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Dehcho First Nations commitment

After a three-day strategic workshop the Dehcho First Nations has renewed a commitment to collectively move forward in its negotiations with Canada.

Approximately 35 community delegates met in Fort Simpson from Feb. 3 to 5 for the workshop.

"These three days reaffirmed the Dehcho members commitment to protecting their lands and remain united, speaking with one voice in their discussions with Canada," said Grand Chief Jerry Antoine in a press release.

Delegates voiced their frustration with the current impasse in the negotiations and acknowledged the need for some flexibility in their approach.

Dehcho leaders will formally review the recommendations that came out of the workshop during the winter leadership meeting that will be held in Fort Simpson at the end of the month.

Kingland Ford hockey action

Hockey players will be taking to the ice in Fort Providence over the weekend to compete in the annual Kingland Ford Hockey Tournament.

Games will start on Feb. 13 and last until Sunday, said Cliff McLeod, the hamlet's recreation director.

Five team including the Yellowknife Coyotes, the Fort Simpson Nahanni Inn Flyers, the Tlicho Warriors, the Fort Providence Bulls and the Hackers with players from Fort Smith and Yellowknife, have confirmed their attendance. Another one or two teams might also register, said McLeod.

Moose organ caution

The Chief Medical Health Officer of the NWT has issued a notice recommending that people limit the quantity of liver and kidneys they eat from moose harvested in the southern Mackenzie Mountains.

A wildlife monitoring program showed that some moose from the mountain area have elevated levels of cadmium, a naturally occurring soft metal, in their liver and kidneys.

Moose from the Mackenzie and Liard valleys have lower levels of the metal, according to a press release.

It's recommended that people don't eat the kidneys from mountain moose and limit themselves to one serving of liver every three months.

The guidelines for valley moose have been set at one serving of kidney every two months and one serving of liver per week.

A visit from the stork

Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte

Marlene Konisenta and Eric Matou are celebrating the arrival of their baby boy who was born in Yellowknife on Feb. 10.

Off to meetings

Thek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River

Arnold Gargan, Margaret Ireland and Fred Norwegian attended a Department of Municipal and Community Affairs meeting in Fort Simpson from Feb. 10 to 11.

Belated birthday wishes go out to Gail Sanguez and Adeline Sanguez who both celebrated on Feb. 9

Fine craftsmanship

Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson

The Deh Cho Friendship Centre is holding sewing nights every Tuesday and Thursday this month from 6 to 9 p.m. Residents can build on their sewing skills with the help of experienced facilitators and elders.

Leadership decisions

Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley

Chief Darcy E. Moses and band councillor Gabe Hardisty will be attending the Dene Nation leadership meeting in Yellowknife from Feb. 15 to 20.

Paul Nadjiwan, the band's senior administrative officer, attended a meeting with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs in Fort Simpson from Feb. 10 to 11.

Hit by cupid's arrow

Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard

The Hamlet of Fort Liard is hosting a series of events on Feb. 14 to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Valentine's themed games will be held for children ages five to 12 in the school's gym from 1 to 3 p.m. A family skate will be held in the arena from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

A DJ dance and a light supper will be held in the community hall for people ages 14 and older from 8 to 11 p.m.

The Dechita Society is holding a meeting on Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. in the hamlet office to review its programs and financial position, and plan for the next year.

Molly Duntra of Fort Liard is one of five students from across the territory who has been awarded a scholarship from Northwestel.

Duntra will receive $2,500 to assist with her post-secondary studies. She is enrolled in business and management studies at Aurora College in Fort Smith.

Birthday coincidences

Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake

A public meeting for the community will be held on Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. in the gymnasium.

Ruby Jumbo attended the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs meeting in Fort Simpson from Feb. 10 to 11.

Belated birthday wishes go out to Katrina Deneron and George Jumbo on Feb. 10.

Happy birthday to Troy Lomen on Feb. 16 and Julie Punch and Brenda Jumbo on Feb. 19.

Handgames contenders

Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson

Young handgames players in Fort Simpson are preparing for a challenge. The Deh Cho Friendship Centre has been offering traditional handgames workshops since October.

The workshops, which run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m., are open to young men ages 13 and older.

The centre plans to take some of the players, who are over 16, to compete in the fourth annual Canadian Aboriginal Championship Handgames Tournament that will be held in Behchoko from Feb. 27 to March 1.

"They just have to come out and practice," said Aaron McNabb, the centre's executive director.

Fort Simpson's library on the move

Feb. 4 was John Tsetso Memorial Library's final day in Dehcho Hall.

"The library for all intents and purposes is non-existent," said Mayor Duncan Canvin at the Feb. 4 village council meeting.

All of the library's books have been boxed up and the shelves have been dismantled, said Canvin.

The village will be moving all of the books to an empty, heated room in the fire hall.

The desks and computers will be set up in the former village office so a resource centre can be opened there as soon as possible, said Canvin.

An engineer was scheduled to examine the former village office on Feb. 4 and determine its structural suitability for the purpose.

"We'll see what happens," said Canvin.

Recreation resources questioned

Deborah and Paul Stipdonk, executive directors for the Mackenzie Recreation Association, raised concerns about a recreation decision made by the council.

Council hired former recreation director Dan Deschamps on a one-month contract to mentor the new recreation director and "tie up loose ends."

Deborah Stipdonk raised issues with the contract not having been put out to tender and Deschamps was hired from his residence in Alaska.

The council should have considered using local recreation support options before going out of the country, possibly at a higher cost, said Stipdonk.

"We have an awful lot of local expertise. We need to use them," she said.

Stipdonk cited the free services of the Mackenzie Recreation Association as examples of what's available. In the future the village should look locally, she said.

The village hired Deschamps because council was pleased with his performance and wants to see his programs continue, said Canvin.

Canvin thanked Stipdonk for the presentation and said council is now more aware of the local services that are available.

Bylaw review request

Village council has been asked to review its bylaw concerning dogs.

Coun. Bob Hanna brought forward a letter from a resident with the request. The letter arrived just before the council meeting making it too late to review Monday, Hanna said.

Hanna asked that the letter be considered at the next meeting of the committee of the whole.

Coun. Candy Brown also raised a question about the bylaw.

"Is it OK to shoot dogs in the village?" asked Brown.

Brown said she was shocked to see someone shooting dogs near the residences known as the clusters a few days before.

Dogs can be shot within the village if they cannot be caught, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

The village has an as-and-when contract for a dog catcher. Most recently the village asked the contractor to start working on Jan. 29, said Darlene Sibbeston, the assistant senior administrative officer.

Additional responsibilities

The two newest council members, Amanda Ocko and Gus Croatto, along with some existing members have taken on extra responsibilities by volunteering for some of the village's committees.

Coun. Ocko will be serving on the recreation and playgrounds committee and the finance committee. Coun. Croatto is now part of the emergency services committee and the energy committee.

Coun. Marie Lafferty joined the personnel committee and Coun. Candy Brown joined the bylaw committee while Coun. Bob Hanna and Tom Wilson both joined the lands and planning committee.

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