Articles by James O'Connor

Featured, News, Politics May 16, 2025

Diamond mines aren’t forever, so what can they be replaced with?

'We don't want to be in a situation where we are not using the resources we have, including the ability to take on debt in order to provide infrastructure,' says Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek


The pending closure of the NWT’s three huge diamond mines will certainly reduce direct taxation revenues for the territorial government, but it’s the ripple effects through the private sector that could really hurt our economy, says the minister in charge. During a virtual town hall Thursday night — the first…

Featured, News, Reconciliation May 13, 2025

Gwich’in dogsledders, to Dene climate knowledge, to youth empowerment

The 2025 Arctic Inspiration Prize winners announced on Tuesday; Canada's largest annual prize, celebrates and enables Northern-led achievements across several fields


Twelve Northern-led teams were celebrated today as laureates of the 2025 Arctic Inspiration Prize, receiving over $3.7 million in recognition of their innovative, community-driven projects. Wally Schumann, chair of the AIP Charitable Trust and a former NWT cabinet minister, stated in a release, “… every year we continue to see…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation May 13, 2025

NWT rookie MP Rebecca Alty scores sought-after cabinet seat

The territory's first cabinet minister in two decades has promised to work on progressing land claims, and on major infrastructure projects


The NWT’s rookie MP Rebecca Alty is the country’s Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet announced Tuesday morning. The politically savvy, self-described policy nerd was appointed by a man born in Fort Smith and spent his early years in Edmonton. She is the NWT’s first…

Featured, News May 11, 2025

Standoff threat as GNWT moves to evict family from Dehcho Process reserved land

Judge grants permission for RCMP to use reasonable force in August eviction at remote Lindberg Landing, off the Liard Highway


Authorities have been threatened with resistance if a court-ordered eviction proceeds this summer of a family with two infant children from their illegal camp on Dehcho Process withdrawn land, says a judge. So, the NWT Supreme Court has granted RCMP permission to use reasonable force to carry out the GNWT-requested…

Featured, News, Wildfires May 10, 2025

UPDATED: Fort Smith evacuation alert downgraded to notice as wildfire being held

There is no immediate threat, says NWT Fire, but residents nearby should remain prepared should conditions change


At 8:30 p.m., NWT Fire issued an update on the wildfire in Fort Smith: “The wildfire near Primrose and Carl’s Drive (is now) a status of ‘being held.’ The situation has stabilized, and the risk to structures has been reduced thanks to the aggressive effort from crews, heavy equipment, and…

Featured, News, Politics May 9, 2025

Dene Nation backs Alberta’s Indigenous peoples ignored in separation fight

The Trump factor: 'Maybe they're going to be the 51st state, with all the oil and gas,' says Sahtu Dene Council Grand Chief Wilbert Kochon


“We gotta make it known for the next generations, this is what this generation did to support Alberta … we will be in the media, and it will be on the record.”   – Chief George Mackenzie A referendum on Alberta leaving Canada is potentially in the cards, and the…

Featured, News, Police, Politics, Reconciliation May 7, 2025

‘Top offender list’ to help RCMP allocate resources in fight against drug crime in the NWT

Dene Nation forms drug-fighting task force, as senior Mountie lays out concerns with small airport security, lenient bail, and soft sentences for traffickers


“I don’t want anybody to get hurt standing up for their community, and I don’t want anybody to cross the line where they’ve done something that does break the law.” – RCMP Supt. Chris Romanchych The RCMP are compiling for the first time a top offender list for the Northwest…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation May 7, 2025

Dene Nation leadership debates creating task force to tackle drug crisis gripping communites

'This is a new type of genocide. It's a genocide that we've inflicted upon ourselves,' says Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian


As dozens of First Nations leaders were searching for ways to stop drug traffickers from importing violence and misery from the south, news came of an RCMP arrest in Norman Wells of two Alberta men and the seizure of crack cocaine, meth, and a loaded handgun. Since the pandemic, shootings,…

Featured, News, Politics May 6, 2025

Yellowknife’s new mayor is ‘old-fashioned process guy’ Ben Hendriksen

Internal council process passed over two councillors who placed their Indigenous backgrounds front-and-centre at Monday special meeting


“Reconciliation is a core value that council continues to champion and uphold.” – the City of Yellowknife Yellowknife’s new mayor is Ben Hendriksen, who has been in an acting role since Rebecca Alty began her successful campaign in April to be the NWT’s new MP. The self-confessed “old-fashioned process guy”…