National award for Kylik Kisoun Taylor
Inuvik-based tour operator Kylik Kisoun Taylor is the winner of the 2019 National Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneur award from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business for his tourism company Tundra North Tours. “I was pretty surprised to win – it’s a big country and our business is really, really small,” said Kisoun. “It was surprising and...
Region represents at badminton tournament
The fifth annual Beaufort Delta Education Council Regional Badminton Tournament took place at East Three Secondary School Nov. 30 to Dec. 1. Tournament organizer Colin Pybus said this year’s tournament saw a strong showing from communities around the Beaufort Delta region. “As always, the turnout for the tournament has been impressive, we’re really happy with...
Eyeing Inuit labour as economic driver
Last week, community leaders, business leaders, academics, policy makers and youth came together in Ottawa to discuss inclusive economic growth for Inuit through the lens of reconciliation at a conference entitled Expanding the Circle: What Reconciliation and Inclusive Growth Can Mean for Inuit in Canada. National Indigenous Economic Development Board (NIEDB) board member Hilda Broomfield-Letemplier...
Attitude change needed to address dog problem
The North has a dog problem. The dog problem stems from an attitude problem towards dogs. The saddest part about the problem is that the suffering dogs experience as a result of the problem is completely avoidable. Dogs are very lovely companion animals but also useful hunting animals. Above all, they are beings deserving of...
Arctic Inspiration Prize nominates first Western Arctic project
A joint submission from the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC), the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) and the Aurora Research Institute (ARI) is the first-ever project from the Western Arctic chosen as a finalist for the Arctic Inspiration Prize. The prize provides up to $3 million cash to recognize and promote the contribution of teams working to...
Donations set to improve life at Inuvik Dog Pound
The Inuvik Dog Pound is set to receive three donations that will greatly improve the quality of life for impounded dogs. Berkeley’s Place, an Alberta-based non-profit foundation and animal rescue support network, teamed up with the Alberta Pet Education Society to provide much-needed supplies to the shelter. The donation includes 11 dog beds (for the...
Inuvik pool set to reopen Dec. 10
The pool at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex (MSRC) is set to reopen Dec. 10 after undergoing major repairs since May. After being closed on and off for several months, the town announced on May 17 that the pool would be closed until further notice. Director of public services Rick Campbell told the Inuvik Drum...
“Boxes” is a great example of youth success
This week I attended East Three Theatre’s impressively astute dinner theatre production, Boxes. The play was a coming-of-age story about the hopes, dreams and expectations placed in high school student Holly’s (played by Katelynn Crocker) metaphorical box. Some of the expectations in her “box” were things she wanted to pursue, while others were not what...
East Three Theatre puts on dinner theatre
East Three Theatre put on its first dinner theatre production of the year last weekend with Boxes, a coming-of-age story about high school students’ hopes, dreams and expectations – all of which are found inside their metaphorical boxes. “Not only was it relevant to the students, but one parent who watched the show said they...
Tie votes at Inuvik lead to share positions
In their first meeting of the new term, Inuvik’s new councillors made Inuvik town council history by electing to split the roles of deputy mayor and assistant deputy mayor between two councillors each. The move came after council came to a tie vote for both positions. Coun. Steve Baryluk and Coun. Paul MacDonald will split...
IRC letter responds to criticisms
In a public letter to all Inuvialuit, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chair Duane Smith responded to criticisms raised by some Inuvialuit living outside the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). The letter, dated Nov. 14, addresses questions raised about Inuvialuit decision-making structures and the services available to Inuvialuit living outside the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), but does not...
First Movember squash tournament sees record participation
The Inuvik Squash Club’s first-ever Movember tournament saw a record number of participants – 20 registered players – and $400 raised for the Men’s Health Foundation. Movember is an annual month-long campaign that takes place each November to raise awareness about men’s health issues, such as prostate and testicular cancer. Tournament organizer Britney Selina said she...
Children First Centre celebrates five years in operation
Inuvik’s Children First Centre (CFC) celebrated its 5th anniversary in operation with the community Nov. 20. The festivities included facility tours, snacks and a short play about how CFC was created. In a previous interview with the Inuvik Drum, CFC executive director Patricia Davison told the story of how the centre came to be. Despite...
Inuvik wind project to offer high source of energy
The Town of Inuvik has the highest dependency on diesel fuel in the NWT but the Inuvik Wind Generation Project is now well on the way to providing an alternative. The Government of Canada and territorial government announced a joint funding announcement of $40 million for the project Nov. 13, which is seen as a...
IRC launches IFA 101 eLearning Program
Inuvialuit, Canadians, and people around the world now have access to a new way to learn about the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (IFA). The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) launched the first two modules of its IFA 101 eLearning Program last week. The program aims to increase the public’s understanding of the IFA – the land claim...
Inuvik champions girls’ hockey
Girls’ hockey in Inuvik is growing – and fast. This year’s World Girls’ Hockey event in Inuvik drew twice as many participants as in previous years. Carolyn Hunter, president of the Inuvik Minor Hockey Association (IMHA) said approximately 30 girls aged five to 17 participated in the event, which aims to increase the number of...
Inuvik hosts Northernmost GIS Day event
Though many people have never heard of Geographical Information Systems (GIS), they likely use the technology or are impacted by its use in some way, according to Celtie Ferguson, GIS technician intern with Aurora Research Institute (ARI). That’s why she thinks its important to be hosting the world’s Northernmost GIS Day event. “I think it...
GNAF receives ‘fascinating basement find’
The Great Northern Arts Festival Society (GNAFS) received a donation of 72 traditional Inuit carvings from Cheri Tate, granddaughter of Harold Harshaw – a man who worked for the Department of Northern Affairs for 30 years. Tony Devlin, chair of the GNAFS Board of Directors, is calling the collection of soapstone, serpentine, ivory and bone...
Inuvik declares November Indigenous Disabilities Awareness Month
The Town of Inuvik declared November Indigenous Disabilities Awareness Month on Oct. 24, following a request from the NWT Disabilities Council to do so. According to the announcement notice from the town, the rate of disability within Indigenous populations is estimated at 31 per cent, which is two times higher than that of non-Indigenous populations....
Winter adventure hikers set an example
This week, I met Dana Meise, a man from Sherwood Park, Alta., who is about to complete the last leg of a 10-year journey to walk to each of Canada’s three coasts. Meise arrived in Inuvik last week. He hoped to get to Tuktoyaktuk and complete his Trans Canada Trail walk Nov. 1, but due...
Grammy winner to perform at Igloo Church
Grammy winning Iroquois artist Joanne Shenandoah is set to perform at Inuvik’s Igloo Church Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Shenandoah will perform in a trio with her daughter, Leah, and Thelma Cheechoo. NACC executive director Marie Coderre said it is an honour to have Shenandoah perform in the North. “It is a privilege to have...
Inuvik teams win at Spike It!
East Three Secondary School’s junior girls’ and senior boys’ volleyball teams brought home championships from the Spike It! tournament. Junior girls’ volleyball coach Twyla Amos said the tournament was amazing this year – of the 17 sets they played, they only lost two. “My girls were undefeated champions all weekend … I’m so proud of...
Wind energy workshop to take place in Inuvik Nov. 8
Inuvik residents will have a chance to learn more about the wind energy proposal for Inuvik, how it will impact the community and how they can get involved in the decision-making process at a free workshop Nov. 8. The workshop, organized by Pollution Probe – Canada’s oldest environmental charity – will take place at the...
First-ever judo festival held in Inuvik
Inuvik’s Kuzuri Judo Club hosted its first-ever Arctic Regional Judo Festival last weekend. The Inuvik Judo Association’s president, Mario Desforges, and national judo champion Wilson Elliot visited for the two-day event. The event kicked off with visits from Desforges and Elliot to East Three School’s Grade 6 to 12 physical education classes on Oct. 26....
New Arctic Region could increase resources, sovereignty
The Department of Fisheries, Oceans (DFO) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) announced the creation of a new Arctic Region that will include the four regions of Inuit Nunangat in Inuvik Oct. 24. The new region is a step towards reconciliation and resetting the way the federal government works with the North, said Jonathan Wilkinson,...
Inuvik’s recreation scene sets an example
This week, I spoke with Tony Devlin about the award he received from the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, recognizing the work he’s done in the last 10 years to advance recreation in the territory. He told me that he thinks Inuvik is an example of a super-successful community when it comes to recreation programs,...
Inuvik man starts motorcycle tour company
One year ago, Inuvik local Lawrence Neyando made the decision to pursue a long time dream – starting his own motorcycle tour company. Today, Neyando’s company, Arctic Motorcycle Adventure Co., is officially open for business. Neyando’s main route is a tour to the Arctic Ocean along the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH), one he says truly showcases...
Inuvik man honoured for recreation work
Inuvik local Tony Devlin received an Award of Merit for his 10 years of service with the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) in Yellowknife last week. “When I heard … I was shocked, but deeply honored,” said Devlin. “My first question when Geoff Ray called to tell me was, ‘are you sure you have...
MTS airlifts tonnes of barge cargo
The communities of Paulatuk, Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk are finally receiving – by air – cargo and fuel from cancelled delivery barges. Marine Transport Services (MTS) usually supplies these communities with barge services, but the last deliveries of the season were cancelled due to unexpected ice conditions. Now, hundreds of thousands of pounds of cargo and fuel...
On the land components important
Last week, I spoke with many of the youth from around the North who participated in the Leaders in Training workshop in Inuvik. When I asked them what part of the workshop was most beneficial to them, many of them cited the on-the-land session with elders at Gwich’in Territorial Park. Conference coordinator Alyssa Carpenter...