News/North February 1, 2021 edition

NWT pair's film script wins big Heather Heinrichs and Sadetlo Scott have won $20,000 to produce movie on Indigenous birthing experience

1257+:(67 7(55,725,(6 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Volume 75 Issue 39

$.95 (plus GST)

Myrine Kakfwi on the mend

Dear Fort Liard ...

High demand for dentistry in Norman Wells

Northern politicians glad to see Beyak go

Koe looks ahead to Brier wildcard

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photo courtesy of CKLB

Myra Conrad, host of the Saturday Request Show on CKLB, aired dozens of supportive messages from listeners for the Dear Fort Liard campaign that ran primarily on Jan. 23.

"Nihtat was always in favour of the project, we weren't against it, we just had some questions on the decision. But we're past that now." – NGC President Robert Charlie now says a wind farm planned for outside of Inuvik will go ahead, page 6.

2 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021

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NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, February 1, 2021 3

Did we get it wrong?

News/North is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in News/North, call (867) 873-4031 and ask to speak to an editor, or email editorial@ nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can.

News Briefs Almost 9,500 Covid-19 vaccines administered NWT A total of 9,471 first doses of the Covid19 vaccine have been administered in the NWT as of Monday, said Health Minister Julie Green in a tweet Jan. 26.

The latest tally comes a day after Green also announced that vaccinations have been conducted for priority groups in all 33 communities of the territory.

In Yellowknife, the vaccine clinic is in its extended phase of Monday to Thursday of this week for individuals aged 60 and older, after overwhelmingly demand for vaccinations on Jan. 18 to 22 saw 1,000 spots booked up almost immediately.

The update on vaccines marks a significant increase from the previous update on Jan. 18, when 1,893 doses had been given.

– Blair McBride

fact file nwt covid-19 situation as of Jan. 28 Active cases: 0 Confirmed cases: 31 Recovered cases: 36 Completed tests: 11,879 Negative tests: 11,834 Pending tests: 40

Scan for the latest GNWT Covid-19 statistics

Days since first confirmed case: 315 Days since last confirmed case: 10 Common symptoms: Runny nose or congestion (57 per cent), cough (57 per cent), fever, (39 per cent), muscle aches (39 per cent), headache (32 per cent), malaise (32 per cent), fatigue (29 per cent) Source: Office of the Chief Public Health Officer

Awake and alert, man with Covid out of induced coma

Worker diagnosed with Covid-19 at Gahcho Kué site NWT An individual has been confirmed to have the Covid-19 virus at the Gahcho Kué satellite winter road work camp, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer announced on Jan. 27.

A news release issued Jan. 27 states an employee of a company contracted by Gahcho Kué is isolating and doing well.

"The work camp has a pre-designated quarantine area separate from the accommodations facility," the release states.

– Simon Whitehouse

GNWT releases health-care guidelines for trans, gender nonconforming individuals NWT A set of GNWT healthcare guidelines on a new referral process for transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming individuals was released to the public on Jan. 28.

The Health Care for Transgender, NonBinary, and Gender Nonconforming People: Guidelines for the NWT sets out a new referral process that removes the need for a psychiatrist to diagnose an NWT patient with gender dysphoria, which was previously a common requirement in Canada before an individual could receive health care services.

It is anticipated that the new process will reduce long wait times for accessing those services.

The guidelines acknowledge that transgender and gender nonconfirming people are an underserved population who still face societal stigma and discrimination in areas including health care.

– Blair McBride

NWT resident wins $10,000 in lottery Deninu Kue/ Fort Resolution Blain Sanderson of For Resolution is now $10,000 richer after plaing The Bigger Spin, according to a Jan. 28 news release from the Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

"I saw that I matched a number on my ticket, so I had the cashier check it for me," he said. "When I saw that I won $10,000, I was so happy."

Sanderson purchased his ticket from the local Northern store.

He says he doens't have any concrete plans for his winnings but thinks he will share some with family.

– Brett McGarry

photo courtesy of Dolly Pierrot

Myrine Kakfwi smiles from his hospital bed on Monday, just days after he came out of a coma. He now requires less oxygen output from his ventilator and communicates with his parents with a marker and whiteboard, said his mother Dolly Pierrot, who is from Fort Good Hope. Kakfwi was diagnosed with Covid-19 in December and became critically ill weeks later.

Myrine Kakfwi has been in an Alberta hospital since early December

by Blair McBride

Northern News Services

Edmonton

A man originally from Fort Good Hope who became critically ill with Covid-19 has come out of a coma and has experienced significant improvements since Saturday.

"He's awake. He's alert. He's aware that his father and I are in the room with him," his mom Dolly "Dee" Pierrot said Monday.

Her son Myrine Kakfwi was diagnosed with Covid-19 in December and put in the intensive care unit at the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton.

Following his hospitalization, the 30-year-old Myrine contracted double pneumonia and his right lung collapsed. After some initial easing of his symptoms, when he was able to Facetime with his family from his hospital bed, his condition deteriorated.

He was put into an induced coma and on life support and had developed three lung infections.

But Pierrot said that Myrine is now off all of his sedation and his antibiotic treatment was reduced from four medications to two.

"They did a chest X-ray (on Sunday) and the doctor was quite pleased with the results.

He's writing down things on a white board with a marker. He can't speak because he has a tube in his throat.

"He wrote (on the white board) 'the X-ray guy said thumbs up.'"

Pierrot added that on Sunday Myrine was able to stand up and sit down, and his ventilator output was reduced from providing him with 45 per cent oxygen to 35 per cent.

"He's doing most of the work breathing by himself," Pierrot said.

Doctors have told Pierrot and Myrine's

father Wayne that even though the Covid-19 infection has left his body, it will take some time until he can leave the hospital due to the hole in his right lung that needs to be repaired.

"They can't tell us what else they can do because they don't know yet."

His mother stressed that Myrine's experiences since his diagnosis shows the seriousness of Covid-19.

"I just encourage everyone to get that vaccine because we're so isolated in the small communities. There are no ventilators in the communities."

Myrine moved from Fort Good Hope to Edmonton about two-and-a half years ago with plans to pursue carpentry at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He had been doing carpenter apprentice work until his Covid-19 diagnosis.

4 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021

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Elders to begin receiving second doses Two more shipments of Moderna doses expected in February

by Blair McBride

Northern News Services

NWT

Residents and staff at long-term care facilities in the NWT will in a few days be offered their second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

"People who rang in the new year with their first dose of vaccine like Bruce Jonasson at Avens and Caroline Douglas at the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors Home in Behchoko will be fully immunized within the next couple of weeks," chief public health officer (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola said Jan. 27.

Kandola spoke to reporters almost one full month since the NWT's vaccination campaign began on Dec. 31, when Elders in long-term care homes were the first people in the territory to receive first doses of the Moderna vaccine.

Jonasson, who lives at Aven Manor in Yellowknife said on Dec. 31 that it was "marvellous" to be among the first people in the NWT to be vaccinated.

"The next two shipments of vaccines anticipated in February will be the second doses of the vaccine given to people in priority populations like Bruce and Caroline. I hope this focus on protecting our most vulnerable brings comfort to families across the North," said Kandola, who added that probably more than 10,000 doses have now been given to the most vulnerable residents.

Health Minister Julie Green announced Tuesday that almost 9,500 first doses of Moderna had

been administered to residents and all 33 communities have conducted clinics.

The CPHO has said previously that it takes at least six weeks for full immunization to be achieved, since the second dose should come 28 days after the first one, and another two weeks must pass until the vaccine becomes fully effective.

The NWT has so far received two shipments of Moderna vaccines.

The first arrived on Dec. 28 and the second came in mid-January, for a total of 14,400 doses.

"We anticipate two more shipments in February," Kandola said.

"They'll provide the second doses for the first two shipments. One will be in the first week of February and then the next one will be the last week of February."

Territorial medical director Dr. AnneMarie Pegg, said that after her past experiences with numerous vaccination programs, "this one is going extremely well.

"Our ability to get into every community in the NWT over the past four weeks and administer vaccines to residents across this vast territory is a great success, and hopefully a turning point in the pandemic for our territory."

The progressive expansion of the Yellowknife vaccine clinic for priority populations since it started on Jan. 18 shows the campaign has widened its net, Pegg said, though it wasn't necessarily working ahead of its schedule.

Health authorities were able to vaccinate priority groups faster than

GNWT image

Residents and staff of long-term care facilities are expected to receive their second doses of the Moderna vaccine this month, said chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola in a news conference on Jan. 27. the initial vaccine plan accounted for because as dose numbers were tallied at the end of each clinic there were enough remaining that other members of higher risk groups could be vaccinated.

"It really reflects the dynamic nature of the vaccination supply that we have here," Pegg said. "We would love to have been able to vaccinate everyone all at the same time. But with the way the allotments arrive, we need to make sure that we are able to vaccinate anyone who makes an appointment. And also make sure that we're keeping vaccine numbers available so that when further allot-

ments arrive, we're able to use those to give these people their second dose.

Determining when the territory's Covid-19 vaccine program can be considered wrapped up depends on several factors, Kandola said.

The forecast into the spring of 2021 looks good because the NWT is expected to receive its vaccine allotment for the general population by late March, but some aspects of the Covid-19 situation need more research.

Some groups aren't yet eligible for vaccination, such as youth under 18 years of age and clinical trials

still need to be seen for that population as children head into the next school year.

The variants of Covid-19 circulating around the world are another factor and call into question if booster vaccines would be available.

"By April, we hope that everyone would have got (a) second dose (in the NWT). But it doesn't mean that we're going to stop vaccinating.

We're not going to open up to other population groups. We're also going to take into consideration whether we need a booster so that information is always evolving, and we're learning as we go."

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NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, February 1, 2021 5

Northerners' caring nature shines through 'Dear Fort Liard' campaign Messages sent over the airwaves amid community's Covid outbreak

by Blair McBride

Northern News Services

Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard

"Northerners definitely reach out in times of need."

That's what Rob Oullette said he discovered from being part of the Dear Fort Liard campaign, launched jointly between CKLB and the GNWT on Jan. 23 to show solidarity with the Dehcho community following the outbreak of six cases of Covid-19 there.

"We're very satisfied with the response. The callers sent their best wishes to the folks of Fort Liard," said Oullette, CEO of the Native Communications Society, which operates CKLB Radio.

The campaign kicked off on Jan. 23 for the station's Saturday Request Show when CKLB asked listeners to share supportive messages for Fort Liard residents during the regular song request period.

Thirty-five voice-mail messages

and one video from an unnamed MLA poured in.

Chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola also tweeted a video message for the campaign.

"The rest of Northwest Territories is cheering for you, and I'm cheering for you. Mahsi cho," she said after reminding residents to practise recommended health measures.

Oullette said the Saturday Request Show was chosen because it's the station's most popular program.

"It's listened to all over North America and all over the world," he said. "We had a request recently from Cleveland, Ohio. We were very thrilled with what happened."

It's hard for Oullette to pinpoint the most memorable messages received, as CKLB "cherished" all listeners' participation in the campaign that ran until Jan. 30, the same day the lockdown order in Fort Liard was scheduled to end.

photo courtesy of CKLB

Myra Conrad, host of the Saturday Request Show on CKLB, aired dozens of supportive messages from listeners for the 'Dear Fort Liard' campaign that ran primarily on Jan. 23.

Northern MPs pleased controversial senator resigns Lynn Beyak said the residential school system was 'well intentioned'

by Blair McBride

Northern News Services

NWT

The news of the retirement of Lynn Beyak, a controversial senator from northwestern Ontario was welcomed on Monday by Michael McLeod, MP for the NWT. Beyak, who has a history of making controversial comments on residential schools announced her retirement on Monday, as CBC reported.

"I feel that it's a good thing that she's out of Canada's Senate," McLeod said.

"It was troublesome to know that we had a senator that sat in the Senate that was viewed by many including myself as out of touch and somewhat disconnected from other senators."

Named to the Senate by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2013, Beyak's announcement follows a motion

by Sen. Mary Jane McCallum on Dec. 8, 2020 to have Beyak permanently removed from her position in the next sitting.

In her motion, McCallum said that Beyak's actions "brought the Senate into disrepute" and called for her to be expelled and her seat declared vacant.

Beyak's decision to retire comes three years before her mandatory retirement date and follows her complicated tenure in the Senate.

In 2017, she was removed from the Red Chamber's Aboriginal Affairs Committee after saying that the residential school system was "well-intentioned" and that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission failed to focus on the good of the schools.

A year later she posted dozens of letters on her website that contained language and senti-

ments regarded as racist and insensitive towards Indigenous people, a move that spurred former Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer to remove her from the Conservative national caucus.

"I could never understand what her rationale was to try to rewrite part of Canada's history," said McLeod, who is a member of the Liberal party.

"It's been proven that the government had two primary objectives. One was to remove and isolate children from their parents and culture. And the second was to assimilate them into a new culture. They wanted to kill the Indian in the child. Somehow (Beyak) felt you could take the position that it wasn't totally wrong. But most of us think it was totally wrong."

Canadians have to be careful that practices that occurred in history aren't repeated and that people shouldn't "whitewash" history, McLeod explained.

"It's blatantly obvious the (residential school) policy was wrong. It caused great harm and some of the effects we're still living with today. The young children, virtually babies were punished severely at the schools. They were forbidden to speak their languages.

They suffered various kinds of physical, sexual and psychological abuse. The children came back to their communities and lost all ties to their culture."

McLeod himself is a residential school survivor and attended Akaitcho Hall in the 1970s, though he said that by that time conditions in the school weren't as severe as in previous years and it was operated by the government and not churches.

He said he's currently the

only sitting MP in the House of Commons who attended residential school. In the previous term of the federal government, McLeod and Romeo Saganash were the only sitting MPs who were residential school survivors.

Senator Margaret Dawn Anderson, the NWT's sole representative in the Red Chamber and who is originally from Tuktoyaktuk, said Monday she has no comment on Beyak's retirement.

Anderson called for the removal of Beyak from the Senate in 2020 for her "unwillingness" to give voice to underrepresented groups in Canada.

"It's no longer acceptable to be in denial or ignorant of our Indigenous history or the impacts on Indigenous people," she said.

Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, meanwhile, was more blunt with her reaction: "Good riddance," her statement read.

In her time in the Red Chamber, Sen. Lynn Beyak faced discipline for saying the residential schools were "well-intentioned" and for posting letters regarded as racist on her website. Canada Senate photo

6 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021

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Nihtat Gwich'in Council withdraws judicial review of wind turbine 'We weren't against it, we just had some questions on the decision' says NGC president

by Eric Bowling

Northern News Services

Inuvik

After several hearings before the Gwich'in Land and Water Board (GLWB) and requesting a judicial review of the Inuvik Wind Project in relation to how it was approved, the Nihtat Gwich'in Council (NGC) has rescinded its request for the review following a majority vote by its membership.

NGC members voted 15 to six, with one abstention, in favour of a motion to rescind the judicial review during the designated Gwich'in organization's Jan. 16 annual general assembly.

"Initially when the decision was made, the council wanted the membership to be informed," said NGC president Robert Charlie.

"The members decided they wanted to cancel the judicial review, so the project will move ahead.

"Nihtat was always in favour of the project, we weren't against it, we just had some questions on the decision. But we're past that now."

Initially expected to be in operation by 2020, the single

wind turbine is now expected to be completed by 2022.

The 80-metre-tall structure will stand 12 kilometres east of Inuvik on Highpoint and is projected to provide up to 30 per cent of Inuvik's power requirements.

NGC had initially raised an objection July 30 to the GLWB towards the project going forward, stating the GNWT did not have the legal right to hand the land over to Northwest Territories Power Corporation because several

pieces of legislation were not followed, particularly the Reindeer Grazing Reserve Order, which sets aside the area for conservation.

At the time, then NGC President Jozef Carnogursky told News/North NGC

was never against the wind turbine itself, but wanted to ensure the proper legal framework was followed.

The complaint was dismissed by the GLWB Oct. 29. But on Nov. 30, the NGC filed for a judicial review on

NNSL file photo

Plans to construct a wind turbine near Inuvik are now able to go forward after membership of the Nihtat Gwich'in Council voted to rescind a judicial review request of the project.

the same legal argument.

GTC Grand Chief Ken Smith said he was happy the membership pulled the judicial review and was looking forward to seeing the project go forward.

"We are pleased with Nihtat council following the direction that was provided to them by their annual general assembly on Saturday," he said.

"Now that the judicial review has been withdrawn, the proponents can go about their preparations and the planning required for the final acquisition of any and all permits they require and along with that is the planning of the procurement of the equipment they are going to require, as well as the planning of the contract packages they need to construct the facility.

"It provides a path forward for us and the Nihtat Gwich'in to work with the NTEC (Northwest Territories Energy Corporation) to help construct this important energy project for the town of Inuvik while utilizing and expanding the skills and capabilities of Gwich'in businesses and participants."

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NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, February 1, 2021 7

YK dental team faces overwhelming demand returning to Norman Wells It has been nearly one year since dental visits have taken place in communities

by Blair McBride

Northern News Services

Lli Goline/Norman Wells

A dental team from Yellowknife is resuming visits to the Sahtu region and are facing overwhelming demand for their services in Norman Wells.

"Every day we're seeing 18 to 20 patients. We work from 9 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. minimum. We were fully booked before we arrived," said Dr. Pirjo Friedman, a dentist from Adam Dental Clinic who visited the region on Jan. 18.

The visit comes more than six weeks after Health Minister Julie Green announced that dental trips could resume to six rural and remote communities including Fort Providence, Sambaa K'e, Fort Simpson, Aklavik, Fort Resolution and Norman Wells.

Friedman's team was scheduled to spend 10 days starting Jan. 18 seeing patients at a temporary clinic in the Sahtú Got'iné Regional Health and Social Services Centre in Norman Wells.

Patients are coming in from all of the Sahtu communities including Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Deline, Tulita and Norman Wells.

"They're very welcoming and appreciative," Friedman said.

It has been almost one year since Friedman last travelled to the Sahtu to provide dental services, after dental travel was suspended by the chief public

photo courtesy of Pirjo Friedman

Receptionist Clara Kelly, left, takes a break between dental appointments in Norman Wells on Jan. 21. She is pictured with Dr. Pirjo Friedman and dental assistants Carol Edgar and Kaushik Varadha. health officer when the Covid19 pandemic began last March.

The long delay in dental travel is partly due to the fact that many remote communities lack health infrastructure that can satisfy Covid-19 regulations on dental procedures.

One issue is that health facilities with only one or a few rooms can't circulate air fast enough to meet rules on air changes per hour, a meas-

photo courtesy of Pirjo Friedman

Dr. Pirjo Friedman, left, tests a dental light on receptionist Clara Kelly as assistant Kaushik Varadha holds a suction unit.

urement of the time it takes to remove airborne bacteria or infectious aerosols from the air.

That problem has been mitigated at the Norman Wells dental clinic because its HVAC air system isn't shared with the Sahtú Déné Néchá Ko Long Term Care facility, which is in the same building, according to the Covid-19 mitigation plan for the Norman Wells dental room.

"For the other health centres we bring our own portable units that have suction to suck up saliva or water or blood. I bring portable bottles for that but they're not very safe."

While Friedman said she's excited to be seeing patients again in the Sahtu, she feels the 10 days of appointments won't be enough and she c ontinues to advocate that Norman Wells become a dental

hub for the region.

"Maybe 10 days every month would be enough. If we're going to serve the other communities in Sahtu I'm really concerned that it's not enough time," she said.

"After this, the next trip is in March but I recommend we come in February too to keep up with the patients. We have too many people calling every day for appointments but we have nothing (more) to offer this trip."

Norman Wells mayor Frank Pope said the community is very pleased to welcome the dental team.

"We have, and have had, many people requiring dental care over the past 11 months," Pope said.

"Some were able to get help by flying to Yellowknife, however the majority suffered and waited for service to resume."

Pope remarked that even those who have been able to fly to Yellowknife for oral care pay about $2,500 for air and hotel costs, not including the fees for dental services. Not all residents have their costs covered.

In September of 2020, he spoke in favour of a full-time, permanent dental service in the Sahtu to meet the needs of residents and offset the high costs of travel to Yellowknife.

"I would think the 10-day clinic will be well attended.

Next step will be for the dental provider to prepare a schedule of visits for the next year," he said.

Friedman's next visit outside of Yellowknife will be to Fort Resolution for Feb. 7 to 12. Before Covid, she made regular trips to seven communities that included Fort Good Hope, Whati and Lutsel K'e.

In many other NWT communities where dental services have not yet restarted, the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program continues to pay the medical transportation costs of NIHB clients, said Indigenous Services Canada spokesperson Leslie Michelson.

"This interim measure will continue, on an as-needed basis, until dental services are able to fully resume operations in all established community facilities," she said.

The remaining communities where dentists visited before the Covid-19 pandemic can resume operations when contracts are ready; facility upgrades are complete and inspected and meet Covid-19 safety protocols, Green said.

Those efforts are expected to continue throughout 2021 and 2022.

8 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021 1257+:(67 7(55,725,(6

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photo courtesy of the GNWT

Premier Caroline Cochrane, centre, met with members of the border patrol at the NWT-Yukon border Jan. 6. Cochrane said she wanted to get a first-hand view of how people coming into the territory are screened for Covid-19.

Focusing on Indigenous employment on Delta The premier's visit to the Yukon border revealed the entire enforcement team there was born-and-raised in the North Northern News Services

The issue: Last week, News/North's sisindigenous employment ter newspaper, Inuvik Drum, had two separate stories that both We say: brought up the number of NWTreasons for optimism born, Indigenous workers currently employed, with Premier Caroline Cochrane praising how the Yukon of every five senior managers is border crew for Covid-19 was Indigenous. entirely staffed by Fort McPherson Semmler notes there are tons and Tsiigehtchic residents of loopholes that enable and Inuvik-Twin Lakes MLA a manager to close a job Lesa Semmler noting the competition if they don't dial on Aboriginal employget the candidate they ment in the public sector want and re-run it until has not moved much, if at they get their preferred all, in 40 years. choice. She also concedes While the premier is that oftentimes locallyhighlighting an excellent born candidates have the first step in helping people experience needed to Eric take financial control of relate to the community Bowling their own destinies, the they service, but may lack problems Semmler highin the needed academic Guest lights seem to be far more editorial qualifications. rampant.

To get those qualificaFinance Minister Carotions requires travel south line Wawzonek told the Legislafor education, which is only really tive Assembly in November that possible if you can afford it and in spite of making up close to half have the prerequisites to get into the entire population of the NWT, a post-secondary institution, which only 30 per cent of the GNWT's requires a solid Grade 12 education workforce has been Indigenous with strong core subjects. Plus, you for decades – which you can split have to be able to afford to move and live in a totally different place even further to find that 21 per while you pursue your degree or cent are Indigenous women and only nine per cent of the workforce diploma.

This is an entire universe away are Indigenous men. Only one out

from what the "fly-in, fly-out" portion of the population who have come up here to fill these jobs experience. I'll use myself as an example – all I needed to do to get qualifications was figure out where in Edmonton I needed to register for the classes. Moving into the field of journalism was also fairly straightforward – I applied to a program and completed it.

Contrast this to someone who was born here, lives here and expects to be buried here. Even when the economy is booming, there are only so many jobs to go around and so many bridges available. Someone who has had a spate of bad luck with jobs could find themselves left without options.

Isolated in the Beaufort Delta, job opportunities could dry up over one's lifetime. The lack of opportunities effectively becomes a trap.

How do we get out of this vicious cycle? Certainly more emphasis on education is key, but youth growing up have to see a use for said education to want to pursue it. We also need more Beaufort-born biologists, project managers, politicians and professionals of all stripes so youth have ideas to inspire them.

All this requires political will to put the money where it needs to be, so I'm glad our current government is taking this issue seriously.

editorial – opinions

NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, February 1, 2021 9

Our NWT TEST ski team!

Mountain

View

Antoine Mountain is a Dene artist and writer originally from Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope. He can be reached at: amountainarts.com.

Northern News Services

Friends, pictures like this one bring back a lot of memories.

To represent the North as we did, for the first-ever Canada Winter Games, winter of 1967, we had to go out in the freezing 30 to 40 below weather, almost every day, to train under the Northern lights.

For me it was a chance to get away from the soul-wrenching residential school, the notorious Grollier Hall. I know that at least one other member of the team felt the same way.

Our coaches, Father Mouchet and Dave Sutherland were very strict but fair, putting us through our paces, trying to let us know, this early on, what to expect.

Because we trained in such low temperatures we weren't used to what we thought of as balmy weather, when we raced in the 'outside', the south.

People there could not believe it

photo courtesy of Antoine Mountain

The 1967 NWT ski team, back row, Father Mochet, left, John Turo, Antoine Mountain, coach Dave Sutherland, Gloria Allen and Harold Cook, front row, Fred the Kelly-Express, left, Margaret Steen, John Ross, Eva Tourangeau and Janette Tourangeau. when we took part in the grueling cross-country runs, in our T-shirts!

Of the nine athletes pictured here, four are from my hometown of Radelie Koe, Fort Good Hope.

To this day our local athletes are superior and often come back to

decorate the high school gym with a growing number of winning banners and new additions to the trophy case.

The two Tourangeau girls make six of nine from the Sahtu, Great Bear Lake Region.

I am third from left on the top row, with the late John Turo next to me. He was also a well-known artist, from the late '70s on.

The one team member I was always the most impressed with, though, was John Ross, in centre of

the bottom row.

This young man from Fort McPherson just showed up one day and we didn't see a lot of him in the races. You knew for sure he was at the starting gate, but after that it was anyone's guess where he might be at.

He didn't have a lot of the precise technique required to cover a lot of ground, fast, but he had that indomitable Gwich'in heart and determination you just don't see a lot of anywhere, anytime!

For the record, the top row, left, are coach Father Mochet, John Turo, me, coach Dave Sutherland, Gloria Allen and Harold Cook. Bottom row, Fred the Kelly-Express, Margaret Steen, John Ross, Eva and Janette Tourangeau.

Janette did the best of our team at the Canada Winter Games, putting the North on the sports map.

Five, including the Firth Twins, Roseanne Allen and myself, made it all the way to the NWT Sports Hall of Fame, with one coach, Father Mouchet.

This man skied almost every day of his long life. One belief of his which I have always shared is that, in his words, "Nature is the Church!"

Some memories never die!

We asked you! with Eric Bowling in Tuktoyaktuk nwtnewsnorth@nnsl.com

Why are you getting a Covid-19 vaccine?

Sister Fay Trombley Billy Jacobson "I'm 80 and I have lots "So I don't get really to do in Tuk. I want to be sick." around until I'm 98."

Fred Wolki "I think it's going to be pretty good – I don't feel sick today."

John Walker "Because of my age group and for my family's sake."

10 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021

commentary

The rebirth of NWT constitutional development When action is taken by governments that units. deserve attention and support, even in these Devolution was the last and largest transfer times of Covid supremacy for media attention, of authority from the federal government to I feel an obligation to do so. Premier Caroline the public government in the NWT. The original deal was a take it or leave it arrangement Cochrane's recent announcement of a new designed by the Harper cabinet based upon policy on jurisdiction over resource decisions, recommendations by an Alberta crony. The made in conjunction with Indigenous Government leaders is a major step forward in our devolution deal sought to change completely territory, an event that seemed very unlikely the hard fought for rights of indigenous governments. The fact that the GNWT under previous administrations. To was willing to give up their support state that "the protocol recognizes of certain indigenous powers to get that we are co- governments on devolution should surely say to those this territory, the GNWT is not the Indigenous governments that they higher government, " is a strong need to get more formal relationand meaningful move. ships, bound by a constitutional As co-chair of the last constituent assembly held in the NWT process. on Constitutional Development, One very interesting part of the in 1996, I remember very well the devolution agreement is Chapter 6.

GUEST 200 people assembled from all This led me, as the sitting MP, to walks of life in the North, supsupport the bill. After trying everyComment porting the concept of twin tracks thing to change the poison pill in the Dennis Bevington is of government in the NWT, public a Northern renewable legislation, the presence of Chapter and Indigenous. Coming out of the energy expert and 6 in the bill gave me some hope that Bourque Commission of the early former Northwest we could move ahead in the NWT. Territories MP. That section opened the door for the '90s with its wide ranging recommendations on structure and power GNWT to enter into shared jurisdiction relationships with Indigenous sharing, and in the context of our governments. So the premier's statement, made soon to be status as a territory separate from without the support from the federal governNunavut, the assembly was a love-in, a sense of our destiny, as a unique and beautiful part of ment, and I have heard, from her bureaucrats as well, has its strength in legislation.

Canada.

Where do we go from here? Are we at the Within weeks after that, with strong support from the federal government, the GNWT, whim of future governments to keep up this under Premier Nellie Cournoyea pulled the idea? Will Indigenous governments be satisplug on any funding for that public effort. Sub- fied with words from one premier and cabinet, sequent governments have made some efforts, lacking a legislated certainty? Will developers but the strength of those efforts have been less ever invest with surety in a territory whose than complete. The public has been taken out practising jurisdiction is lacking finality? How of the equation entirely, the work that has been done, has been in negotiation between political Please see Where, page 13

community

NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, February 1, 2021 11

Wekweètì's abandoned plane has sparked conversations for decades Territorial government says background and ownership of aircraft remain a mystery

by Blair McBride

Northern News Services

Wekweètì

Driving near the airport in Wekweètì, keen observers might notice an airplane sitting just before the treeline, on the north side of the road.

It's not a monument. It's not an old trapper's makeshift shelter. And it's probably not a bear's den. It's simply a derelict plane.

What is known about the plane is that it's been sitting there about 300 metres from the runway, abandoned for at least 26 years in the fly-in Tlicho community.

But that's the only set of facts that everyone agrees on.

"Everyone here has their own version of the story but nobody seems to have the exact details," said Melizia "Zia" Costa, operations manager with the Tlicho Community Services Agency in Wekweètì.

When Costa first arrived in the community about a year and a half ago, she saw the aircraft and thought, "You (don't) want to see a little crashed plane by the airport!"

She asked residents about it and was told it was the first plane that landed at that airport, in 1994. Costa said Wekweètì's original airport was on the west side of town, but when the tank farm was built the airport had to be moved as per federal regulations and it was relocated to its current spot on the east side.

"It's always the same story. You laugh when you hear the story. I don't understand why it's by an airport where aircraft come in and it's

just been sitting there," Costa said.

"Wouldn't you want to get it out of here? It's clearly damaged. It would need to be put on a flatback (truck) and taken out on the ice road."

"I've spoken to several people and the one thing they agree on is that it was the personal plane of a man named Dave from Hay River. I can't get a last name."

Roy Judas witnessed the plane's demise in 1994 when he and several others were working on extending the airstrip.

He concurs that it belongs to someone from Hay River.

"I don't think it was the first plane to land here, but I'm not sure," said Judas, who works as a caribou monitor with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

"It was in the winter. I don't know what month but it was cold. We saw (the plane) land. The plane was already parked. The pilot and mechanic were warming up the plane.

They flipped the propeller but no one was inside it. I don't know why they did that with no one in it," he recalled.

"The propeller was going faster and faster. The plane started to go forward and didn't stop. They tried to stop it but couldn't. It went into a little blue house near the airport and it went into a dip and stopped.

"And then the propeller hit the ground and bent. The props bent down. They called it in, I think. It was moved to its current place several weeks later."

Judas sees the plane all the time when he drives to and from the air-

Blair McBride/NNSL photos

An abandoned plane has been sitting in the same spot near the airport in Wekweètì for at least 26 years, but not everyone agrees on who owns it or exactly when it was left there. port and he wonders why it's still sitting there after so many years.

"I don't know if people here want it taken away. I never asked them about," he said, laughing. "Sometimes (kids) play around it. I don't think it's locked. Nothing happens to it. It's getting rusted."

Longtime Northern aviator and Buffalo Airways founder "Buffalo" Joe McBryan provided a short list of details on the abandoned aircraft, which were relayed by Kristine Cook, his executive assistant.

The Cessna 310 plane landed in

Wekweètì in 1995.

Its propeller is bent and the nose gear is collapsed.

It was owned by the late Bruce Cornock, a respected pilot who worked for years in the North. He passed away in 2012.

"Bruce never got around to taking it out of Wekweètì," Cook said, without elaboration.

From the GNWT's perspective, the plane can't be moved from its resting place on government land until its ownership is established.

"While we are aware of the plane

at the Wekweètì airport, we do not have record of its history or ownership at this time, as there are no identifiers on the plane," said Sonia Idir, spokesperson with the Department of Infrastructure. "The GNWT would be open to engaging with the community of Wekweètì to discuss any path forward to disposing of the plane."

The federal Transportation and Safety Board, responsible for aviation safety, did not respond by press deadline to inquiries about removing the plane.

12 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021

Around the North

If you have an item of interest from your community, call (867) 873-4031, or email: editorial@nnsl.com

Youth rep sought by hunter and trappers committee Sachs Harbour Sachs Harbour's Hunter and Trapper Committee is seeking a youth representative to attend the first Inuvialuit Game Corporation and 42nd Hunter Trapper Committee director meetings being hosted in Inuvik from Feb. 8 to 12.

Intended to establish the foundation for future community leaders, the successful applicant will have all travel and work-related expenses paid for.

Anyone interested is asked to contact Shelby Jade Lucas either by Facebook or by contacting the HTC office at 867690-3032.

– Eric Bowling

Tuk Corp offers application help

MP McLeod takes the jab

photo courtesy of Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, received his vaccine during a clinic in his home community of Fort Providence, Jan. 18. McLeod provided a statement on his Facebook page expressing his gratitude to be able to get the first shot and for the work that health care workers have done in administering the Moderna vaccine.

Tuktoyaktuk Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation is offering its expertise to the community in working through paperwork to access government services.

Anyone in Tuktoyaktuk in need of help creating resumes, searching for a job online, applying to employment insurance, old age security, the Canada pension plan, residential school claims or applying to post-secondary education is asked to contact employment officer Dolly Felix at the TCC at 867-977-2004 or 2390, or by email at programadmin@ tukcommunitycorp.com.

In addition, assistance is offered in connecting post-secondary applicants to funding opportunities, both through the national student loans program

as well as through student financial assistance and the Inuvialuit Foundation Education Fund.

– Eric Bowling

Band to conduct mapping sessions Deninu K'ue/ Fort Resolution Deninu K'ue First Nation (DKFN) will be conducting one-on-one mapping sessions with land users and elders who have also used the land.

The band is looking for 20 to 30 land users and elders to participate in the sessions, which will take place between Feb. 22 and March 5.

All markings will be digitally entered into the band's database system. Anyone interested in participating should contact DKFN by Feb. 12.

– Paul Bickford

NWT Ski Day to be celebrated in Smith Thebacha/Fort Smith NWT Ski Day will be celebrated in Fort Smith on Feb. 22.

The free event is being presented by the Fort Smith Ski Club and the NWT Recreation and Parks Association.

There will be free use of the trails for non-members of the club, free ski lessons for anyone, and free rentals.

Lessons will start at 11 a.m. and will run for approximately 90 minutes. Anyone is welcome to ski for free between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Participants are being requested to register in advance for lessons or rentals.

– Paul Bickford

Councillor acclaimed Thebacha/Fort Smith Smith's Landing First Nation has a new councillor.

Dianne Benwell was acclaimed to a vacant seat on council after she was the only candidate when nominations closed on Jan. 19 for a by-election set for Feb. 2. Benwell's role as councillor will become effective on Feb. 3.

Voting in the by-election had been set to take place in Fort Smith, Fort Fitzgerald, Alta., and Edmonton.

– Paul Bickford

Girls hockey nights underway Aklavik Aklavik's arena is bustling with activity as the sun begins to return to the North, and girls are getting a blast of ice-time as part of that activity.

The first girl's hockey night happened last week and will continue on a weekly basis on Tuesdays and Thursdays, running from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Open to all girls, there may be some spare equipment lying around for anyone still interested in joining the games.

Anyone interested is asked to contact Nicole Sloan by means of the Aklavik Events and Announcements Facebook group.

– Eric Bowling

news

NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, February 1, 2021 13

Strength of Indigenous culture and racism in medicine propel NWT pair's film script Heather Heinrichs and Sadetlo Scott have won $20,000 to produce their movie

by Natalie Pressman

Northern News Services

NWT

Northerners can look forward to a new motion picture exploring the strength of Indigenous culture and calling attention to systemic racism in the medical system.

She Gives Birth, a script for a short film to be co-produced by filmmakers Heather Heinrichs and Sadetło Scott, follows a pregnant young Métis woman who avoids being sent away from her community by seeking the help of a midwife.

Heinrichs, a midwife by trade, explains that the protagonist wants to welcome her baby in the safety of her home, but is forced to brave the medical system.

The film was named the NWT winner of this year's Northern Shorts Program, a contest run by Bell Media's Harold Greenberg Fund (HGF). The program, launched in 2020, invites Northern filmmakers to submit scripts and one team from each territory is awarded $20,000 to produce their short film.

The duo plans for the film to be almost entirely in Cree or Michif to help promote Indigenous language and culture, and as an opportunity to learn some of the language themselves.

"Indigenous languages are threatened," Heinrichs said, noting that some are on the verge of extinction. "Language and culture go together – you can't really have one without the other."

That's why preserving and protecting Indigenous language and culture is so

photos courtesy of Heather Heinrichs

Heather Heinrichs, co-writer and producer for upcoming She Gives Birth film short, said the Northern Shorts Program is an opportunity for Indigenous filmmakers to tell their own stories. important, she said.

Both Scott, who resides in Yellowknife, and Heinrichs, a Hay River resident, are Indigenous – Scott is Dene and Heinrichs is Métis.

"We know that it's really important to have a lot of different stories on screen so that a wide variety of audiences can see themselves represented," Heinrichs said.

"Especially when you have Indigenous filmmakers making films about Indigenous people, you get authentic representation. It helps share

Where do we go from here?

From The rebirth, page 10

about we members of the public? Where is our input, our understanding, our approval and our support?

The Electoral Boundaries Commission which starts this year has been touted by CBC in a headline as a constitutional process. It is not. It is a process to determine the better working of public government. It is not designed to deal with shared jurisdiction.

However the public process that is outlined will give some impetus to the question.

It would be foolhardy to suggest that the Canadian Constitution would be opened up to provide room for the goals of our territory. It would take a large majority of the provinces to include us in their club. Likely the best we could accomplish would be to

amend the NWT Act of Parliament to give us a platform for our directions. Over time, as we demonstrate the rightness of our collective vision, more certainty could be demanded.

We can truly build a unique and noteworthy part of our country, where past injustices are overturned and where Indigenous rights of first peoples form a great and significant path forward. We need the engagement process to start again.

Perhaps out of our recovery from this shadow of pandemic can bring a renewal of our constitutional efforts. We have learned over the past year how much we need unity of purpose to deal with crisis.

It may be the best time to come to grips with that which can unite the people of the NWT.

true-to-ourselves stories with the general public."

The Northern Shorts Program came about through a collaboration between HGF members and the NWT Film Commission team at the Whistler Film Festival in 2019. Camilla MacEachern, promotions manager of the NWT Film Commission, recalls the partnership growing from a suggestion that

the HGF create a program encouraging film production in the territories. MacEachern said the group was immediately on board and the organizations spent the rest of that year developing the concept for Northern Shorts.

"We are, up in the North and in smaller regions, under represented, and so this is an opportunity to carve out a piece of funding that is spe-

cifically going to NWT residents," MacEachern said.

In addition to the funding, Scott and Heinrichs, along with the Nunavut and Yukon fund recipients, will receive guidance on producing their film. That mentorship piece, MacEachern said, is invaluable.

She said HGF is an important player in Canadian media and that the partnership "will

push them forward in their careers."

Presently, She Gives Birth is in pre-production. Scott and Heinrichs are working to translate their script and producing artwork to promote the film. Next, the pair will scout locations and put out casting calls. They hope to begin shooting when the snow returns in the fall and to release the film in 2022.

14 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021

news

ITI minister 'disappointed' with business council's cabinet criticism 'Message of collaboration' takes a hit as business representatives step away

by Simon Whitehouse

Northern News Services

NWT

The minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment said last week she was disappointed to see a statement from the Business Advisory Council critical of the premier and her cabinet.

The council was created in mid-2020 to advise the GNWT on economic issues for the purposes of relief and recovery from the pandemic.

It declared Jan. 21 that its membership believes the Executive Council is not focused enough on economic recovery, and therefore would no longer meet. The criticism was tempered with praise for ITI, calling the department a "good partner."

Caroline Wawzonek said in an interview on Jan. 28 that the business council's response was a letdown in light of the positive work she felt had been done between the territorial government and the business sector.

"Honestly, I was disappointed by that," Wawzonek, minister of ITI and Finance, said. "I've had a lot of meetings with BAC as had the premier and the Covid Secretariat. There has been a lot of work done to engage and respond to some of their ideas. " Wawzonek pointed to the NWT Business Advisory Council Strategic Planning Retreat report she received on Jan. 16, which provides the government short, medium and long-term recommendations from its major business sectors. This report had been based on face-to-face meetings in November with representatives from aviation, tourism, food and beverage, accommodations and traditional economy, among others.

"I think (BAC's news release) takes away from the message of collaboration and takes away from the conversation about recovery," Wawzonek said. "I wasn't necessarily surprised that they were going to stop having their regular

meetings. The reason they were (formed) in the first place was to be able to do an analysis of the relief measures, as they were to identify areas where there were some gaps and then also to speak to what they would see as being recovery efforts going forward and where we focus our attention."

Wawzonek pointed specifically to the report's calling for the federal and territorial government's need to focus on tweaking some of the relief programs and some of the specific priorities for short and long-term needs from specific sectors as the territorial government prepares the next budget.

"I think this report really accomplished what we were hoping to get from the establishment of this advisory council," she said.

Wawzonek said she also appreciated that members on the advisory council were volunteers and busy with their regular private business responsibilities.

NNSL file photo

Caroline Wawzonek, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment expressed disappointment this week in a Jan. 21 news release from the Business Advisory Council, which stated the GNWT's Executive Council does not have a plan for economic recovery.

NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, February 1, 2021 15

Sports & Recreation Sports hotline • James McCarthy Phone: (867) 873-4031 • Email: sports@nnsl.com • Fax: (867) 873-8507

Koe vs. the country at Tim Hortons Brier Kevin Koe given wild card spot for Canadian men's curling championship

by James McCarthy

Northern News Services

Calgary, Alta.

The 2021 Tim Hortons Brier will be held inside a bubble in Calgary next month, mirroring almost every other major sporting event that's happened in the last few months.

This year's Canadian men's curling championship won't feature the usual Koe vs. Koe match-up as Jamie Koe pulled out of the NWT Men's Curling Championship in Yellowknife last month; uncertainties over deadlines and withdrawing after deadlines were the main reasons why.

Kevin Koe, though, will still be in the draw as he was handed a wild card spot

by Curling Canada late last month and it works out for him as he lives roughly 20 minutes from the event site at the Markin MacPhail Centre.

But the rules about the bubble – going to and from the venue with no stops in between and no venturing outside the hotel – will still apply to his team.

"It's the same rules for us Michael Burns/Curling Canada photo as it is everyone else," he said.

Kevin Koe, seen in action during the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier, was given one of the wild card places for the 2021 edition of the Can"It's going to be tough not adian men's curling championship, which gets underway in Calgary in March. seeing the family every night but at least we're getting the "It might not sound like teams and we're just doing chance to play. Curling Can- "I think we deserve to be there season for teams though Koe B.C., in November.

It's more than a lot of teams a lot but some teams have what we have to so we can be ada's gone through a lot of but I wasn't concerned. We got and company have managed to play in four events to date, have played so far this season, hardly played at all," he said. ready. It's going to be a much hoops to make it all happen the spot and it's all good."

Who Koe will play is still the last one being in Penticton, said Koe. "We've played some good different Brier this year." and we're just making the best up in the air as some jurisdicout of a tough situation."

Koe's rink played in last tions haven't yet named their year's Brier as Team Canada, teams, meaning the draw has the defending champions, yet to be done up.

When it comes to his brothafter winning it all in 2019 and er, Koe said it's a earning autoshame it didn't matic qualificawork out for him tion. He would this year. have entered the "I talked to Boston Pizza him before he Cup, the Alberta made the deciprovincial sion," he said. championship, "There's more this year had hoops for him to they not been go through and cancelled.

- Kevin Koe more rules so Koe said it's unfortunate. there wasn't any He's a mainstay sort of fear of being on the outside looking at the Brier, he's a fan favourite and we always have good in for this year's event.

"There wasn't a provincial games whenever we've played championship in Alberta this each other. Hopefully he'll be year and because we played back when we get back to as Team Canada last year, we normal."

The season hasn't exactly didn't play in the (2020) provincial championship," he said. been chock-full of action this

"It's going to be a much different Brier this year."

16 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021

sports & recreation

There won't ever be another Hank Aaron and that's a shame Northern News Services

Kraft Dinner is Canada's national dish. Don't believe me? We consume more of it than any other country on the planet. Easy to make, easy to eat at around $2 per metric tonne.

I can live without this version of it, though. For some reason, Kraft thought it would be a good idea to roll out a Valentine's Day-themed Kraft Dinner: pink macaroni which will be in candy form. I don't know if you've seen it but it resembles something akin to ground beef. Go take a look at a photo of it and tell me I'm lying. It will turn your stomach.

Anyway: So long, Henry If I told you Henry Aaron had died on Jan. 22, you may wonder who I was talking about. If I mentioned Hank Aaron had died on Jan. 22, your ears may have perked up.

Hammerin' Hank, as he was best known as by nickname, left us on that date and the outpouring of emotion on that day was incredible. Simply put, Hank Aaron was one of the greatest to ever play the sport of baseball.

He started his professional career in the Negro Leagues with the Indianapolis Clowns before his contract was bought by the Boston Braves photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons in 1951. He would never play Hank Aaron signed plenty of autographs during his legendary career and life. Aaron died on Jan. 22, leaving behind a legacy that in Boston but he would make few will ever match. his Major League Baseball debut in 1954 with the team known then as the Milwaube a successful businessman being enforced, enforce them but Maki wasn't flagged for play-by-play announcer for to finish third, right? kee Braves. He would have Anyway, Maki gets a leg up and would receive numeryourself. his indiscretion. the Dodgers, called Aaron's an average rookie season, by ous honours from around the on Bolshunov and is in the They were all happy at Well, Bolshunov figured if record-breaker on TV and Aaron's standards, but 1955 world. I, along with many lead coming down the back the finish line as Bolshunov Maki isn't going to pay for it, summed up better than most would be his breakout season: just how great it was: others, will remember Aaron stretch. Maki made a move to I'll make him pay. Bolshunov appeared to apologize and 27 home runs, 106 runs bat"What a marvellous moment as someone who was not just his right and, in the process they all shook hands but you wound up with one of his ted in and an All-Star Game for baseball; what a marvela great baseball player but of doing that, came in contact poles and absolutely wired know Bolshunov will pay for selection, the first of 21. lous moment for Atlanta and as someone who rose above with Bolshunov. Now, the that down the line.

Maki in the legs. You won't Among everything he the state of Georgia; what a everything in front of him – rules state that obstruction of See, kids? Cross-country find a horse jockey whipdid, he is best known as the ping a horse that hard. Proper skiing can be fun. marvellous moment for the poverty and racism being the any sort is not allowed and man who broke Babe Ruth's country and the world. A two biggest – to become a disqualification is the penalty thing, I say. If the rules aren't Until next time, folks … long-standing black man legend of humanity. record for is getting a most career standing ovaAnd finally … home runs in tion in the Good Idea: Being involved 1974. That's Deep South in an exciting finish down the when he took for breaking stretch.

Judo with James McCarthy a record of an Al DownBad Idea: Being involved ing of the all-time basein an exciting finish down the 1257+:(67 7(55,725,(6 Los Angeles ball idol." stretch only to get whipped Dodgers deep to left field for Yes, a black man got a like a horse with a crosshis 715th career tater. standing ovation for breaking country ski pole.

AGE: 12 COMMUNITY: INUVIK A monumental achievea record. It may not seem like I couldn't let this one go Dimitri Blyth, age 12, of Kuzuri Judo Club ment, for sure, but even more a big deal nowadays but back simply because I have never has been training since 2017 and is curamazing considering everythen, it was. seen anything like it before. rently working towards his orange belt. thing Aaron had to put up Barry Bonds would go Not saying it hasn't happened Until he's allowed to practice agin, he's with leading up to setting the on to break Aaron's recbut it's the first time I know working on his fundamentals in class, like new mark. You see, Aaron ord – thanks in large part to of it happening. rolls, breakfalls and general fitness. was black and Atlanta was in performance-enhancing drugs We take you to Lahti, the American deep south. Put – in 2007 but Aaron wasn't Finland for this one, where it together and you could see there to see it happen. Some the latest stop on the Crosswhy some people (stupidly) people took that to mean he Country World Cup circuit didn't take too kindly to a wasn't too keen on Bonds happened on Jan. 27. It's the black man breaking a white breaking his record but Aaron men's 4 x 7.5-kilometre relay man's record. did appear on the JumboTron and it's a wicked finish on the Thankfully, there were at AT&T Park in San Frananchor leg between Joni Maki more people willing him on cisco when Bonds hit no. 756 of Finland and Aleksander to 715. to congratulate him.

Bolshunov of Russia. It's for Vin Scully, the long-time In later life, Aaron would second place but who wants

Sports Talk

Sports Card

Dimitri Blyth

NEWS/NORTH nWT, Monday, February 1, 2021 17

BALANCE Life. EXPERIENCE Living.

18 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021

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20 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, February 1, 2021