Articles by James O'Connor

Featured, News, Politics March 13, 2025

Elders can be financially, emotionally abused by family members seeking cash for illegal drugs

'I've heard about people pressuring elders for pension cheque money. It's like they are trapped, and their money belongs to others,' says MLA Sheryl Yakeleya


Seniors are too often mistreated by the very people responsible for their care, this can include financial abuse by younger family members pressuring them for cash to buy illegal drugs, says an MLA. Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya told the NWT Assembly on Wednesday that there is an urgent need to…

Featured, News, Politics March 12, 2025

‘Policies and procedures protect the criminals,’ says angry MLA

Mackenzie Delta's George Nerysoo says Housing NWT units in Fort McPherson are openly used as drug dens


A clearly frustrated elected official from a small Gwich’in community says complaints of drug dealing in public housing are ignored by authorities at all levels. Mackenzie Delta MLA George Nerysoo said he was confronted on the weekend by residents of his home community, Teetl’it Zheh (Fort McPherson), who are fed…

Featured, Housing, News, Reconciliation March 11, 2025

A safe, stable place to stay for those returning from Southern recovery centres

Long-awaited transitional housing pilot program for addictions recovery in the NWT will take first residents in April


“We can restore and bring back our humanness, based on our principles and our values.” — Łutsel K’e Elder Felix Lockhart A longstanding missing piece of the addictions recovery puzzle in the Northwest Territories has been found in the shape of a two-storey house in Yellowknife’s Forrest Drive neighbourhood. This…

Featured, News, Police March 7, 2025

UPDATED: Overnight violence strikes Fort Smith; second similar incident in less than a month

Possible shots fired and house fire prompt warning early this morning from Fort Smith Protective Services


Fort Smith Protective Services issued a warning early this morning for residents to avoid the area of Field Street and Cassette Crescent after another violent incident in the border community involving gunplay and a fire. Fort Smith RCMP on Friday afternoon stated the incident was at 4:28 a.m. with the report…

Education, Featured, News, Politics March 7, 2025

Problems, solutions emerge in hearing on closure of 19 Community Learning Centres

'For the past 10 to 15, years, (the) Centres have become increasingly problematic, with low enrolment, high costs,' says Aurora College President Angela James


Aurora College President Angela James might not want to visit Fort Good Hope anytime soon after a remark she made about the closing of Community Learning Centres caught the ear of two MLAs at a hearing Thursday morning. James was justifying the abrubt closure of 19 Community Learning Centres across…

Featured, News, Politics March 5, 2025

Low vaccination rates put most vulnerable people at serious risk, says NWT Health Minister

‘Addressing vaccine hesitancy in Indigenous communities … requires building trust through culturally safe care and meaningful engagement,’ says Lesa Semmler


Vaccine hesitancy and online misinformation are weakening trust in the science, leaving residents — especially elders and children — vulnerable to preventable diseases, says Health Minister Lesa Semmler. Measles vaccination rates amongst two-year-olds have dropped from nearly 90-per-cent in 2019 to just over 82-per-cent in 2024 — well below the…

Featured, News, Politics March 4, 2025

American liquor purchases frozen, as GNWT does what it can in Trump Trade War

'It might be a difficult few years for us, but I know that we're going to stay united and we're going to resist,' says Premier R.J. Simpson


Take a hike Jack and Jim — that’s Daniels and Beam, respectively — as American-made alcohol products will no longer be purchased by the NWT Liquor and Cannabis Commission. That’s one of the only direct moves the NWT can take at present to protest United States President Donald Trump’s 25-per-cent…

Featured, News, Politics March 3, 2025

Speaker to MLAs: ‘We were not elected to quarrel and bicker’

Shane Thompson admonishes NWT Assembly after two MLA complaints in one week over conduct of their peers


Open and respectful communication between all Members is the most essential feature of consensus government. While it is impossible to reach unanimous agreement on all issues, the opportunity for all Members to have meaningful input into important decisions is fundamental. – From Consensus Government in the NWT Guiding Principles The…

Featured, News, Politics February 28, 2025

Cell service dead zones, cash for communities and another upset MLA round out the week

The availability of consumer cell phones with emergency satellite connectivity could alleviate some drivers' concerns, says Minister Wawzonek


On Friday, Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya raised the longstanding issue of cell reception dead zones along major highways, especially the busy stretch between Fort Providence-Behchokǫ̀-Yellowkife. “People have safety concerns regarding the inability to call for help if something were to happen while travelling on our highways,” said Yakeleya. “Some people…

Featured, News, Politics, Weather February 28, 2025

Norman Wells is ‘a community living in fear,’ says Sahtu MLA

NWT Assembly passes motion declaring a humanitarian state of emergency for the regional centre


The Sahtu region’s hub of Norman Wells is in a dire situation, with residents living in fear and some already choosing to move away, says MLA Danny McNeely. The MLA presented a motion declaring a state of emergency for Norman Wells due to severe impacts from climate change, including rising…