The federal government has announced a $5.2 million investment toward the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning to support post-secondary education for First Nations students.

The announcement was made at the Dechinta Centre on April 25th by The Hon. Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, The Hon. Blair, Minister of National Defence, and Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament of the Northwest Territories.

The Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning offers seasonal land-based learning programs, known as camps, during the spring, summer, fall, and winter. The program is designed for a small group of students who receive credits from the University of British Columbia (UBC). The program's grade is divided equally into two parts: 50 per cent for land-based skills, such as hide tanning, muskrat trapping, fishnet checking and setting, sewing, and beading, and the remaining 50 per cent for academic studies. Professors from British Columbia, Ontario, and Yukon teach the academic portion of the program for credit. The students are taught about self-governance, self-determination, and Indigenous resurgence for the academic portion. The course is conducted in the wild, in a tent, and includes participation from elders, professors, and students.

Kelsey Wrightson, who serves as the executive director of the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, felt excitement and a sense of responsibility when she heard the announcement. Wrightson says the work they do has a positive impact, and many communities have expressed their readiness for new programming, partnerships, and collaborations. 

The centre is creating a new approach to community-led education, which includes all community members ranging from infants to 90-year-olds. The stories people tell themselves about their capability of pursuing education directly impact their educational pursuits, says Wrightson. When individuals do not see people in their community or family members pursuing education, they are less likely to pursue it themselves. However, this can be changed. Over the past five years, more than 180 students have participated in this post-secondary education program. 

Kylie LeSage is the outreach coordinator for the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning. She participated in the program through UBC in 2018 and graduated from the University of Calgary with a degree using those credits. 

 "It connected me back with the land and Yellowknife," says LeSage. "I was able to come back home and learn from my elders." 

She also mentioned that the program is inclusive of families. One of the most significant barriers to delivering university courses is that people cannot find childcare and have to leave. When students are invited to attend, they can bring their children who can participate in the children and youth program. So, they are learning alongside their parents. 

The post Feds deliver $5.2 million boost for Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning appeared first on My True North Now.

Rami Kassem, the owner of Javaroma gourmet coffee and tea shops in Yellowknife, organized a fundraiser to support victims of the conflict in Gaza.

"Everyone knows what is happening in Palestine," states Kassem. He felt compelled to do something to support those in need.

Kassem pledged to donate a portion of drink sales, and thanks to the kindness of the coffee shops' customers, together they raised around $3,000 in support.

Kassem has organized fundraisers before. In the past, they raised around $7,000 for Haiti after the earthquake. When an earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, they organized a similar initiative and raised $4,000.

To support the victims of the conflict in Gaza, Kassem found contacts in Egypt near the Egypt–Palestine border and provided them with money to purchase food. He had to choose between offering rice to 2,000 people or a meal of rice and meat that could feed 850 to 900 people. "Although we wished to feed everyone, it was not possible. Therefore, we opted for chicken."

Kassem shared photos and a message with his customers on Facebook, which you can see below.

[gallery ids="69074,69076,69077,69078,69079,69075"]

The letter read:

The post Javaroma donates portion of sales to support Gaza residents appeared first on My True North Now.

If you find yourself distracted by the annoying buzz of mosquitos downtown, you may just be hearing things.

The device in the downtown core, has been brought forward for the first time at city hall by Yellowknife City Councillor Ben Hendriksen.

In late 2023, the owners of Centre Square Parkade installed a "Mosquito Device" at the entranceway to the underground parking garage on 51 Avenue. The device emits a high-pitched sound to reduce loitering and curb safety concerns. A similar device was also installed at the entrance of the above-ground parking garage for the same parkade on 50th Street.

The device is designed to deter loiterers, vandals, and other troublemakers by producing a sound that has a range of up to 130 feet (40 meters). The device installed in this area can be heard by people of all ages, but does not affect pets, birds, or other wildlife.

Hendriksen, says that using the Mosquito Device negatively impacts the rest of the downtown area. He believes that the benefits of parking underground should not outweigh the costs to everyone who needs or wants to be present in the downtown core. Hendriksen adds he doesn't object to its use if the noise were only audible on the owner's property, but believes that the tool should be regulated, just like the city regulates dog poop pickup, speed limits, and snow clearance on sidewalks. The owners have the devices on from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Initially, it was used for 24 hours.

Hendriksen states that when the device was first installed during the winter of 2023, it appeared to reduce loitering in the parkade. However, as the temperature began to rise, the situation changed.

Craig MacLean, The Director of Public Safety, stated that there is only one known complaint regarding the device. The complaint came from one person and was repeated three times. There have been no additional complaints since they became aware of the device in December 2023, which was initially brought to their attention by a media inquiry. MacLean said they don't have any statistics from the property manager regarding the device's effectiveness in curbing behaviours.

The city manager, John Collin, informed the city council that addressing the noise bylaw issue in the current year's work plan would be impossible due to the high workload and the risk of being unable to deliver on several other critical areas. If the noise bylaw issue is included in the work plan, something else will need to be removed from it.

There are currently no bylaws addressing public safety issues downtown, leaving people without tools to address these issues and turning to alternatives like this.

Noise control is just one aspect of the broader conversation needed around public safety in the downtown area. Tom McLennan, Yellowknife City Councillor, believes that devices are insufficient to address the issue, which is addiction and homelessness. He believes that more resources need to be directed towards this area, such as ensuring that the Street Outreach program provides timely resources and following up on the territory's homeless strategy.

Yellowknife's mayor, Rebecca Alty, has expressed doubts about the device's effectiveness and predicts that spending staff time on this issue is unnecessary, as it will likely disappear before the bylaw is changed. She states that the federal government has implemented Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action No. 21, which seeks long-term, sustainable funding for healing centres. Additionally, the Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) and RCMP have established a dedicated drug enforcement unit in GNWT. "We commissioned a $100,000 review of the Street Outreach program, so I want to see what recommendations come from that before we direct staff to do more research," Alty adds.

Counsellor Cat McGurk pointed out that sensory sensitivities can vary among individuals, and those with such sensitivities may find it challenging to cope with loud noises and disturbances that negatively affect their quality of life. She states that it would be unfortunate if a portion of the community would refrain from visiting a specific area of town due to such issues. As a counsellor, McGregor has received direct inquiries from many residents about this issue.

The post Council weighs in on anti-loitering device creating buzz downtown appeared first on My True North Now.

The GNWT has discontinued its makeshift day shelter service it had been running outside Aspen Apartments, leaving a number of patrons displaced.

The temporary day shelter, held at the Mine Resources building, was shut on May 31, leaving patrons of that shelter without anywhere to go. 

That shelter was set up because of the reduced capacity at the existing Sobering Centre, run by the NWT Disabilities Council, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The GNWT had set up temporary shower and food services outside of the Aspen Apartments buildings on 51 Street, but has since had to close those services. 

An appeal filed with the city means the GNWT has to shut down until a review of the permit is completed.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Services says when indoor COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, capacity restrictions will be lifted at the Sobering Centre on 50th Street, allowing more people to seek out services there.

Food and shower services are currently being offered at the Sobering Centre, but capacity issues are still in place.

In a press release from when the temporary day shelter was announced, the GNWT said 40 people had been displaced by reducing the capacity at the Sobering Centre.

The health department had shortlisted a vacant lot on 51st Street as a location for a new, permanent day and overnight shelter. The plan is for the space to accommodate 99 people in total, with 60 people able to use the day shelter at a time, as well as 30 overnight beds. 

Heath said the territory has money approved to build a new building. The timeline is hard to nail down though, says Heath, because of COVID-19. Work on an application for a permit on the building hasn’t started yet and the territorial government is still narrowing down its options.

The post GNWT closes Aspen Apartments shelter services due to permit appeal appeared first on My True North Now.

Numbers for collisions on NWT’s roads continued to drop in 2019, according to the latest numbers.

Since 2008, the total number of collisions has been declining along with the number of persons sustaining injuries, according to the NWT Collisions report for 2019. The number of collisions dropped from 550 in 2018 to 535 in 2019. 

The number of injuries also dropped from 100 to 77 people injured, which is more than a third lower than 2017’s numbers.

Fatalities in car accidents were up to six, from two in 2018. The number of fatal collisions was also up, four in 2019 compared to two in 2018. But because of the small sample size, the report says this is not indicative of a trend, and just part of the fluctuating numbers from year to year.

NWT is below the national average in both number of injuries in car collisions per 100,000 people and number of fatalities in car collisions, with the second lowest rate of fatalities in car collisions in countries — Ontario was the lowest, according to Statistics Canada.

NWT was also the second lowest in terms of number of injuries caused by car collisions per 100,000 people — Nunavut was the lowest.

Most of the collisions took place in the North Slave Region, with 64 per cent of collisions taking place there, while the North Slave Region also accounted for 55% of persons injured.

Backing unsafely was the biggest cause of accidents on NWT Highways, with more than a fifth of all accidents caused by that. In total, the report says driver error accounts for 70.5 per cent of all factors in collisions

The Department of Infrastructure cautioned drivers about the increase of trucks on NWT roads during the winter season. In a statement, they also advised driver’s check the weather before and tell someone about their planned route, especially if they are driving long distances.

“As cellular coverage is limited along some sections of NWT highways, drivers are encouraged to plan their route in advance and keep someone informed of their travel plans, especially when travelling between communities or far distances,” the infrastructure department said in an email.

Finance minister Caroline Wawzonek said there is an expression of interest currently out to expand cellular service on a stretch of highway between Behchoko and Yellowknife, but couldn’t commit to expanding wireless service more widely.

“Would that it be so easy? I cannot make that commitment at this point,” she said. “Again, it’s not lost on me, the aspect of safety, and it’s not lost on me the costs or the fact that we are behind coverage compared to the rest of Canada.”

The statement added people should bring the following items with them when going on long drives.

These include a two-way radio or satellite phone, a headlamp or flashlight, sand to help with tire traction, a first-aid kit and fire extinguisher, a winter-rated sleeping bag and reflective clothing, among other items.

The post Collisions down on roads in NWT appeared first on My True North Now.

The post Hunting update: Attention Dempster Highway caribou hunters appeared first on My True North Now.

The post Progress Update on the Child and Family Services System’s Quality Improvement appeared first on My True North Now.

The post Fort Providence Fire Chief is the 2019 NWT Fire Service Merit Award Recipient appeared first on My True North Now.

The post New provisions mean travellers will have full rights when things don’t go as expected appeared first on My True North Now.

The post Hunter Education being implemented as of January 1st by GNWT appeared first on My True North Now.