Articles by Ian Down

Community, Education, Featured, Health, News May 5, 2023

Inuvik high school students channel love of fitness for science

William Rodgers and Rylan Wainman will present their study on steroid acceptance at this year's Canada-wide Science Fair


William Rodgers and Rylan Wainman couldn’t stop talking about their workouts. Their philosophy teacher called them “meatheads.” Rather than quiet down, the two students of East Three Secondary school in Inuvik decided to turn their love of fitness into a science experiment. Now, their study on the social acceptance of…

Featured, News, Newscasts, Politics April 28, 2023

Dehcho First Nations’ support of UNDRIP legislation ‘up in the air’: grand chief

A month after it was introduced, six parties to the legislation have still not signed on


There was much fanfare when the GNWT introduced new legislation last month to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Premier Caroline Cochrane called it a “truly significant step towards reconciliation.” But not everyone is on board just yet. Late last year, before the legislation…

Featured, News April 18, 2023

‘Ashamed of SRFN’: Membership left in the dark following band shuffle

Six months after the elected chief's first suspension, a political 'hostage' situation drags on in Salt River


Tensions and tempers ran high at a meeting for members of the Salt River First Nation in January. Jeannie Marie-Jewell, a distinguished SRFN Elder, was there in Edmonton, filming. Then she passed the phone to her neighbour, Toni Heron: She had some questions for acting chief Brad Laviolette. “On what…

Community, Featured, Justice, News, Police April 17, 2023

‘Special police activity’ in Hay River was a series of drug-related raids

Eleven people have been arrested and charged as a result of this operation


A “special police operation” that took place in Hay River late last week was a series of drug-related raids, according to RCMP. The raids were part of a larger operation that also involved three traffic stops between April 1 and 15. In total, eleven people have been arrested and charged…

Community, Featured, Justice, News, Police March 30, 2023

Update: Fort Providence Mayor says suspect arrested in connection with stolen firearms

Mayor Danny Beaulieu had asked residents to stay home while police conducted their search


A suspect has been arrested in connection with a pair of missing firearms in Fort Providence, according to the community’s mayor. According to an RCMP release, earlier this morning police were searching for a pair of rifles and some ammo that were stolen sometime before 3:30 a.m. In a post…