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Alberta buys big with renewable energy stake AimCo Albertas Crown fund manager bought a 200-million stake in a renewable energy giant last week. See page 3. Northern climate research to be featured at COP21 Canadian filmmaker Mark Terry who has been creating documentaries about climate science since 2009 has a new trick up his sleeve. See page 15. HOLIDAY SHOPPING IS HERE The tea bake sale and bazaar circuit has begun. See page 11. Are the days of the Athabasca Delta school numbered The Misikew Cree First Na- tion has served notice it in- tends to build its own school with language immersion in Fort Chipewyan. See page 14. Ho ho ho Mahsi Cho Duncan MacPhersons legacy lives on with Fort Smiths Santa sleigh and its iconic Muffaloose. See page 10. V IS IT W W W .N O R J.C A A national award winning independent newspaper serving northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories since 1977 1.00 December 2 2015 Vol. 39 No. 31 By DALI CARMICHAEL On Nov. 24 the federal govern- ment revealed its plan to accept 25000 refugees from Syria over the next three months. As many as 3000 will be placed in Alberta. The following day Minister of Jobs Skills Training and Labour Lori Sigurdson Deputy Minister AndreCorbouldandHealthMinister SarahHoffmanEducationMinister David Eggen laid out what this in- take would look like in the province. Twelve ministries have come to- gethertoensureourprovinceisprop- erly prepared to step up and support children women and men fleeing their homes because of violence and strife Sigurdson said. Yesterday the federal government announced its plan to welcome 25000 refugees from Syria here by the end of Febru- ary. Were very pleased to be here to hear the process has been slowed down to ensure the re-settlement of these vulnerable people is done in a well-coordinated manner. Inadditiontothe250000funding originallycommittedbytheprovince the government has designated an- other 1 million through the Alberta RefugeeResettlementGrantInitiative. Five communities have been pre- pared to take in those refugees Ed- monton Calgary Red Deer Medi- cine Hat and Lethbridge. Throughoutthelastseveralmonths housing medical employment and educationneedshavebeenconsidered astheprovincepreparesfortheinux ofrefugeessettoenterthecountryat the end of February 2016. Health Minister Sarah Hoffman indicated that while many refugees entering Alberta will likely be spon- soredprivatelytheprovinceisprepar- ing services including housing for at least2100publically-sponsoredpeople. Later this week Minister of Jobs SkillsTrainingandLabourLoriSig- urdsonwillbemeetingwithfederal immigration minister John McCal- lumandhercounterpartsfromacross the country to determine how much fundingthefederalgovernmentwill be providing for this transition. Looking North of 60 Thetransitioningterritorialgovern- mentintheNorthwestTerritoriesmay notbeinapositiontoaidrefugeesjust yethowevercommunitygroupshave stepped up and are working on their owninitiativestoaiddisplacedSyrians. In the capital folks at the Calvary Community Church are in talks about sponsoring refugees. The main decision is how many weregoingtobringinwhetherwere going to bring in a single person as our rst kick at this cat or whether were going to bring in somebody with a child said spokesperson Jason Knight. We do have a lot of support thats been pledged. Another group Yellowknifers Supporting Syrian Refugees is tak- ing advantage of a federal govern- ment program matching dollar for dollar funds raised towards aiding Syrian refugees. Thats the route that our group took initially because of the election we werent sure what was going to happen in terms of bringing refu- gees to Canada and certainly we have been looking at what it would take to sponsor somebody said or- ganizer Lindsay Dufarmer. On Dec. 5 the grassroots group is hosting a Syrian meal and si- lent auction fundraiser at Sir John Franklin High School. They are also accepting donations before the dinner as of press time 800 had been raised. Previously the group has also hostedwebinarsessionsoftheRefu- gee Sponsorship Training Program providing a resource for individuals interested in supporting refugees. InHayRiverstirringsofactionhave startedtotakeplacethoughanymajor fundraisersorsponsorshipeffortlikely wont happen until the new year. There are a lot of people who are interested as well theyve messaged me and said hey count me in said Georgine Stark a prospective volun- teer. She began looking into ways to raise funds and sponsor refugees be- foretheelongatedelectionseasonhit. Stark was surprised to also re- ceive some vitriol as she investi- gated her options. Ivegottenquiteabitofackfrom people she said. Its probably just one or two per cent that are really negative but theyre very vocal and they post all kinds of stuff on Face- book thats where I get it from. So far the territory has also do- nated25000totheUnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees. For more information on Yellow- knifers Supporting Syrian refugees head to httpswww.facebook.com groups1656810787870997frefts. Alberta NWT prepare for Syrian refugees Biathlon season kicked off in the South Slave with the rst Polar Cup of the year last weekend. Biathletes from Hay River and Yellowknife including senior shooter Michaela Crook descended on Fort Smith Nov. 28-19. For more pictures and results head to pages 8-9. PhotoDaliCarmichael 2 Wednesday December 2 2015 JUSTICE HOMICIDE NEWS BRIEFS McMurray Mtis manager joins McKennas environment staff McMurrayMtisgeneralmanagerKyleHarriethahasbeen appointed director of parliamentary affairs to Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna in Ottawa. McMurray Mtis will announce its new general manager in January. Harrietha who ran for the Liberals in Fort McMurray-Cold Lake will be responsible for sup- portingtheministerinimplementinglegislativemandates whilesheinformsParliamentonpoliciesanddirections. I will truly miss living in Fort McMurray an amazing com- munity with amazing people that has become my home over the past eight years he said in a note to Fort McMur- rayLiberals.Itwillbeabusytimeimplementingtheman- date for real change outlined by Prime Minister Trudeau and I look forward to working with the ministers team. Blasting starts at new Stanton site Christmas in Yellowknife is going to be a blast. Blasting at the site of the new Stanton Territorial Hospital will start on Nov.30andcontinuefor14weeksaccordingtotheGNWT. Residents will hear up to 20 blasts between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. every day of the week except Wednesday and Sunday. There will be blasting on Dec. 2. Flaggers will be stationed on all roadways passing within 100 feet of the blast area to stop all trafc during blasting operations for a minute or less. Parking on Byrne Road will also be prohibited begin- ningNov.30.VehiclesparkedonByrneRoadwillbeticketed and towed. For more information on the Stanton Renewal Project visit www.stantonrenewal.ca. Arrest in gas station hold-up One person has been arrested after an Esso gas station in Yellowknife was robbed at knifepoint at about 345 a.m. Nov. 25. A lone male suspect allegedly stole 70 but police arrested him less than 24 hours later. Charges are pending. Ann Lepine s Annual Children s Christmas Party Saturday December 5 from 100PM 300PM in the Fort Smith Rec. Centre Gym. This is a party for children ages infant to 10 years old who do not belong to the Mtis Nation Salt River First Nation or Smith Landing First Nation. Bring your camera as you will be able to take pictures with Santa No registration needed. Ann LepineAnn Lepine Please leave a message at 872-5543 for details. WESCLEAN NORTHERN SALES LTD. Ph 867 875-5100 Fax 867 875-5155 Avalon Cat Hair - long Size - medium Gender - female Avalon is a very loving and beautiful cat. She is spayed and is up-to-date with all her shots.If you think you have a home for a Avalon please call the shelter at 872-5543. Please leave a message at 872-5543 for details. WESCLEAN NORTHERN SALES LTD. Ph 867 875-5100 Fax 867 875-5155 E-mail infowescleannwt.com web www.wescleannwt.com Avalon Cat Hair - long Size - medium Gender - female Avalon is a very loving and beautiful cat. She is spayed and is up-to-date with all her shots.If you think you have a home for a Avalon please call the shelter at 872-5543. Please leave a message at 872-5543 for details. WESCLEAN NORTHERN SALES LTD. Ph 867 875-5100 Fax 867 875-5155 E-mail infowescleannwt.com web www.wescleannwt.com Avalon Cat Hair - long Size - medium Gender - female Avalon is a very loving and beautiful cat. She is spayed and is up-to-date with all her shots.If you think you have a home for a Avalon please call the shelter at 872-5543. SpayedNeutered Up-to-datewithroutineshots House trained KitkatMaleAdult Brown tabby Looking for a new home Kitkat is soft and friendly and needs a new home. So give him a break for goodness sake. Please stop by and make Kitkat your new pet. By CRAIG GILBERT Nationalhomicide ratesre- leased by Statistics Canada last week included unprece- dented clarity on data from the Aboriginal population. Forthersttimethehomi- cide statistics sourced from Canadian police services have complete information on the Aboriginal identity of victims and people accused of homicide. As well police- reported data on the Aborigi- nal identity of female homi- cide victims is now available from 1980 to 2013. Information from 2014 showed Aboriginal people accounted for 23 per cent of homicide victims in 2014 117 of 516 despite represent- ing less than ve per cent of the population. They repre- sented about one-third of the 431 people accused of homi- cide as well. Aboriginal people were killed at a rate six times that of the general population or 7.2 per 100000 people compared to 1.13 victims per 100000non-Aboriginalpeo- ple. Aboriginal males were seventimesmorelikelytobea Aboriginal men most likely homicide targets in Canada victim of homicide than non- Aboriginal males and three times more likely to be killed thanAboriginalfemales.That saidAboriginalfemaleswere still six times more likely to fall victim to homicide than non-Aboriginalwomenkilled at a rate of 3.64 per 100000 in 2014. The data is consistent with research conducted by Dr. Adam Jones proled in the Journal last week. Jones ad- vocates for a gender-inclusive inquiryintomissingandmur- deredindigenouspeoplemen and women because StatCan data shows more than twice asmanyindigenousmenhave been killed or reported miss- ing than women since 1980. The homicide rate for Ab- original people was high- est in Manitoba 13.29 per 100000 which had the highest overall murder rate in Canada in 2014 despite a 15 per cent drop from 2013 3.43 per 100000 in Al- berta 11.55 per 100000 and in all three territories. This marks the eighth year in a row Manitoba has held that dubious distinction. Ab- originalpeoplewerealsomost overrepresented among ho- micide victims in Manitoba. In other words Manitoba featured the biggest differ- ence between the homicide rate among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people Ab- original people were killed at a rate nine times that of non- Aboriginals. Following Mani- toba were Nova Scotia On- tario and Alberta where the rates were six times higher and Saskatchewan where the rate was ve times higher. The lowest homicide rates forAboriginalpeoplewerere- ported by Quebec 2.24 and Nova Scotia 2.56. From 1980 to 2014 police services across Canada re- ported 6849 homicides in- volving female victims. For that same period Aborigi- nal female victims accounted for 16 per cent 1073 of all female victims of homicide. Since1991howeverthenum- ber of non-Aboriginal female homicide victims has been shrinking driving the pro- portion of Aboriginal female homicide victims up from 14 per cent in that year to 21 per cent in 2014. Overall Alberta saw the largestincreaseinthenumber of homicides with 22 more than in 2013. In the NWT there were four homicides in 2014 up one from 2013 ac- cording to the RCMP there have been ve homicides so far in 2015 including that of May Elanik found outdoors in Aklavik Nov. 11. Most Aboriginal homicides solved In 2014 a higher propor- tion of homicides of Aborigi- nalvictimsweresolvedbypo- lice compared with non-Ab- original victims 85 per cent compared to 71 per cent. As with non-Aboriginal victims the majority of solved Aborig- inal homicides were perpe- trated by someone known to them 81 per cent and 87 per cent respectively according to Statistics Canada. Spousalhomicidewasmore common among non-Aborig- inalfemalevictimsthantheir Aboriginalcounterparts.While 45percentofnon-Aboriginal female victims were killed by a current or previous spouse including common-law the same was true for one-third of Aboriginal female victims. The incidence of homicide byotherfamilymemberswas morecommonamongAborigi- nal female victims compared with non-Aboriginal victims. Acquaintance homicide was more common among non- Aboriginalfemalevictimsthan Aboriginalfemalevictims14 per cent versus 8 per cent while stranger homicide was similar between the two ve percentversusfourpercent. The extent of spousal ho- micide for Aboriginal male victims was higher than for non-Aboriginal male victims 9 per cent versus 1 per cent. Unfortunately not surprising The numbers were not sur- prisingtotheCongressofAb- originalPeoplesformerlythe Native Council of Canada. We urge the federal gov- ernment to work together with indigenous peoples to get to the root cause of this violence National Chief Dwight Dorey said. We need to address the inequalities facing our people includ- ing affordable housing un- employment and the lack of access to quality education. By addressing these needs we will be able to move for- ward and achieve our vision of violence-free Indigenous homes and communities. He said the sobering sta- tistics were further proof a national inquiry is required. We need to work towards a future Canada where all In- digenous people feel safe and are treated with respect and honour. We urge the federal government to work together with indigenous peoples to get to the root cause of this violence. Dwight Dorey Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Wednesday December 2 2015 3 INDUSTRY GREEN ENERGY SANTA CLAUS AND TWO ELF HELPERS will be arriving at the Fort Smith airport on Friday Dec. 11 and will stay at the Terminal Building from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to visit with the young and young at heart. ALL ARE WELCOME TO COME OUT to make sure your Christmas Wish List gets through to the elf in charge NorthwesternAirLeaseChristmas schedule information can be found online at www.nwal.ca or by phone toll free at 1-877-872-2216. Santa ClausSanta Claus is flying to townis flying to town 1-877-872-2216 HOURS OF OPERATION MondayThursday 730AM1100PM Friday 730AM12 Midnight Saturday 800AM12 Midnight Sunday 800AM1100PM OPEN ALL HOLIDAYS 900AM1100PM NEW MOVIE RELEASES EVERY TUESDAY RapidCorner Store COME IN AND CHECK US OUT By CRAIG GILBERT Days after the government announced sweeping climate change policy reforms its arms-length fund manager bet big on green. The Alberta Investment Management Corporation AIMCo announced Nov. 23 it had purchased an eight per cent stake in TransAlta Renewables an Alberta-based clean power generation company for 200 million. The transaction making the crown cor- poration the second-largest shareholder in TransAlta Renewables closed Nov. 26. AIMCo is one of Canadas largest and most diversied institutional investment man- agers with more than 85 billion of assets under management. AIMCos investment in TransAlta Renew- ables provides its clients an opportunity to participate in an attractive internation- ally-diversified portfolio of contracted high quality clean power generation assets with a long asset life and a favorable riskreturn profile a press release read. The Trans- Alta Renewables assets are an excellent complement to AIMCos existing 4 bil- lion of investments in utilities energy and power and transportation according to CEO Kevin Uebelein. AIMCo is very pleased to become an im- portant investor in TransAlta Renewables he said. TransAlta has set forth a bold transition plan that will see it become one of North Americas preeminent clean power companies and TransAlta Renewables is an important part of that strategy. AIMCo is looking forward to a strong working relation- ship with TransAlta Renewables. He said the company is also pleased to be adding to the 8 billion it has invested in Al- berta. That represents about nine per cent of AIMCos assets under management. AIMCo has gained recognition globally as a major infrastructure investor senior vice president Ben Hawkins said. This investment in TransAlta Renewables pro- vides an attractive addition of a large di- versified portfolio of infrastructure assets with stable long-term contracted cash flows for our clients. TransAlta Renewables owns 16 wind and 12 hydroelectric power generation facilities and holds economic interests in TransAltas Wyoming Wind Farm and Australian assets AIMCo bets on green with stake in renewables giant which has a total installed generating capac- ity of 1856 MW. TransAlta Renewables power generating capacity is among the largest of any pub- licly-traded renewable independent power producer IPP in Canada with more wind power generating capacity than any other Canadian publicly-traded IPP. Also on Nov. 23 TransAlta Corp. the parent company of TransAlta Renewables announced it had invested 540 million in interests in renewable energy projects in Ontario and Quebec namely TransAltas Sarnia Cogeneration Plant Le Nordais wind farm and Ragged Chute hydro facil- ity consisting of about 611 MW of highly- contracted power generation assets located in those provinces. TransAlta Renewables will continue to be a key part of our strategy to strengthen our balance sheet improve our liquidity and position TransAlta and TransAlta Re- newables for future growth opportunities TransAlta Corp. president and CEO Dawn Farrell said. With the proceeds from the transactions announced today together with the Australian transaction that was com- pleted in May of this year we will achieve our debt reduction target for the year by generating cash proceeds of approximately 575 million. Farrell said the company is pleased to have AIMCo a high performance invest- ment manager with global experience join us as a signicant investor in TransAlta Renewables. AIMCo purchased an eight-per-cent stake in energy giant TransAlta Renewables Nov. 26. PhotocourtesyofGovernmentofAlberta In Loving Memory Karen Price 73 passed away peacefully on Wednesday November 11 2015 in Fort Smith NT. Karen is survived by her loving husband Frank daughter Dianna Shane sons Darrell Muriel and Darrin Darrell grandchildren Deborah Mitch Dwayne Theoron Martina and Ashlynn and great-grandchildren Wynter Caleb Maddison andKeenan.KarenispredeceasedbyhersonDavid parents Mel and Thelma and sister Phyllis. Karen will be deeply missed by all who knew her. The family would like to thank all the staff at the Fort Smith Health Center and the Cross Cancer Hospital in Edmonton. Your caring and support was immeasurable. Thank you to everyone who sent their thoughts and prayers and to all who brought flowers food and friendship before and after Karens passing. A service will be held in the spring of 2016. 4 Wednesday December 2 2015 The Northern Journal is an independent newspaper covering news and events in the western Arctic and northern Alberta. The Northern Journal is published weekly by Cascade Publishing Ltd. Printed at Star Press Inc. Wainwright AB. Publisher................................................................................. Don Jaque 867-872-3000 ext.21 donnorj.ca Editor..................................................................................... Craig Gilbert 867-872-3000 ext.24 newsnorj.ca Reporter....................................................................... Dali Carmichael 867-872-3000 ext.25 reporternorj.ca Comptroller .......................................................Jessica Dell 867-872-3000 ext.20 webnorj.ca Advertising........................................................................... 867-872-3000 ext.26 adsnorj.ca Administration............................................Jeremy Turcotte 867-872-3000 ext.26 adminnorj.ca Production Manager ......................................Sandra Jaque 867-872-3000 ext.22 sandranorj.ca Graphics........................................................Paul Bannister 867-872-3000 ext.27 graphicsnorj.ca Letters to the Editor Policy The Northern Journal welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and include a phone number so the author can be veried. Names will be withheld on request in special circumstances where the reasons are determined to be valid. The Journal reserves the right to edit letters for length libel clarity and taste. Opinions expressed in letters and columns are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor. EDITORIAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR 2013 CCNA BLUE RIBBON CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013 C M C A AUDITED Advertising Deadlines Display ad deadline is Thursday at 400 p.m. Classied ad deadline is Thursday at 500 p.m. Email adsnorj.ca Subscription Rates Prices include GST. 47.25 in Fort Smith 52.50 elsewhere in Canada 105 in the USA overseas 164.30. The Northern Journal acknowledges the nancial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund CPF for our publishing activities. What one drunk may cost you Advice on creating a safer holiday party Dear Editor This is always a fun time of year with plenty of food friends and often open bars provided by friends and employers. That was certainly the case a few years back when a woman be- came drunk at her ofce Christmas party drove home in a storm and was involved in a horric crash that rendered her brain-injured and totally disabled. Her name was Linda and she worked at a real estate brokerage in Bar- rie. Chances are you have heard of the case because it attracted national media coverage. Many people found it hard to believe that a drunk driver could sue her employer for becoming drunk at an ofce party and then injuring herself in a car crash. Whatwasmissingfromthecoveragewasthe factthatLindawasareceptionistandwaswork- ingduringtheofcepartywhichstartedinthe afternoon.Herbossallowedworkerstoconsume alcoholintheworkplacewithoutanycontrolor oversight.Theyhadacasualself-serveopenbar scenario. Other employees noticed Linda had too much to drink before she left in her vehicle yet her boss thought she seemed ne. ThejudgeultimatelyfoundinLindasfavour. However he also found that she was 75 per cent responsible for her own actions. In other words she would only recover 25 per cent of her damages as determined by the trial judge. The case settled after the Court of Appeal or- dered a new trial on the basis that the Judge erred in discharging the jury from the case. The case highlighted the legal responsi- bility that an employer has a duty to keep employees safe in the workplace. Once an employer introduces alcohol into the work- place they assume a legal responsibility to ensure that employees do not drive home impaired and injure themselves or injure someone else. This same legal responsibil- ity extends to parties hosted at home with family and friends. How to make ofce and home parties safer Ofce and house parties should be held in a safe environment especially if there is an open bar. If its a work party hire profes- sional staff to serve alcohol and hold your party at a place that is in the business of hosting parties. If you offer an open bar at a holiday party take the extra step and pro- vide free taxi travel to everyone. This has be- come easier and more affordable with taxi services such as Uber. There is no reason to drink and drive especially if everyone has free access to a taxi ride home. Drinking and driving is a persistent social problem that peaks during the holiday period. Employersandprivatesocialpartyhostsmust do their part in protecting their employees friends family and the public if they are going to introduce alcohol into a social gathering. Robert Durante is a partner at Oatley Vig- mond personal injury law rm in Ontario. Change with substance is rarely easy or fast. Until 1905 when Alberta and Saskatch- ewan were created the Northwest Territories was vast stretching from the Yukon to the Atlantic. It was governed by an elected coun- cil - the denition of responsible government. That year however the Commissioners ofce was created and lled by a southern govern- ment administrator. By 1921 the genesis of the NWT Legislative Assembly we are familiar with a four-member board of southern ap- pointees had joined the Commissioner. Over the following decades the board gradually grew in number and improved its Northern representation. The rst Northern represen- tative joined in 1947 by 1966 southerners were outnumbered. It took three-quarters of a century of lead- ership appointed and imposed by Ottawa for Northerners to gain the right to vote. It need not take that long to reforge consensus government which is to the NWT as health- care is to Canada helping dene and colour a unique identity as frontier-dwellers into something more responsive. Consensus for change NWT residents are governed by the consti- tution of Canada and the Charter of Rights but the authority and structure of govern- ment are laid out in the NWT Act Canada and the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act NWT. There has never been a discussion with the people involved on how NWT elections should take place. By the time this issue of the Northern Jour- nal hits the streets judicial recounts in three ridings will be complete and all 19 MLAs will ofcially be considered elected. The next step in what is being touted as a more open and more transparent transition process is the selection of the premier and cabinet minis- ters. Elected MLAs are already jockeying for position and sharing with each other - but no one else - who they think should form the next cabinet. Consensus government can be incredibly effective as long as the members believe in and apply its principles and tenets which is essentially about working together collabo- ration nding common ground and working with that one Yellowknife MLA told the Journal last week. Things do have to evolve. Weve done things a certain way for a number of years. It cant hurt to try something else. Asked whether he would let his name stand for premier another MLA-elect dodged the question but offered insight into the kind of person who should. The Northwest Territories is a very di- verse part of Canada and its important we have a premier who understands that diver- sity and can represent the entire NWT and priorities and needs of all Northerners ad- equately he said. Thats what Im looking for in a premier also one that respects the choice my constituents have made by elect- ing me and my platform and will work with me to implement my platform as an agenda of the government. He observed that NWT voters are not com- fortable with how the government is chosen andthatotheroptionsshouldbeexploredwith an eye to regaining condence among voters that the assembly is accountable. No one is well served by a secret process. Going through a month-long election cam- paign in the public eye then moving the selec- tion of the executive council to a backroom is like having the nish of the Kentucky Derby in a tunnel with horses and jockeys hidden from view then asking all those betters in the stands to trust the results they are given. In the process to select a premier each candidate can make a 20-minute speech to the Assembly followed by a question-and- answer period. Each MLA is entitled to ask candidates up to three questions. That exer- cise is open to the public and broadcast on television but that is the extent of citizen involvement a virtual one-way street. After the premier is selected members of the Ex- ecutive Council are appointed by the Legis- lative Assembly. Some members of the last assembly mused that throwing back the curtain and exposing who each MLA supports for cabinet speaker or premier could cause grudges and friction inhibiting the assembly from operating ef- ciently once the dust has settled. Here is a suggestion What if the premier and cabinet were elected by the people in a second public ballot Why not remove the tunnel from the racetrack and trust the elec- torate to select who will be in power for four years a feat that anywhere else in Canada with the exception of Nunavut takes a ma- jority government win. Maybe the process is already optimized but the discussion is worth having and any discussion worth having is worth having with the body politic involved. Northerners should have their say - a conference on gov- ernance is long overdue. Moving the selection of the executive council to a backroom is like having the nish of the Kentucky Derby in a tunnel Alberta MLA Manmeet Bhullar was killed on the QE II on Nov. 23. The former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister had left his car to help another motorist when a semi lost control and struck him. He was 35. PhotocourtesyofWikimediaCommons Wednesday December 2 2015 5 COLUMNS 15 Years Ago... Education funding for volunteer groups Non-prot organizations looking to train their staff and volunteers are getting nancial support from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. MACA and Aurora College have teamed up to create a tuition subsidy program under which northern volun- teer organizations can apply to have MACA pay for 50 per cent of the cost of tuition for Continuing Education courses offered at the college. Issue November 28 2000 20 Years Ago... SRFN begins land selection for reserve The Town of Fort Smith the federal government and Salt River First Nation have formed a joint working group to begin the bands Treaty Entitlement land selec- tion process for potential reserve lands in and around Fort Smith. Preliminary meetings have been going on for over three months but last weeks press release is the rst on the issue. Issue November 28 1995 30 Years Ago... Charges near over Fort Res sawmill Police are close to pressing charges in the investiga- tion of embezzlement of over 100000 from the Slave River sawmill in Fort Resolution. This week members of the RCMP commercial crimes division made their second visit to Fort Resolution investigating the case staying several days to sift through the evidence. Issue November 28 1985 ARCHIVES Northern Journal 2015 Join us online Like Northern Journal on Facebook and get the weekly news delivered to your feed FACEBOOK FEEDBACK Aboriginal people continue to be murdered at a rate several times above the national average in Canada with men three times more likely to fall victim to ho- micide than women according to Statistics Canada. Aboriginal men most likely targets of homicide in Canada Karen Silverthorn Because people be- lieve Native Lives Do Not Matter. That Law enforcements push the investiga- tions onto the back burners and drag their feet on homicides of First Nations People. The perception of First Nation People needs to change. They are not all homeless alcoholics and drug addicts or prostitutes. Voter list woes return in Yellowknife Nancy Vail Their operating hours were pretty whacky too By DAWN KOSTELNIK Twas the night before Christmas and all through the houses not a creature was stirring not even the mouses lemmings. All the people of Cop- permine were dressed in their nest with care itigis parkas and kamiks home- made skin and leather shoes and clean underwear. Round-faced babies sing Jingle Bells with gaps in their teeth Old James the Shaman White Girl The Night Before Christmas snores in a warm corner his dog tucked underneath. A roar of engines signals that Santa is near. This spe- cial delivery requires more than just reindeer. The moon on the crest of hardpackedsnowilluminates his landing path so far below. Twin props swirl up snow crystals and with a roar and a rush Santas silver rocket quiets down to a hush. A side door pops open with the click of some gears and what to our wondering eyes should appear but Santa the pilotandhisco-pilotRudolph the Red-Nosed-Rein-Deer. Hey Johnny K you and your crew pull up the sleighs and rev that skidoo Get this crate unloaded for I have far to go and I am seriously looking forward to heading south where there is no snow and they have never once experienced 40 below All year long the commu- nity hall rents reels of mov- ies that are own in once a weekfromYellowknifeNWT. Volunteers set up the metal and wood on chairs for the show on Wednesdays and again for the kids on Satur- days. We take turns selling drumsticks and ice cream sandwiches for twenty-ve cents each admission to the movie is ten cents. The ten- centadmissionmeansthatev- eryone gets to go. This money is saved all year long and goes toward a special treat for the whole town. My dad and several men are down on the sea ice as the plane arrives. They will pick up the surprise and bring it up to the hall. The DC3 pilot tells my dad that he will never do that again how will I ever get that smell out of my plane Merry Christmas Merry Christmas thank you very much Everyone shakes handsandwisheshimwellon his return trip back to Yellow- knife and his family. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family To be continued www.thewhitegirl.ca By KIM INGLIS Canadians are a philan- thropic bunch. According to the 2015 BMO Charita- ble Giving Survey 80 per cent of Canadians plan to make a charitable donation in the next 12 months av- eraging an annual total of 694. While the percent- age of people planning to donate is down ten percent- age points from last year it is in line with the four year average of 81 per cent dat- ing back to 2012. Canadians are especially generous around the holi- days. According to the na- tionalcharitableorganization Imagine Canada donations are expected to total approx- imately 5 billion between now and the end of the year. Cash donations are still the most popular way of giving but both charity and donor can benet from more tax efcient ways of achieving their philanthropic goals. Gifting publicly listed securities such as stocks bonds and mutual funds to registered charities is one such way. A donor who sells the shares of appre- ciated securities and do- nates the cash is taxed on capital gains. However if the shares are donated di- rectly the charity issues a tax receipt based on the fair market value of the se- curities. The charity gets the full value of the shares and the donor gets a full value tax credit without the imposition of capital gains taxes. RSPs can also be used for philanthropic purposes by having the donor name a charity as beneficiary of their registered plan. On death the balance of the plan transfers directly to the charity and the estate receives a tax credit for the value on disposition. This can offset taxes on final income and effectively by- pass probate fees. Flexibil- ity is another advantage be- cause the donor can change the beneficiary if circum- stances change. Insurance can be used in a similar fashion by trans- ferring the ownership of the life insurance policy and naming the charity as beneficiary. When the donor passes the charity receives the policys cash surrender value plus any net accumulated dividends and interest. The resulting tax credit can be applied to a final tax return. Also any additional premiums paid to the insurance company by the donor are considered a charitable donation and are thus eligible for further tax credits. Donor Advised Fund funds set up endowments wherein the donor makes an irrevocable contribution of cash and other assets which are invested to maximize the worth of the donation and increase its value. In- vestors can set grant rec- ommendations and choose which registered charities receive donations. In return they are provided with an immediate tax benefit and they have a continuing phil- anthropic legacy. Those wishing to donate to a charity but still needing income can use a Charitable Remainder Trust. Assets such as income-producing real estate are transferred into a trust and the donor gets an immediate tax ben- efit. The donor receives life- time income and the char- ity receives the assets when the donor dies. Kim Inglis CIM PFP FCSI AIFP is an Invest- ment Advisor Portfolio Manager with Canaccord Genuity Wealth Manage- ment a division of Canac- cord Genuity Corp. Maximize your giving this holiday season 6 Wednesday December 2 2015 POLITICS TERRITORIAL ELECTION Thank you Thebacha Authorized by Patti Haaima Official agent for Louis Sebert. 867-872-0908 My sincere thanks to the voters of Thebacha for your support. I look forward to working with the community for the next four years. Louis Sebert MLA Thebacha Louis Sebert By CRAIG GILBERT The first time Glen Abernethy told Elec- tions NWT there were ghosts - lots of them - on the list of registered electors in Yellow- knifes Great Slave riding the fuzz was still on his political antlers. In the leadup to last Mondays territorial election he walked the streets of the capi- tals east side a two-term incumbent MLA with eight years in the legislature the man tapped to oversee health and social services during the last assembly. He told the Journal on Thursday noth- ing had changed. Im not convinced the voter lists were even remotely accurate he said via tele- phone. This was a concern I raised when I ran in 2007. Id found people who had passed away on the list they had passed away years before. In 2011 I got the voters list and I found people I had identified as deceased in 2007 were still on the list. Abernethy admits the population in Yel- lowknife can be challenging to keep track of with people finding what they can get when they move into town then moving into something better or buying a condo but he does not cut Elections NWT any slack. Ive got units in this riding where I opened up the voters list went to the house and looked at the list and there were apparently 12 people living in this apartment he said. When I knocked on the door none of the 12 people lived there. When you walk into an apartment where they say there are 12 voters and there are none that hurts the credibility pretty fast. Abernethy said he plans to bring his con- cerns to Elections NWT for a third straight time at a public de-briefing typically held after a vote. Weve raised this concern over and over again. When MLAs were reviewing the re- port from Elections NWT in 2011 we said you have to enumerate prior to the election you have to do it because the lists are pathetic he said audibly banging a table for emphasis. Theyre awful. You have to find a way to remove people. You add peo- ple all the time but you dont seem to ever remove people. Im going to push for an enumeration before the next election. Im not trying to say the turnout wasnt down but Im not sure it was down as much as theyre reporting. The disappearing reappearing list At first blush Kieron Testarts 280-202 vote victory over incumbent cabinet min- ister David Ramsay in Kam Lake appeared to coexist with the most anemic turnout in the NWT on Nov. 23 just 25 per cent. After conferring with his team though Testart who helped run NWT MP Michael McLeods successful campaign said voter turnout would have been between 35 and 40 per cent if the list had been more accurate. Through door knocking and voter iden- tification efforts our campaign was able to eliminate more than 500 voters from the list of electors he said. Many voters had moved died werent permanent residents or were duplicated. Cory Vanthuyne who believes the recount in Yellowknife North will confirm his nar- row victory over fellow former city coun- cillor Dan Wong also told the Journal the voter list needs some attention. I have lived in the riding for a long time so I know a number of people who have lived in certain houses over the years he said. I obviously became very familiar with the voters list in the last 30 days and so there would be times when I could see a house I had known since it was built and I knew there had been say three different fami- lies in that house since it was built and all three families are still on the voters list. It certainly needs to be updated. Vanthuynes team took the errors into account and used a voter total about 200 to 300 names shorter than the official list to make their polling calculations. At the end of the day we were actually fairly accurate he said. Definitely NWT Elections now should take the time to go back through that voter list and make sure its as current as possible. Kevin OReilly who posted a narrow 15- vote victory over Jan Fullarton in Frame Lake guessed the list in his riding was off by as much as 20 per cent. I really think that we need to do an enu- meration have somebody go door-to-door to try to correct the list and bring it up to where it should be before the next elec- tion he said. I think we need to invest more money to make sure that we have a proper list. OReilly had another beef saying his son a student in British Columbia was unable to vote via absentee ballot because it never arrived in the mail. I had a couple of complaints about peo- ple who were going to be away from the riding from Yellowknife during the pe- riod where they could vote in the office of the returning officer from November the 11 to the 21 he said. So I think weve got to find other ways to encourage people to come out and vote and can make it easier for them to do so. Expensive enumerations eliminated elsewhere Elections NWT chief electoral officer Ni- cole Latour said the enumeration of elector lists a labour-intensive process has been phased out by virtually every other juris- diction in Canada. She told the Journal the organization has been using a perma- nent list since at least 2007 when she was a deputy chief electoral officer. Manitoba Saskatchewan and Prince Ed- ward Island are the last provinces to phase out an in-person enumeration to verify the list of voters. Elections Canada has not sent a pair of enumerators to a doorstep since 1997. They even skipped Alberta and P.E.I. that year because elections had recently been held and used the provincial lists in- stead to help build the National Register of Electors which they regularly update with data from provincial and territorial agencies plus the Canada Revenue Agency Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Canada Post. Elections Canada claims that through 2005 100 million in costs have been avoided at all levels of government by elim- inating duplication of efforts. The NWT list is compiled from several sources including Elections Canada the City of Yellowknife and GNWT depart- ments including Health and Social Services. Drivers license registrations are not used since Canadian citizenship is not required. We had our voter registration open for months and we advertised to encourage people to check themselves out on the list make sure theyre current and to update it if needed Latour said. All they had to do was have current ID when they go in or mix and match ID that we accept and go in and cast a ballot. Its a little bit up to the elector themselves to ensure the accuracy as well. We cant make assumptions. I think the list is in great shape. Latour added that she does not know what post-electionpublicforumAbernethyreferredto. I think the list in terms of how we man- age it would stand up to some of the claims that have been made against it Latour said. I feel pretty confident in it and I havent had one complaint about it. The list is current unless theyve died say in the last month or two. We use our best judgement in reviewing the list. We have a review period but were not free to just take anybody off the list and assume that they dont live here anymore. Even in the capital assigning residents to a polling division within a riding which requires a numbered street address for a ballot to be issued can be entertaining. Latour recalled the case of a houseboat occupant whose drivers license described their address as the red-and-blue house- boat on Yellowknife Bay. He got a ballot. We have communities that dont have street names and everything is general delivery. Trying to assign them to a polling division was fairly entertaining. We try to keep it as accurate as possible. Pesky voter list errors persist in Yellowknife ridings Filephoto Yellowknife MLAs say they found hundreds of extra names on voter lists. Wednesday December 2 2015 7 Fort Smith CONSTRUCTION NT Ltd. CONGRATULATIONS to Thebachas newly elected MLA LOU SEBERT on behalf of all those who supported you. By DALI CARMICHAEL Finally election season in the Northwest Territories is over. No more municipal territorial or federal votes to count - aside from several cases where a recount is needed. The ballot boxes have been stored away for another four years candidates have packed up their buttons and signs and Facebook pages calling for votes have been converted into permanent means of communication with the members-elect. So now what In a Ledge Talk speaker series event at the Legislative Assembly LA on Nov. 25 members of the GNWT held a presentation on Consensus Government in Transition The Next 100 Days explaining how the new government will hit the ground running. Tim Mercer LA clerk since 2003 and David Brock recently appointed as the deputy secretary to the Cabinet Priorities and Planning shared their experience with past transitions while outlining the upcom- ing agenda. When the 17th Assembly established a special committee of MLAs on gov- ernment transition one of the things that came out of that committee process was the need to communicate more fre- quently and more effectively with the public about how consensus government works Mercer said. In a party-based system like weve just seen at the federal The first 100 days back to school for new MLAs Parliament the parties articulate their priorities and their platforms before the election so when people go to vote theyre voting on what was committed to before the election. In our system that agreed- upon platform and priorities are set after the election so its important to hit the ground running because theres a lot to get done right up front even in terms of agreeing or priorities let alone starting to implement them. Brock described this as an inverted process. Months ahead of the election a special committee on transition matters - made up of MLAs and government staff - created a docu- ment called Passing The Mace intended to help guide the new and returning members as they settle into their roles. That report will very much serve as one of the sources of information to brief members of the legislative assembly and facilitate them in thinking about what they think should be the priorities for the 18th Assembly Brock said. This will be the first time that there has been some advice from the previous assembly for the next on both how priorities should be set as well as perhaps what those priorities might be. Again its entirely up to members of the 18th both in terms of process as well as the substance. For those who couldnt attend the Yellow- knife event the Northern Journal has a guide to what the newly-elected MLAs will be up to over the next three months. Important dates subject to change The document outlining the transition process proposes a series of milestones that the 18th assembly should hit and the dates they should be completed by however all dates are subject to change as they are ultimately set by the incom- ing government. Dec. 1 Orientation for new MLAs begins Dec. 4 The 18th Legislative Assembly has its rst meeting as a full group Dec. 8 Members are formally sworn in Dec. 14 A public roundtable is held on the oor of the Legislative Assembly to be televised and recorded on Hansard. Here members will begin to articulate their pri- orities in the upcoming term. Dec. 16 The territorial leadership com- mittee unique meeting of all duly elected MLAs will select the premier cabinet and speaker. These appointments will be nalized on Dec. 17. At this time mem- bers will start working on business of the house. Standing committees and regular members will be briefed on their duties as will cabinet. Jan. 2016 As recommended in Passing the Mace cabinet will come forward to the caucus - all regular members - with a mandate a detailed plan of action for the 18th Assembly. Once agreed upon the mandate will form the basis of what is essentially a speech from the throne that will be delivered when the house convenes again in mid-February. This will set the nal stage for the rst budget session in the spring. MLAs doing their homework I certainly have a steep learning curve but I am doing lots of reading talking to people and look forward to the challenge said MLA- elect Kevin OReilly representing the Frame Lake riding. He was the only member of the 18th Assembly to attend the presentation. Throughout his campaign one of OReillys priorities was to make the GN- WTs operations more transparent a goal he believes the new transition period helps to achieve. That process has been proposed to re- place the way that it was done in the past where all of the MLAs would go away for a retreat for a little while and come back with some usually very high-level sets of priorities and objectives and so on he said. I think this will probably give us something more concrete and measur- able and allow for the public to also assess progress thats been made on a mandate. I think thats a very interesting approach and I like it. ENVIRONMENT OBED SPILL BY DALI CARMICHAEL Chief Ronald Kreutzer of the Fort McMur- ray First Nation led a 16 million class ac- tion lawsuit against an Alberta coal company after it leaked 670 million litres of wastewa- ter into the Athabasca River. The suit was filed in response to a con- taminated water and sediment spill which took place on Oct. 31 2013. Wastewater from the Obed Mountain Mine near Hin- ton - operated by Coal Valley Resources Inc. CVRI - flowed out of a broken tail- ing pond through creeks connected to the Athabasca River. CVR operated the mine as a subsidiary of Sherritt International. Following the spill Westmoreland Canada Holding obtained a controlling interest in CVRI. All three com- panies are named in the lawsuit. According to legal counsel for the First Nation the lawsuit is intended for anyone who lives near or has used the Athabasca River Plante Creek Apetowun Creek or Peace-Athabasca Delta since the spill took place. The case is really on behalf of anybody who has been affected by the spill Ed- monton lawyer Rick Mallat said. A lot of times it will be the First Nations groups and individual members that have been affected in some way and it could also include farmers who may have been af- fected or even just recreation users who couldnt use the river to fish or boat on for a period of time. The lawsuit is only the most recent legal action taken regarding the spill. In October Coal Valley Resources and Sherritt Interna- tional were hit with six charges each led under Albertas Environmental Protection Act Public Lands Act and Water Act add- ing up to a maximum of about 2 million in potential nes. Its an important case from an environ- mental perspective because it relates to one of the largest spills ever in North America Mallat said. The allegation is that there was an improper containment procedure that happened in terms of the tailing pond and that the contaminated water should not have been allowed to spill into the river and it should have been prevented on a reason- able basis. In the weeks following the spill the prov- ince issued advisories warning people living along the impacted waterways to avoid draw- ing from the contaminated water. Subsequent downstream monitoring efforts have found elevated levels of Ar- senic uranium and selenium in concen- trations below levels expected to lead to a hazard. Fort McMurray First Nation sues over Obed coal waste spill POLITICS TERRITORIAL 8 Wednesday December 2 2015 Polar Cup in Efe Lockhart of Yellowknife left and Riley Jackson of Fort Smith take aim during the novice 1.5 km sprint. Junior Fort Smith biathlete Bronwyn Rutherford-Simon rushes to kick off her 3.75-km race. Youth from Hay River and for the rst travelled to Fort Smith last weeken race of the season. The athletes an competition in the mild weather. Th from Dec. 11 to 14 for the Arctic Wi For full results visit norj.ca. Senior Hay River racer Michaela Crook takes aim at one of the targets during the Polar Cup in Fo Fort Smiths Sarah Porter crosses the nish line aft Wednesday December 2 2015 9 n Fort Smith PhotosDaliCarmichael Senior gunslinger Calista Burke of Fort Smith leads the pack in Saturdays races. Calista Burke a frontrunner for the Arctic Winter Games sets her sites and nails 80 percent of her targets. t time in a long time from Yellowknife nd for the rst Polar Cup Biathlon nd their families enjoyed two days of hey will meet up again in Hay River inter Games trials and Polar Cup 2. ort Smith last weekend. ter a gruelling race. 10 Wednesday December 2 2015 NORTHERNERS CHRISTMAS By CRAIG GILBERT The giving has begun in Fort McMurray where a pair of announcements last week lead to 85000 finding its way to those in need. Syncrude started its annual Wood Buffalo Food Bank Drive with a donation of 75000. Along with the corporate donation about 150 Syncrude employees volunteer every year at more than 10 grocery stores across Fort Mc- Murray collecting non-perishable food items and donations. The food drive helps support Wood Buffalo residents meet their immediate food needs while working towards long-term solutions to hunger and poverty. The support we receive from Syncrude each year helps Wood Buffalo Food Bank executive director Arianna Johnson said in a press release. Our citizens and children never have to make the choice between a roof and food. Since its inaugural event in 2005 Syn- crude has supported the food bank through 702376 in funding support in-kind dona- tions and volunteer matching. The Wood Buf- falo Food Bank looks to raise 360000 and 75000 pounds of food in this years drive. During these difficult economic times the food bank needs our support more than ever Syncrude president and CEO Mark Ward said. I would like to thank all volunteers including our employees who are taking part in this drive and challenge the community to give what they can to make this holiday season enjoyable for all families. H. Wilson Industries pick-up trucks will be stationed outside all grocery stores and Wal-Mart on Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cuddle up for charity The Helping Assist Local Organizations So- ciety HALOS meanwhile donated 10000 to the Centre of Hope described as a wor- thy local non-profit making a positive impact Spirit of the season picks up in Fort McMurray NORTHERNERS CHRISTMAS within our community through its 100 Hearts program. The 100 Hearts Program brings 100 com- munity-minded women together to give back to the place they call home. The program is a ladies network group aimed at support- ing local charities and causes that need extra assistance. The women are tasked with voting for a non-profit that could use a helping hand. This donation will help our organiza- tion with laundry services for patrons of the Centre of Hope communication of- ficer Barb Rex said. Wed also like to ex- press our gratitude for each and every special lady who cast her vote for us. This means so much especially during this time of the year. The donation was announced at the third event in an annual series. The group also un- veiled a new fundraising teddy bear named HALO at a small Christmas bazaar at the get together. HALO is a special angel bear from the Teddy Mountain collection that will be sold locally and all proceeds will be donated to keeping local homeless in our community warm this season committee member Deb- bie Hahn explained. HALOS was formed in 2014 to support non-profits in Fort McMurray. All 10 local non-profits were selected through applica- tions made to the HALOS organization. To apply to the list of eligible non-profits visit www.halosfm.com. HALOS donated 10000 to the Centre of Hope in Fort McMurray on Nov. 24. PhotocourtesyofHALOS By DALI CARMICHAEL The man fondly known in Fort Smith as Santa MacClaus passed away at the end of November but volunteers are ensuring his legacy will live on through the shim- mering Christmas float that tours the town every December. Duncan Doug MacPherson 67 formerly of Fort Smith before retiring to Arizona for the winters was working on a southern ver- sion of his famous float - powered with a golf cart - when he hit his head falling into a coma from which he would not wake. Sur- vived by his wife Carol four children and 12 grandchildren he died Nov. 18. I think when he was doing that he felt like he was Santa because he was bring- ing good tidings and cheer to everybody around town and I feel like its a tradition that not very many communities have said Mike Labine who apprenticed under MacPherson and has since taken over the festive operation. He was doing the same thing down there it was good to know that he went doing something he loved. In the 1980s MacPherson fired up his first Christmas float using an ATV and a small trailer to pull the town mascot - a half moose half buffalo called the Muf- faloose - past every house. You cant imagine the feeling when we stop in front of the houses and they all run to the window or want a ride and wave and yell or the kids run over to the float and give Santa a letter Labine said. It just really touches the heart. A carpenter for three decades MacPher- son once acknowledged in a past interview with the Journal that he was Christmas- crazy. Every year he fervently worked on the float making it a little better. Upgrades included everything from expansion of the trailer bed to accommodate more decora- tions to new sound systems to an ever-in- creasing number of lights and generators to power the whole thing. The Santa float for him was I think an escape from day-to-day activities and it was really important that anything that was done on there was done to the best of his abili- ties Labine said. I remember going there and helping him put lights on and he was very for a lack of a better term persnick- ity about getting them on just right. He spent a lot of time. The care and attention that he put towards that float was unreal. Labine has since streamlined the opera- tion upgrading from incandescent bulbs to LED lights which help him cut back to just one generator and supplying the rotation of volunteers who dress up as the Clauses with electric heating blankets to keep warm on those -40 nights touring through town. He was even set to display a new blow- up Muffaloose at the front of the sleigh this year but decided against it at the last minute. Carol had asked if we could wait on putting the new Muffaloose in front of the sleigh and use the one that Duncan had cut out Labine said. Were going to have the sled this year with the original Muffaloose pulling and the new Muffa- loose that we raised money for last year behind us basically to learn the ropes and see how its done. Next year hell move up to the front. Thanks to volunteers from Lous Small Engines Phoenix Auto the corrections fa- cility and some handy painters and welders the float has been refurbished complete with a new bunch of carefully placed LEDs. MacPhersons son Craig and his wife Kim will have the honour of playing Mr. and Mrs. Claus for the first night of the float tour on Dec. 6 and the final evening in memory of MacClaus. Also on Dec. 6 the Northern Life Mu- seum and Cultural Centre will open its exhibition A Very Fort Smith Christmas complete with a detailed history of Mac- Santas sleigh compiled by one of the jol- liest guys in town Mike Keizer. I think its important that we dont for- get about the people who set up stuff that is special to our town Labine said. Fort Smith community says goodbye to Santa MacClaus PhotocourtesyofCarolMacPherson Christmas carols that carry on the Fort Smith evening air in December will be a tribute Santa MacClaus as Duncan MacPherson was fondly called. He died after striking his head in Arizona two weeks ago. The Santa float he created will honour his memory. Wednesday December 2 2015 11 Registration is now open for the 2016 Walk to Tuk Form a team and conceptually walk the distance of the Mackenzie River between January 4th and February 29th . Great Prizes can be won including a flight voucher from First Air. Register Now Registration Ends January 18th Challenge Starts January 4th 2016 For more information www.nwtrpa.org or call 867 669-8375 Christmas shopping season arrives in Fort Smith Fireweed Soap Candle Co. owner Mary-Lynn Berton shares her wares at the Roaring Rapids Hall. Just 6 bought you a meal t for a king including sandwiches coffee or tea and a full plate of dessert at the Anglican Church Hall in Fort Smith on Saturday Nov. 28. The Roaring Rapids Hall was rocking Sunday Nov. 29 as Fort Smith residents went shoulder-to-shoulder to get their rst taste of the local snacks and wares available for sale. Photos Craig Gilbert Say it in 25 words or less for only 3.50 Extra words are 20 centseach.Businessclassifieds are 10 for 30 words and 25 centsforeach additionalword. Email your advertising to adsnorj.ca or fax it to 872-2754 or call 872-3000 ext. 26 FOR SALE FIREWOOD. Cus- tom cut sizes - split green dry bagged. Wood Gasification Outdoor wood boilers. Delivery from Fort Smith to Hay River Yellowknife. Contact Dave at 867 872-3435 or cell 872-0229 or email dhehnnorthwestel. net. 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Travel SAVE30onourGreenlandand Wild Labrador Voyage until De- cember 18 2015. See Labrador as it was meant to be seen - By Sea - Aboard the comfortable Ocean Endeavour. No extra charge for singles Quote Com- munityNewspapersCalltoll free 1-800-363-7566 or visit www. adventurecanada.com. TICO 04001400. Wanted WANTED WILL PAY cash for construction equipment back- hoes excavators dozers farm tractors wloaders 1985 or newer.Skidsteerswheelloaders screeners low beds any condi- tionrunningornot.250-260-0217. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Town of Fort Smith Fireworks Display Supervisors The Town of Fort Smith is requesting submissions of expressions of interest from community members that would be interested in becoming Fireworks Display Supervisors. The Town is looking for committed volunteers to organize and operate fireworks displays when required. This would require individuals to be committed for a multiyear basis. Expression of interest forms can be obtained from Town Hall or via email townoffortsmithfortsmith.ca. Deadline to submit an expression of interest form is Monday December 7 2015 at 500 PM. Please submit to Town of Fort Smith Box 147 174 McDougal Road Fort Smith NT X0E 0P0 PHONE 867 872-8400 FAX 867 872-8401 Email townoffortsmithfortsmith.ca EMPLOYMENT TENDERS AND LEGAL NOTICES Wednesday December 2 2015 13 12345 12345 3 wide version 3.75 wide version Place your ad in this newspaper and province wide with a combined circulation of over 800000 for only... 995plus GSTHST Value Ad Network Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association toll free 1-800-282-6903 x228 email andreaawna.com or visit this community newspaper the most out of your advertising dollarssqueeze Place your ad in this newspaper and province wide with a combined circulation of over 800000 for only... 995plus GSTHST Value Ad Network Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association toll free 1-800-282-6903 x228 email andreaawna.com or visit this community newspaper the most out of your advertising dollarssqueeze ram-value-ad.indd 1 72511 1230 PM EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR Yellowknife NT Description Outdoor work in winter and summer and requires Organize and direct planting of trees gardens and lawns Work under pressure Handling heavy loads Physically demanding Manual dexterity Attention to detail Tight deadlines Duties Plan and estimate labour and materials Maintain work records and logs Hire supervise and schedule staff Read blueprints and drawings Remuneration 17 per hour Area of Specialization Landscape construction Grounds maintenance Design Specific Skills Resolve work related problems Requisition or order materials equipment and supplies Repair and maintain equipment Plan and direct grounds maintenance Organize and direct construction of fences decks and walls Establish work schedules and procedures Plan manage and supervise landscape construction work Position will require ability to supervise 3-4 people and requires excellent oral communication. Permanent position - 5 years experience required. Contact Joncavo.ca for more information. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The Dehcho First Nations are negotiating with Canada and the GNWT towards an agreement on lands resources and governance which will reflect our nation-to-nation treaty relationship. We want a unique agreement which respects our responsibility as stewards of our whole territory while recognizing the Dehcho Government as the primary government for all residents of the Dehcho. The negotiations have so far produced most of a draft Agreement-in-Principle but some major decisions relating to lands and resources must still be addressed. We are seeking a Chief Negotiator who demonstrates a clear understanding of Dehcho Dene worldview history and current negotiations issues. Reporting to the Dehcho Leadership the Chief Negotiator will lead the negotiations team and be responsible for overseeing all aspects of negotiations including Direct and participate in main table sessions Prepare work plan for main table negotiations Draft positioninterest papers for the DFN leadership Prepare position documents for on-going negotiations Maintain appropriate liaison with government departments ministries agencies and other interested groups Responsible for implementing a communication plan Other related duties as directed by the DFN leadership Qualifications Understanding and use of Dehcho Dene culture and language is an asset At least 5-10 years experience in land claims and self-government negotiations at senior level or equivalent experience Minimum 5 year experience managing senior staff contractors and budgets Superior written and oral communication skills Salary benefits negotiable and commensurate with experience. Please provide a cover letter resume and the names and contact information of 3 professional references to Alison De Pelham Executive Director Dehcho First Nation Fort Simpson NT X0E 0N0 Deadline December 3 2015 For information regarding the Dehcho Process see www.dehcho.org Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. CHIEF NEGOTIATOR DEHCHO PROCESS Advertising solutions Book design Brochures posters Business cardsStationery Invitations custom design Logo design Marketing solutions Photography Promo material Signs Banners Stickers Magnets Wedding Party favours Contact Cascade Graphics at 867 872-3000 or graphicsnorj.ca 207 McDougal Rd Fort Smith NT We offer a range of custom design services that include cascade graphics 867 872 - 3000 ext. 26 effective stylish advertising call Your business in print 3 wide version 3.75 wide version Internationally Acclaimed Speakers Advertising Page Design Sales Creative Cloud Software Journalism Photography Full course descriptions online www.awna.comsymposium AWNAs Annual Symposium Internationally Acclaimed Speakers Advertising Page Design Sales Creative Cloud Software Journalism Photography Full course descriptions online www.awna.comsymposium AWNAs Annual Symposium Tell us what you would do. Email carolab.lung.ca or go to www.poweredbybreathing.com Tell us what you would do. Email carolab.lung.ca or go to www.poweredbybreathing.com Tell us what you would do. Email carolab.lung.ca or go to www.poweredbybreathing.com W H A T W O U L D Y O U D O I F Y O U C O U L D B R E A T H E B E T T E R W H A T W O U L D Y O U D O I F Y O U C O U L D B R E A T H E B E T T E R W H A T W O U L D Y O U D O I F Y O U C O U L D B R E A T H E B E T T E R POWERED BY BREATHING. 14 Wednesday December 2 2015 EDUCATION SELF-GOVERNANCE 6.8103 in x 6.3125 in By DALI CARMICHAEL Mikisew Cree First Nation MCFN has an- nounced its intention to start up a new school onitsreserveadjacenttoFortChipewyanAlta. ThemovemarksanewstepawayfromNorth- lands School Division NSD and towards self- governance for the northern Albertan band. We have to be able to set our curriculum the way it meets our needs said Mikisew Chief Steve Courtoreille. Our children are not understanding the Cree language not knowing how to speak the language. We could set our own curriculum the way it meets the needs for our future. The band also decided to take control over the education of its youth because its mem- bers were unhappy with chronic low student attendance and achievement rates. I dont want to badmouth Northlands but they havent delivered the quality of education thewaytheyshouldCourtoreillenoted.Ican understandinpreviousyearswhereyoungpeople left school for other reasons mainly going out trappingandgoingouttothelandthatwasun- derstandable.Buttodayourchildrenarefalling through the cracks theyre not being given the quality of education that they need. The plan to start a new school has been in the works for some time he noted explain- ing that the NSD had been helpful and sup- portive throughout the initial process. The First Nation has wanted their own school and actually weve been involved with them for well over a year now said North- land superintendent Donna Barrett. This is something theyve wanted and were working with them to make that transition work. Weve been on a committee with membership from the federal government and both of the First Nations to support them in their conversa- tions about getting a new school. It is unclear what will be in store for the NSDs Athabasca Delta Community School. The future of the ADCS will lay with the community Barrett said. Were still a few years away from actually getting a school and so well continue to provide support to the stu- dents and provide education for the students. A place for all students The school is not only going to be for the Mikisew people or Mikisew youth its for the community Courtoreille said. The other rst nation the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation ACFN are welcome the Mtis people are welcome any other students that may come into the community are welcome to come to the school. However he said curriculum will be devel- oped with MCFN youth in mind with input from the residents of Fort Chipewyan. Cree immersion and history classes centred around the experience of the First Nation will be top priority in the new curriculum. Eventually other Dene languages - like Chipewyan - will likely be worked into the classrooms to make the school more invit- ing for ACFN youth. ACFN is not in partnership because if they decide to develop one of their reserve lands they will have the ability to build their own school that will take them out of the community onto their own territory Courtoreille said. We want to respect that and they are supportive and respectful to us. Prioritizing the trades and opening up ap- prenticeship opportunities for students will also be a focus for the new school. Currently the band is working out the basic logistics of the school including location and curriculum development. Were looking at three different sites in our traditional territory where the old Bishop Piche school was is one of the sites were very interested in Courtoreille said. That site is a prioritybutwerelookingatothersitesincase that land is not suitable for this day and age. ThebandhascontractedMCFNeducatorRoy Vermillion to develop the schools operational plansaswellastoprovideadvisoryassistance in the design and building of the school. Slatedtoopenin2018thenewschoolwilljoin alistofabout500othersaroundthecountryin- cludedundertheAboriginalAffairsandNorth- ern Development Canada AANDC envelope. Its not a hope its not a dream Cour- toreille said. Its going to be achieved. Mikisew Cree plan alternative school in Fort Chip PhotocourtesyofAthabascaDeltaCommunitySchool The Athabasca Delta Community School will continue to operate as-is. Wednesday December 2 2015 15 ENVIRONMENT COP21 Buffalo Express AIR Toll-free 1 800 465-3168 salesbuffaloairexpress.com www.buffaloairexpress.com Yellowknife - 867 765-6002 Hay River - 867 874-3307 Edmonton - 780 455-9283 WE SERVICE ALL POINTS IN THE NWT that are accessible by commercial aircraft. Ask about our TRUCK AIR EXPRESS RATESTruck Air Express trucks from Edmonton and Calgary and flies out of Yellowknife. WESCLEAN NORTHERN SALES WESCLEAN NORTHERN SALES is the NWTs first choice for Janitorial and Industrial Supplies Flooring Paint and Wallcoverings Premium Wood Pellet Sales and Door to Door Truck Courier Service WESCLEAN 15 Industrial Drive Hay River NT Tel 875-5100 Fax 875-5115 www.wescleannwt.com Flooring Area Rugs Paint Window Coverings Janitorial Supplies W ESCLEA N N.W.T. HURRY IN Sale ends Nov. 27 Flooring Area Rugs Paint Window Coverings Janitorial Supplies interior design headquarters By CRAIG GILBERT Research taking place in Albertas oilsands has made it into a cool new tool designed for policy makers at the Conference of the Parties COP21 climate conference in Paris. Video vignettes proling climate-related research around the globe including a hand- ful from northern Alberta and Nunavut will be at the ngertips of world leaders hoping to have a new universally signed international agreement on climate law. Canadian lmmaker Mark Terry has built trust with the people working on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeUNFCCCandwithmembersofthesci- entic community for the past six years. Every year since 2009 he has created a 45-minute documentary summarizing climate research highlights of the past year for COP attendees. This year a new GIS-based tool Googles Fusion has allowed Terry to build a mul- tilinear documentary with more than 50 of those vignettes pinned to the location where the research takes place on a Google map of the globe. Past COP attendees have only seen a fraction of what is available in the documentary. The great thing is it allows the policymak- ers to have a 10000-foot view of climate re- search across the world Terry said. They can see patterns we might not be able to see due to the proximity of space and place of these little red dots and the video report contained within each one. The UN is quite excited about this because instead of the cherry-picked in- formation thats in the documentary which merely supplements the written text that the policy makers frankly have difculty understanding because theyre written by scientists the map gives them the opportu- nity to see 50 videos instead of maybe 10. The Youth Climate Report Video Map is posted on the websites of the UNFCCC and the United Nations Environmental Programme UNEP. Each of the videos features a student interviewing a scientist about their research either in the eld or at their ofce. Im quite excited because of the enthu- siasm of the UN Terry said. When I told them I was thinking about doing it there was a long pause then they said this will be great were going to have a lot more data available via video which is the medium they keep telling me they prefer. Between the three of us we have this new medium that the policy makers tend to gravitate to under control. Nick Nuttall spokesperson for UNFCCC said there is a great need to highlight the latest climate research and what youth in- volvement has taken place. The fact that youth those who are among the least responsible for climate change and most affected by it are presenting this re- search makes it even more compelling he said. And the new map makes it easier than ever to explore the data. I encourage all lead- ers and global citizens to take a look. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Environ- ment Minister Catherine McKenna and eight premiers will be at COP21 including Rachel Notley who just introduced Albertas climate change strategy. According to her itinerary Notley will meet with Canadas ambassa- dor to France the CEO of the International Emissions Trading Association ofcials of the World Economic Forum and represen- tatives of Air Liquide. Albertas continued economic growth and accesstonewmarketsgoeshand-in-handwith improvingourinternationalreputationbytak- ing meaningful action on climate change she said in a release. This is why I will be bring- ing our new Climate Leadership Plan forward at COP21. This is an important opportunity to show the international community exactly how Alberta is doing its part. AlbertaEnvironmentMinisterShannonPhil- lips expects to attend the sub-national confer- ence the week after from Dec. 4-10. The cost for Notley and Phillips four political staff four publicservantsandthreeprotectionunitmem- bersisabout80000includingcarbonoffsets purchased for each member of the delegation. Our new strategy sets out a clear plan to transition from coal to renewable electricity sources puts a price on carbon and sets emis- sions limits for the oilsands she said. I will highlight these actions in my meetings with international leaders and I look forward to hearing their perspective on Albertas plan. Each red dot on the map represents a video interview with a climate scientist. Alberta Nunavut research to be featured at COP21 Dozens of videos posted at unep.orgclimatechange PhotoscourtesyofMarkTerry Green Party Leader Elizabeth May with Canadian lmmaker Mark Terry. Fort Smith Mtis walk out of NWT Mtis Nation AGM POLITICS MTIS 16 Wednesday December 2 2015 KAESERS HOLIDAY SCHEDULE SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY DECEMBER 2015 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 9 A.M. - 10 P.M. 212 22 23 24 25 MOONLIGHT MADNESS 9 A.M. - 8 P.M.9 A.M. - 8 P.M. 28 29 30 2 Enter your name in the dry goods store. SCHEDULE Kaesers Stores Ltd. 76 Breynat St. Fort Smith NT 867 872-2345 BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY from the management and staff of Kaesers. CLOSED CLOSED 9 A.M. - 7 P.M. 9 A.M. - 6 P.M. NOON - 5 P.M. NOON - 5 P.M. 9 A.M. - 7 P.M. RAFFLE 8 Fresh turkeys arrive CLOSED 31 29 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. 9 A.M. - 4 P.M. RAFFLE 3 RAFFLE 4 RAFFLE 5 RAFFLE 6 RAFFLE 7 BACK TO REGULAR HOURS 30 6 13 20 27 9 A.M. - 7 P.M. 9 A.M. - 8 P.M. MOONLIGHT MADNESS MOONLIGHT MADNESS 9 A.M. - 10 P.M. RAFFLE 2 9 A.M. - 10 P.M. RAFFLE 1 26 1 By DALI CARMICHAEL A frustrated Ken Hudson walked out of the Northwest Territories Mtis NWTMN Na- tion annual general meeting on Nov. 21 where members were working towards nalizing a land claim with the federal government. The president of the Fort Smith Mtis Councils early exit came after a resolution excluding Mtis members from outside of the territory in the NWTMNs nal agreement was narrowly passed 19-18. That was passed to eliminate Fitzgerald as a Mtis community Hudson said. Following the outburst Hudson conrmed with an enumeration ofce that those who had ties to the NWT before 1921 were pro- tected however he was still unhappy with the symbolism of the resolution. Its just the principle of it he said. It goes to show you that theres always an at- tempt to lessen our people we represent. It all has to do with getting a bigger share of whatever it is resources or money that we have in the future. Thereareabout1400Metismembersliving in Fort Smith. Hay River and Fort Resolution have Mtis populations of about 400 each. Res and Hay River want to gang up on the largest community and try to eliminate as many members of our association as they can Hudson said. It has to do with even the future choice of our fair share of the land or money even devolution money thats avail- able to us right now. Other resolutions were considered but with- drawn including a move to divide governance in such a way that each group had a third of the power. We have 1400 members in Fort Smith and there are 400 in HR and exactly the same amount in Fort Res he continued. A democratic government would not be one third each as far as governance. It was withdrawn all right but it just goes to show you Hay River and Res are not going to treat us fairly in the future. These reso- lutions are still hanging over our heads for some other date. Members react GarryBaileypresidentoftheNWTMtisNa- tionsaidhewasnotimpressedwiththewalkout. I didnt think it was a good enough issue to walk away he said. It was heartbreaking to watch it to see an empty table after working togetherformyselfsince1998.Toseeitalmost fall apart was very sad. The resolution was to put forward that the Mtis nation represents indigenous Mtis North of 60 and thats all. Arthur Beck President of the Fort Resolu- tion Mtis agreed with Bailey. TheMtisarenegotiatinglandnorthofthe 60thParallelandnothingsouthofitwerenot negotiating for Alberta he said. Its a really hard thing for us to do but we have to do it for the future generations. We like all the people theretheyrefriendsbutyouvegottoputthat aside for business. Its a touchy one. All three parties called for a door-to-door enumeration to be completed in order to ratify the ofcial number of people in the NWTMN and how those numbers would be divided under a nal agreement to allow for accurate per capita payout and land divisions. Devolution money that was sent to us those numbers were wrong too Beck said. We did it once and that is the only time were going to do it because we have to get the proper numbers in. Whoever sent our numbers in for us it wasnt accurate. Negotiations will likely pick up again from Dec. 8 to 12 in Edmonton the next meeting set for the members. Bailey hopes the numbers would be ofcial in the near future. Im sure hoping I can get it done this year its the backbone of what were doing he said. Were still united as far as I know. Well get through it we have tough things to do yet. Hudson agreed though said he was ready to stick to his guns on the more controversial resolutions. Were surely not going to let it go were going to continue with negotiations because were actively claiming self government active of claim Hudson said. How are we going to continue and get our fair share The NWT Mtis Nation approves of an agreement in principle in 2012. Now heads are butting as the Hay River Fort Smith and Fort Resolution members work towards a nal agreement with the federal government. Filephoto