2024

Featured, Health, News, Police August 30, 2024

Dangerous experimental drug seizure prompts public health warning

Para-flurofentanyl was detected in recent drug bust enroute to Yellowknife, prompting Chief Public Health Officer's to raise alarm


A potentially lethal synthetic drug created for research purposes in the 1960s but was never intended for human use has been seized in the NWT, prompting a public health warning. Para-flurofentanyl was detected in a recent drug seizure enroute to Yellowknife, prompting the Chief Public Health Officer to issue a…

Culture, Education, Featured, History, News, Politics, Reconciliation August 29, 2024

Indigenous languages in NWT need more than just lip service to thrive

For more than two decades, the GNWT has ignored many recommendations from its own languages commissioner


“The French language community has struggled hard to achieve recognition of their language in the NWT. Their work serves as a model in many ways for the work, which is needed on Dene languages.” Former languages commissioner Fibbie Tatti, in her 2004 report to the Assembly The erosion of Indigenous…

Community, Featured, Health, News August 29, 2024

Boil water advisory for Sambaa K’e lifted

A precautionary advisory was issued on July 15 due to a mechanical failure in the water treatment system


The boil water advisory for the community of Sambaa K’e has been lifted. The advisory was issued by the community government and the Chief Environmental Health Officer on July 15. It was due to a critical mechanical failure in the community water treatment system that caused muddy water. “There have…

Featured, News, Politics, Weather, Wildfires August 28, 2024

GNWT scorched in critical report over response to 2023 wildfires

Environment and Climate Change Dep't was unable to cope with unprecedented situation; many improvements already made for this year


Misinformation from the public, poor internal communications, contractors “exploiting” the emergency, casual firefighters showing up drunk or high, and a lot of on-the-job stress and subsequent mental health issues were some of the previously unknown aspects from last year’s wildfire season. A 212-page review of NWT’s Environment and Climate Change…

Featured, News, Police August 27, 2024

Two Inuvik women charged with murder, performing an indignity to human remains

Thirty-nine-year-old man found dead behind a building early Sunday morning; court later issues publication ban on details of scene


Two Inuvik women are charged with murder and performing an indignity to human remains after a man was found dead behind a building early Sunday morning. After Inuvik RCMP received a report that a body had been in the Beaufort Delta community, they discovered the 39-year-old man. As a result…

Environment, Featured, History, News, Wildfires August 27, 2024

First independent look behind the scenes of GNWT’s handling of 2023 wildfires out Wednesday

'It is our job as leaders to learn from the challenges we faced in an emergency of this scale and put those lessons to work,' says Minister Jay Macdonald


One-half of the territorial government’s “biggest after-action review” into the historic wildfire season last year will be released tomorrow at noon. Prior to that, there will be a 30-minute media availability with staff members to answer technical questions regarding the review based on an embargoed report sent to media today….

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…