Summertime means bubble time
Transcription
Summertime means bubble time
Retroactive raise Village employees get back pay as part of new three-year contract negotiated by UNW Volume 21 Issue 39 75 CENTS THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 Golf season underway at Seven Spruce Deh Cho students represent at youth parliament Summertime means bubble time Jazz duo dazzles in Simpson New SAO lands in Jean Marie River Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo Layla Cli blows an amazing bubble during a hot day at Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson on Tuesday. Publication mail Contract #40012157 community 2 DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 Student wins minister's award Stewart Burnett/NNSL photos Lucas Tate, E'tonda Arden and Patrick Tate all went to Tulita to show off their heritage fair projects. Bompas youth impress at heritage fair in Tulita by Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson Deh Cho students impressed judges at the heritage fair in Tulita earlier this month. Four students from Bompas Elementary School were chosen as regional winners in the heritage fair competition, earning them a trip to the territorial show in Tulita. Abigail Pascua-Matte, a Grade 6 student at Bompas, won the minister's award for her project on the his- tory of Bompas Hall. "I didn't actually think I would win the Deh Cho award," said Pascua-Matte after returning home. "I was kind of surprised and pretty happy." The award came with a certificate and a new tablet. Pascua-Matte said she learned a lot about Bompas Hall and its founder, Bishop Bompas. "He liked children and the native people," she said. The NWT Heritage Fairs Society coordinates the event, whose purpose is to encour- age young people in the territory to explore and share the histories of their family and community. A total of 30 projects were chosen to represent the regions of Beaufort Delta, Sahtu, Tlicho, Yellowknife District #1, Deh Cho and Nunavut. "The heritage fair is an opportunity for students to share and discover the rich heritage we have in the Northwest Territories," stated Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty in a news release. "I'm always impressed by the creativity and effort of our students." Brothers Patrick and Lucas Tate also attended the fair in Tulita. Lucas did his project on farming and said the event was a chance to meet new people. "A lot of our relatives are into farming and gardening, and we also play board games about farming," said Tate. Patrick did his project on St. Patrick's Day because he has family origins in Northern Ireland. "Also because my name is Patrick," he added with a smile. He said it was interesting to be in Tulita, which is even smaller than Fort Simpson. "It only has about four streets," he said. He and Lucas enjoyed playing basketball during their time off from the fair. E'tonda Arden did her project on her grandfather, who was a traveller. "I didn't know that he walked 500 kilometres," she said. Bompas Principal Kelley Andrews-Klein said the students were wellbehaved and were good representatives of the school. "The kids presented really well and all the judges said it was a tough decision," she said. "The minister's award is based on a project that shows Northern heritage and (Pascua-Matte's) was the strongest in that area." She said Tulita was very welcoming. Besides the contest, students participated in a variety of events, including traditional games. Abigail Pascua-Matte won the minister's award for the Deh Cho region for her heritage fair project. She researched the history of Bompas Hall. feature news Did we get it wrong? Deh Cho Drum 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 Deh Cho Drum, call the editor at (867) 695-3786, or e-mail dehchodrum@nnsl.com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can. NEWS Briefs DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 3 Deh Cho youth go to parliament Heat wave continues Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson After a week of record-breaking high temperatures, Fort Simpson likely will not see any reprieve in the coming days. David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, said the normal high for this time of year is 17 degrees. However, temperatures have hit the mid-to high-20s since May 10, dipping down only briefly on May 15 and 16. Warm temperatures are expected to continue until at least May 25. "It's quite likely this will come out to be the warmest May ever in more than 100 years of records for Fort Simpson," Phillips said. National parks open for summer Deh Cho The camping season officially began last weekend as campgrounds opened in the Deh Cho region, with the exception of the Blackstone Territorial Park campground, which is expected to open May 20. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment said more than 24,000 campers used territorial campgrounds last year. Missing man yet to be found Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/ Fort Providence The search goes on for Delmer Bonnetrouge, a Deh Gah Got'ie Koe man who went missing in April. Last week, Fort Providence RCMP searched two specific areas north of the hamlet with the assistance of helicopters. Cpl. Brent MacDonald confirmed on Tuesday that the searches were unsuccessful. Bonnetrouge has not been in touch with his family since April 21 and currently has a warrant out for his arrest for a missed court date on April 15. Court records have shown he was charged in January 2014 with child luring, sexual assault and sexual interference. Celebrating tourism Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson Tourism week is coming up and Fort Simpson's visitor information centre is holding a Friday afternoon barbeque on June 5. The barbeque is free and runs from noon until 3 p.m. According to the government, the tourism industry contributed $132.5 million in visitor revenue to the Northwest Territories economy last year and attracted 90,000 visitors worldwide. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo Sylvia Pascua-Matte, Grade 10 student at Thomas Simpson Secondary School, attended this year's youth parliament in Yellowknife. She thinks more students should apply for the opportunity. Students take part in mock legislative assembly by Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Somba K'e/Yellowknife Two Deh Cho students got a taste of what it's like to live a day in the life of a professional politician at a mock youth parliament in Yellowknife earlier this month. "I thought it was going to be pretty lame and a lot of work," admitted Leah Baptiste, a Grade 9 student in Fort Providence. "But I had a really good time." Youth from across the territory acted as MLAs or ministers and had to draft up statements to read in front of their peers — and on live TV — in the legislative assembly in Yellowknife. "I was shaking and I drank like five cups of water in the first hour of the chamber," laughed Baptiste. Her statement was on the lack of mental health services in the territory. "I mentioned the lack of mental point but then I realized I really health services and how many liked the idea of working in parliatreatment centres are in the terri- ment and government," said Baptiste. tory and how improper some of The desire to help people is what the services are," said Baptiste. drew her interest to government. "I think I would A debate arose in like to be an the chamber at one MLA," she said. point about whether Sylvia Pascuamore mental health Matte, a Grade 10 workers should be student from Fort placed in schools. "We had a long talk Simpson, made about that motion," her motion on the said Baptiste. territory's EducaThe countertion Renewal plan. argument was that "It's important this would take to me," she said. Sylvia Pascua-Matte "I feel like they funding away from sports and extrashould bring recognition to what's curricular activities. Baptiste argued in favour of happening in my community." the motion and her side won. Pascua-Matte isn't new "I wanted to be a lawyer at some to public speaking but pre- "You're never going to have people 100 per cent happy all the time." senting in the chamber was still a nerve-racking experience for her. She's the daughter of Renalyn Pascua-Matte, a village councillor in Fort Simpson. "You're never going to have people 100 per cent happy all the time," she said about what she's learned from her mom. "You have to make hard decisions that have long-lasting impacts on the community. It's a hard job." Seeing her mom gives her a different perspective on politics. "It gives me more of an inside look," said Pascua-Matte. "I am somewhat intrigued by it, but I would have to think very hard if I wanted to do this as a career." She said few people applied for the program this year and recommends more do in the future. "It's an experience that really opens you up," she said. news 4 DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 Village looks for new building Moving ahead with one-option list for relocation by Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson The Village of Fort Simpson has a one-option list for a new municipal affairs office location. "That's the way that I'm looking at it right now," said Deputy Mayor Stella Nadia about the village entertaining only one option for relocation. Municipal affairs are currently conducted in the Village Information Centre, but the town hopes to move into a currently nonexistent building in the field across from Parks Canada next year. Nogha Enterprises is looking to build an office complex in that field, and Mayor Sean Whelly thinks some of the consideration for that hinges on the village signing on as one of the big leasers. At a special council meeting last week, the village drafted a resolution to offer its current building to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) and move into the Nogha building in March 2016. Nadia expressed concern at the meeting that the village should look into more options for its new home. "I would like to see others," she said later. "When this becomes public, I would like to see if there's other interest out there." Whelly also expressed interest in having other options come forward, particularly now that the issue is becoming more public. "I think the councillors were saying that from all that they were aware of this was the best space, so they're just sort of proceeding on the assumption that either that will work for them or there are no other viable options," he said. He said Nogha asked the village to become a leaser. "We're evaluating their proposal on its own but we don't see any other alternatives that would cover off (the things we need to have)," said Whelly. The village's resolution includes creating a steering committee of councillors to meet with the Nogha group and iron out some of the village's concerns about what it needs. Reasons for moving to the new space include better parking, a more professional office space and allowing the tourism part of the current building to operate uninterrupted. The village estimates that moving into the new office space would cost an extra $10,000 per year plus $20,000 in one-time moving expenses. "Could that be slightly optimistic? It's possible," said Whelly. On the other hand, he said, increased taxes from the new office building could offset some of that cost. Part of the village's hope is that the new building would attract more territorial government workers to the village. Whelly also cited closer collaboration with Liidlii Kue First Nation as a benefit of the new building. The band might lease space in the building and that would help the two government organizations come closer together as a band-village union looms on the horizon. Whelly wants ITI to operate the Village Information Centre as a full tourism resource for the region. Nothing is set in stone yet, and all of these decisions hang on each other. Nogha is waiting for its financing and lease commitments to get in place and the village is waiting to find out if ITI will take over the information centre. "We can't make a commitment until we know what's happening with (the Village Information Centre)," said Whelly. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly said housing municipal affairs in the Village Information Centre was never meant to be permanent. The village is looking to move into a new building next year. opinions DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 5 Youth can bring unique ideas to political stage Some exceptional youth go so against the grain they are seen as Few places are as ripe for a troubled students and underachievcareer in professional politics as ers through their school years. the Northwest Territories. This is a tragedy, Between the high ratio but everyone eventually of politicians to citizens THE ISSUE: realizes the real world is a and the flow of free YOUTH IN whole new ball game. money from Ottawa, govPOLITICS In youth parliament ernment in the North is a this year, students spoke booming industry. WE SAY: at length about current Students at youth parLOTS OF liament in Yellowknife had OPPORTUNITY issues and goals of the territorial government. a glimpse into the life of a But youth are beings member of the legislative of a new generation. They have assembly this month. a lot more to offer than the conThey got to draft statements, tinuation of current programs and debate motions in the chamber enforcement of the and talk to reporters status quo. afterward. Sylvia Pascua-Matte, Typically, good stua Grade 10 student dents go to these sort of from Fort Simpson who events, ones who speak attended youth parliawell in class and are conment, said not many fident presenting in front students signed up for of a crowd. the program. Those students are She thinks more impressive. Some speak STEWART should. so professionally, even She's right. Youth using the right buzzwords, BURNETT should eat up any that they could step into chance they get to see a government office the inner workings of government, today and nothing would seem off. no matter how staged and sanitized But politics needs more than the event is. the good students. It needs the Soon it will be their turn for real, black sheep, the rabble-rousers, the and they'll get to call the shots. troublemakers. One of the great benefits of a free democracy is being able to capture the whimsical, idealistic, creative, progressive spirit of young people. SHOULD MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS School teaches youth to act a certain way, fall in line and give the EVER FORGIVE PROPERTY TAXES? "right" answers. Yes, there are certain circumstances that make it legitimate to forgive someone's That works for a career in martaxes. keting, but being a good politician goes far beyond public relations 50% skills. It's not easy to go against the grain in school. No, everyone should have to play by the Northern News Services NNSL WEB POLL same rules. Fort Simpson Nahanni Butte Fort Jean Marie Providence Fort Liard Yell River Trout Lake Great Slave Kakisa 3 Lake Hay River 50% HAVE YOUR SAY Are you enjoying the heatwave? Go online to www.nnsl.com/dehcho to vote in this week's poll. Published Thursdays 2014 SEALING THE DEAL Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly, left, signs a funding deal while Michael Mageean, regional superintendent with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, looks on. They gathered last week to announce a $500,000 funding deal split evenly between the GNWT and CanNor, with the Village of Fort Simpson receiving $150,000 for a variety of tourism-related projects, the Fort Simpson Historical Society will receive $150,000, while Liidlii Kue First Nation will receive $200,000 for tourism related initiatives. DEH CHO OFFICE: Editor: Stewart Burnett 9418-100 St. Fort Simpson, Box 435, NT, XOE ONO Phone: (867) 695-DRUM(3786) Fax: (867) 695-3766 Toll free: (855) 873-6675 E-mail: dehchodrum@nnsl.com Website: www.nnsl.com/dehcho Also read in Fort Liard • Fort Providence • Fort Simpson Jean Marie River • Nahanni Butte • Trout Lake Wrigley• Kakisa and occasionally Lynx River NORTHERN NEWS SERVICES LIMITED 100% Northern owned and operated Publishers of: Deh Cho Drum • Inuvik Drum • Kivalliq News Yellowknifer • NWT News/North • Nunavut News/North Hay River Hub Member of: Canadian Community Newspapers Association Alberta Press Council Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo PUBLISHER: J.W. (Sig) Sigvaldason – jsig@nnsl.com GENERAL MANAGER: Michael Scott – mscott@nnsl.com ADVERTISING – advertising@nnsl.com Advertising Manager: Petra Memedi Call collect (867) 873-4031 or (867) 695-3786, and leave a message PUBLISHING OFFICE: Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R1 Phone: (867) 873-4031 Fax: (867) 873-8507 E-mail: nnsl@nnsl.com Website: www.nnsl.com SEND US YOUR COMMENTS Letters to the editor are welcomed by the Drum, especially new contributors. We attempt to publish a cross-section of public opinion. Not all letters will necessarily be published. Preference is given to short letters of broad interest or concern. Letters of over 200 words, open letters and those published elsewhere are seldom used. We reserve the right to publish excerpts, to edit for length or taste and to eliminate inaccurate or libellous statements. We may also choose to use a letter as the basis for a story. All letters submitted must be signed with a return address and daytime phone number. Opinions expressed in letters and by columnists are those of the author and are not necessarily shared by the editor or publisher. Contents copyright. Printed in the North by Canarctic Graphics Limited. No photos, stories, advertisements or graphics may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written approval of the publisher.www.albertapresscouncil.ca Member of the Alberta Press Council, an independent, voluntary body that serves to protect the public's right to full, fair and accurate news reporting. As a non-judicial, non-government review board, the Press Council considers complaints from the public about the conduct and performances of weekly and daily newspapers in Alberta and the NWT. The press council encourages the highest ethical and professional standards of journalism. It serves to preserve the freedom of the press and provide a forum for greater understanding. Complaints should go to: Alberta Press Council, P.O. Box 21067, We acknowledge the Edmonton, AB., T6R 2V4 financial support of the E-mail: abpress@telus.net Fax: 1-780-435-0441 Government of Canada www.albertapresscouncil.ca Subscriptions One year mail $65 • Two year mail $115 Online (entire content) $50/year Individual subscriptions, multiple user rates on request through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. 6 DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 photo stories Jazz legends light up Simpson MUSIC Feature by Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson Jazz legends and motherdaughter duo Jackie and Kim Richardson brought down the house last Thursday in Fort Simpson. They were joined by Shannon Gaye, a percussionist and vocalist from Vancouver, and Kristian Alexandrov, a pianist from Bulgaria. The Bompas Elementary School gym was packed, with nearby classrooms having to be raided for chairs to accommodate the crowd. The award-winning pair performed for almost two hours straight including jazz renditions of Gnarles Barkley's "Crazy" and Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Audience members were pulled on stage for a few songs toward the end of the night, which finished with a standing ovation. Kim, left, and Jackie Richardson perform at Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson. Kim Richardson claps to the beat. Wilson Dimsdale, left, is put on the hot seat as Jackie Richardson dedicates an adoring "Handyman" tribute to him. photo stories DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 7 Some local singers were brought on stage for one of the final songs. Kim Richardson, left, Sheila Gunderson, Jackie Richardson, Silene Hebert, Sharon Herring, Shannon Gaye. Kristian Alexandrov plays the piano. Kim Richardson belts out a tune with mom Jackie Richardson standing behind her. Shannon Gaye performs with a smile. A full crowd came out for the jazz performance. 8 DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 news VILLAGE-WIDE SPRING CLEANING Workers help load a big piece of fencing into a truck during a recent spring cleanup in Fort Simpson. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo New SAO looks forward to role Michael Rudkin getting used to seeing trees again after years in Nunavut by Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Tthek'ehdeli /Jean Marie River After spending more than three years working in Nunavut, Michael Rudkin is glad to see trees again. Rudkin was recently hired to be the senior administrative officer for the Jean Marie River First Nation. "Never take anything for granted," said Rudkin, who spent five years working in Alberta before stints in Pond Inlet and Gjoa Haven. "Things are done differently in the North than the south. You can't bring a southern mentality to the North. You've got to adapt to situations in the community." This is Rudkin's first job in the Northwest Territories, but his experience in Nunavut has helped teach him how to get results in the North. "You have your good and bad no matter where you go," he said. "I've learned a lot as far as working in a cross-cultural environment in small remote communities and being able to deal with things as they come up." Things are more structured in the south, he said, whereas there's a different way of looking at things in the North. "You can't say what you did in the south, even though you might have the same position, might necessarily work (in the North)," said Rudkin. "You have to adapt to the way of the people you're with, the traditions they're used to having." One of the main goals he has is working on good governance. To that end, Rudkin jumped into the action quickly and made his way to Hay River for the Northwest Territories Association of Communities conference and another workshop and strategic planning session two weeks ago. "(Good governance) is just making sure everybody's aware of what they are, what their roles and responsibilities are within those and making sure we follow them so the community has the best representation and services we can provide," he said. Though Jean Marie River is a small community, it's not as isolated as Rudkin has become used to. "The benefit to Jean Marie is I can drive in and drive out – I don't have to get on a plane," he said. So far, Rudkin said it seems like a good community. "I look forward to working with the community," said Rudkin. "Hopefully we can work well together and I can help the community prosper. news DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 9 7.75 per cent raise for village employees over three years Village employee Stephanie Cudmore is happy with her union's new agreement. The Village of Fort Simpson and Union of Northern Workers agreed to terms on a three-year deal. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo Union, village agree to retroactive increase in new three-year contract by Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson Unionized government workers in Fort Simpson are getting a retroactive raise thanks to a new collective bargaining agreement. The village and the Union of Northern Workers agreed to terms and ratified a threeyear contract that will take effect from 2014 to 2016. Seventeen municipal workers will see 2.25 per cent raises per year, starting retroactively from 2014. They will see that salary bump for three years, for a total of 7.75 per cent over that time period. The 2.25 per cent annual bump will also apply to vacation travel assistance and northern allowance. "We're pretty happy with the deal," said Stephanie Cud- more, village employee and one of the negotiators for the union. "It was definitely a lot of negotiating. Each side of the table had different ideas. At the end of the day both parties unanimously agreed to the tentative agreement." It took almost halfway through the deal's lifespan to get it done, but Cudmore attributed that more to scheduling conflicts than any major holdup in bargaining. The village spent $1.08 million last year on wages and benefits. Mayor Sean Whelly said the 2.25 per cent raise is manageable. "We're quite aware of our financial situation and an extra $25,000 per year is workable," he said, using rough figures. The deal has finer details, such as reducing the amount of necessary hours worked for casual employees to be counted as full time from 650 hours in four months to 625. "They didn't want the village to use the casual positions to get around hiring full-time staff if the job required it," said Whelly. "That's agreeable. In those cases we would want to see that kind of job turn into a full-time position anyway." He said many things come into play when bargaining a new contract: the state of the economy, projected village revenue over the next few years, stability of the tax base, inflation and competition with the GNWT. "Both sides try to sell a story to each other, but in the end reasonableness is what we're looking for," said Whelly. Student art gallery lights up the night Northern News Services Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River Students at Louie Norwegian school hosted a nighttime art gallery on May 20 in the gymnasium. The gallery was open from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. On May 25, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment will run a community garden workshop from 5 to 8 p.m. The regular meeting of the District Education Authority will go ahead on May 26 starting at 6 p.m. Bison management meeting on Tuesday Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be sending representatives to the gymnasium for 10 a.m. on May 26 to hold a meeting on bison management. The community is also wishing a Happy Birthday to Landon Konisenta, who will be turning nine on Sunday. Flea market-style sale returns Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence Spring Fling 2015 is all set to take off on June 13 in the Snowshoe Inn parking lot. This will be the second year in a row the event has been held. It starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. Table rentals are free and can be reserved by messaging Linda Croft or Don't Shoe The Bag Lady on Facebook. The school gymnasium is now holding Adult Open Gym Nights every Thursday from 8 to 10 p.m. for everyone 18 years of age and older. Beautifying the community Acho Dene Koe/Fort Liard Echo Dene School is holding its Community Cleanup on May 22 from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Youth from all grades will be out filling garbage bags. Principal William Gowans said the event is a partnership between the hamlet and the school as well as an effort to beautify a few blocks of Fort Liard, and noted the event helps to build "civic responsibility." Bags and gloves will be provided by the hamlet, which will COMMUNITY Clips with April Hudson dehchodrum@nnsl.com also contribute $2 per filled bag to the school. The school is also getting ready for the Hay River Track Meet taking place in the first week of June. Thursday is an all-day sport day for the school, so classes will be shut down and kids will participate in various competitions. alternatives 10 DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 STREET talk Why should youth take an interest in politics? with Stewart Burnett dehchodrum@nnsl.com Heather Atkins-Desjarlais "Because it surrounds you in your everyday life." Bernice Gargan "So they could have a stronger voice and keep up the traditions of former good leaders." Student of the week Arthur Lafferty "Because it's important to have a voice. If you don't vote, you don't have a right to speak up against what's going on." LEKASHA TESOU Aaron McNab "They are the future. They need to understand how to get involved and bring about change." Elaine Palson "The more young people are involved, the more they can influence decisions and create change in the world." Horoscopes May 21 to 28 ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, your sign pulls back this week and you may focus more on the artistic or spiritual. It can be a highly intuitive time of self-reflection for you. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, if you have been backtracking over past decisions, it's time to look at things again with a clear perspective -- even if that means you need some advice from a third party. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you achieve some financial stability this week and enjoy the opportunity to breathe easy. Don't go overboard, but reward yourself for your financial discipline. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 There is much career energy coming your way, Cancer. You may find yourself with more job offers than you ever thought to entertain. This is not a time to sit back and let things slide. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Beauty and balance are brought into your life, Leo. Use the opportunity to brighten up your space with some decorating or a welcome change of scenery. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, you may have more energy than you know what to do with this week. Find a way to funnel it into a creative or worthwhile endeavor, like volunteer work. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Relationships will be a major high point for you this week, Libra. Every friendship or romance you have is irresistible and compelling at the present time. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, your health and career continue to be your top priorities. You have a sense of urgency to get in better shape. It may be possible to combine your goals. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 You are beyond magnetic this week, Sagittarius. If someone didn't want to be your friend before, they certainly do now. Expect to be swarmed with attention. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, others describe you as feisty and fun this week. With boundless energy, you bring your own party to each and every situation. Enjoy the rush. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Communication doesn't seem to be coming easily for you, Aquarius. You know what you want and can't voice it successfully. Take some time to plan what you want to say. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, a major financial event is on the horizon, but you're not sure if it is a windfall or a burden. Only time will tell. Kulwant Khosa "For the betterment of society." Age: 9 Parents: Fred and Carol Tesou School: Bompas Elementary School Teacher's remarks: Lekasha is an excellent student and a good listener in class. She is a hard worker and completes her work all of the time. She is very respectful to others. I have enjoyed teaching her. Favourite subject: Drawing Book of choice: Dork Diaries Favourite food: Apples Hobbies and pastimes: Drawing and playing outside Career aspirations: Become an artist Bride chooses mom for walk down aisle I am a follower of your articles because I think that you give honest answers to the questions given to you. My daughter, who is 30, is to be married next year. She is living in New Zealand, our homeland. I am her dad and have lived in Perth, Australia, for eight years. Her mom lives in Canada. We were married for 17 years and have been divorced for a long time. Recently my ex-wife was with my daughter organizing the wedding in New Zealand. Then I received an e-mail from my daughter saying that she wanted her mom to walk her up the aisle at her wedding. I sent her an e-mail telling her how I felt – hurt and not respected. I explained how I had supported her through her upbringing as did her mother. Her mom is a very good mother. I suggested that her mom and I both walk her up the aisle but I have had no reply from my daughter since then. In the future, I will decide if I go and be one of the crowd or stand my ground, only willing to attend if I am part of the wedding party. What are your thoughts on this matter? Grant Grant, in general the wedding day belongs to the bride, and to a lesser extent, the groom. Your daughter is making a public declaration and display that she is picking her mother over you. You don't need to participate in that. You don't need to be a party in that. You don't need to be the doormat in that. The best way to handle it is this: tell your daughter the choice is hers, but "with your mom walking you down the aisle, my presence at the wedding will be awkward, so I won't be attending. There will be too many questions in the guests' minds DIRECT Answers with Wayne & Tamara Mitchell confidential@nnsl.com over why I am there but not walking you down the aisle." Instead of the day belonging to the bride and groom, now the wedding will be about why her dad didn't walk her down the aisle. This situation is rife with even more problems. Are you in the wedding photos or not in the photos? Do you sit at the family table or not at the family table? Do you give a toast or not give a toast? Will her first dance be with her mom? There won't be one awkward moment, there will be a series of awkward moments. Just as your daughter gets to make this decision, so you get to make a decision that you won't be the focal point of an awkward situation of your daughter's devising. All the decisions we make have consequences. That is her consequence. You decide not to attend the wedding and not to be the subject of speculation or ridicule. Your daughter is calling everything about your presence into question. The wedding day is not a day for paybacks. It's your daughter's right to have her mom walk her down the aisle. It is not her right to decide on your reaction to it or to make you a party to it. Wayne & Tamara If you have any questions or comments for Wayne or Tamara, please forward e-mail to confidential@nnsl.com or write to Wayne & Tamara Mitchell, Station A, Box 2820, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R1 community DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 11 Spruced up Seven Spruce open for summer season New and improved Fort Simpson golf course opens early thanks to warm weather by Stewart Burnett Northern News Services Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson Hot temperatures helped open the golf season early and it's been off to a running start at Seven Spruce Golf Course in Fort Simpson. "The course is good," said Travis Wright during a round on Victoria Day. "The grass is coming in pretty nice. The temperature's been perfect for golf. No bugs!" Allison Anderson, clubhouse manager, said the course has been busy since opening on May 9. "We have a beautiful course," said Anderson. "We've been doing a lot of work to the course over the last year." A committed team of volunteers and groundskeepers have helped remove excess brush on the course, aiding visibility. "We have bears that come down, a lot of wildlife, so they've been taking out a lot of the brush so that we can see," said Ander- Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo Allison Anderson, clubhouse manager at Seven Spruce Golf Course in Fort Simpson, said people of the Deh Cho love their golf. The course opened a little bit early this year and has received visibility improvements. son. "They've been doing a lot of work to this place and getting it all up to par." Seven Spruce is known for big tournaments in the summer, including the Kingland and Canadian Zinc events, and is well-liked among residents and tourists. "It's been full force since we've opened," said Anderson. "It's always been that way though. People in Fort Simpson love their golf." On a relatively chilly and windy Saturday last week, she estimated there were at least 35 players out. Not much is different on the inside of the clubhouse this year, but big changes are coming. The club is working on renovations inside the clubhouse, including new windows and replacing some of the floor that is rotting. The club will be looking to the territorial government for funding to help with that. "(Players) really like the improvements that have been done," said Anderson. "But there is still lots more that needs to be done. We're hoping to get it up to par in the next year or two." Kristen Campbell lines up her shot. She was enjoying the hot Victoria Day at Seven Spruce Golf Course. SPORTS CARD SOCCER AGE: 9 Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo BAND OFFICE GETS A FACELIFT Kirk Minoza was busy redoing the facia on the Liidlii Kue First Nation building in Fort Simpson at the beginning of the month. KADEN NAHANNI-KWASNEY Kaden plays forward in soccer and likes kicking the ball really hard. Passing is his best skill on the field. He hopes to play in some big soccer tournaments in the future. 12 DEH CHO DRUM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 DEH CHO MARKETPLACE Check out the NNSL “Job Bank” online at www.nnsl.com! NWT ADVERTISING HOTLINE • PHONE: (867) 695-3786 OR (867) 873-WORD(9673) • FAX: (867) 695-3766 NNSL WORD CLASSIFIEDS NOW RUN IN 5 NWT PAPERS Deh Cho Drum • Inuvik Drum • NWT News/North • Yellowknifer • Weekender • PLUS NNSL classifieds online: www.nnsl.com Book your classified online or email to: classifieds@nnsl.com 20•Announcements 140•Misc. For Sale 160•Bus. 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Cora Saunders was the winner for the April 30th Whatsit. It was pancakes. Guess Whatsit this week and you could WIN a prize! +,3 25 .QHH 5HSODFHPHQW" &23'RUDUWKULWLFFRQGLWLRQV" 7KH 'LVDELOLW\ 7D[ &UHGLW \HDUO\ WD[ FUHGLW OXPSVXPUHIXQGRQ DYHUDJH$SSO\WRGD\ Entries must be received within 10 days of this publication date: E-mail: dehchodrum@nnsl.com Fax: (867) 695-3766, or drop them off at the Drum Office in Ft. Simpson, or by mail: WHATSIT, Deh Cho Drum, Box 435, Ft. Simpson, NT X0E 0N0 (No phone calls please) The following information is required: There’s something for everyone in the Classifieds! 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