2024

Featured, Justice, Law courts, Police August 7, 2024

Senior Beaufort Delta educator charged with sexual crimes against children

Education Council assistant supt. Richard Steven McKinnon’s alleged offences occurred in Inuvik and Ulukhaktok between 2018 and 2020


A senior employee of the Beaufort Delta Education Council has been charged with multiple sexual offences alleged to have occurred in Inuvik and Ulukhaktok between 2018 and 2020. Forty-four-year-old Richard Steven McKinnon, assistant superintendent of the Beaufort Delta Education Council, was arrested by RCMP on August 5 and subsequently charged…

Environment, Featured, News, Wildfires August 6, 2024

Campfire carelessness could have sent small island up in smoke

Fire crew quickly extinguishes wildfire within one kilometre of cabins on Great Slave Lake, says NWT Fire


A person-caused fire on a small island near Mackenzie Island on Great Slave Lake “had the potential to spread quickly,” but was snuffed out by crews over the weekend, says NWT Fire. Shannon Graf is a wildfire information officer with the territorial government. “Fire ZF043 … was quickly actioned by…

Community, Culture, Events, Featured, News August 6, 2024

Tłı̨chǫ culture, heritage, and pride celebrated in Behchokǫ̀

Annual day-long event marks signing of Tłı̨chǫ Agreement in 2003


The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, and smiles were plentiful in Behchokǫ̀ for Tłı̨chǫ Day Celebration on Sunday. Hundreds of residents and visitors enjoyed an afternoon and evening of fun, food and festivities marking the signing of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement in 2003. The Tłı̨chǫ Agreement is a historic…

Featured, News, Politics August 1, 2024

‘We need to modernize the Dene Nation Constitution’: Newly elected Dene National chief

The clock is ticking for George Mackenzie, who plans to rework the Constitution during his three-year term


Former Tłı̨chǫ grand chief turned Dene National chief, George Mackenzie, says he plans on taking a hard look at its “outdated” constitution as one of his top priorities in office. “We need to modernize the Dene Nation Constitution,” he says, “to fit the needs of the five regions’ political position.”…

Featured, News, Police August 1, 2024

Mega meth haul by city RCMP also nabs two handguns

Twenty-one-year-old Musab Ibrahim of Saskatoon, faces seven drug-and weapons-related charges


Squatters in a recently vacated Yellowknife apartment were sitting on one-kilogram of methamphetamine – likely the largest seizure ever of the psychoactive stimulant in the NWT. It all began on May 22, when city RCMP received a report that several people were unlawfully inside an empty apartment, reads a release….

Featured, News, Police August 1, 2024

RCMP seized 169 bottles of bootleg liquor in Fort McPherson

These seizures were from several investigations into bootlegging in July


Fort McPherson RCMP say they have seized a total of 169 bottles of illicit liquor from several investigations into bootlegging activity in July. Several charges were laid under the Liquor Act, but the police didn’t identify any offenders. “These seizures represent a substantial amount of lost profits for bootleggers,” says…

Featured, Law courts, News August 1, 2024

Ron Barlas engaged in ‘egregious conduct’ bilking Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation out of millions of dollars

Supreme Court rules Barlas’ wife Zeba was ‘a knowing recipient’ of the proceeds, which purchased college tuition, travel, cosmetic surgery, liquor, and high-end clothing


The former CEO of the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation (LKDFN ) engaged in “extreme” and “oppressive conduct” which harmed his employers while enriching himself and his family with millions of dollars, a judge has found. In a 53-page decision, Supreme Court Justice Karan Shaner ruled Ron Barlas breached his…

Featured, News, Politics, Weather July 31, 2024

Time to make big waves as NWT’s water on decline

‘This water conference has to be like a movement — like it was with the Berger Inquiry, which was just about oil,' says Dene National Chief George Mackenzie


A major three-day conference on the health and volume of water in the NWT starts tomorrow in Kátl’odeeche First Nation (KFN), examining the downstream results of upstream mining mega projects and hydro dams. Keepers of the Water has partnered with the First Nation and the Canadian Association of Physicians for…