Articles by James O'Connor

Art, Entertainment, Events, Featured, News, Wildfires August 9, 2024

Music and merriment to fill the air one year after Enterprise’s devastating wildfire

The Gateway Jamboree marks 25th anniversary this weekend, with a roster of entertainers, merchants, food and plenty of family fun


The Gateway Jamboree in Enterprise marks its 25th year of family fun this weekend, but another more sombre anniversary will be on minds as well. Just hours after last year’s Jamboree finished, winds pushed a raging wildfire that had been moving away from the community right towards Enterprise, and the…

Featured, Justice, Law courts, Police August 7, 2024

Senior Beaufort Delta educator charged with sexual crimes against children

Education Council assistant supt. Richard Steven McKinnon’s alleged offences occurred in Inuvik and Ulukhaktok between 2018 and 2020


A senior employee of the Beaufort Delta Education Council has been charged with multiple sexual offences alleged to have occurred in Inuvik and Ulukhaktok between 2018 and 2020. Forty-four-year-old Richard Steven McKinnon, assistant superintendent of the Beaufort Delta Education Council, was arrested by RCMP on August 5 and subsequently charged…

Environment, Featured, News, Wildfires August 6, 2024

Campfire carelessness could have sent small island up in smoke

Fire crew quickly extinguishes wildfire within one kilometre of cabins on Great Slave Lake, says NWT Fire


A person-caused fire on a small island near Mackenzie Island on Great Slave Lake “had the potential to spread quickly,” but was snuffed out by crews over the weekend, says NWT Fire. Shannon Graf is a wildfire information officer with the territorial government. “Fire ZF043 … was quickly actioned by…

Community, Culture, Events, Featured, News August 6, 2024

Tłı̨chǫ culture, heritage, and pride celebrated in Behchokǫ̀

Annual day-long event marks signing of Tłı̨chǫ Agreement in 2003


The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, and smiles were plentiful in Behchokǫ̀ for Tłı̨chǫ Day Celebration on Sunday. Hundreds of residents and visitors enjoyed an afternoon and evening of fun, food and festivities marking the signing of the Tłı̨chǫ Agreement in 2003. The Tłı̨chǫ Agreement is a historic…

Featured, Law courts, News August 1, 2024

Ron Barlas engaged in ‘egregious conduct’ bilking Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation out of millions of dollars

Supreme Court rules Barlas’ wife Zeba was ‘a knowing recipient’ of the proceeds, which purchased college tuition, travel, cosmetic surgery, liquor, and high-end clothing


The former CEO of the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation (LKDFN ) engaged in “extreme” and “oppressive conduct” which harmed his employers while enriching himself and his family with millions of dollars, a judge has found. In a 53-page decision, Supreme Court Justice Karan Shaner ruled Ron Barlas breached his…

Featured, News, Politics, Weather July 31, 2024

Time to make big waves as NWT’s water on decline

‘This water conference has to be like a movement — like it was with the Berger Inquiry, which was just about oil,' says Dene National Chief George Mackenzie


A major three-day conference on the health and volume of water in the NWT starts tomorrow in Kátl’odeeche First Nation (KFN), examining the downstream results of upstream mining mega projects and hydro dams. Keepers of the Water has partnered with the First Nation and the Canadian Association of Physicians for…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation July 29, 2024

Three days in Dettah: Dene Nation calls for less talk, more action on key issues

Dene National Assembly heard about drug dealers maiming indebted addicts, poor relations with the GNWT and outside threats to the water system


Delegates to the 54th Dene National Assembly came prepared to tackle the toughest issues dragging their communities down. Many demanded less talk and more action to rid communities of drug dealers, get a better command of the organization’s finances and get the remaining land claims agreements over the finish line….