News

Featured, News December 16, 2024

Gail Cyr: ‘Forged by pain and isolation; met with fury and laughter’

Jesse Wheeler eulogizes his trailblazing Indigenous mom at Sunday's emotional celebration of life


Gail Cyr’s celebration of life was outspoken, fearless and passionate — an accurate representation of the Order of Canada recipient’s colourful life of nearly 72 years, which ended After all, what memorial service have you ever been to that featured a foot-long hand-made paper mâché phallus firmly attached to the…

Featured, Housing, News, Politics December 16, 2024

Homelessness: ‘It’s crucial we unite to create meaningful change,’ says MP Michael McLeod

GNWT will match federal funding of $1 million over two years for projects such as the temporary On-the-Land Camp


The latest brick in the wall from government to address homelessness is a $2 million partnership between Ottawa and the territorial government. This partnership will help alleviate capacity challenges identified by local shelter operators, while addressing encampments and helping find homes for people sleeping in tents through a “human rights-based…

Featured, History, News, Reconciliation December 15, 2024

YWCA Canada apologizes for supporting colonial residential school system

YWCA NWT will now work with Indigenous leaders to clarify what historical involvement it had in the North, says executive director


The largest provider of services to women, girls and families in the country has issued a formal apology to Indigenous communities, families and individuals for its historical involvement in the operation of Residential Schools and ‘Indian Hospitals.’ YWCA Canada’s research, primarily based on records from the 1960s, found numerous YWCAs…

Featured, Health, News, Politics December 15, 2024

NWT Health Leadership Council discharged, angering Dene leadership

'It is time for Dene to determine our own ways of caring for our people,' says National Chief George Mackenzie


The Dene Nation has grave concerns over the dissolution dismissal of the NWT’s Health and Social Services (NTHSSA) Leadership Council, in favour of a single public administrator, as it could hurt overall effectiveness of health service delivery. “We are in a crisis state regarding medical travel, child/family services and the…

Community, Featured, History, News December 13, 2024

Gwichyà Gwich’in scholar’s book amplifies voices of 75 Indigenous northerners

The book, By Strength We Are Still Here, is available today


“What would Indigenous societies look like today if the legacy of residential schools – all of the violence, death and trauma – never happened?” asks Crystal Gail Fraser, a Gwichyà Gwich’in historian and scholar at the University of Alberta. This is a question that lingers on Fraser’s mind. It prompted…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation December 13, 2024

Kátł’odeeche First Nation chooses financial specialist Elaine Auger for chief

Disaster recovery, economic development on the table as community settles lucrative modern Treaty Day payments


The people of Kátł’odeeche First Nation have spoken, electing Elaine Auger as chief on Thursday. And Auger promises to let the people speak out on issues to drive decisions by a transparent and accountable leadership group. The final tally in Thursday’s election, pending any appeals, was 129 votes cast for…

Featured, News, Police December 12, 2024

Behchokǫ̀ RCMP seize $76,000 in cash, charge Edmonton man

Arrest follows discovery of cash, drugs, and phones in Alberta-licensed vehicle


Behchoko RCMP seized $76,000 in cash from an Alberta-licensed vehicle exhibiting “suspicious driving behavior” on November 25, according to a Thursday news release. Officers stopped the vehicle and conducted a cursory search, where they found a hidden compartment containing a large amount of cash, several cell-phones and a small quantity…

Environment, Featured, News December 11, 2024

Tin Can Hill site assessment reveals contamination risks for proposed campus

Remediation options proposed as GNWT evaluates risks for new North Slave campus


An environmental site assessment at Tin Can Hill has revealed concentrations of arsenic and other metals in the soil, according to a GNWT news release. The site is the proposed location for Aurora College’s new North Slave campus. The assessment was to identify potential contamination on-site, evaluate risks to the…