Over 200 members of the 41 Canadian Brigade group, part of the militia known as Task Force Grizzly, were out on (and in) a frozen lake in Yellowknife on Friday morning. They were there participating in an ice rescue exercise on the last leg of what was a two week mission for some. The brigade was part of a larger mission known as Operation Nanook-Nuvailivut, made up of members of Joint Task Force North who travelled from Edmonton to Yellowknife
A gathering of people from across the territory and beyond overflowed from the visitor centre space on Thursday evening in Yellowknife to hear Ambe Chenemu speak. Chemenu is the founder of BACupNorth, a Black Advocacy Coalition. A trailblazing community visionary, Chenemu is also a lead member of a number of advocacy groups, board chair for NWT Integrated and Community Services, along with leading a number of health, housing and economic development organizations.
The government of Canada has announced a plan to extend funding for the Inuit Child First Initiative. In response, Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland said that it is a positive sign. The minister added that it remains unclear whether the guidelines for Inuit Child First or Jordan’s Principle have changed in a way that allows children and families to better access services in the N.W.T.
AVENS announced that they are holding a ceremony in honour of long-term staff at the facility, which first opened its doors over 40 years ago in the city of Yellowknife. The “Going the Extra Mile for Seniors” Awards ceremony will celebrate “650 years of collective service.”In an announcement today, Colleen Wellborn, Chair of the AVENS Board of Directors said the event highlights dedicated staff, whose contributions are “vital” to the older adult community.
The Mackenzie Valley Environmental impact board plans to engage with key community stakeholders in the coming weeks to include Traditional Knowledge in their environmental assessment guidelines. With the guidelines first issued over 20 years ago, the change marks a new direction in how the environmental assessment process will proceed for the Mackenzie Valley region.
With nearly 200 community leaders and representatives making their way to Yellowknife, the NWT Association of Communities’ anticipate what could be their largest gathering yet as they plan their 60th Annual General Meeting. A delegation of more than 170 leaders and representatives from communities across the N.W.T. plan to meet at the Chateau Nova hotel in the city over a four day period beginning Feb. 26. The gathering has long been recognized among the largest of its nature in the territory.
Following the selection of Arviat, Nunavut, as the site of Inuit Nunangat University’s main campus, the process to choose regional knowledge centres and satellite campuses across Inuit Nunangat is underway. Arviat, with a population of about 3,000, is Nunavut’s third-largest community and has one of the highest proportions of youth in the country.
The federal government announced the strategy Monday, describing it as the country’s first national defence industrial strategy. Simpson said those elements are particularly relevant to the North. He said equipment and technology systems intended for use in the Arctic should be tested in the territory’s northern climate and developed in partnership with northern governments, Indigenous rights holders and communities.