Articles by James O'Connor

Featured, Housing, News, Politics May 26, 2025

GNWT to allow homeless encampments this summer on Commissioner’s land

Temporary tents in surrounding wooded areas are allowed, 'provided applicable regulations and bylaws are followed,' says Housing NWT


After a turbulent summer last year of chasing homeless encampments and the associated illegal activities around Yellowknife, the territorial government will allow tents to be set up on its land. Announcing on the weekend it “is aware” of what appears to be the first encampment of the season, the GNWT’s…

Featured, News, Politics May 25, 2025

MLAs turn up volume in NWT Assembly; Speaker’s temper blows

‘Do I want this job? Not in moments like this,’ sighs a frustrated Shane Thompson in the NWT Assembly


A sensitive subject brought back to the NWT Assembly by Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon resulted in some frayed nerves and unparliamentary language at the end of last week. In February, Edjericon made headlines when he revealed the remains of a young girl who died while at St. Joseph’s Mission…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation May 23, 2025

Indigenous leadership snubbed at Western Premiers’ reception, says Dene Nation

But at the actual conference, Indigenous concerns were kept at the forefront by all of the premiers, says NWT Premier R.J. Simpson


The Dene Nation wants an apology as it says Indigenous leadership was excluded from recognition protocols at the opening reception of the Western Premiers’ Conference. Dene National Chief George Mackenzie stated the snub, “speaks volumes about the current state of relationship between the GNWT and Indigenous peoples.” In a statement…

Featured, News, Politics May 22, 2025

Confederation, diamonds and cargo up for discussion as Assembly returns

'Will (the Premier) at least support those voices calling for Indigenous rights to be respected in Alberta?' asks Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart


On the eve of the Western Premiers’ Conference in Yellowknife, Premier R.J. Simpson on Wednesday had to tiptoe around some political minefields set by some Regular MLAs in the Legislative Assembly. As the session resumed Wednesday after breaking in March, the NWT’s relationship with Alberta and its premier, Danielle Smith,…

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…