Latest news with #NWT
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Concern, optimism in N.W.T. at prospect of quicker development with new federal law
A controversial federal bill to fast-track "nation-building" projects has been passed into law and while some northern leaders welcome the opportunity to build, others are more skeptical. The Senate passed Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, on Thursday afternoon, allowing the federal government to streamline approval processes for some projects and bypass provisions criticized for hindering timely approvals. But some have expressed worry that the new legislation will override consultation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and ignore their right to free prior and informed consent as defined by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). N.W.T. Sen. Dawn Anderson said the act has sparked concern over Canada's commitment to reconciliation. "The process for consultation does not appear to be substantive in any way, which calls into question the commitment to the [UNDRIP] legislation and Canada's commitment to Indigenous peoples in Canada," she said, speaking with CBC News before the bill passed. "It erodes trust and relationships between Canada and Inuit and First Nations and Métis people." Prime Minister Mark Carney has listed the Grays Bay Road and Port Project as one project he'd like to see approved quickly. The project would see the construction of a 230-kilometre all-weather road that stretches from ice roads in Yellowknife all the way to the Arctic ocean, linking Nunavut to the N.W.T.'s road system. Earl Evans, chair of Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board, said there's not enough information about how the road would affect caribou migration, and worries about speeding the approvals process before they know more. "We're going to have to be very vigilant in how this is done and make sure our input is taken seriously — because caribou is life for the people up here," Evans said. He recognized the potential economic benefits of the project, and the need for jobs in the region and across the country, but said the stakes of interfering with caribou are high. The Mackenzie Valley Review Board has been travelling to communities to collect feedback on the project. Evans said he does feel his concerns are being taken seriously. "But at the same time, when the federal government wants a project done, it gets done," he said. Meanwhile, at an Arctic development conference in Inuvik, N.W.T., earlier this month, Caroline Wawzonek, the territory's minister responsible for strategic infrastructure, energy and supply chains, spoke to the importance of advocating for federal investment. She didn't mention Bill C-5 but spoke to the importance of all levels of government working together "at speeds and with levels of partnership we haven't seen before." She said that development must include traditional knowledge, and that it's not a "nice-to-have," but an essential. "The homes, the health centres, the schools, the roads that link us, and the energy that powers us — as well as our collaborative and co-management systems of governance — this is what makes our communities sustainable, sovereign, and secure," Wawzonek said.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Concern, optimism in N.W.T. at prospect of quicker development with new federal law
A controversial federal bill to fast-track "nation-building" projects has been passed into law and while some northern leaders welcome the opportunity to build, others are more skeptical. The Senate passed Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, on Thursday afternoon, allowing the federal government to streamline approval processes for some projects and bypass provisions criticized for hindering timely approvals. But some have expressed worry that the new legislation will override consultation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and ignore their right to free prior and informed consent as defined by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). N.W.T. Sen. Dawn Anderson said the act has sparked concern over Canada's commitment to reconciliation. "The process for consultation does not appear to be substantive in any way, which calls into question the commitment to the [UNDRIP] legislation and Canada's commitment to Indigenous peoples in Canada," she said, speaking with CBC News before the bill passed. "It erodes trust and relationships between Canada and Inuit and First Nations and Métis people." Prime Minister Mark Carney has listed the Grays Bay Road and Port Project as one project he'd like to see approved quickly. The project would see the construction of a 230-kilometre all-weather road that stretches from ice roads in Yellowknife all the way to the Arctic ocean, linking Nunavut to the N.W.T.'s road system. Earl Evans, chair of Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board, said there's not enough information about how the road would affect caribou migration, and worries about speeding the approvals process before they know more. "We're going to have to be very vigilant in how this is done and make sure our input is taken seriously — because caribou is life for the people up here," Evans said. He recognized the potential economic benefits of the project, and the need for jobs in the region and across the country, but said the stakes of interfering with caribou are high. The Mackenzie Valley Review Board has been travelling to communities to collect feedback on the project. Evans said he does feel his concerns are being taken seriously. "But at the same time, when the federal government wants a project done, it gets done," he said. Meanwhile, at an Arctic development conference in Inuvik, N.W.T., earlier this month, Caroline Wawzonek, the territory's minister responsible for strategic infrastructure, energy and supply chains, spoke to the importance of advocating for federal investment. She didn't mention Bill C-5 but spoke to the importance of all levels of government working together "at speeds and with levels of partnership we haven't seen before." She said that development must include traditional knowledge, and that it's not a "nice-to-have," but an essential. "The homes, the health centres, the schools, the roads that link us, and the energy that powers us — as well as our collaborative and co-management systems of governance — this is what makes our communities sustainable, sovereign, and secure," Wawzonek said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Education bodies in Dehcho welcome investigations launched by N.W.T. gov't
The organizations in the Dehcho at the centre of multiple investigations launched by the N.W.T. education minister say they welcome the scrutiny. The investigations, announced a week ago, are into both the Dehcho Divisional Education Council and all District Education Authorities (DEAs) in the region. They're wide-ranging, from finances to human resources to personnel matters and governance. According to a June 20 news release from the government, one investigation into finances appears to have already started, while another — which is an independent review looking at governance — begins in July and is expected to wrap up at the end of August and include findings and next steps. Minister Caitlin Cleveland declined an interview request after announcing the investigations last week. Derek Squirrel, vice-chair of the DEA in Fort Simpson, says he is glad the government is looking into issues parents are facing. "I think it's a long time coming for this," Squirrel said. "Once we met with the minister and she mentioned that she was going to do an investigation, we made a recommendation that is that it needs to happen sooner than later, because time is already ticking." Squirrel says he isn't concerned that the Fort Simpson DEA is being investigated. "There wouldn't be anything to find," he said, adding the DEA follows the Education Act and its policies. "All the decisions that we make at a board level are not taken lightly... we welcome the investigation, we think that this is needed, we wish it came sooner." CBC News contacted Donna Miller Fry, the superintendent of the Dehcho Divisional Education Council (DDEC), about the investigations into the school board and DEAs. Miller Fry responded in an email that she also welcomes the education department's investigation and that her organization will do whatever they can to support that work. The board's "priority is children and young people, and ensuring they are learning and thriving in our schools," she wrote. "That happens best when the system of governance is also thriving and working as it should." The announcement of the investigations came weeks after parents in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., met with Cleveland to bring forward issues they had with the local elementary school principal. In the meeting, Fort Simpson DEA members also outlined how their concerns had been raised with Miller Fry, and alleged that she hadn't dealt with them. Miller Fry has told CBC News that she couldn't speak about that principal due to confidentiality. The education department has not tied the investigations to any conflict or concerns about the principal. Rather, the news release last week refers to "serious concerns from parents, educators, community members, and education partners in the Dehcho." The DDEC is headquartered in Fort Simpson and is guided by trustees from that community as well as from Kakisa, Jean Marie River, Sambaa K'e, Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Wrigley and Fort Providence.
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Deninu Kųę́ First Nation healing program 'making a difference' in Fort Resolution, N.W.T.
Since January, Deninu Kųę́ First Nation has been running an on-the-land healing program in Fort Resolution, N.W.T., and facilitators say it's already changing lives. The six-week initiative, called Healing Our Way, combines trauma-based therapy with traditional land-based practices. It's hosted in the centre of the community, where participants can access support without leaving their community. Ruby Prince and her husband, Francois, co-own NEYU Professional Services in Fort St. James, B.C. For over a decade, they've been offering prevention and wellness programming in Fort Resolution, including suicide prevention, residential school healing, and addiction recovery. "We've seen youth that have empowered themselves and are now in college and university," Ruby said. "We've seen people who are long-term alcoholics find their [sobriety] journey." The program can take up to 12 people at a time. Participants stay in donated trailers that have been converted to provide accommodation and support for the program participants. Sessions also include time on the land at places like Mission Island and Little Buffalo. Ruby said participants continue to see their family and community members throughout the program, which helps them stay connected and supported and not separated from everyday life. "They're getting connected back to their own roots," she said. "When they're dealing with their trauma, they're able to work through it from the lens of where they come from." She said healing in the community lets people work through their trauma in real time, and in the same environment they're learning to navigate. That's something people don't get when they seek treatment outside of the territory, Ruby says. "As soon as they're back in community, they're feeling the trauma all over again," she said. "Everything that they were able to put away while they were in [a] treatment program slowly creep back in." Three sessions have taken place since January in Fort Resolution. Ruby said that while the program prioritizes local residents, she now has a waiting list of people from elsewhere. "I have applicants from all over the Northwest Territories that want to come," she said. "It's making a difference." 'Community members helping community members' Ruby said an important part of the program is ensuring it's rooted in local knowledge. Instead of bringing in an outside team, she works with people from Fort Resolution and surrounding communities, including local elders, to lead and support the healing work. "Community members helping community members," is how she described it. Kevin Boucher is a member of Deninu Kųę́ First Nation who has been sober since December. He has taken all three programs offered since January, each time learning something new and solidifying his commitment to sobriety. Boucher has been on a sobriety journey for decades, with periods of relapse and recovery. He said everyone deserves a chance at recovery and to trust that each attempt brings you closer to healing. "As long as you get a piece of that goodness out of that little time, that's what carries a person through," he said. "If I can get there again, you know, even though it may not work the first time, but maybe the second time it will." Boucher said doing the work in his own community has made a big difference. Family, friends, and neighbours offer him support and help hold him accountable, and he hopes that might help some of them start their own journey. "To inspire your own people to say, 'Hey, I could do that too,'" he said. "Because a lot of people know who I am, what I went through, the things that I've done... they see me transform in front of their eyes." He said the program has helped him regain a sense of self, rebuild his confidence, and has put him on a path to starting a new career. Something he never thought was possible, after years of carrying childhood trauma. "We're looking at generational damage, generations of guilt, shame, self-worthlessness, resentments, anger," he said. "We have a long history of generations of trauma in our people." One of the biggest reasons Boucher says he chose to get sober was his children. He says losing connection with them was one of the most challenging times in his life and he's now focused on making up for that time and rebuilding those relationships.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Parents call on N.W.T. education minister to remove Fort Simpson elementary school principal
Parents in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., are calling on the territorial government to permanently remove the principal of the local elementary school. The parents, some of whom are elected members of the community's District Education Authority (DEA), met with the N.W.T. education minister earlier this month to list their concerns with Łı̨́ı̨́dĺ̨ı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ Elementary School principal Benjamin Adams. The concerns include a lack of communication, unreliability and an unhealthy school environment that they allege is failing their children. Adams declined an interview request due to "internal processes and confidentiality." On Wednesday, the day after the request, Adams sent an email to school staff informing them he would be on leave for the remainder of the year. Dehcho Divisional Education Council (DDEC) superintendent Donna Miller Fry wrote in an email to CBC News on June 19 that Adams is still the principal of the school, but there is an acting principal while he is away. Parents who spoke with CBC said the Fort Simpson DEA met with Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland on June 6 to discuss the issues, which is when they called for Adams' removal. Parents spoke with CBC in the days leading up to Friday's announcement from the government of sweeping investigations into the DDEC's and Dehcho DEAs' governance, finances and human resource issues. Shawna McLeod, a Fort Simpson parent and DEA member, delivered a speech to Cleveland and provided a written statement that detailed various incidents involving several parents and students. The letter says Adams' behaviour reveals "a disturbing pattern of neglect, exclusion, dishonesty and emotional harm." One example includes a neurodiverse child whose mother felt they weren't properly supported. There were also concerns about how a teacher was treating the child. The letter says Adams didn't properly address the concerns with the teacher. A former staff member and parent was also quoted in the letter as saying the education system in Fort Simpson is "crumbling." That person described a toxic work environment, with a lack of support for students and inconsistent leadership. McLeod said she decided to pull her daughter from the school and is not the only one to do so. McLeod and another parent who spoke to CBC said they think Adams has retaliated against children whose parents have spoken out about his shortcomings, by not allowing them to attend extracurricular activities. Adams' bio on the education council's website, which was removed June 18, said he is from Newfoundland and spent time working in that province, as well as in Nunavut and Manitoba. It said he worked as the Fort Simpson high school principal before moving over to the elementary school. He was listed as the elementary school principal on the school's website sometime in 2022. CBC News obtained a copy of the letter presented to the minister and reached out to McLeod to independently confirm that she had written it. CBC also reached out to some of the parents named in the letter. One parent, Mary Masuzumi, said Adams called her to the school last year after her son, who is non-verbal, demonstrated with his hands that he was hit by someone. Masuzumi said Adams told her a teacher had backhanded her son to the floor. Later, she said, he denied ever making that statement. Rylan Hardisty-Gillis and Jerri Brenton said they have a daughter who attended the school. They ended up homeschooling her due to issues with a teacher, but registered her in a couple classes. They said they were told by Adams that their daughter could still use the school facilities and receive support from the school, which is also required under territorial legislation. But over the course of the year, their daughter wasn't allowed to participate in multiple school events and extracurricular activities. The parents said when they asked Adams about why she couldn't participate, he said he didn't know anything about the rules around homeschooled students using school facilities. Another parent, Brendan Whelly, said he was emailing Adams to ask about the plan to get a permanent teacher for the school's kindergarten class. He said getting a response from Adams about the vacant position sometimes took weeks. Whelly said Adams suddenly ended their communications, writing that he sensed "a level of hostility, threat and aggression." CBC News reviewed the email thread in question and it did not appear to include any threats or aggression. CBC emailed Adams about each individual concern raised by the parents; he did not provide a response by deadline. The Dehcho Divisional Education Council superintendent, Donna Miller Fry, told CBC in an email that she couldn't speak due to privacy concerns and confidentiality regulations. CBC News was unable to reach the DDEC's trustees for comment. CBC reached out to Cleveland earlier in the week for an interview about the situation. Sameeksha Dandriyal, a spokesperson for Cleveland, responded by email that the minister "is aware of the concerns raised and, as with all concerns expressed by residents, takes them seriously." "The minister has been engaging with partners in the education system in the Dehcho region to listen and better understand the situation," Dandriyal wrote. Late Friday afternoon, Cleveland issued a media statement announcing a series of investigations into the DDEC and the Dehcho region's DEAs. An independent investigator will review those education bodies; the government has launched a financial review of them; and the Finance department will do a human resources investigation. In that statement, Cleveland referred to a range of concerns from community members about the situation. "I understand many residents want to see action, and I share that sense of urgency," Cleveland wrote. "I also recognize that for some families—particularly Indigenous families still living with the intergenerational impacts of residential schools— these situations can be especially difficult. That's why this work must be carried out with care, fairness, and respect." In Adams' email to staff on June 17, he wrote there would be an acting principal in his place. In a Facebook post to parents, he wrote he would be "working from afar and periodically at the school."
