Sources: Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, B.C. websites
Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway to open in 2017-18. At present Inuvik, population 3400, situated in the Mackenzie Delta, is almost isolated, linked by road only to the Yukon highway system. The new road, begun in 2014, links the centre to Tuktoyaktuk, to the northeast on the Arctic coast, with a population of about 1,000. The route will be a two lane gravel road. The federal government pays about two thirds of the cost, the provinces and territories the remainder. The benefits will be cheaper goods, and greater access to health care, education, social and recreational opportunities. The highway is being built on top of the permafrost using geotextiles and huge amounts of gravel. The work can only be done during the winter, as access for trucks with building materials is over frozen water. Possibly the highway will increase oil and gas development. The highway will complete Canada’s road network from coast to coast.
LaLoche highschool reopens. On Monday teachers returned to the highschool and sent out a message of hope and unity to students. Next Monday students will begin classes.
LaLoche -Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River NDP MP, Georgina Jolibois. Ms. Jolibois is a Dene who has lived from childhood in LaLoche. She has a degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has been active in native organizations of the northern area of the province. She is chairperson of the New North, an advocacy group of 35 communities, and has served on local development and regional environmental organizations. In a recent press interview she rebutted the notion that natives were lacking in initiative. For example, the community had applied for government money to build a youth recreation centre four years ago and the building plans were still on the drawing board. She stated the people knew what they needed and that timely assistance was the requirement. It is worth noting that the rate of violent crime in LaLoche has dropped 50% in the past decade. Residents point out that there are 11 rental housing units under construction, some private funding toward the youth centre, people speak Dene and engage in trapping. Wab Kinew, of the University of Winnipeg, writes,
While the North certainly needs help, I have travelled enough to realize that there are
brilliant people in every community who know the solutions needed. They don’t need
saviours, they need allies. And yes, they need resources.
He reminds us that, “We pull natural resource wealth out of the North, but are sometimes reluctant to reinvest in human resources there.”
Ninety-four percent of human trafficking is domestic. Most of these cases are sexual exploitation. Indigenous women and girls figure disproportionately among the statistics. Dr. Carolyn Bennet, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs and Patricia Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women affirmed their commitment to strengthen Ottawa’s response, concentrating on prevention and addressing root causes. The RCMP consider Ontario to be a major hub for sex trafficking. The province is increasing its efforts to arrest perpetrators with an improved network of police information an “overarching” strategy .” (Globe & Mail, Feb 12/16).
AFN denounces omission in Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement of 2007. This settlement denied compensation to native children who suffered abuse while attending government financed schools which in the 1950s replaced religious administrations. Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the AFN, declares that this exclusion is counter to spirit of the Conservative government’s apology of 2008.
Northern Ontario First Nations declare health emergency. Reform comes from speaking out! Amid the abysmal conditions of some natives’ lives, let us take heart from the renaissance of native spirit. Representing about 75,000 indigenous people in the north, leaders this week pointed out that lack of good health care leaves people at risk for diabetes, hepatitis C, rheumatic fever and other bacterial infections. As well, cramped housing and dirty water aggravate the risks. They also point to youth suicides. “We’re talking about institutional racism in Canada’s and Ontario’s healthcare system” said Isadore Day, Ontario’s Regional Chief.
EMPLOYMENT NOTICES
1020 Aboriginal job vacancies in Vancouver. This web heading leads to a listing of a variety of employment in the city specifically for Aboriginals.
Job with Native Shoes. The ad is for a “star graphic designer.”
ScotiaBank, Vancouver. Position for a Senior Aboriginal Banking Specialist.
Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway to open in 2017-18. At present Inuvik, population 3400, situated in the Mackenzie Delta, is almost isolated, linked by road only to the Yukon highway system. The new road, begun in 2014, links the centre to Tuktoyaktuk, to the northeast on the Arctic coast, with a population of about 1,000. The route will be a two lane gravel road. The federal government pays about two thirds of the cost, the provinces and territories the remainder. The benefits will be cheaper goods, and greater access to health care, education, social and recreational opportunities. The highway is being built on top of the permafrost using geotextiles and huge amounts of gravel. The work can only be done during the winter, as access for trucks with building materials is over frozen water. Possibly the highway will increase oil and gas development. The highway will complete Canada’s road network from coast to coast.
LaLoche highschool reopens. On Monday teachers returned to the highschool and sent out a message of hope and unity to students. Next Monday students will begin classes.
LaLoche -Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River NDP MP, Georgina Jolibois. Ms. Jolibois is a Dene who has lived from childhood in LaLoche. She has a degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has been active in native organizations of the northern area of the province. She is chairperson of the New North, an advocacy group of 35 communities, and has served on local development and regional environmental organizations. In a recent press interview she rebutted the notion that natives were lacking in initiative. For example, the community had applied for government money to build a youth recreation centre four years ago and the building plans were still on the drawing board. She stated the people knew what they needed and that timely assistance was the requirement. It is worth noting that the rate of violent crime in LaLoche has dropped 50% in the past decade. Residents point out that there are 11 rental housing units under construction, some private funding toward the youth centre, people speak Dene and engage in trapping. Wab Kinew, of the University of Winnipeg, writes,
While the North certainly needs help, I have travelled enough to realize that there are
brilliant people in every community who know the solutions needed. They don’t need
saviours, they need allies. And yes, they need resources.
He reminds us that, “We pull natural resource wealth out of the North, but are sometimes reluctant to reinvest in human resources there.”
Ninety-four percent of human trafficking is domestic. Most of these cases are sexual exploitation. Indigenous women and girls figure disproportionately among the statistics. Dr. Carolyn Bennet, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs and Patricia Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women affirmed their commitment to strengthen Ottawa’s response, concentrating on prevention and addressing root causes. The RCMP consider Ontario to be a major hub for sex trafficking. The province is increasing its efforts to arrest perpetrators with an improved network of police information an “overarching” strategy .” (Globe & Mail, Feb 12/16).
AFN denounces omission in Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement of 2007. This settlement denied compensation to native children who suffered abuse while attending government financed schools which in the 1950s replaced religious administrations. Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the AFN, declares that this exclusion is counter to spirit of the Conservative government’s apology of 2008.
Northern Ontario First Nations declare health emergency. Reform comes from speaking out! Amid the abysmal conditions of some natives’ lives, let us take heart from the renaissance of native spirit. Representing about 75,000 indigenous people in the north, leaders this week pointed out that lack of good health care leaves people at risk for diabetes, hepatitis C, rheumatic fever and other bacterial infections. As well, cramped housing and dirty water aggravate the risks. They also point to youth suicides. “We’re talking about institutional racism in Canada’s and Ontario’s healthcare system” said Isadore Day, Ontario’s Regional Chief.
EMPLOYMENT NOTICES
1020 Aboriginal job vacancies in Vancouver. This web heading leads to a listing of a variety of employment in the city specifically for Aboriginals.
Job with Native Shoes. The ad is for a “star graphic designer.”
ScotiaBank, Vancouver. Position for a Senior Aboriginal Banking Specialist.