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FirethreatworseningacrosssouthernNWTExtremelydryconditionsandmorerestartsmeanlittlerestforexhaustedcrewsthroughouttheNWTwithmoreresex-pectedthisweek.Seepage2.TransartistbringssoloshowtoNWTPrideTransgenderedperformerSunnyDrakeisbringinghisone-manshowtoYellowknifethisFridayforNWTPride.Seepage7.RamblinOnYellowkniferswandertoOldTownfortheannualRambleandRideartsfestival.Seepage11.BuilderchosenforbrelinkupMackenzieValleyTheGNWThasselectedtheproponenttodesignbuildandoperatethepromisedMack-enzieValleybre-opticcom-municationline.Seepage3.GraphicnovelsetinFortSmithsBorderTownAnewgraphicnovelbyRich-ardVanCampfeaturesanepicbattleoverasamuraiswordinFortSmithsinfamousBorderTown.Seepage6.Visitwww.norj.caAnationalawardwinningindependentnewspaperservingnorthernAlbertaandtheNorthwestTerritoriessince1977August52014Vol.38No.141.00ByMEAGANWOHLBERGStaffatCKLBRadioinYellowknifearehopingtheirsignoffpartyheldlastThurs-daywasmoreofaseeyoulaterthananalfarewelltolistenersacrosstheNorth.TheAboriginalradiosta-tionoperatedbytheNativeCommunicationsSocietyNCSoftheNWTofciallydroppedprogrammingfromitson-airpresencelastweekafterghtinganuphill-nancialbattlewiththefed-eralgovernmentoverthelastseveralmonths.Nowlistenersturningto101.9FMontheirdialsoronlinewillndareelofau-tomatedmusicandadsbuttheAboriginallanguagepro-grammingnewsandinter-viewsthatmadethestationthevoiceofDenendehwillbeabsent.Ourradiostationconnectsalotoftheremoteandisolatedcommunitiesandmakesthemfeelconnectedandapartofsomething.Whatwedoisre-allyimportantwegetalotofinformationoutthereandwetrytoallowthepeopletheop-portunitytohavetheairwavestotelltheirstoriesfromtheirperspectiveofwhatthingsarelikenotonlyaboutthingsnowbuthowthingswereinthepastespeciallywiththelanguagessaiddirectorofradioprogram-mingDenezeNakheko.Thatswhathassustainedtheindigenouspeopleupheresinceforevertheoraltradi-tionandpassingonstoriesandinformation.Theresanintimacywiththattoactu-allyseesomeoneandlookthemintheeyesandshareimportantinformation.Wemightnotbeabletodothatfacetofacebutwereabletotrytorecreatethatintimacyovertheradioandsharethesestoriesthathavebroughtustowherewearetodayhesaid.Itsgoingtobealittlebitdifcultforpeopletodothatnow.Thestationheldasign-ingoffpartyThursdayaf-ternooninvitingthepubliclocalmusiciansandleaderstocomebyorcallinandcelebrateCKLBonaironelasttime.Layoffsatthestationbeganseveralweeksago.With11nowgonethestaffconsistsofaskeletoncrewofaboutfourorvepeopleNakehkosaidandtheatmosphereatthestationisgloomy.Itsprettysomberaroundtheofcehesaid.Usuallyitsprettylivelyandtheresalotofhustleandbustlegoingonsomelaughteranditslikeanewsroomwithalotofactivitygoingonandpeopleonthephonespeoplevisit-ing.Butthathasdiminishedalot.Wehavesomepeopleonstaffjustgoingthroughthemotionsbasicallyuntiltheygetlaidoff.NakehkosaidCKLBwillbeusingitstimeoffairtohope-fullyresetitsrelationshipwiththefederalgovernment.For30yearsthestationhadre-ceivedannualcontributionsof680000fromCanadianHeritageaspartoftheNa-tionalAboriginalBroadcastProgrambuthasnotreceivedpaymentfromthedepartmentsinceJanuary.PreviouslythestationwasforcedtocloseitsdoorsforaweekoverChristmasin2012duetosimilarnancialshort-agesafterdelaysinreceivingfederalfunding.SeeLayoffsonpage3.CKLBRadiosignsoffwithfarewellpartyPhotoPaulBannisterAgroupofraftersbracesforthebigwaveatMountainPortagerapidsduringtheseventhannualSlaveRiverPaddlefestheldovertheweekendoutsideofFortSmith.Hundredswandereddowntotherivertoplayinthewaterunderthe30degreetemperaturesFridaytoSunday.Seepages8-10formore.