August 2024

Featured, Justice, Law courts, News August 26, 2024

Zakk Lafferty’s second-degree murder trial to be held in Yellowknife

Behchokǫ̀ man wanted to be tried by a jury in his home community, but Crown concerned over mistrial if impartial panel couldn't be found


A Behchokǫ̀ man charged with murder wanted to be tried by a jury of his peers in his home community. However, while it now has a suitable venue for such a trial – its new cultural centre – the Crown remained concerned over being able to find an impartial panel…

Culture, Education, Featured, News, Reconciliation August 26, 2024

Indigenous languages in NWT receive $17.7 million over three years

‘We will continue to work with Indigenous people and governments to ensure Indigenous languages are protected, promoted and celebrated,’ says Minister Caitlin Cleveland


The Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories have signed a new Canada-Northwest Territories Agreement on Indigenous Languages from 2024-25 to 2026-27. Under the new agreement, $5.9 million will be invested per fiscal year, for a total of $17.7 million over three years. Caitlin Cleveland is the…

Culture, Featured, History, News, Reconciliation August 25, 2024

Behchokǫ̀ unveils Chief Mǫwfi statue, officially opens $14M cultural centre, offices

'Mǫwfi is a father figure to so many of us, and many of us are directly descended from him.' says Elder Alphonz Nitsiza


The rain stopped, the clouds parted and sun shone brightly down on the bronze statue of legendary Chief Mǫwfi — revealed after years delays from a pandemic and then wildfires — to the delight of the assembled crowd. A rainy and cool community of Behchokǫ̀ had set up tents and…

Featured, Law courts, News, Police August 23, 2024

Convicted Edmonton drug dealer barred from NWT for three years after he serves jail sentence

Nineteen-year-old Abel Leule initially slipped past RCMP after raid on Fort Smith residence in fall of 2023, to be later arrest in Fort Resolution


The general public is the best source of information police have in combating drug trafficking, and the RCMP have a recent conviction as an example of that co-operation. And a recent sentencing of a dealer who last year was peddling crack and Percocet pills in Fort Smith – and later…

Featured, Law courts, News August 21, 2024

North Slave child molester guilty of six counts against young Indigenous girls

On the stand, a mother’s ‘upset and anger … even some 12 years later, was palpable,’ says judge


  CONTENT WARNING: The following story contains descriptions of sexual assaults against children, which may be triggering to some readers.   A resident of a North Slave community who molested three young girls over several decades has been found guilty after trial of three counts each of sexual assault and…

Featured, News, Police August 21, 2024

Fake bills with Chinese characters saying ‘for counting practice’ circulating in Inuvik

Inuvik RCMP asks residents to pay special attention to bill transactions


Inuvik RCMP are warning residents about fake Canadian bills printed with Chinese characters after receiving several reports. The Chinese characters translate to ‘counting practice bill’, with a line at the bottom stating ‘for counting practice only, circulations are forbidden’. These particular bills caused similar issues when they first appeared seven…

Featured, News, Wildfires August 20, 2024

Délı̨nę̨ under evacuation notice as wind expected to push fire closer

Extreme northwest winds of up to 70km/h are expected throughout today


The Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government issued an evacuation notice on Monday evening as a precautionary measure due to a wildfire near the Great Bear River. “There are strong winds predicted over the next day that may cause the fire to spread,” reads a release by the community government. NWT Fire says…