services
Several classes at East
Three Secondary School have
been visiting Reindeer Station
over the last month or so as part
of the school's on-the-land and
cultural activities program.
During some of the trips,
the students had the chance
to interact with and observe
the domestic reindeer herd up
close, and try their hand at
some related traditional activities.
Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
Makayla Kikoak was a study in concentration during the field trip.
Lauren Ross and Gabrielle Nogasak couldn't resist a little clowning around while learning how to rope a
reindeer.
There was time for a
little fun during the trip,
as Chris-Lin Hvatum
demonstrates.
East Three Secondary
School student Harry
Kaglik shows off his
culinary skills.
Baily Simard tries her hand at cleaning a reindeer carcass.
alternatives
8 INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015
STREET talk
Horoscopes May 7 to 14
Are you excited for the
kid's party being thrown
by the fire department?
with Shawn Giilck
[email protected]
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 You are a mystery
lately, Aries. No one is quite sure what you will
do next and you may like to surprise. But share
your plans every so often with those closest to
you.
TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, surround
yourself with positive people who maintain optimistic outlooks. Many opportunities will open
up if you keep a positive attitude.
GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you may
resist social activities this week at first, but
soon you will get swept up in the fun and lose
your inhibitions. Use social activities as a way
to network.
CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, if you are
thinking about a career move, it's about time
you put your plans in motion. This week you
may find you are full of energy and ready for a
new challenge.
LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, a renewed sense of
enthusiasm has you eager to get started on
future plans. Perhaps a new course of study will
suffice and pave the way for new experiences.
Sabrina Crawford
"I'm excited to see the puppet."
Namira Kovacs
"It's nice to see them do this."
VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 A chance encounter
with an old flame stirs up feelings you didn't
realize you still had, Virgo. Even if these feelings
are less dramatic, you're still tempted to act on
them.
Marina Penner
"It's pretty good."
LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, it is up to you
to initiate action in a situation that leaves you
somewhat uncomfortable this week. Don't hesitate to step up and take charge.
SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 A difference of opinion may be highlighted at work this week when
you are confronted by a coworker, Scorpio. Act
with integrity, but be firm with your resolve.
SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius,
others may try to stop you from having fun,
but you are determined to enjoy yourself. Your
entire week is focused on having a good time
with friends and family.
CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn,
although you cannot control all of the changes
in your life, you do have firm control over your
personal health. Don't put off revamping your
diet and exercise plan.
Malakai Drennan
"It's great when there's a
party."
Jaxon Sommerfeld
"It's great. I'm looking forward
to the bouncy castle."
Deanna Moses
"I'm looking forward to the ventriloquist."
Having trouble with trust
It was a normal Saturday and my boyfriend was playing
on my cellphone. So I grabbed his phone and as I did, a flirty
text appeared from another woman. I was in complete shock.
I asked him who the woman was and he said she was
someone he dated back in college. On occasion, he said, they
still speak, and on occasion "she likes to flirt." I told him I
did not find that acceptable.
I asked if he flirted back and he admitted he did.
I asked if he ever did anything sexual with her behind
my back. He swore he never did in the two years we've been
together.
To make a long story short, there was a huge confrontation. I threatened to leave him and move back home with my
parents. He begged me not to go. He was apologetic and even
cried. In front of me he told her not to contact him again and
she agreed.
I forgave him, but now I'm having a hard time trusting
him. Whenever I see him texting, I wonder who it's with. I
have an urge to check his phone whenever he steps away.
In October we moved in together. I agreed to stay because
I love him, but there are days I want to jump in my car, drive
away and never look back. My emotions are like the weather.
I could talk to my family about it, but they like my boyfriend, and if I tell them what happened, they will not trust
him again.
I know he made a mistake. I know deep in my heart he is
very sorry. I don't want to be angry and resentful anymore at
all. I want to trust him again, but I just can't.
Amber
Amber, when Iago, one of Shakespeare's villains, says "oft
my jealousy shapes faults that are not," is he describing you?
We ask because the evidence against your boyfriend is weak.
One flirty text is bantering, not betrayal.
In the absence of established ground rules between the
two of you, this doesn't constitute a violation. Or is this
where you are coming from? Holding this over his head
makes you feel superior. Henceforth, you can carry him
around like a dog with a bone in its mouth.
People are not bones. We would not subject him to your
suspicious gaze for the rest of his life. Unless you can accept
his explanation this time, end the relationship.
Wayne & Tamara
AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, close
friends will keep you pretty busy over the next
few days, but you can handle it. Let off steam
with a few different fun activities when time
allows.
PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Use caution when
making decisions this week, Pisces. You can be
prone to impulsive behavior, and you don't want
to find yourself in trouble.
DIRECT
Answers
with Wayne & Tamara Mitchell
[email protected]
Said I wouldn't tell
tell, but it's driving me crazy. What should I do?
Pam
My fiancé and I are getting married this year. My future sister-in-law just told me she slept with her brother's (my fiancé's)
best friend who is also our best man. Our best man is married
and not only married, but married to a woman who is one of
our close friends.
She was in a relationship when she did this, and not only did
they sleep together, they slept together several times. His wife
and I are close friends, and she disclosed to me that her doctor
told her that her husband, our best man, gave her an STD!
Genital warts! I feel I should tell my fiancé what his sister
and best man are up to, but I also feel it could be a very bad
idea!
My sister-in-law swore me to secrecy. I told her I wouldn't
Pam, your fiancé's sister gave you a wedding gift: she made
you an accomplice to adultery.
Having compromised her own ethics, she wants to compromise yours as well.
But when she's found out, what will pop out of her mouth?
Pam knew. She will deflect as much blame on you as she can.
She got to unburden her soul and what did you get? Nothing.
Nothing from nothing is nothing. Go ahead and tell.
Wayne & Tamara
If you have any questions or comments for Wayne or Tamara, please
forward e-mail to [email protected] or write to Wayne &
Tamara Mitchell, Station A, Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R1
Student of the week
PARIS WAINMAN
AGE: 12
GRADE: 7
Paris is one of the members of the Student Leaders Council at East
Three Secondary School.
It's her first year with the organization, which plans dances and activities
for the students.
"I thought it'd be fun, and it is," she said.
sports & recreation
INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015 9
photo courtesy of Chris Garven
Jozef Semmler, left, Christine Day, Chris Garven, Jaylene Ruben and Renee Theoret travelled to Yellowknife recently to represent Inuvik at a territorial shooting
competition. Ruben and Theoret both won medals.
Straight shooters are
homecoming winners
Snipers from Inuvik take two medals at territorial event
by Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
The partnership between
the Top of the World Sportsmen's Club and the Inuvik
Youth Centre paid off with
two medals at a recent championship in Yellowknife.
Jaylene Ruben, a new
shooter, and Renee Theoret,
the outgoing executive
director of the centre, won
bronze and silver medals
April 18 at the Northwest
Territories Federation of
Shooting Sports Territorial
Airgun Competition in
Yellowknife.
Chris Garven, one of the
instructors from the sportsmen's club, said he was more
than pleased with the results,
which have grown out of
weekly sessions held at the
youth centre for interested
participants.
"It's a great facility," Garven said enthusiastically.
"We can set up in 10 minutes and then take it down in
20 minutes or so ... we have
to gather up the pallets afterwards."
The program has been
running for approximately
three years, beginning under
previous leadership at the
centre.
Garven and Rick Lindsay
are the primary instructors,
and 2015 marks the third
year they've held qualifying
competitions for the tournament.
Ruben, the sole youth
competitor on the team to
win a medal, said she is excited about the progress she's
made.
"I think shooting is fun
because when I get good at
it, I can go hunting," she said.
She's never been hunting,
but is enthusiastic about the
idea. Needless to say, she
plans to continue working
with the program at the youth
centre.
"It's a very valuable partnership," Theoret said, "and a
cultural project as well for us
and the gun club."
Theoret said she has some
small experience with shooting, but attributed her success
to the chance to practice at
the weekly sessions with Garven and Lindsay.
"I was in the army cadets
but only for a month when I
was 14," she explained.
"I did go to army base
camp where I came in second
place for target shooting, but I
haven't shot since then."
Garven said that most
people's idea of airgun shooting likely doesn't match up
with the reality of the competition.
"People are using $1,000
guns at this," he said. "It's
serious shooting."
He said the partnership
with the centre was vital for
the development of the sport
in town. It gives the participants a set time and location,
providing the consistency
needed to work at developing
their shooting skills.
"We've done very, very
well with it," he said.
"We're building on it every
year, and getting a little bit
better.
"We're going to keeping working on it, and we're
changing the program up a
little bit, We're going to start
a separate time for the really
interested shooters, likely
before the others come in,
so we can have a progression
instead of everyone shooting
at once."
He finished not far out
of the medals himself, even
while battling an arm problem he called "frozen shoulder" that restricts his mobility
and steadiness.
The five members of the
team all placed in the top
eight in the categories they
competed in, which Garven
said was remarkable.
"It was very close on the
selection process," he said.
"There were maybe half-adozen points between the
ones that qualified and the
ones that were eliminated.
That's astounding. I'm very
pleased with the performance."
Ruben and Theoret shot in
the "high 300s and low 400s,"
Garven said.
The official scores haven't
been released yet.
"It was a combination of
the coaching and the kids
being dedicated enough to
come out regularly. That
really made a difference. The
kids that show up once in a
while did not shoot as well,
and it was obvious why. It
was because they weren't getting the practice in."
"With the ones who show
up regularly, we can correct
the mistakes they're making
little by little. If we have
to start from scratch every
week, it makes the job a lot
harder."
Seven people vied for the
five spots, which Garven was
pleased with.
He said the Yellowknife
team sent either six or seven
shooters, and considering
the difference in population,
"we're doing pretty good."
SPORTS CARD
SOCCER
BEAU LAROCQUE
AGE: 17
GRADE: 11
Beau was one of the members of the East
Three Secondary School Eagles who won
silver at the Super Soccer tournament in
Yellowknife over the weekend.
He's a forward/striker who has played the
sport about as long as he can remember.
"I love everything about it," he said.
10 INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015
Check out
the NNSL
DELTA MARKETPLACE
“Job Bank”
online at
www.nnsl.com!
NWT ADVERTISING HOTLINE • PHONE: (867) 777-4545 OR (867) 873-WORD(9673)• FAX: (867) 777-4412
NNSL WORD CLASSIFIEDS NOW RUN IN 5 NWT PAPERS
Inuvik Drum • Deh Cho Drum • NWT News/North • Yellowknifer • Weekender • PLUS NNSL classifieds online: www.nnsl.com
Book your classified online or email to: classifi[email protected]
20•Announcements
140•Misc. For Sale
160•Bus. Services
165•Business Opps.
815(6(59('&2,1&XU
UHQF\$XFWLRQELOOVGR
PHVWLF86IRUHLJQSUH&RQ
IHGHUDWLRQ &DQDGD 1R
EX\HU
VIHHSP)ULGD\
0D\ 6FULEQHU $XFWLRQ
:DLQZULJKW$OEHUWD
ZZZVFULEQHUQHWFRP
$&+($3/2:(67SULFHV
VWHHO VKLSSLQJ FRQWDLQHUV
8VHG
6HDFDQVLQVX
ODWHG +& '0* 3OHDVHYLVLWXV
DWZZZUWFFRQWDLQHUFRP
%$1. 6$,' 1R" %DQN RQ
XV(TXLW\0RUWJDJHVIRUSXU
FKDVHV GHEW FRQVROLGDWLRQ
IRUHFORVXUHV UHQRYDWLRQV
%UXLVHGFUHGLWVHOIHPSOR\HG
XQHPSOR\HG RN 'DYH
)LW]SDWULFN 3OHDVH YLVLW
ZZZDOEHUWDOHQGLQJFD
%HOPRU0RUWJDJH
0(',&$/ 75$16&5,3
7,21,676 DUH LQ KXJH GH
PDQG7UDLQZLWKWKHOHDGLQJ
0HGLFDO7UDQVFULSWLRQVFKRRO
/HDUQ IURP KRPH DQG ZRUN
IURP KRPH &DOO VTWRGD\
7JTJUVTBU
ZZZFDQVFULEHFRP
LQIR#FDQVFULEHFRP
&$1$'$ %(1(),7 *URXS
'R\RXRUVRPHRQH\RXNQRZ
VXIIHU IURP D GLVDELOLW\" *HW
XSWRIURPWKH&DQD
GLDQ *RYHUQPHQW $BMMVT
7ROOIUHHRU
ZZZFDQDGDEHQHILWFD
IUHHDVVHVVPHQW
+,*+&$6+SURGXFLQJYHQG
LQJ PDFKLQHV YHQG SURILW $OO RQ ORFDWLRQ LQ
\RXUDUHD 6HOOLQJ GXH WR LOO
QHVV&DOOIRU
GHWDLOV
$8&7,21 75$&7256
KRUVH WUDLOHU FRUDO SDQHOV
JDUGHQ FHQWUH GLVSHUVDO
WRROV VXUSOXV FROOHFWLEOHV
IXUQLWXUH DQG PRUH DP
6DWXUGD\ 0D\ 6FULEQHU
$XFWLRQ:DLQZULJKW$OEHUWD
3OHDVH YLVLW
ZZZVFULEQHUQHWFRP
&2//(&725&$5$XFWLRQ
WK$QQXDO&DOJDU\&ROOHFWRU
&DU$XFWLRQ-XQH,Q
GRRUV &RQYHQWLRQ &HQWHU
*UH\(DJOH&DVLQR$OOPDNHV
PRGHOVZHOFRPH&RQVLJQ
WRGD\ H[W
(*DXFWLRQVFRP
&203/(7( &/26(287
$XFWLRQIRU$QJHOR&RQFUHWH
:RUN/WG'D\$XFWLRQ0D\
$YH
(GPRQWRQ 2YHU \HDUV LQ
WKHRUQDPHQWDOFRQFUHWHEXVL
QHVV )RXQWDLQV SODQWHUV
ODZQ RUQDPHQWV VWHSSLQJ
VWRQHV FHUDPLF JUDQLWH PDUEOH WLOH IRUNOLIWV VNLG
VWHHU 2YHU LWHPV
6HOOLQJDOOLQYHQWRU\HTXLS
PHQW)RUPRUHGHWDLOVSKRQH
815(6(59('&2,1&XU
UHQF\$XFWLRQELOOVGR
PHVWLF86IRUHLJQSUH&RQ
IHGHUDWLRQ &DQDGD 1R
EX\HU
VIHHSP)ULGD\
0D\ 6FULEQHU $XFWLRQ
:DLQZULJKW$OEHUWD
ZZZVFULEQHUQHWFRP
ALL CLASSIFIED ads publish-ed in our five northern
papers are also listed online.
Check out our website at
www.nnsl.com.
%($87,)8/6358&(7UHHV
IHHWHDFK0DFKLQH
SODQWLQJ WUHH LQFOXGHV
EDUNPXOFKDQGIHUWLOL]HU
WUHH PLQLPXP RUGHU 'HOLY
HU\IHHRUGHU4XDO
LW\JXDUDQWHHG
&+85&+,// %(/8*$
:KDOH 7RXU ([SHULHQFH
&DQDGD
V QRUWK LW
V ZLOGOLIH
DQGIXUWUDGHKLVWRU\RQWKLV
+XGVRQ %D\ ZHHNHQG 'H
SDUWV &DOJDU\ RQ $XJ 2USOHDVHYLVLW
ZZZFODVVLFFDQDGLDQWRXUV
FRP
)256$/(6LPPHURQ6LP
PHQWDOVIXOOEORRGIXOO)OHFN
YLHK EXOOV \HDUOLQJV DQG \HDUROGVSROOHGDQGKRUQHG
$, EORRGOLQHV YHU\ TXLHW
PXVFOHG ZZZVLPPHURQUDQFKFD
0(7$/522),1*6LGLQJ
FRORXUVDYDLODEOHDWRYHU
'LVWULEXWRUV\HDUZDU
UDQW\ KRXU ([SUHVV 6HU
YLFH DYDLODEOH DW VHOHFW VXS
SRUWLQJ 'LVWULEXWRUV &DOO 5()25(67$7,21 1856
(5<6HHGOLQJVRIKDUG\WUHHV
VKUXEVEHUULHVIRUVKHOWHU
EHOWV RU ODQGVFDSLQJ )XOO
ER[HV DV ORZ DV WUHH
)UHH VKLSSLQJ 5HSODFHPHQW
JXDUDQWHHRU
ZZZWUHHWLPHFD
67((/%8,/',1*66SULQJ
6DOHVZLWK+RW6DYLQJV$OO
VWHHO EXLOGLQJ PRGHOV DQG
VL]HV DUH QRZ RQ VDOH *HW
\RXU EXLOGLQJ GHDO ZKLOH LW
V
KRW3LRQHHU6WHHO
ZZZSLRQHHUVWHHOFD
&5,0,1$/ 5(&25'"
7KLQN&DQDGLDQSDUGRQ86
WUDYHO ZDLYHU 'LYRUFH"
6LPSOH )DVW ,QH[SHQVLYH
'HEWUHFRYHU\"$OEHUWDFROOHF
WLRQWR&DOJDU\
*(7 %$&. RQ WUDFN %DG
FUHGLW" %LOOV" 8QHPSOR\HG"
1HHGPRQH\":HOHQG,I\RX
RZQ \RXU RZQ KRPH \RX
TXDOLI\ 3LRQHHU $FFHSWDQFH
&RUS 0HPEHU %%% $BMM
VTBU
ZZZSLRQHHUZHVWFRP
+,325.QHH5HSODFHPHQW"
&23'RUDUWKULWLFFRQGLWLRQV"
7KH 'LVDELOLW\ 7D[ &UHGLW
\HDUO\ WD[ FUHGLW
OXPSVXPUHIXQGRQ
DYHUDJH$SSO\WRGD\
1((' 72 $GYHUWLVH"
3URYLQFH ZLGH FODVVLILHGV
5HDFKRYHUPLOOLRQUHDGHUV
ZHHNO\ 2QO\ *67
EDVHGRQZRUGVRUOHVV
&DOOWKLVQHZVSDSHU12:IRU
GHWDLOVRUFDOO
H[W
MISCELLANEOUS FOR Sale
Classifieds are FREE. E-mail:
[email protected]; Phone:
(867) 873-9673
RESEARCH MAKES a difference. Give to your favourite
charity.
REAL ESTATE
190•Real Estate
6(00/(53ODFH
6TIHHWEHGURRPV
%DWKURRPVVWHHOSLOLQJVPXO
WLOHYHO GHFN IRRW KHDWHG
FUDZO VSDFH YHKLFOH SDUN
LQJ GULYHZD\ ERDWFDPSHU
SDUNLQJ VSRW ODQGVFDSHG
IHQFHG VKHG JUHHQKRXVH
ILUHSLWVPRNHKRXVHORFDWHG
RQ TXLHW FUHVFHQW SOD\
JURXQG LQ FUHVFHQW QHDU
VFKRRO DQG GRZQWRZQ ORZ
WUDIILF VWUHHW RZQHU PRWLY
DWHG WR VHOO SULFH UHGXFHG
ZDV QRZ
EHORZ ODVW DS
SUDLVHGYDOXH&DOO
DIWHUSP
RCMP
Emergency
777-1111
190•Real Estate
$5,=21$ /,&(16(' UH
DOWRU QHHGV OLVWLQJV 'R \RX
KDYH$UL]RQDSURSHUW\"$VDOH
RI86ZRUNVRXWWR
RYHU &GQ , QHHG
OLVWLQJV $OEHUWD ERUQ DQG
UDLVHG &DOO 0DXULFH %HDX
GRLQDW5HDOW\
([HFXWLYHV)RUXP6FRWWVGDOH
Fire
Emergency Only
777-2222
)$50/$1'WLWOH
DFUHV Z VT IW FXVWRP
EXLOWKRPHHTXHVWULDQIDFLO
LWLHVLQ)DOXQ$OEHUWD5LWFKLH
%URV $XFWLRQHHUV 8QUH
VHUYHG $XFWLRQ -XQH LQ
(GPRQWRQ $POUBDU-HUU\
+RGJHBU
UEDXFWLRQFRPUHDOHVWDWH
7+(+($57RI(YHU\+RPH
LVLQLWV.LWFKHQ.LWFKHQVSH
FLDOVVWDUWLQJDW8S
JUDGHV LQFOXGH IXOO EDFNV
SODVK VWDLQOHVV VWHHO DSSOL
DQFHV PRUH )RU PRUH LQ
IRUPDWLRQFDOO8QLWHG+RPHV
&DQDGDRUYLV
LW RXU XFCVLWH DW ZZZ
XQLWHGKRPHVFDQDGDFRP
THE DEADLINE classifieds
in the Inuvik Drum is Monday at 4:00 p.m. Visit: http://
classifieds.nnsl.com
General Enquiries
777-2607
Ambulance
Emergency
777-4444
24 hours
190•Real Estate
75$,/(5 $1' ORW IRU VDOH
LQ )RUW 6LPSVRQ7UDLOHU FDQ
EHOLYHGLQUHQWHGZLWKDOLWWOH
ZRUN WKH LQVLGH LV SUHWW\
PXFKGRQHNRUEHVWRI
IHU )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ
SOHDVH FDOO Whatsit?
There was no winner
for the April 16th Whatsit.
It was books.
Guess Whatsit this week
and you could WIN a prize!
Meeting?
Something for sale?
Book a space this size for
REAL ESTATE
$
20
Phone: (867) 873-9673
or email: [email protected]
Selling a boat, bike, bed,
car, computer, house... anything!
Place it in the classifieds free!
NO CHARGE for the first 25 words on any personal classified
- additional words 10 cents each
Drop off your advertisement at our Inuvik office; mail it to: Box 2820 Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R1;
e-mail: [email protected]; fax: (867) 873-8507; or phone: (867) 873-4031, toll free: 1-855-873-6675.
Commercial (business) Classifieds $10 (includes GST)
SUPER SPECIAL!
Advt this size (1.5 inches on 2 columns)
$20
plus GST
Really stands out! Ideal for meeting
announcements, selling a house or car.
Birthday • Wedding
Engagement • Anniversary or
Obituary Announcements:
1 9/16” x 4” deep $20 +GST
3 5/16” x 4” deep $40 +GST
Entries must be received
within 10 days of this publication date:
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: (867) 777-4412, or drop them off at
the Drum Office in Inuvik, or by mail: WHATSIT,
Inuvik Drum, Box 2719, Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0
(No phone calls please)
The following information is required:
My guess is _______________________________
Name ____________________________________
Daytime phone no. _________________________
Mailing address____________________________
________________________________________
Name & date of publication __________________
No extra charge for artwork or supplied photos.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, money orders, cheque and cash.
Inuvik
05/07/15
INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015 11
EMPLOYMENT, LEGAL NOTICES & TENDERS
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
OUTSIDE THE NORTH
SEEKING A CAREER in the Community Newspaper business?
Post your resume for FREE right where the publishers are looking. Visit: awna.com/for-job-seekers.
GPRC, FAIRVIEW Campus requires Heavy Equipment Technician
Instructors to commence August 15, 2015. Visit our website at
www.gprc.ab.ca/careers for more information!
INTERIOR HEAVY Equipment Operator School. In-the-seat training.
No simulators. Real world tasks. Weekly start dates. Funding options.
Weekly job board! Sign up online! iheschool.com. 1-866-399-3853.
MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have
work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need
from an employer-trusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or
1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!
Recycle this
newspaper!
12 INUVIK DRUM, Thursday, May 7, 2015
news
Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
Winston Moses had a few comments to the members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs on
the proposed changes to Bill 44 and Bill 47. The committee members held a public hearing at Ingamo Hall
April 28.
Proposed bills discussed
Child care dominates conversation
by Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
The GNWT's proposed
changes to the Child and
Family Services Act dominated the discussion at a public
meeting April 28.
The meeting at Ingamo
Hall, led by the Standing
Committee on Social Programs, was held to solicit public input on both Bill 47, which
deals with children and families, and Bill 44, which would
consolidate health services
into one super board from the
current eight regional organizations.
Inuvik Boot Lake MLA
Alfred Moses, who is the chair
of the committee, is leading
a tour by the members and
government representatives to
discuss the bills.
The committee, he told the
audience, oversees "four large
departments including Health
and Social Services" representing about 63 per cent of
the GNWT budget.
"We've been having some
really good discussions at
the meetings already," Moses
said. "Bill 47 does touch on
the sensitive subject of child
apprehensions. Especially in
the small communities, people
might speak from passion,
from previous experience with
Health and Social Services, or
from within their own families."
He encouraged people to
stay "on topic" during those
discussions.
The discussion was slow to
start among the smallish audience of less than 20 people, but
there was no shortage of opinions once it did start rolling.
Alana Mero, a former
social worker from British
Columbia, had the most to say
about Bill 47.
"I think these are very
positive changes," she told the
committee during her extensive comments. "They reflect
what was done in B.C. years
ago with very positive results."
Though that doesn't mean
there still isn't room for
improvements, she added.
Mero said one thing she
would like to see is a clearlydefined limit for the time children can be left in the care of
child services after apprehensions.
"What we found in B.C. is
that there were some parents
who weren't able or willing
to basically parent their children. And what we've found is
that the longer children stay in
care, the more likely they are
to remain in care for the rest of
their lives. Having a timeline
says to the parent that this is
important, and here are the
changes you need to make."
Winston Moses, along with
Helga and Jim Sawkins, who
have extensive experience
as foster parents, mostly in
Ontario, said the amendments
to the bill also need to be
focused more on the potential
role that grandparents can play
in the process.
"There's a very close relationship between grandparents
and grandchildren," Winston
told the committee members.
"And it seems like there are
rules that shouldn't be there."
It's common knowledge
that for Northern indigenous
peoples in particular, extended
family such as grandparents
play a huge role in raising children. It's not at all uncommon
for grandparents to outright
raise their grandchildren, or at
least be deeply involved.
That's the kind of cultural
sensitivity that needs to be
shown by the government,
Winston said.
Helga said it's "very important" to keep children with
grandparents, and by extension, other family members if
possible.
The government needs to
recognize that benefits of those
familial ties and encourage it,
she added but it must also
take into account the financial
stresses that involvement can
also cause.
While most grandparents
would be willing to take in
their grandchildren if necessary, many aren't in a position
where they can easily afford
to do so.
If the government were
to provide some avenues for
assistance in those circumstance, it would ease the stress
and burden tremendously, she
said.
Jim was less complimentary about the proposed changes.
"It seems like we're trying
to reinvent the wheel," he said
bluntly.
The committee will continue touring the communities
before its findings are submitted to the GNWT for future
consideration and debate.