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LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR5TuesdaySeptember32013FortSmithHayRiverWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdayForecastForecastNorms16Cand6CNorms16Cand5C10Low12Low20High21High10Low23High12Low8Low14Low21High20High8Low23High12Low20High21HighYellowknifeInuvikWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdayNorms11Cand3CNorms13Cand6C3Low5Low6Low7Low9Low13Low18High17High9Low20High11Low17High11High16High15High12HighEditorWhiletheConservativeshavespentthesummertalk-ingabouttheirforthcomingFirstNationsEducationActtheycontinuetoignoretheelephantintheroomthefed-eralgovernmentdramaticallyunderfundsFirstNationsstu-dentseducation.ForacountrylikeCanadaitsshockingthatonlyathirdofhighschoolstudentsonreservegraduateeachyear.UnderfundingFirstNationseducationacostlymistakeAndwhilethereasonsarecomplexonestandsoutthefederalgovernmentwhichissolelyresponsibleforfinancingFirstNationseducationonlyfundsFirstNationsstudentstwo-thirdsoftheaveragefundingperstudentthattheprovincesprovidetootherschools.Thisfinancinggapcon-tributestolowertestscoresstunningdrop-outratesandafailuretoequipstudentswiththetoolstheyneedtocompeteandsucceedinthemodernworkforce.ItsabigproblemespeciallysincemorethanaquarteroftheAboriginalpeopleinCanadaareunder14.Thisisahugelossforoureconomy.Canadaiscopingwithalackofhighlyskilledpeopleinthework-forceaproblemwhichisprojectedtoworsen.TheCanadianChamberofCom-merceandotherbusinessleaderssayhigherinvest-mentsinAboriginaledu-cationareneededtoem-ploythisgeneration.Onestudyfoundthatincreas-ingAboriginaleducationratestothesamelevelasnon-AboriginalCanadianscouldadd160billiontotheeconomyoverthenextsevenyearsalone.Sadlynothingisbeingdonegovernmentspinnot-withstanding.DespitetheCon-servativesbeinginpowerforalmosteightyearstheAuditorGeneralfoundthegovernmentcannotdemonstrateanyprog-ressinclosingtheFirstNationseducationgap.Theirrecordofneglectisshameful.Andtheycontinuetodenythereisevenaproblem.Givingallchildrenahigh-qualityrelevanteducationandanequalopportunitytosucceedisacoreCanadianvalue.Itistherightthingtodoanditsalsogoodforeconomicgrowth.Itshightimeweclosedthegap.TheHonourableCarolynBennettMPLiberalPartyofCanadaAboriginalAffairsCriticEditorInlightoftherecentmediareportshighlightingthesafetyandsecurityofolderadultsintheirhomesandcommunitiestheNWTSeniorsSocietywouldliketotakethisopportunitytooffersomesupportonthisissue.Oftentheperpetratorsininstancesoffamilyabuseandviolenceisafamilyandorcommunitymemberwhoseeksopportunitiestotakeadvantageoftrustingandvulnerableolderadults.Thisrealityistrulydisconcertingandleavesusfeelingdismayedatthelackofsolutionsfortheseincidents.Werecognizethatthejusticesystemdoesplayasignificantroleinsomecases.Investigationsmaytakeplaceandcriminalchargesmaybelaidallinduecourse.Howeverformanyotherinstancesthereisnojudicialaction.HealthissuespersonalandfinancialsecurityolderadultabuseamongothersarepertinentissuesforolderadultsintheNWT.ThelackofsupportandimmediateresourcestorespondtotheseconcernsisdeeplyfrustratingforseniorsaswellasfororganizationssuchastheNWTSeniorsSociety.Thispredicamentisexemplifiedinthenewsstoryregardingoneolderadultinasmallcommunitywhoisexperiencingabusefromcommunityandfamilymembers.Otherfamilymembershavesoughthelpandprotectionthroughthejusticesystemandsocialservicesbuttheseavenueshaveproventobeineffective.SowhatistheanswerTheanswerisforeveryonetotaketheresponsibilitytokeepourcommunitiessafe.Wearepromotinganetworkofpeoplewhocareforoneanotheranetworkthatistheeyesandearsofthecommunity.Thisgroupwillensureallcommunitymembersaresafechildrenyoungadultsvulnerableindividualspeoplewithdisabilitiesandolderadults.Aswehavewitnessedintheserecentnewsstorieswecannotentirelydependonthecriminaljusticeandorsocialservicesystems.Insteadwecanworkalongsidetheseconventionalresponseswithanetworkofcaringcommunitymemberstopreventtheabuseofolderadults.IfyouwouldliketoconnectwiththeNWTNetworkthatpromotesthewellbeingsafetyandsecurityofolderadultscontactNWTSeniorsSocietyattheirtollfreenumber1-800-661-0878orseniorsyk.com.Wehave30yearsofexperiencelearnhowtoputthatexperienceintoactiontomakeabetterNWT.LeonPetersonPresidentNWTSeniorsSocietyInlastweeksarticleIndigenousmediacomplainofbeingleftoutofHarpervisititwasincorrectlystatedthatCBCRadio-OneaskedaquestionwhenitshouldhavestatedRadio-Canada.TheJournalapolo-gizesforthiserror.CORRECTIONTHENORTHERNJOURNALSUnansweredQuestionoftheWeekTHETOPICTHEJOURNALSQUESTIONPosedtoChrisGerritsenTelusmediarelationsTHEANSWERTelusisofferingitswirelessservicesandproductsintheNWTandYukonstartingSept.6.DoesTelushaveplanstodevelopitsowninfrastructuresoitdoesnothavetorentBellsWearealreadyinvestingintheinfrastructurebecausewehavethatsharedagreement.NorthernJournal2013JoinusonlineLikeNorthernJournalonFacebookandgettheweeklynewsdeliveredtoyourfeedFACEBOOKFEEDBACKTecelebratedSouthSlaveFriendshipFestivalmayhavebeencancelledthisyearonwhatwouldhavebeenits25thanniversarybuttheannualsummermusicfestaisntonanypermanenttypeohiatusaccordingtoorganizers.FortSmithsFriendshipFestivaltomakecomebackToniHeronLovedtolistentoallthegoodolecountrymusicbyallthelocalartistsandthenwrappingitupwithGospelmusiconaSundaymorning.WilliteverbethesameagainToniHerontotallyagreeandquithidingallthegoodmusicinthebarsohwedonthavetoworryaboutthatanymore....lolDavidPoitrasItwillcomebackbiggerandbetter...aslongastheyneveragainbumpamu-sicianforbellydancers.PutbothonbutnotoneinplaceoftheotherLolTommyClarkeIwillbebackforthe25thifitisagotoseeFamilyandOldFriendsFightingelderabusetogether