Life Style

WRRB recommends no more helicopter wolf shootings, focus on traditional harvest

“(Aerial removals) didn't appear to get to the target levels that they were hoping to reach for the required program to be considered effective and successful,” says Jody Pellissey, the Wekʼèezhìi Renewable Resources Board's executive director.


The Wekʼèezhìi Renewable Resources Board has recommended stopping a controversial practice of shooting dìga (wolves) from the air. Instead, it proposes the Tłı̨chǫ and territorial governments put more resources into supporting ground harvesting to try and protect Ɂekwǫ ̀ (barren-ground caribou). This was one of 20 recommendations the board recently…


‘I know it’ll be better for us in the future’: Dettah residents lineup for COVID-19 vaccine

Public health travelled to the community with 190 doses.


Therese Sangris laughed through her mask as she held her arm, faking pain after receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Therese and her husband, Modeste, were among dozens of residents that lined up for the vaccine in their home community of Dettah on Friday. Therese says she was…


Norman Wells teen pleads for northern addictions treatment centre to MLAs

Sierra McDonald writes how mental health struggles can lead to addiction when not properly addressed.


Sierra McDonald had to come up with a community project this summer as part of a youth peer leader retreat. The 17-year-old used the opportunity to bring attention to mental health and addictions: she sent a letter to MLAs highlighting the need for  an addictions treatment centre. In her letter…


Alternatives North report finds housing crisis a major cause of poverty in smaller communities

The report includes eight recommendations for how the territory can address the issues.


The K’atl’odeeche First Nation (KFN) chief says a poverty report shows the territorial government needs to do more to address a housing crisis in the communities. The Alternatives North NWT Poverty Report Card found that in 2018, 79 per cent of households in KFN identified at least one housing problem….



NWT residents can expect faster internet at better prices in next 3 years: Northwestel president

Curtis Shaw, Northwestel’s president, says every NWT community will have upgraded internet speeds at better prices in the next three years. During a committee meeting on Wednesday, Shaw presented his company’s plan to improve internet services with the help of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commissionthe broadband fund. Northwestel will…



Délı̨nę to host second ‘listening’ session on caribou conservation in Sahtú

The second of five public listening sessions on caribou conservation in the Sahtú will be next spring in Délı̨nę. The session’s central question is “What should people’s role be in maintaining healthy relationships between caribou and other wildlife?” The first listening session was in Colville Lake in January. Last month,…


SRRB decides community plans should lead caribou conservation in Sahtú region

The Sahtú Renewable Resources Board recently decided to replace the Total Allowable Harvest system with community conservation plans.


What is the most effective way to conserve caribou? According to a recent report from the Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı (Sahtú Renewable Resources Board), the answer is to let communities take the lead. The board decided to do away with Total Allowable Harvest (TAH) restrictions in favour of community conservation…


GNWT says framework coming to boost Indigenous staff levels

In the past year, the GNWT workforce has grown by 500 people. Only 156 of those are Indigenous Aboriginal hires.


The territorial government is working on an Indigenous recruitment and retention framework to try and address an ongoing lack of representation within its workforce. Indigenous staff levels have been around 30 per cent for years. Caroline Wawzonek, minister of Finance, is in charge of human resources. She announced the framework…