Articles by Francis Tessier-Burns

One person dead in excavator accident in Fort Simpson

RCMP are reporting a “sudden death” following an apparent excavator accident in Fort Simpson. In a news release, police say officers in the community received a call about 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 8. They attended the scene on the Mackenzie Highway and found an excavator had “gone into standing water…





Six communities get rapid COVID tests 

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority has sent rapid COVID tests to every region of the NWT. According to the NTHSSA, the Abbot ID Now machines can return results within 15 minutes. The NWT now has 21 of these machines. They will be available in Hay River, Fort…


Hundreds currently in self-isolation to be tested following positive COVID-19 wastewater results

The chief public health officer is asking people in self-isolation between Nov. 30 and Dec. 9 to get tested, even without symptoms.


Dr. Kami Kandola says the request for everyone currently in self-isolation to get tested for COVID-19 is being done out of an “abundance of precaution.” The chief public health officer issued an advisory earlier Wednesday saying traces of the virus were found in Yellowknife’s wastewater. At least one undetected case…


Acho Dene Koe sets date for election

After two delays, Acho Dene Koe First Nation has finally set a date for its next election. The band passed a resolution saying the election would on April 14, 2021. ADKFN leaders have repeatedly cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the cause for the election delays. Federal legislation allowed bands to…


Délı̨nę to host second ‘listening’ session on caribou conservation in Sahtú

The second of five public listening sessions on caribou conservation in the Sahtú will be next spring in Délı̨nę. The session’s central question is “What should people’s role be in maintaining healthy relationships between caribou and other wildlife?” The first listening session was in Colville Lake in January. Last month,…



RCMP still looking for suspect in Halloween homicide

The RCMP is once again asking for the public’s help to find a suspect in an alleged murder that happened on Halloween. Ahmed ‘Scotty’ Mohamed, 21, is wanted for murder and assault causing bodily harm. It took RCMP nearly a week to share any additional information on the incident, still…