Three candidates are officially confirmed in the running for Dene Nation chief, says election officer Lynda Comerford.
Richard Edjericon, Eileen Marlowe and Norman Yakelaya are on the ballot for the Aug. 22 election, stated Comferford in an email.
Edjericon is the former chair of Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and former Yellowknives Dene First Nation chief for Dettah.
Eileen Marlowe is the current director of communications for Akaticho Treaty 8 Tribal Corporation and has worked as the project co-ordinator with Women in Mining, Oil and Gas through the Status of Women Council.
Yakelaya held three terms as Sahtu MLA, was chair of the Sahtu Tribal Council and was the chief negotiator for Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreements and Tulita self-government. He is also a former chief of the Tulita Dene Band.
– Avery Zingel
'These are lies,' testifies accused
A 40-year-old man on trial for a string of assaults took the stand Wednesday to emphatically deny allegations leveled against him by his ex-girlfriend.
The man, who isn't being named to protect the identity of the alleged victim, is accused of committing numerous violent acts – including assault, sexual assault and uttering threats – against his former partner over a four year period.
"This is ridiculous. These are lies," the man said, responding to the Crown prosecutor Jay Potter's line of questioning during cross-examination. The man is being tried by a judge and a 10 person jury.
In making his closing submissions to the jury – made up of six men and four women – defence lawyer Charles Davison urged members to find his client not guilty of all charges, saying the accused's former partner was an unreliable witness who gave testimony that at times had an "aura of being made up on the spot."
The jury was deliberating Thursday afternoon at press time.
– Brendan Burke
Mine layoffs still coming this fall
Dominion Diamond Mines has refused proposals to help solve issues with employees at Ekati Diamond Mine and intends to lay off 150 workers by the end of September, says the Union of Northern Workers.
In a communique on Thursday, the union stated Dominion Diamond plans to fill these predominantly entry-level positions with contract workers by Oct. 1.
UNW called the move a "cost cutting mechanism to increase profitability" for the company. The union believes 80 per cent of jobs on the line belong to Northerners.
A grievance filed by the union will be referred to the Public Service Alliance of Canada, with the hope of having arbitration scheduled this summer.
The union also lodged an unfair labour practice complaint with the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.
Whati Chief Alfonz Nitsiza said the Tlicho government is working with Dominion Diamond to minimize the impact of any layoffs on his community.
"We hope they keep Tlicho workers there," Nitsiza said on Thursday. "We know there will be a great impact, so that's why we've been working and supporting our workers since we heard about (the layoffs)."
– Sidney Cohen
Man woke up people beside blaze
It's now known local resident Andrew Diveky was the person who woke up people living near a wild blaze downtown early Monday morning.
"I was the person who woke the people up during the fire while my girlfriend called the fire department," Diveky told Yellowknifer on Wednesday.
He identified the woman as Terri lynn Sampson-Rice.
Tenants living in the house directly beside fire told Yellowknifer hours after the incident they feel very lucky that the only damage their property suffered as a result of the fire is a number of smoked out windows that will need to be replaced.
"We got super lucky, a guy barged into our house and if it wasn't for him, this house would be gone," said Alex Perrett.
The building was constructed in 1946 by prospector Frank Moyle. It was one of the first residences in the city's downtown core.
An eyewitness said the blaze began around 1 a.m. on Monday. The Office of the Fire Marshal is currently working with the RCMP to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire. Police consider the fire to be "highly suspicious."
– James O'Connor
Ramble and ride to this AGM
Organizers are gearing up for the 12th annual Old Town Ramble & Ride festival and the Old Town Community Association is having its AGM on Tuesday, June 19.
The AGM is at 9 a.m. at Down To Earth Gallery, 5007 Bryson Dr.
The Ramble and Ride is on the August Long Weekend and is a free eco-friendly festival.
– James O'Connor
Dive into this survey
The Ruth Inch Memorial Pool has reached the end of its useful lifespan and based, in part, on the information gathered through the public engagement process, a concept plan for a new aquatic centre will be developed over the upcoming months.
Invitations to complete an online survey to gauge support for the construction of a new aquatic centre were mailed to every Yellowknife household during the week of June 4 to 8, the city stated in a recent news release.
Included in the mail-out is a unique access code to be used by a member of each household to complete an online survey on the city's home page at: yellowknife.ca. Households that do not have access to a computer can pick up a paper copy of the survey at the pool, city hall, Fieldhouse or library.
– James O'Connor