Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson
Community members in Fort Simpson will not be voting on whether or not cannabis should be sold in the liquor store.
At its June 18 council meeting, councillors voted against holding a plebiscite on whether the soon-to-be legalized substance should be sold at the liquor store.
Two councillors voted in favour of the plebiscite, one against, and two abstained, which counts against the motion.
Without a community consensus on the issue, cannabis will likely not be sold at the liquor store until the territorial government develops regulations on the sale of marijuana.
Marijuana is expected to be legal by October 17.
– Erin Steele
Dentist in the Deh Cho
Jean Marie River/Fort Simpson
For those in need of dental work, a visiting dentist will touch down in both Jean Marie River and Fort Simpson in late July and early August.
The dentist will be in Jean Marie River July 24 and 25.
Between July 26 and August 7, the dentist will be at the Fort Simpson Dental Clinic in the health centre.
Community members who need an appointment with the dentist are asked to call ahead.
Because of the remoteness of many of the Northwest Territories communities, dentists , similar to other equivalent service providers, visit rather than live in the communities.
– Erin Steele
Aboriginal Day celebrated
NWT
On June 21, as with every year, the daily grind of weekday activities halted for people across the territory to mark Aboriginal Day.
Over in Jean Marie River, Aboriginal Day activities were scheduled to include a community barbecue, canoe races and traditional events.
In Fort Liard, activities were to include a drum dance and a cookout.
Fort Providence had a jam-packed schedule of events including a pancake breakfast, a feeding of the fire ceremony, a family fishing derby, a fish fry, canoe races, family hand games, and much more.
Most communities territory-wide held some sort of celebrations.
Aboriginal Day is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories.
– Erin Steele
Scientific fun in Fort Providence
Deh Gah Got’ie Koe/Fort Providence
A science camp for students is set to kick off in Fort Providence on July 3.
DiscoverE Summer Camp is for students Grades 1 through 6, and is put on by engineering students from the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
“We focus on fun, accessibility and mentorship to deliver programs about engineering, science, and technology,” states a bulletin advertising the program.
DiscoverE programs reach more than 80 communities in the Northwest Territories, northern Alberta, and Edmonton.
The Fort Providence camp is set to run through July 6.
– Erin Steele
More Mackenzie Days fun planned
Deh Gah Got’ie Koe/Fort Providence
Mackenzie Days preparations continue to ramp up in Fort Providence with many activities planned during the festival on August long weekend.
Potential participants of the Mackenzie River Raft Races, an official festival event scheduled for Aug. 4 and Aug. 5, have until July 15 to register.
The races boast $10,000 in prizes.
Registration costs $900 per team, but participants can save $300 in registration fees by building a second raft.
Support boats and drivers are also needed for this event, as are race co-ordinators.
This is the first year Mackenzie Days is back in Fort Providence, after a multi-year hiatus.
– Erin Steele
Nominations for heritage circle open
NWT
If you know somebody in the Northwest Territories who has gone above-and-beyond the norm in promoting arts, culture and heritage in their community or region, they could be a candidate for the minister’s Culture and Heritage Circle.
Nominations are now open for the circle, organized by the territorial Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE).
Nominees must live in the Northwest Territories, but can include youth, elders, individuals or groups.
Nominations are open until Aug. 31, and can be done online or in person at local band offices and regional ECE service centres.
The culture and heritage circle was created in 2011. It’s meant to “provide lasting recognition and gratitude to those who contribute to the preservation and promotion of arts, cultures and heritage in the Northwest Territories.”
– Erin Steele