Articles by Ian Down

Featured, Health, News February 17, 2023

New Indigenous Patient Advocates aim to break down barriers to care

Four new advocates aim to help patients overcome obstacles of language, culture, geography


Glenda Simon has been in the healthcare sector for 25 years, and has seen firsthand the barriers Indigenous people face accessing care. “I don’t like seeing patients struggle through the health system, it breaks my heart,” she says. Now, Simon is one of the new Indigenous Patient Advocates with the…

News February 15, 2023

Canadian North launches Yellowknife-Calgary route

Direct service from Yellownknife to Calgary is now available seven days a week


Passengers of the inaugural Canadian North flight from Yellowknife to Calgary got a warm welcome at the Calgary International Airport on Tuesday morning. Canadian North relaunched direct flights between Calgary and Yellowknife this week. Canadian North is an Inuit-owned company, jointly owned by the NWT’S Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the…

Community, Featured, News, Politics February 13, 2023

Two candidates in race for Deline Got’ine council seat

Dora Blondin and Roy Modeste are the two candidates following the closing of the nomination period


Two candidates will compete for the vacant seat on the council of the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government this spring. Dora Blondin and Roy Modeste are the two candidates following the closing of the nomination period, according to a document signed by Chief Electoral Officer Graeme Drew on Feb. 10. The election…

Environment, Featured, Industry, News, Politics February 9, 2023

GNWT considering a zone-based approach to fuel rebates

Under this system, communities that spend more on fuel would get bigger rebates


The Government of the Northwest Territories is considering a zone-based approach to fuel price rebates.   Minister of Finance Caroline Wawzonek confirmed such a system was in the works during a sitting of the Legislative Assembly on Feb. 8.   The assembly is debating what to do about coming increases…

Community, Featured, Health, News February 9, 2023

Health and Social Services warns of chicken pox outbreak in Tuktoyaktuk

Symptoms of chicken pox include fever, headache, and lesions on the torso and face, then the arms and legs


The department of Health and Social Services is warning about an ongoing chicken pox outbreak in Tuktoyaktuk. Multiple people in different households have recently contracted the disease, although the department did not say exactly how many. A Jan. 22 community hockey game and a Feb. 2 Canadian North flight from…

Featured, Industry, News February 8, 2023

Finance minister tables “responsive and responsible” budget with few surprises

2023-24 budget includes no new territorial investments in housing, little in Indigenous languages


There are few surprises in the GNWT’s 2023-24 budget. Minister of Finance Caroline Wawzonek tabled the budget in the Legislative Assembly early Wednesday afternoon. For the upcoming fiscal year, GNWT is projecting $2.48 billion in revenue and $2.31 billion in expenditures. This would result in an operating surplus of $178…

Entertainment, Featured, Life Style, News February 1, 2023

Gwich’in chef shares the importance of sober living — and beef jerky

Stephanie Baryluk started Mrs. B's Jerky while stuck at home during the pandemic


On a typical pandemic day, Stephanie Baryluk’s kitchen was bustling. That’s because Baryluk, a Gwich’in chef from Fort McPherson, chose to turn the uncertainty of the pandemic into an opportunity. Now, her home business, Mrs. B’s Jerky, puts out as many as 100 bags of dried beef, caribou and moose…

Community, Environment, Events, Featured, News January 30, 2023

Fort McPherson Caribou Summit unites around the importance of responsible hunting

Harvesters from across the North unite for three days of workshops, discussion


Robert Alexie is retired now, but once upon a time he was a full-time harvester and a tour guide. He believes in doing things the traditional way: Without an ATV or Ski-Doo, and without leaving any lasting marks on the land. “Untouched,” he says. “That’s the most important word to…

Featured, Justice, News, Police January 10, 2023

Police seeking public’s help following multiple Midwest break-ins

Four break-ins affecting Midwest Property Management have happened since Christmas Eve


Update, Jan. 11 2:00 p.m.: In an email to a tenant of the former Solar Apartments building early Wednesday afternoon, a Midwest employee said “Maintenance are doing their best to change the locks and that’s the priority but we don’t have a timeline.” Yellowknife RCMP are asking for the public’s…