Here’s a quick story about a program that wants to preserve the shelf life of traditional foods in the North. It’s important given the high food prices we face in the Arctic.
I have given up meat for Lent so I didn’t get a chance to try the sausage😦
I’ve been hearing for months that Nellie Cournoyea was getting ready to step down.
A friend first whispered it to me during Inuvialuit Day last summer.
And then there were a bunch of whispers and chatter around town for months that the Northwest Territories’ first female premier, and Canada’s second ever, would be stepping down soon.
Over the past 6 months in various interviews I would pose the question to the 76 year-old.
“Nellie will you be seeking re-election?”
She would reply that she hasn’t made up her mind.
In January, Cournoyea, finally announced she was stepping down.
Lot’s of people in the territory are talking about her legacy.
My favourite is Freddie Carmichael, former Gwich’in Tribal Council President, who described her as the “Iron Lady.”
She is a tough lady and she isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind.
Including when it comes to opening up the vote for Inuvialuit. Currently only a select few of Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) directors get to vote for the chair and CEO.
In an interview with me shortly after she stepped down Cournoyea said the IRC wasn’t a public organization and the election of its head wasn’t a popularity contest.
The sun is back in Inuvik. But it’s hiding behind clouds.
It’s still beautiful.
Over the Christmas & holiday breaks I got to tell these two amazing stories about Northern young people making positive decisions in their community. Please watch.
2015 is the year of elections.
In Inuvik we’ve seen both a municpal and federal election and on Nov. 23rd we will see a territorial election.
The benefit of being a reporter in a small town is that people often turn to you to moderate events that have some sort of political or informational value.
In October, both my colleague, Sarah Ladik with the Inuvik Drum, and I got a chance to co-moderate Inuvik’s municipal forum.
This week we also moderated the town’s territorial candidates forum which featured these contenders:
Inuvik Boot Lake
- Alfred Moses (incumbent MLA)
- Dez Loreen (Environmental Impact Review Board communications officer)
Inuvik Twin Lakes
- Robert C. McLeod (incumbent minister)
- Jimmy Kalinek
Have a listen to the full audio recording of the debate.
Or read the condensed version in this online story.
As a video journalist this spoke directly to my heart. Had to share🙂
Just got back from Yellowknife from a couple days of training. This usually means a break from reporting while you spend a couple hours a day with CBC trainers learning new skills. That was the case until I looked outside my window at 3 a.m. and saw flashing emergency lights.
Still a quarter asleep, I rushed downstairs with my iPhone and filed this story.
