News

Community, Featured, News January 6, 2021

Sunrise Festival in Inuvik goes online to celebrate the light

“I think the [community] is excited for the vaccine to come along, so we can come together again,” says Challis.


Inuvik residents have grown accustomed to the darkness but say they’re excited to welcome back the light. This year residents cant gather for its annual festival, instead, they meet online. Today at 1:39 p.m. begins the first sunrise of a new year for the community. “It just becomes a pattern…

Community, Featured, Health, News January 6, 2021

Remote communities first to receive vaccines for all eligible adults

Vaccines for the general population will arrive in mid-March. 


Residents in the NWT’s most remote communities should expect to see mobile vaccination teams arrive starting next week. On Tuesday, the territorial government released its strategy to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. While the majority of doses will be kept for priority groups over the next two months, some communities will…

Featured, News January 5, 2021

Residents travelling for leisure now responsible for self-isolation centre costs

The changes that were announced in early December, go into effect today.


Starting today, residents traveling outside the Northwest Territories for leisure will be responsible to cover the cost of their stay at a self-isolation centre. Premier Caroline Cochrane announced the territorial government would no longer cover the costs in a press conference on Dec. 1. As the changes go into effect…

Featured, News January 5, 2021

Premier Cochrane defends senior officials’ holiday travels

Premier says three senior officials traveled over the holidays despite GNWT's urging of residents not to do so.


Premier Caroline Cochrane defended the fact three senior government officials traveled outside the territory over the holidays despite her urging of residents not to do so.  “While all residents were encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel, travel outside the NWT is not restricted,” she said at a press conference on Tuesday….

Featured, News January 5, 2021

Gamètì Handgames tournament postponed due to COVID-19

“It was a difficult decision, but we cannot risk getting our Elders sick,” says Boris Eyakfwo, Gamèti Handgame Committee member.


Although it was a difficult decision, the Gamètì Handgame Committee is postponing the annual men’s tournament that was scheduled for March. Organizers say the postponement of Gamètì’s 4th Annual John D Quitte (Aawaa) Men’s Handgame Tournament comes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was a difficult decision but…

Featured, News January 4, 2021

45-year-old man dies in vehicle collision near Behchokǫ̀

A 45-year-old man was killed in a vehicle collision near Behchokǫ̀ on New Years Eve, RCMP say. On Dec. 31 at approximately 5 p.m., RCMP received a call about a fatal collision on Highway 3. According to a press release, the man, who hasn’t been identified, exited a southbound vehicle…

Featured, News January 4, 2021

Whooping cough confirmed in Fort Simpson

The chief public health officer has confirmed four cases of whooping cough in Fort Simpson as of Jan. 4. Whooping cough or pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease that is highly contagious, a press release reads. It is caused by a bacteria that infects the lungs and airways and is most…