#YZF #NWT #PSAC's FEDERAL #BUDGET WATCH

PSAC's FEDERAL BUDGET WATCH in Yellowknife
This Federal Budget is of critical importance to PSAC members and all Canadians.
PSAC will be hosting budget watch events all across the country, in a joint effort with District Labour Councils and community groups.
As the budget is announced, PSAC will be providing an in-depth analysis of what this means to you and how your public services will be affected.
PSAC Yellowknife Regional Office
4916 49th Street
March 29th, 2012
1:30pm – Guest Speakers
2:00pm – Budget Watch and Analysis
Food & Refreshments will be served
867-873-5670

Julie Lys of Fort Smith #NWT & CANADIAN NURSES ASSOCIATION Commissioner on the delivery of health services in remote and northern communities

Julie Lys of Fort Smith NWT & CANADIAN NURSES ASSOCIATION Commissioner on the delivery of health services in remote and northern communities

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/health-and-healing-her-excellency-sharon-johnston-hosts-a-roundtable-dialogue-on-aboriginal-health-with-canadas-nurses-at-rideau-hall-2012-03-27

"Health in aboriginal communities is about balance between mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health," said Julie Lys, one of the Commissioners and a nurse practitioner who personally delivers health-care services in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. "Our current health-care system addresses physical and some mental health. But without understanding and addressing the core issues that affect all of these areas, we will not effectively be able to re-establish balance and improve the health status of Aboriginal people."

[...]

Commissioners will highlight the interventions and ideas proposed by roundtable participants via Twitter (@NtlCommission) throughout the day. The Commission will also post a synopsis of the day's discussions on its web site on Wednesday, March 28. A list of roundtable participants will also be posted at http://expertcommission.cna-aiic.ca/

In preparing its report, the Commission has adopted the "triple aim" framework developed by the Institute for Health Improvement that focuses on the themes of Better Health, Better Care and Better Value. This approach is being used effectively around the world because it addresses the three dimensions of care: the health of the population, the experience of care for individuals within the population, and the per capita cost of providing that care. The Commission will also add a Best Nursing component to their report.

[...]

All videos feature NEC Commissioner Julie Lys.

SOURCE CANADIAN NURSES ASSOCIATION

 

Video with caption: "Commissioner Julie Lys talks about the use of interdisciplinary, collaborative health teams in northern communities.".

 Video available at:

http://ow.ly/9UMWz

 

Video with caption: "Commissioner Julie Lys confirms that health-care providers see the impact of social and economic determinants on the health of Aboriginal populations every day."

Video available at:

http://ow.ly/9UNa6

 

Video with caption: "Commissioner Julie Lys is also a nurse practitioner and she knows from first-hand experience that nurse-led innovations offer real solutions in terms of the delivery of health services in remote and northern communities.". Video available at:

http://ow.ly/9UNkQ

 

#YZF #NWT Northern Images "Call for #Artists"

Northern Images is hosting their Grand Re-opening and 40th birthday party this spring.
We would like to have a schedule of live artist events in the gallery for several days to help celebrate.
We are also developing a full schedule of events for the Canadian Medical Conference week here in Yellowknife in August.
Local artists who are interested in working together to create workshops or live demonstrations are encouraged to
contact manager
Sally Joyce
(867) 873-5944 or NI.Yellowknife@Arctic-Co-op.com

@CBCNorth #Arctic #radio #PODCAST: "The North This Week" stories from the past 7 days from #NWT to #Yukon to #Nunavut

The North This Week features the best stories from the past seven days from Whitehorse to Yellowknife to Iqaluit. Expect to hear all kinds of great features from shows like A New Day and The Trailbreaker and many others. Updated Sundays.
http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/includes/north.xml
iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/north-this-week-from-cbc-radio/id151498342
Latest MP3 version
http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/includes/north.xml

Photoshop CS6 Beta Is a Free Download Packed with Content-Aware Improvements, Video Editing, and More

http://lifehacker.com/5895480/photoshop-cs6-beta-is-a-free-download-packed-with-content+aware-improvements-video-editing-and-more
http://gizmodo.com/5895424/photoshop-cs6-is-the-best-version-in-recent-memory?tag=photoshop
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/photoshopcs6/?PID=4165004

#Canada gets rare #reprimand from #UN for undermining right to #water #CDNpoli

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 22, 2012 (World Water Day)

Canada gets rare reprimand from UN for undermining right to water

Canada has been chastised on World Water Day for undermining the right to water by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. The Rapporteur openly criticized Canada for "proposing the removal of an explicit reference to the right to water and sanitation for all from the first draft of the 'Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development' outcome document."

The Council of Canadians is in New York this week for the session on Rio+20 where this story emerged and is available for comment.

This is an extremely rare departure from protocol and diplomatic language.  The fact that Rapporteur Catarina de Albuquerque felt compelled to name Canada underscores the extremes to which the Canadian government is going in its controversial effort to weaken the legally binding UN recognition of the right to water and sanitation.  It further demonstrates how increasingly isolated Canada is on the world stage.

"States are wasting their time on re-negotiating their own decisions rather than moving forward to implement the right to water and sanitation for all," she cautioned. "We should be marking World Water Day with progress, not debating semantics and certainly not back-tracking on these issues."

The full text of the Rapporteur's media release on this is available from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=11994&LangID=E

– 30 –

For more information:

Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians, 613-795-8685, dpenner@canadians.org
Twitter: @CouncilOfCDNs

Two Free Workshops by W.A.M.P. in #YZF #NWT

Two Free Workshops from Western Arctic Moving Pictures http://wamp.ca/  in Yellowknife

TRADITIONAL ANIMATION WORKSHOP
This workshop will explore traditional conventions as well as investigate the methods of successive animation. Participants will engage in hands on animating.
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm March 31st- April 1
Instructor: Aidan Cartwright
Location:Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Auditorium
Price:Free

Saturday –A brief explanation of where animation came from followed by some examples of different animating styles and techniques. Participants will choose one of several animation technique options and will work to complete these before the end of the day with help from instructor.
Sunday –A quick recap of the previous day. Participants who need to complete their previous works will be given time. Those who have completed their works will be introduced to the principles of successive animation and will participate in a large collaborative successive animation.

Minimum enrollment required, if there are not enough participants this class will be re-scheduled.

VIDEO SKETCHBOOK-TOPIC: PLAYING WITH CINEMATIC CONVENTIONS
This course will explore the topic of classic cinematic conventions through discussion, demonstration and practice. Participants will be assigned an exercise on the course topic in order to later view and discuss their work. The video works produced are not intended to be completed videos, but rather a record of practical exploration; a "video sketchbook".

Course instructor: Joel Maillet is a local freelance filmmaker who has been running video workshops in the north since his arrival in 2008. His experience comes from several years of working in the film industry on the East Coast after graduating from NSCAD University with a major study in filmmaking.
The course will run Saturday March 31st from 1-4pm and again the following Saturday, April 7th 1-4pm.
Location:(PWNHC) Museum Auditorium
Price:Free

The Arctic Institute Center for Circumpolar Security Studies

The Arctic Institute
Center for Circumpolar Security Studies
P.O. Box 32175
Washington, DC 20007

The Arctic Institute seeks to establish itself as an authoritative, interdisciplinary, and independent source for information and in-depth analysis about the developments in the High North. The Institute was founded in 2011 and currently aims to bring together scholars and researchers to build a growing stock of knowledge and expertise on the Arctic region. In contrast to existing platforms for Arctic affairs, The Arctic Institute is not affiliated with or sponsored by any of the Arctic states.

The Arctic Institute is convinced that the developments in the Arctic will have lasting ramifications for international relations, international law, international climate change policy, international trade, and international human rights. The Arctic's strategic location will not only influence government policies, but also affect strategic business decisions and global economic development over the coming decades. The Arctic Institute believes that an interdisciplinary approach to Arctic studies, bringing together researches and experts from a variety of disciplines, is key to fully understanding the ongoing transformation of the region and making progress towards sustainable Arctic development.

@ArcticInstitute on Twitter http://twitter.com/ArcticInstitute
& on the web http://www.thearcticinstitute.org/
Podcast http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-arctic-institute/id505687896

The Arctic This Week (Sample) News for March 12 - March 18, 2012
http://www.thearcticinstitute.org/2012/03/arctic-this-week-news-for-march-12.html

SUBSCRIBE TO THE Arctic Institute NEWSLETTER
The Arctic Institute publishes two news-letters: The Arctic this Week, a comprehensive collection of news from the High North, is released every Sunday. The Arctic Institute in Review is published once month and features our most popular articles and news about the Institute. You may subscribe to both newsletters here.
http://thearcticinstitute.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=169a78ed5ad541ab4fa095468&id=ebe15611a7

Call For Volunteers in #YZF! The "Long John Jamboree" Needs Your Help!

March 15, 2012

Call For Volunteers! The Long John Jamboree Needs Your Help! #yzf

Folks, it's crunch time for the Long John Jamboree.  The event organizing team has been working hard for months pulling this thing together - and we're now working pretty much around the clock on final preparations.  We've secured many sponsors big and small and we've organized a bunch of great events, but we're short on volunteers.  

The Board is concerned that unless we add to the volunteer ranks we'll burn out those Yellowknifers who have been kind enough to put their names forward so far.  If you've been in YK for a while, you know that this is a recurring problem and is partly to blame for the demise of Raven Mad Daze and Caribou Carnival.  Yellowknife deserves a premier winter festival perhaps more than any other Canadian city.  We simply cannot let the Jamboree suffer the same fate as the Caribou Carnival.  So please, even if you only have a few hours to spare from March 20th to the 25th, get in touch with our event organizer, Nancy MacNeill (nancy@longjohnjamboree.ca), and she'll find a suitable volunteer role for you.

Just to give you an idea of the potential of the Long John Jamboree, here are a few highlights:

• De Beers Inspired Ice: NWT Ice Carving Championships (a NICA sanctioned event)
• Kids Tent - crafts, magic shows, carnival games, etc.
• Dene Hand Games Tournament
• Cultural programming from the YKDFN
• Music tent with great local bands, storytellers, fiddlers, etc.
• Cabane a Sucre
• Helicopter rides by Trinity Helicopters 
• Beer Garden
• Ugly Truck and Dog Contest
• Terriers and Tiaras: canine fashion show and talent contest
• SPCA skijoring race
• Snowmobile races adjacent to the Jamboree site
• Snow King's Castle programming throughout the weekend
• Heritage photo booth
• Frozen Eyes photography exhibit
• Ice Fishing outings
• Kite-skiing clinics
• Flaunt Yer Skivvies long john fashion show
• Snow King Cup 4 on 4 pond hockey tournament
• Erebus and Terror concert on Friday night 
• Oil Drum fires on Friday night
• Long John Decathlon/YK Chamber of Commerce team challenge - a series of ten northern-themed contests
• Server relay
• Snowboard Rail Jam competition
• Artists Market
• Abominable Snow Race - YK Multi-Sport Club 13km race on the Dettah Ice Road

As you can see.  We have a lot planned.  To pull it all off in a manner befitting the awesomeness of our city we need a lot of help.

I'll try to add links later to each of the event bullets so that you can go directly to the info page from our website.  For now, check out www.longjohnjamboree.ca.  And please, PLEASE sign up as a volunteer if you have the time to spare.  With your help we'll ensure that this event has a life beyond this year.

One final detail: site setup will be happening from Wednesday to Thursday - day and night.  We'll be erecting tents, marking off parking areas, etc.  Then we'll be tearing it all down on Sunday night and Monday.  We need a small army of folks to help lighten the load.  During the event proper, volunteers will be helping us administer the individual events/tents, providing information to visitors, etc.

via/from/thanks to:

http://aboveallyellowknife.typepad.com/yellowknife-northerner-t/2012/03/call-for-volunteers-the-long-john-jamboree-needs-your-help-.html

24th Annual Native Health Research Conference - Student Travel Scholarships

24th Annual Native Health Research Conference - Student Travel Scholarships

---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Native Research Network, INC., (http://nativeresearchnetwork.org/) is pleased to announce the availability of student travel scholarships to undergraduate and graduates students who are American Indian, Alaska Native, Canadian Aboriginal, or Native Hawaiian. Scholarships will be made available to students to participate in the 24th Annual Native Health Research Conference to be held in Seattle, WA on July 16-19, 2012. Due to limited funding NRN, we will cover conference registration, 3 days lodging, and NRN membership dues. Students are encouraged to work with their institutions to acquire additional funds to cover airfare, ground transportation and per diem.
Applications will open April 1, 2012 and will be due April 30, 2012.

If you have any questions, please contact Tonie Marie Quaintance, Chair Student
Division, NRN (tmquaintance@alaska.edu)

The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, Yellowknife, NWT

The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) is a 313 seat theatre facility located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. It was built with the help of the publisher of the Globe and Mail newspaper whose fund raising efforts raised monies from varied sources across Canada. It is the only fully equipped live performance theatre in the NWT.

The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre Society exists as a non-profit charitable organization incorporated in February of 1981, operating under the direction of a volunteer Board of Directors with three full-time staff and supported by valued funders, sponsors, community interests, partner organizations, society members and community volunteers.

For over 24 years, NACC has been a venue and supporting agency for northern, national and international artists. We operate a variety of programs in communities throughout the NWT on an ongoing basis.  From educational workshops to performing artist mentorships, the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre is a vital part of the community of the Northwest Territories.


http://www.naccnt.ca/
Map
http://www.naccnt.ca/media/images/maplarge.jpg

Volunteering at NACC

NACC has a base of 100 volunteers including our Board Members, individuals and corporate volunteers. We do appreciate the support we get from all of our dedicated volunteers and will be happy to see new faces here at the centre of performing arts.

To volunteer at NACC, you can simply fill out the "Volunteer Signup" form and fax it back to us at (867)669-9826, or call the NACC Volunteer phone at 445-FEST (445-3378). You can also email it to us at naccvolunteer@hotmail.com.

Ecology North

Welcome to the Ecology North Website!

Ecology North is a charitable, non-profit organization based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada that was formed in 1971 to support sound environmental decision-making on an individual, community and regional level.

Ecology North's programs focus on three priorities: public education and awareness, climate change, and sustainable living. A common thread throughout all of the Ecology North programming is an emphasis on environmental, social and community well-being.

Ecology North maintains collaborative partnerships with a number of other local community and educational organizations to promote public education, sustainable living and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

http://www.ecologynorth.ca/

EN News: March 5, 2012.

 

1. Opportunities for Involvement at Ecology North
2. Oversight at Giant Mine
3. Energy Action Awards - You Deserve Recognition
4. Amazing Family Sundays
5. Dechinta Bush University: Sustainable Communities short-course, march9-11.
6. Canadian Roots Exchange - Exchanges Unite Us
7. News Flash from Staff

 

1. Opportunities for Involvement at Ecology North

Are you interested in becoming more involved in Ecology North? Ever thought of becoming a board member?  If you'd like to learn more of this opportunity, contact Jennifer Dagg at jenniferdagg01@gmail.com

 

2. Oversight at Giant Mine

Forever is a long time to be keeping watch over arsenic at Giant Mine. Are you concerned about who will be watching over remediation and perpetual care at the Giant Mine?

Alternatives North is hosting a public discussion on community oversight or whether there should be a watchdog at the Giant Mine. On Tuesday March 6th at 7:00 PM at the Visitors Centre.  Examples from Montana, the Ekati diamond mine and elsewhere will be discussed.

Everyone is welcome.  For more information, call 920-2765.

 

3. Energy Action Awards - You Deserve Recognition

Arctic Energy Alliance (AEA) would like to personally thank you for taking action on Energy and Climate Change.  Your initiative deserves recognition!

AEA awards Energy Action Awards to people like you for taking action on energy and climate change.  If you know someone deserving please consider nominating them for the award.

The nomination form is attached here for the 2012 Energy Action Awards . Please consider nominating someone you think deserves the recognition.

 

4. Amazing Family Sundays

Water, Water, Everywhere - March 11, 2012 2-4 pm
Launch Canada Water Week with an afternoon of watery tales, activities, games and information. This year's theme is "Discover Your Water Footprint". It will be an ocean of fun!  For a complete list of Amazing Family Sunday events click here.

 

5. Dechinta Bush University: Sustainable Communities short-course, march9-11. 

Sustainable Communities 101 is a short course march 9-11, 2012.  Critical information for community members involved in areas of sustainable development, environment, community health, self-government and self-determination.   Space for 25, call toll free 1-877-388-2874 to register or register online www.dechinta.ca/short-courses/ Course fee is $400 and includes airfare from Yellowknife to Dechinta at Blachford Lake Lodge, room, board and course materials. Dechinta: Arm your self with knowledge! www.dechinta.ca

 

6. Canadian Roots Exchange - Exchanges Unite Us

Ever thought that a week long road trip could change our country? We did. Still do, actually.

We are the Canadian Roots Exchange - a week long road trip that takes First Nations, Inuit, Metis and non-Indigenous Canadians around Canada's provinces to visit and learn from our country's Indigenous communities. Together we engage in the teachings, triumphs and daily realities of Inuit, First Nations and Metis communities in Canada. Most importantly, as we travel, eat and live together we work to break down stereotypes, open a dialogue, and build honest relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living on this land.

Please feel free to pass this on to aboriginal and non aboriginal youth ages 18-30 who may be interested.  The NWT, Denendeh exchanges will take place June 15-25 and August 14-24.

For more information or to apply check out : www.canadianroots.ca

 

7. News Flash From Staff

Can you imagine in your community?...

Community and household chicken coops, vegetable gardens behind every house, market gardens that provide meaningful local employment (and produce 45 tonnes of food in a season!), tipi-shaped greenhouses, dairy goats used to provide milk for making cheese and soap...

What do all of these ideas have in common?   ...They are all examples of innovative projects that have been created and implemented by people in northern Manitoba communities through their provincial "Northern Healthy Foods Initiative".  Check out the following link for more details on this inspiring and creative program that includes many ideas that would be relevant and applicable for the NWT:

Northern Healthy Foods Initiative   http://www.gov.mb.ca/ana/nhfi.html

This past week, Shannon felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Winnipeg to attend a conference and workshops that highlighted projects to increase local food production and food security in rural, northern and remote Manitoba communities.  Shannon was very grateful to the Manitoba Northern Healthy Foods Initiative and Health Canada for suggesting she attend, and providing financial support to make it possible.

The primary objectives in attending were to learn from Manitoba's efforts in the realm of local food production and food security, and to build links with northern Manitoba communities.  This learning and the connections made will continue to support the growing momentum in local food production that is happening here in the NWT!

 

On another note, if anyone has clear plastic salad/lettuce/spinach containers, we are happily collecting them to help with the up-coming growing season. Please wash, and bring to the Ecology North Office. If you have any questions contact us at admin@ecologynorth.ca

Canadian Roots Exchange - Exchanges Unite Us

Canadian Roots Exchange - Exchanges Unite Us

Ever thought that a week long road trip could change our country? We did. Still do, actually.

We are the Canadian Roots Exchange - a week long road trip that takes First Nations, Inuit, Metis and non-Indigenous Canadians around Canada's provinces to visit and learn from our country's Indigenous communities. Together we engage in the teachings, triumphs and daily realities of Inuit, First Nations and Metis communities in Canada. Most importantly, as we travel, eat and live together we work to break down stereotypes, open a dialogue, and build honest relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living on this land.

Please feel free to pass this on to aboriginal and non aboriginal youth ages 18-30 who may be interested. The NWT, Denendeh exchanges will take place June 15-25 and August 14-24.

For more information or to apply check out : www.canadianroots.ca

TWO EVENTS: Wise Women Awards/Bread and Roses Luncheon and the Wise Women Formal Book Launch

https://www.facebook.com/events/327782980596215/
WHAT: Wise Women Awards/Bread and Roses Luncheon
WHEN: Thursday  12:00pm until 1:00pm
WHERE: Great Hall, Legislative Assembly Building
Public Event · By Status of Women Council of the NWT http://www.statusofwomen.nt.ca/

This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the Wise Women Award. Wise Women recipients are role models who demonstrate wisdom, perseverance and dedication while standing up for women, children and families in our communities. They strive to make the North a better place to live, work and raise a family.

This year's winners are:
Marsha Argue - North Slave
Greta Anne Marie Sittichinli - Beaufort/Delta
Ethel Blondin-Andrew - Sahtu
Therese (Dollie) Simon - South Slave
Margaret Vandell - Deh Cho

Come honour this year's winners of the Wise Women Award during our annual Bread and Roses Luncheon. This event is open to the public so invite your friends. Lunch will be provided.

Thank you to our sponsor the GNWT, Department of the Executive. Wise Women Awards/Bread and Roses Luncheon

- - - - -

WHAT: Wise Women Formal Book Launch
Public Event · By Status of Women Council of the NWT
WHEN: Thursday 7:00pm until 8:30pm
WHERE:  Northern United Place
5403 - 50 Avenue (Franklin Ave)
Yellowknife, NT
https://www.facebook.com/events/243270219092421/

In honour of the 20th anniversary of the Wise Women Awards the Status of Women Council has created a book called "Honouring Our Wise Women from the North" this book contains all the photos and biographies of the women that have won the award.

We would like to formally invite you to come and meet with some of the past recipients of the award and have them sign your free copy of the book. There will be some refreshments provided and the Yellowknife Co-op has generously donated a cake for the evening.

This is an evening to mingle, meet some amazing women and even hear a little music. If you would like more information please give our office a call at 920.6177.

Special thank you to Staples and the Yellowknife Co-op.

- - - - -

Status of Women Council of the NWT
http://www.statusofwomen.nt.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Status-of-Women-Council-of-the-NWT/113623588652526
http://twitter.com/StatusofWomenNT
Mandate
The Council was established under the NWT Status of Women Council Act in April 1990. Its mandate is to work towards the equality of women through:
Advice to the Government of the NWT
Research
Public education
Advocating on behalf of women
Assistance to women's groups and other groups working on issues of concern to women

We can help
Call us free of charge in the NWT at 1-888-234-4485 or email us at council@statusofwomen.nt.ca
if you have concerns about how women are being treated,
if you want information about any issue related to women,
if you want help to work for women in your community.

Long johns, toque, parka, yellow snow -- these were some of the strange new words I learned when I first arrived.

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Canada's 'space' is sweet release

By: Amalia Pempengco

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/canadas-space-is-sweet-release-141281573.html

[excerpt]

Long johns, toque, parka, yellow snow -- these were some of the strange new words I learned when I first arrived. They were not Canadian desserts, as I realized later. They were essential to being "winterized" -- uncharted waters for someone from a tropical country with two seasons, hot and hotter. Being able to laugh at ourselves kept our sanity in this strange and frigid land.

For the first two years, I trembled whenever the phone rang -- it could be one of the hundreds of places where we have applied for jobs. Answering in straight English could be intimidating. Like many other new immigrants, we couldn't find jobs. Our stack of rejection letters grew by the inch monthly. We could not even get work cleaning tables due to the lack of "Canadian experience." We both worked on assembly lines at various factories, late shifts to make ends meet.

I also found myself volunteering, working without pay to build up Canadian experience. I volunteered at the provincial Fisheries Branch, spreading the word to the new immigrants about the rules to harvest fish, and ended up with a short-term paying job.

It led to another contract job at the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, helping to spread the word on ocean conservation to the Inuit communities in the Arctic.

How does a science teacher from a country near the equator transition to designing communications materials for Inuit in the high arctic?

What did I know about the Inuit? I started with nothing. Hours of research in libraries, consulting scientists who worked in the Arctic, conducting interviews in Inuvik, Iqaluit and Yellowknife, studying Inuit lifestyle and respecting their traditions, even enduring extreme wind chill values, must have paid off.

Somehow the research skills from my past life were transferable. Two years of working for the federal government opened a new world of possibilities.

[...]

THE NAVAJO RESPONSE TO CRIME: Restorative and Reparative Justice - Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation

THE NAVAJO RESPONSE TO CRIME
by
The Honorable Robert Yazzie Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation
Prepared for the Session
Concepts of Restorative and Reparative Justice
The American Judicature Society San Diego, California
November 2-3, 1997
http://www1.spa.american.edu/justice/documents/775.pdf
INTRODUCTION: INDIANS, ANT HILLS AND STEREOTYPES
A few years ago, I did a presentation on traditional Navajo justice to judges from five western states. After the talk, two state judges went outside. One said to the other, "What did you think of Chief Justice Yazzie's description of Navajo common law?" The other judge laughed and replied, "He didn't mention staking people to ant hills!" Obviously the judges saw too many Western movies.
Unfortunately, there is a popular stereotype that Indian justice is rough justice; that Indians used punishments such as staking people to ant hills, running them through a gauntlet of people armed with clubs, or stringing an offender (usually shown in the movies as a White offender) up in the sun to bake. That is an unfortunate stereotype. One of the reasons I want to speak at this important conference is that people such as myself, as Indian leaders, need to do more to educate the general American public about Indian ways.
The main issue posed for this conference is, "What is the judicial role in sentencing?" This session is designed to address restorative and reparative principles. "Restorative" is defined to mean "the process for renewing damaged personal and community relationships." "Reparative" is defined to mean "the process of making things right for those affected by an offender's behavior." In other words, how can we help victims? We use only one word for both ideas: peacemaking. The Navajo term is Hozhooji Naat'aanii, and while it is difficult to completely translate its concepts into English, I will simply translate it as "talking things out in a good way."
Given that the overall topic of this conference is sentencing, I will focus on how we use peacemaking in sentencing or to handle a case. There is a copy of the Uniform Sentencing Policy the Navajo Nation Judicial Conference adopted in August 1994 in your conference materials. We believe that the policy is unique, because it incorporates restorative and reparative justice concepts. We know that it is unique because it incorporates traditional Navajo concepts on how to respond to crime.
I will describe the policy's concepts of "talking things out," the "traditional probation officer," and how we use Navajo peacemaking before charges are filed, at the time of plea, prior to sentencing, and after sentencing.

On Inuit words for snow....

New post on nunawhaa Forty-Seven by qiviq qiviq | March 1, 2012 at 6:53 pm | Tags: Arctic, cliche, education, fyi, wtf | Categories: 100 words for snow | URL: http://wp.me/p1APGq-ib Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

@NWTel Community TV #Arctic #Winter #Games @awg2012 coverage on #Vimeo & #YouTube #Northwestel #traditional #sport

Arctic Winter Games coverage on Yellowknife Cable 20, Vimeo & YouTube
Northwestel Community TV is pleased to announce the coverage we will be providing of the upcoming 2012 Arctic Winter Games that will be available online and on  Yellowknife Ch 20/269 in the coming weeks.
Our preview show "Arctic Winter Games Warm-Up" is playing on Cable 20 multiple times this week and the three episodes feature a number of stories about AWG preparation and planning that includes some coverage of the NWT Wrestling and Snowboard trials held last month. Those shows are also available online at
http://vimeo.com/nwtelcommunitytv
Starting March 4th the show "AWG Daily" will air with a new episode at 10pm every night and showing multiple times throughout the day on Ch 20/269. The show will also be available online on the 2012 AWG YouTube channel which you can find at
http://www.youtube.com/user/awg2012/videos
Chris Mcnutt [cmcnutt@nwtel.ca] on behalf of Yellowknife Cable 20