Articles by James O'Connor

Featured, Law courts, News June 14, 2025

Harley Pierrot’s killer in Fort Good Hope gets seven years for manslaughter

Flloyd Kakfwi had earlier pleaded guilty for the stabbing, which took place during a drinking party in 2024


Floyd Kakfwi has been sentenced to seven years’ behind bars for stabbing Harley Pierrot in an alcohol-fuelled conflict in Fort Good Hope in 2024. Kakfwi, who is now 54, had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced in that Sahtu community earlier this week. Kakfwi will serve seven years,…

Environment, Featured, Law courts, News June 12, 2025

A Mi’kmaq man named Pond must tear down his family’s cabin by an NWT lake, a court has ruled

Matt Pond built told court that removing the late-’90s era cabin would cause him ‘significant and irreparable prejudice’ as he tries to join the YKDFN


A Yellowknife-born Mi’kmaq man must remove his family’s quarter-century-old cabin on public land north of Narcisse Lake, as he is not a member of an NWT Indigenous group, a court has ruled. In the late 1990’s, Matt Pond built a cabin located north of Narcisse Lake on lands now administered…

Education, Featured, Health, News, Politics June 11, 2025

‘In many Northern communities, Jordan’s Principle isn’t supplemental — it’s essential,’ say two NWT cabinet ministers

The new Liberal Government is showing signs of reversing the changes introduced under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, suggests a joint statement by Ministers Caitlin Cleveland and Lesa Semmler


“Jordan’s Principle was working in the North. It helped children catch up and, at times, thrive — especially in smaller communities where supports are scarce. Rolling it back now would hurt the very people it was meant to help” – Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon-Armstrong The territorial government continues to press…

Culture, Featured, News June 11, 2025

Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve in Sahtu receives $16.5M for cultural centre

'This is good for the people. Parks Canada has listened to the Elders and the community about what is important,' says Tulita Mayor Douglas Yallee


Indigenous and community members from Tulita and Norman Wells recently gathered to herald the cultural and regional significance of the $16.5 million office and cultural centre being built for the Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve. “This is good for the people. Parks Canada has listened to the Elders and the community…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation June 9, 2025

‘We have the vision. We’ve done the planning. We’re ready to deliver,’ says Premier R.J. Simpson

Delegations of top elected officials from the GNWT and Indigenous government in Ottawa last week to lobby for projects requiring federal partnerships


“The North isn’t a problem to solve. It’s a partner in building Canada’s future. Let’s build it together.” – Premier R.J. Simpson Leaders from several Indigenous governments were in Ottawa last week — joining NWT Premier R.J. Simpson and members of his cabinet — to promote the North and present…

Featured, News, Sports June 9, 2025

NWT Track and Field Championships attract athletes from 12 communities

Large teams from Yellowknife compete with smaller schools, such as Kakisa Lake and K'àlemì Dene, over three days


The 2025 NWT Track and Field Championships in Hay River will now pass the baton to next year’s gathering. At a high-energy closing ceremony on Friday afternoon, dozens of medallists were called up to the podium in the common area at Diamond Jenness Secondary School to the cheers of families,…

Featured, News, Sports June 5, 2025

Running, jumping and throwing at Hay River track meet

‘It gives them something to compete against, not with just the classmates and but with all of the NWT,’ says a Chief Sunrise support assistant


The cheers can be heard blocks away in central Hay River at the 2025 NWT Track and Field Championships continue, with more than 1,000 students entered from across the territory. That up about 100 registrations over last year. Add some warm weather and enough wind to keep the bugs and…

Featured, Health, News June 4, 2025

Continued bleeding of doctors at Stanton hospital to force longer waits in emergency dep’t

Health authority: 'Please rest assured that your health and safety remain the top priority. Every patient will continue to receive safe, compassionate care.'


The difficult pause between arriving at Stanton Territorial Hospital’s Emergency Department and seeing a doctor is due to get worse as the weather gets warmer. “We understand that these challenges may also mean longer wait times in the ED, and this can be frustrating,” reads a Health and Social Services…

Featured, News, Wildfires June 4, 2025

Tulip Lake Wildfire in full bloom 28 kms east of Fort Smith

Currently no evacuation notices, alerts, or orders related to the 6,545-hectare blaze on the NWT/Alberta border, says NWT Fire


A unified command team consisting of Alberta and NWT – with representation from the Tthebatthı Dënesųłiné First Nation (formerly known as Smith’s Landing) — governments will be responsible for managing the large Tulip Lake Wildfire, 28 kilometres east of Fort Smith. Currently, additional crews, aircraft and other resources are forming…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation June 2, 2025

GNWT to pay ‘bilingual bonus’ for Indigenous languages used on the job

Indigenous representation, involvement, and participation at all levels of the territorial public service is crucial, says GNWT


Employees with the territorial government whose duties involve use of an Indigenous language will be paid a “bilingual bonus” on a preferred language basis, says a GNWT report. Moreover, the GNWT will actively pursue future workers when they are in high school or Aurora College and make it easier to…