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AROUND THE NORTH: FoodSafe course trains Deline

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2005quad61
Purchased last fall, the quad will be available to all elders in the Fort Smith community into late fall. Photo courtesy of Michael Holmberg / NNSL Photo

FoodSafe course trains Deline
Deline
At least 10 people in Deline recently learned how to safely and properly handle food. Aurora College offered free FoodSafe Training on May 17 as a short course, meant to prepare community members for work in the culinary industry.
The course, scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. at Deline Learning Centre, is meant for "those who prepare, serve, and clean up food," according to a bulletin on social media.
The course teaches things like how to prevent transmission of food-borne illness, and how to improve your safety and employability skills.
– Erin Steele

Purchased last fall, the quad will be available to all elders in the Fort Smith community into late fall. The Fort Smith Metis Council has purchased a quad to transport elders free of charge. The Council purchased the four-seater side-by-side last year for roughly $26,000. Since then, the Council hired a driver and installed a roof, doors and windshield on the vehicle for safety. Elders can summon the quad simply by calling the Metis office, or contacting the driver's cell phone. Fort Smith Metis Council President Kenny Hudson said it's open to the whole community. "It's open to all elders, not only Metis," he said. "Treaty people, white people, it doesn't matter. An elder is an elder." Hudson expects to offer the service until late fall, but said there's a possibility it could be offered later. With the windshield, he explained it could be possible to install a heater for colder temperatures. "We'll see how things go," he said. "If we need something (we will) just put it in." The vehicle is available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Elders can call 867-621-2643, and 867-872-2643 to be picked up.
See full story here. 
Photo courtesy of Michael Holmberg / NNSL Photo

Long weekend activities
Tsiigehtchic
Community members in Tsiigehtchic kept busy over the Victoria Day long weekend thanks to a number of various family-friendly activities.
On May 17, youth ages four to 15 participated in games at Chief Paul Niditchie Gymnasium, which included balloon popping, musical chairs and pudding eating. Prizes of up to $15 cash were handed out to the winning contestants. The events were relocated to outside the gym area the following day, with activities for youth including foot races, egg and spoon balancing and egg tossing. The grand prize was $15 cash. The final day of events began with a community breakfast on May 19, and concluded with an adult volleyball session, with teams competing for up to $500 in cash prizes.
– Aaron Hemens

Smith's Landing election
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Smith's Landing First Nation (SLFN) will hold a general election on June 12.
A chief and four councillors will be elected.
Nominations are now open and will close on May 29.
Voting will take place at the Roaring Rapids Hall in Fort Smith and in Edmonton.An advance poll is set for the Roaring Rapids Hall on June 6. Smith's Landing First Nation has reserve land in northern Alberta. Many of the band's members reside in Fort Smith, while others live just south of the NWT/Alberta border or in Fort Fitzgerald, Alta. The election was called before the band council dismissed Chief John Tourangeau on May 10.
– Paul Bickford

Service Canada to visit the Wells
Lli Goline/Norman Wells
Those in Norman Wells with questions about federal programs and services can ask them directly to Service Canada on May 28 and May 29.
"Service Canada can help you access and give you information on Government of Canada programs and services," states a bulletin on social media.
The general public is invited to drop in either of those days.
Client services include Social Service Numbers; Canada Pension Plan; Old Age Security; Guaranteed Income Supplement; Employment Insurance; My Service Canada Account.
The federal branch will be set up at ECE Sahtu Service Centre on the first floor of the Edward G. Hodgson Building between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. May 28, and between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. May 29.
– Erin Steele

Story walk planned in Fort Smith park
Thebacha/Fort Smith
A story walk will take place twice in Fort Smith's Riverside Park on May 31.
A story walk is an innovative way for children and adults to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Laminated pages from a children's book are attached to wooden stakes or trees in an outdoor area.
The story for the Fort Smith event will be Kumak's River.
The walks will begin at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., but will be cancelled if it is raining.
The story walk is being presented by the Healthy Family Program of the NWT Territorial Health and Social Services Authority - Fort Smith Region.
– Paul Bickford

Logo contest
Tuktoyaktuk
Members of the Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee (THTC) and the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation are invited to submit a logo for the THTC's Marine Awareness Information System co-management project.
The logo must reflect the project's mandate, which is designed to protect marine life and maintain security along the coast.
Members are invited to submit as many logos as they want before June 1. The artist behind the winning logo will receive up to $500.
On May 2, it was announced that the THTC would receive over $500,000 from the federal government to participate in a nation-wide pilot project to develop, test and evaluate a new maritime awareness information system.
The project will display a range of near real-time maritime information that includes data on vessel traffic, weather, and marine protected areas.
– Aaron Hemens

Land-use plan to be developed
Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard
In what's being touted as "a very important step in self-government" on a bulletin from Acho Dene Koe First Nation, the community is getting its "first independent land-use plan."
The First Nation contracted Landmark Resource Management out of Victoria, B.C. to help develop the plan.
The bulletin notes the land-use plan will exist within the broader Dehcho Land Use Plan.
"Now is the time for you to have your say!" states the bulletin. "Chief and Council need your involvement. We need the participation and input of community members."
Those in Fort Liard can expect a door-to-door survey coming soon, which will also be available at the band office.
– Erin Steele

Families encouraged to sign up for free books
Deh Cho
The Fort Simpson chapter of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which connects children with free books every month, is encouraging families with new babies to sign up.
"Lots of new babies in Fort Simpson," states a bulletin on social media.
"Don't forget to sign up for free books ... your child can receive a free book every month from now until they turn 5."
The chapter, called BeautyMark Books From Birth, covers Forts Simpson as well as Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake and Wrigley.
Children ages 0 to 5 within the coverage area who are registered will get free books in the mail.
– Erin Steele

Literary agent to visit Fort Smith
Thebacha/Fort Smith
Literary agent Marilyn Biderman will visit Fort Smith on May 31 as part of the NorthWords Writers Festival.
Biderman is a member of the Toronto-based Transatlantic Agency.
She will offer advice and tips for writers looking to get their works published.
At noon, there will be a free soup and bannock lunch open to members of the public at Northern Life Museum. Biderman will share stories and answer questions about publishing.
From 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., she will lead a writers' circle on everything they need to know to get published. It is open to all levels of writers and all genres.
More information, including on the registration fee for the writers' circle, is available by contacting Northern Life Museum.
–Paul Bickford