Articles by James O'Connor

Featured, Health, News, Politics December 15, 2024

NWT Health Leadership Council discharged, angering Dene leadership

'It is time for Dene to determine our own ways of caring for our people,' says National Chief George Mackenzie


The Dene Nation has grave concerns over the dissolution dismissal of the NWT’s Health and Social Services (NTHSSA) Leadership Council, in favour of a single public administrator, as it could hurt overall effectiveness of health service delivery. “We are in a crisis state regarding medical travel, child/family services and the…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation December 13, 2024

Kátł’odeeche First Nation chooses financial specialist Elaine Auger for chief

Disaster recovery, economic development on the table as community settles lucrative modern Treaty Day payments


The people of Kátł’odeeche First Nation have spoken, electing Elaine Auger as chief on Thursday. And Auger promises to let the people speak out on issues to drive decisions by a transparent and accountable leadership group. The final tally in Thursday’s election, pending any appeals, was 129 votes cast for…

Featured, Health, News, Reconciliation December 8, 2024

Reflecting on tragic events, recommitting to action against gender-based violence  

‘Most Indigenous children around my age were not raised on love. Most were raised on survival,' says Behchokǫ̀'s Kate Wedzin


Like so many Indigenous children whose parents went to residential school, Kate Wedzin grew up in an unhealthy environment that led to foster homes in her teens and abusive relationships as an adult. Wedzin told a vigil marking the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women she…

Education, Featured, Health, News, Reconciliation December 5, 2024

Northern nursing students check vital signs of health research

Fourth-year Aurora College nursing students show off the work they put into three-month projects


Holly Hodder recalls while growing up, hearing stories about the mistrust Elders had towards the European settler class’s health-care system. Stereotyping, indifference and systemic racism have for decades been reported by Indigenous people as they access publicly funded health-care across Canada and the NWT. This as Indigenous patients have described…

Featured, News December 4, 2024

Indigenous rights champion and Order of Canada member Gail Cyr remembered

Founder of the NWT Native Court Workers Association, former Yellowknife city councillor and member of the NWT Human Rights Commission passed away this week at the age of 71.


Gail Cyr was known for her unwavering bravery fighting for Indigenous people in the North, and her life’s work was recognized nationally in 2022, when she was invested into the Order of Canada. Cyr passed away on Tuesday, her son Jesse Wheeler posted to social media. She was 71. “Thank…

Featured, Justice, Law courts, News November 27, 2024

Overworked jail staff delayed obtaining Alberta records on high-risk offender before he attacked

Judge clears GNWT after Jason Bard randomly attacked a fellow inmate, causing serious injuries that required stitches, treatment for a concussion


A lawsuit by the victim of a random, vicious jailhouse attack by a “dangerous violent offender with anti-social personality disorder” has provided a rare glimpse into the internal operations at North Slave Correctional Complex (NSCC). Jason Bard was 28 years old and incarcerated at NSCC in 2018, when he randomly…

Featured, Justice, Law courts, News, Police November 27, 2024

Yellowknife jail guard attacker shot dead by Winnipeg police on weekend

His family impacted by residential school system, Jordan Charlie’s troubled upbringing resulted in a string of brutally violent crimes


A Nunavut-born man shot dead Sunday by Winnipeg Police after police say he stabbed a cop in the neck was the same person who viciously assaulted a corrections officer inside Yellowknife’s North Slave Correctional Complex in 2019. Twenty-four-year-old Jordan Charlie’s violent life came to a quick end Sunday at a…

Featured, News, Police, Reconciliation, Weather November 26, 2024

Community-minded RCMP officer collects coats for 120 needy kids in Aklavik

Const. Jason Emmons and wife, Larissa, found many youth in the Arctic community did not have adequate winter clothing


A caring RCMP officer and his wife took it upon themselves to find a way to provide proper winter clothing for more than 100 children in Aklavik. Constable Jason Emmons and his wife, Larissa, in 2023 found that many youths in the Arctic community did not have adequate winter clothing,…

Featured, News, Police November 26, 2024

Reported drive-by shooting of vehicle ends with RCMP gunpoint takedown of suspects

About $20,000 cash, believed to be the proceeds of crime, crack cocaine, ski-masks and several edged weapons seized by police


Three people were arrested at gunpoint by RCMP officers after reports of a drive-by shooting near Walmart on Sunday. A motorist was allegedly followed by another vehicle that pulled up alongside, and a masked individual pointed a gun at the victim’s vehicle after which a thud was heard, leading the…

Featured, Law courts, News, Politics November 24, 2024

Gwich’in Tribal Council’s contested Grand Chief election results remain in hands of Supreme Court judge

GTC board’s call for a new election after complaints made by incumbent candidate a ‘draconian’ move, says opponent’s lawyer


Legal arguments out of a controversial election Beaufort Delta have explored how much power should an Indigenous board of directors have and who gets to decide what truth is in political debate. Toby Kruger is the lawyer for Frederick Blake Jr., who received the most votes in September’s Gwich’in Tribal…