I have been spring cleaning in my paper world these last few days. I have collected information that will help people at the grassroots. In Norman Wells, you cannot even buy magazines or major newspapers. We have three territorial newspapers that we receive weekly and, of course, the news on television.
Talk about isolation. I know people moved out of the Sahtu. They couldn’t stand the thought that there is no road south.
But, back to my papers, the Government of the Northwest Territories offers a lot of jobs. There are jobs in education and business, etc. The public creates so many societies and committees to help and improve life for women and grassroots people. After 57 years of the GNWT, it seems only people who are well off are the people in government. I still say that the only way to reach the local people in the small communities is to have a central hangout to accommodate everyone, both the youth and the adults. A on- stop shop with an information center with all the government’s multi-information on jobs, including training, education, etc. The GNWT has many departments and they each have their own information in their own offices and the government has hundreds of offices -- all out of reach. Plus, the government often puts ads in the newpapers.
The ads are so small, people ignore them. I really think there is madness to their way of dealing with the public, the grassroots people. Why is nothing improving in the smaller communities? After all the years the GNWT has been in power -- and most of the MLAs are Aboriginal -- why is the Aboriginal world in such a sad state of affairs? We cannot blame all the government. It is up to the local people in the Sahtu. We have Danny McNeely who is disappointed in the public. They don’t communicate with their MLAs enough.
There are also too many conferences. I’m looking at one conference held in 2005 – the GNWT Governance Conference. The money spent on meetings, workshops, assemblies -- information in the media by the GNWT did not seem to improve life for the grassroots.
So, I think we must revitalize our own regions ourselves. In the Sahtu, we have the mighty Mackenzie River. Bring back the boats and the barges and build a huge warehouse in each of the communities like we used to have to store a year’s supply of food and goods. Let’s put on our thinking caps and start to use our brains for a change. We can’t we start a manufacturing business for clothing with northern designs? Or, start a factory to make china, as we have the best clay in the Sahtu along the Mackenzie River? Or woodwork making window frames or furniture, etc. There is no end to what we can do. And, we can force the GNWT to build a good solid winter road in the whole Sahtu.
Plus, we should encourage more mining. They say we are sitting on world class, giant mineral deposits. Nunavut is going full blast in mining. The feds devolved the management of the land, water and resources to the GNWT so ... keep your eyes on our government. As I said they have done nothing to stimulate growth since the 1960s. It’s time for the little people to speak up. And, Aboriginals must start looking at their leaders. You always hear the complaints that the leaders only take care of themselves. They must start looking at their men and women closely and look at their track records. Also, more women should run for office. And win!
Time to think and plan throughout the winter months and maybe we can create an exciting region open for many businesses! OK? See you next week.