Environment

Environment, Featured, News, Transportation, Wildfires September 17, 2024

Wildfires, weather, seniors and space junk all covered by Yellowknife’s new emergency and evacuation plans

Attention needed to ensure safe and culturally appropriate evacuation measures for First Nation Elders, states the report


“But I’ve seen this myself … Elders from Northern communities were scavenging the (hotel) hallways eating (room service) leftovers, because they had no other assistance available.” – An evacuee told a KPMG public forum in March Should the capital region be evacuated again for a disaster of any type, particular…

Environment, Featured, History, News, Wildfires August 27, 2024

First independent look behind the scenes of GNWT’s handling of 2023 wildfires out Wednesday

'It is our job as leaders to learn from the challenges we faced in an emergency of this scale and put those lessons to work,' says Minister Jay Macdonald


One-half of the territorial government’s “biggest after-action review” into the historic wildfire season last year will be released tomorrow at noon. Prior to that, there will be a 30-minute media availability with staff members to answer technical questions regarding the review based on an embargoed report sent to media today….

Environment, Featured, Health, News, Weather, Wildfires August 18, 2024

When will wildfire smoke clear? Don’t hold your breath

As warmer, drier conditions return, smoky winds will push from the south until mid-week


Many areas in the NWT experienced cooler temperatures late last week, which was been helpful in limiting extreme fire growth. However, fire crews are now preparing as the weather fluctuates, NWT Fire stated on Sunday afternoon. Dana Bowen is with the Department of Environment and Climate Change. “There are currently…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires August 11, 2024

Territory experiencing ‘most severe fire weather’ this summer, warns NWT Fire

Structure protection and sprinklers set up proactively in four communities across three regions   


Weather conditions today and Monday are forecast to support extreme fire activity with “significant growth,” building off aggressive fire behaviour on Friday and Saturday, says NWT Fire. Residents of Kakisa, Wrigley, Deline, are watching wildfire activity a couple of dozen kilometres away, but are not at threat at present, read…

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, Environment, Featured, News July 23, 2024

Researchers funded to monitor caribou, fish and water in the NWT

$2.24 million allocated from the NWT Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program


30 projects have received funding this year to investigate and monitor how the territory’s caribou, fish and water are affected by environmental changes over time. Among these projects, seven are guided by traditional knowledge and work closely with Indigenous governments, stakeholders and community members. The Winter Road Monitoring Program is…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 21, 2024

Firefighters battle second trail camp fire in Yellowknife

There are regional fire bans in place for the Dehcho, North Slave and South Slave


Municipal firefighters are investigating another human caused fire in Yellowknife. A wooden tent platform for unregistered camping near the NWT Legislative Assembly was burned in the blaze, reported Cabin Radio. Responding firefighters required streets to be closed and bus service through Niven neighbourhood was re-directed. Amy E. Kennedy is a…

Environment, Featured, Health, News, Weather July 16, 2024

Nahanni Butte’s water spoiled by the mineral manganese

Infants, children under five, pregnant women should not drink the tap water in a situation that could take months to fully rectify


Infants, children under five, and pregnant women in Nahanni Butte should not drink the community’s tap water due to high levels of manganese caused by a failure at the water treatment plant. Adults and older children are at a lower risk in that Dehcho community, but should still take precautions,…

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…