Articles by James O'Connor

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 1, 2024

If you return to evacuated Fort Good Hope: ‘Stay at your own risk’

The GNWT and Chief Collin Pierrot plead with residents and others not to enter community


Fort Good Hope remains under an evacuation order and it’s dangerous and irresponsible for anyone to return to the community, residents or not. Stated the GNWT on Sunday: “We can confirm from all levels of emergency management that there are no plans to move any evacuees back to the community…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires June 30, 2024

Hwy 7 fire was out, but hot winds blew it back to life

In Fort Good Hope, emotions raw after helicopter crash and relentless wildfire entering third week


A wildfire along Highway 7 (Liard Trail), which was previously brought under control, flared up under dry conditions and heavy winds, jumped containment, and grew to 49 hectares overnight. Fire FS008 has reached Highway 7 at Kilometre 236 on the west side, but did not impact access as air support…

Featured, Industry, News, Politics, Transportation, Weather June 28, 2024

Fix for low-water shipping woes could be ‘lighter than air,’ committee hears

But until Ottawa approves airships for arctic use, the push to finish Mackenzie Valley highway shifts gears


With barges stranded and deliveries disrupted up and down the Mackenzie River, alternatives to shipping are lacking at present, says Minister of Finance and Infrastructure Caroline Wawzonek. The senior minister told a committee hearing on Wednesday how she has been pitched alternative cargo transportation concepts, everything from finally securing funding…

Featured, News, Wildfires June 28, 2024

Warm, dry weather expected to fuel Fort Good Hope blaze this weekend

A test wildfire at the Fort Providence Experimental Site last night is now 1.5 hectares in size and classified as human caused and, for now, out of control


The Fort Good Hope wildfire has now consumed over 6,285 hectares, with more hot and dry weather on the way. Shannon Graf is the NWT Fire information officer assigned to the Fort Good Hope fire, known as VQ001. “Dry weather is expected to continue with the evenings offering little relief…

Featured, Housing, News, Reconciliation June 27, 2024

City open to ‘homeless encampments’ on public land, says Mayor Rebecca Alty

Social advocate Georgina Franki says new tent platform on Commissioner’s land at Niven Lake a good place to start


More homeless encampments could be popping up in Yellowknife, as city officials are in discussions with their GNWT counterparts over how to handle the increased number of street-involved people here this summer. There are already tents in clusters on the west loop of the Frame Lake Trail and a large…

Featured, News, Wildfires June 27, 2024

Fort Good Hope wildfire beat back behind its firebreak

Some confusion exists over Chief Collin Pierrot’s decision Wednesday evening to issue second evacuation order


The Fort Good Hope wildfire is back behind its bulldozed firebreak blackline after it jumped containment this week, but there are still no reports of structure loss. Shannon Graf is NWT Fire’s information officer for the massive blaze, known as VQ001. “The bulldozed clearing was put in place in the…

Environment, Featured, Industry, News, Politics, Weather June 26, 2024

Anti-Indigenous racism is ‘blatantly obvious’ in Health and Social Services, says Minister Lesa Semmler

Commitment statements on cultural safety will be added into job descriptions, will be part of performance appraisals


The GNWT is producing anti-Indigenous racism commitment statements, to be included in job descriptions, to combat “blatantly obvious,” racism faced by First Nations, Metis and Inuit patients and clients when dealing with Health and Social Services staff. Lesa Semmler is a former nurse in the Beaufort Delta and now is…

Featured, Industry, News, Reconciliation June 24, 2024

Road to NorZinc mine could unleash $8 billion in Dehcho over 20 years

‘Together, we can advance our goals, fostering a future that honours our past while building a stronger, more sustainable tomorrow,’ says Chief Kele Antione


A 170-kilometre all-season road to a zinc mine in the Dehcho region will take two years to build and cost roughly $256 million. Ultimately the privately held NorZinc Ltd., could generate $8 billion of high-grade zinc concentrate over the next 20 years, meaning employment and business opportunities for Indigenous people…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires June 24, 2024

Traditional knowledge lens: Updating evacuated Elders on the wildfire emergency

‘We view the world through a visual lens … this is an effective means to communicate, letting the maps do the talking so to speak,’ says official Frank McKay


“Everyone is doing good, happy faces, elders are being looked after by the fish camp community and that is wonderful,” says Fort Good Hope Chief Collin Pierrot Veteran wildfire fighter Frank McKay has been NWT Fire’s information officer assigned to the massive Fort Good Hope wildfire, known as VQ001. The…