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Featured, News, Reconciliation May 20, 2025

Sun sets on this Traditional Healing Ceremony for residential school survivors

'Keep building those bridges and that understanding ... keep the conversation going,' says facilitator Frank Hope


As part of the ongoing effort to help the victims of residential schools on their journeys of recovery, the Northwest Territories/Nunavut Council of Friendship Centres recently partnered with the Shakes the Dust Hope Consulting group to hold two special sessions of Traditional Healing Ceremonies. The Ceremonies were lead by Frank…

Featured, News, Politics May 16, 2025

Diamond mines aren’t forever, so what can they be replaced with?

'We don't want to be in a situation where we are not using the resources we have, including the ability to take on debt in order to provide infrastructure,' says Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek


The pending closure of the NWT’s three huge diamond mines will certainly reduce direct taxation revenues for the territorial government, but it’s the ripple effects through the private sector that could really hurt our economy, says the minister in charge. During a virtual town hall Thursday night — the first…

Featured, News, Reconciliation May 13, 2025

Gwich’in dogsledders, to Dene climate knowledge, to youth empowerment

The 2025 Arctic Inspiration Prize winners announced on Tuesday; Canada's largest annual prize, celebrates and enables Northern-led achievements across several fields


Twelve Northern-led teams were celebrated today as laureates of the 2025 Arctic Inspiration Prize, receiving over $3.7 million in recognition of their innovative, community-driven projects. Wally Schumann, chair of the AIP Charitable Trust and a former NWT cabinet minister, stated in a release, “… every year we continue to see…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation May 13, 2025

NWT rookie MP Rebecca Alty scores sought-after cabinet seat

The territory's first cabinet minister in two decades has promised to work on progressing land claims, and on major infrastructure projects


The NWT’s rookie MP Rebecca Alty is the country’s Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet announced Tuesday morning. The politically savvy, self-described policy nerd was appointed by a man born in Fort Smith and spent his early years in Edmonton. She is the NWT’s first…

Featured, News, Police May 12, 2025

One arrested, two wanted after armed home invasion in Fort Smith

One man has been arrested and police are searching for two others after a violent home invasion involving a firearm in Fort Smith last week.


One man has been arrested and two others are wanted after an armed home invasion in Fort Smith last week. RCMP say three men broke into a home on St. Ann’s Street around midnight on May 5, threatening the occupant with a firearm. The victim escaped without injury and contacted…

Featured, News, Police May 12, 2025

UPDATE: Two in custody, one at large after armed home invasion in Fort Smith

Three men break into home on St. Ann’s street and threaten to shoot the occupant, who escaped unharmed, say police


UPDATE MAY 16th: RCMP advised that Deonne Bourke, wanted in relation to the armed home invasion below, surrender and was taken into custody without incident. However, Tristan Mercredi remains at large with an active warrant for his arrest. —————– One person is in custody while arrest warrants have been issued…

Featured, News May 11, 2025

Standoff threat as GNWT moves to evict family from Dehcho Process reserved land

Judge grants permission for RCMP to use reasonable force in August eviction at remote Lindberg Landing, off the Liard Highway


Authorities have been threatened with resistance if a court-ordered eviction proceeds this summer of a family with two infant children from their illegal camp on Dehcho Process withdrawn land, says a judge. So, the NWT Supreme Court has granted RCMP permission to use reasonable force to carry out the GNWT-requested…

Featured, News, Wildfires May 10, 2025

UPDATED: Fort Smith evacuation alert downgraded to notice as wildfire being held

There is no immediate threat, says NWT Fire, but residents nearby should remain prepared should conditions change


At 8:30 p.m., NWT Fire issued an update on the wildfire in Fort Smith: “The wildfire near Primrose and Carl’s Drive (is now) a status of ‘being held.’ The situation has stabilized, and the risk to structures has been reduced thanks to the aggressive effort from crews, heavy equipment, and…

Featured, News, Politics May 9, 2025

Dene Nation backs Alberta’s Indigenous peoples ignored in separation fight

The Trump factor: 'Maybe they're going to be the 51st state, with all the oil and gas,' says Sahtu Dene Council Grand Chief Wilbert Kochon


“We gotta make it known for the next generations, this is what this generation did to support Alberta … we will be in the media, and it will be on the record.”   – Chief George Mackenzie A referendum on Alberta leaving Canada is potentially in the cards, and the…