Regular MLAs voted unanimously in favour of a motion calling for the territorial government to “review its policies and practices for racial and cultural bias, especially as they relate to education, health and social services, justice, housing, and government hiring.” Frieda Martselos, MLA for Thebacha, introduced the motion during Wednesday’s…
The Arctic Winter Games announced it would be postponing the 2022 event as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 games were set to be held in Wood Buffalo, Alta. from Mar. 6-12. But after discussions with the host society, the municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Government of…
The same firm that investigated former Governor General Julie Payette will be looking into complaints against NWT Legislative Assembly Clerk Tim Mercer. The Legislative Assembly’s Board of Management has hired Quintet Consulting Corp. to do the third-party assessment into the Office of the Clerk. “Quintet’s consulting work focuses on investigations…
Senator Margaret Dawn Anderson of the Northwest Territories has joined the Progressive Senate Group. “In the two years since my appointment, I have learned a great deal from my respected colleagues about the important role we as senators play in the development of a better future for all Canadians,” Anderson…
Derrald Taylor has been carving everything from soapstone to snow since he was a young boy, growing up in Tuktoyaktuk. “Carving is like a getaway for me. When I carve, I forget everything but the piece and let my mind go and my hands take over,” says Taylor on his…
The Western Arctic Youth Collective will be expanding its events and programming thanks to the Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP). On Feb. 17, the collective was awarded $97,000 in the youth category of the prize. “It’s just going to really support our programming, our ideas, our dreams,” says Jacey Firth-Hagen, the project…
Residents of Chateh are under a mandatory two-week lockdown as of 9 a.m. today, according to Dene Tha’ First Nation. The first nation posted an advisory on social media, which outlines the rules during lockdown. Full household lockdown, no one leaves their home Nobody in or out of the community,…
Gahcho Kué mine is gearing up to resume operations this weekend. De Beers, in a press release, has said it changed its entire workforce “to break any possible chain of COVID-19 transmission.” The new operational team is scheduled to fly into the site on Feb. 27 and begin the next…
Some residents in the NWT’s northern-most communities are struggling with mental health, says Jackie Jacobson. “A lot of people are hurting from depression,” said the Nunakput MLA. He was pleading with Julie Green, minister of Health and Social Services, for in-person counselling services. Green acknowledged there are “some vacancies in…
Since the outbreak at Gahcho Kué mine was announced in early February, three workers are now in hospital with COVID-19. One of the workers was medevaced to Edmonton on Wednesday. “These hospitalizations are a stark reminder that we must take this pandemic seriously,” says Dr. Kami Kandola, chief public health…