April Hudson

Arctic Winter Games 2023 open with a rockin' outdoor party at –17 C

Black night skies spread above brightly lit arches and crowds of spectators on Sunday night as the teams competing in this year's Arctic Winter Games got their official welcome at the opening ceremony. Black night skies spread above brightly lit…

Youth-led House of Hope in Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., sparks healing, friendships and connection

The House of Hope is now a place where youth can go to hang out, laugh, heal and learn — something the community didn't have. Program aims to give young people a place to go and something to do There's a pleasant buzz of noise as youths, elders and…

Yellowknife parents, trustees search for solutions as more school bus routes get cancelled

In recent weeks, First Transit — the contractor that provides school busing service in Yellowknife — announced the indefinite cancellation of three bus routes because the company doesn't have enough drivers. 'Hang tight,' says YK1 board chair — and…

Jane Glassco fellowship, north-focused policy mentorship program, on pause for 2 years

A fellowship for Northerners interested in tackling policy challenges has been put on pause for two years. Campbell said it's too early to say what will happen with the fellowship two years from now A fellowship for Northerners interested in tackling…

N.W.T. gov't workforce grew 25% over past 5 years

Over the past 20 years, staff numbers have generally grown year-over-year, aside from a few years which defied that trend. But over the past 5 years, the government grew sharply. We look at the numbers. Did the pandemic and the creation of the COVID…

'She had me at lynx chow mein': Brought together by wild food and Facebook, N.W.T. cooks pen recipe book

If you sit down at Barb and Richard Mercredi's table in Fort Smith, N.W.T., for dinner, you might find yourself tucking in to all sorts of wild foods cooked to perfection. The couple recently collaborated with Yellowknife's Melissa Sangris to put…

These muskox-wool hats are the warmest tuques you can find — and they help support a whole community

For many Canadians, wool is wool. For fibre enthusiasts, qiviut is one of the best wools around — and a woman from the Beaufort Delta is spinning out yards of the stuff in Alberta. Beaufort Delta woman spins muskox wool at Alberta fibre mill For many…

Rare earth metal mine in N.W.T. now the main focus for Vital Metals

After a successful year of hauling rare earth metals out of a mine near Yellowknife, Vital Metals says the mine will have its full attention in the new year. The Nechalacho mine site, about 100 kilometres southeast of Yellowknife, has large deposits…

Subcontractor goes to court over renos to old Stanton hospital

A company that was kicked off the project to modernize the old Stanton Territorial Hospital building is going to court next month, claiming it's owed $3.4 million for work it did there. A subcontractor who worked to turn Yellowknife's old Stanton…

N.W.T. suggests waste recovery rules that could one day shift recycling costs to producers

Extended producer responsibility — better known as EPR — shifts the cost of recycling off of governments and onto companies by making producers responsible for disposing of packaging. As final consultations begin on suggested waste recovery changes,…

N.W.T. gov't walks back its demand that child-care operators stop using playground equipment in winter

The N.W.T. Early Childhood Association says child-care operators in the territory are reeling from a government directive forbidding them from using playgrounds in the winter. Surprise directive left operators 'reeling' before gov't changed its mind…

Free on the ice

Devon Manik hastily stows his rifle and grabs his whip, cracking it against the snow. “Down!” he shouts, and the dogs pause long enough for him to climb on his qamutiik. Together, they head for the spot where, seconds before, Manik had taken aim at a…

Expedition finds cache of cameras on remote Yukon glacier, 85 years after mountaineer left them behind

Griffin Post's team was up against the wall, with bad weather moving in after six days of searching. With an hour to go, thanks to some quick thinking by one scientist, they recovered gear left behind by Bradford Washburn in 1937. 'We went on a…

French sailor pushes back at doubters of his Northwest Passage exploits

Yvan Bourgnon says he’s shocked by accusations circulating in French media that he embellished the facts of his crossing, cheated on a record attempt and then tried to cover it up. Yvan Bourgnon sailed the Northwest Passage in a cabinless catamaran…

Someone stuffed the ballot box, but 'bearplane' 747 is still the fattest bear at Alaska's Brooks River

He was gigantic back in July, when the bears at Brooks River in Alaska began chowing down on salmon to pack on the winter weight. But Bear 747 grew more gigantic as the weeks wore on, and he's emerged as the winner of Fat Bear Week 2022. Bear Force…

Yellowknife 'death cafe' shows death and grief don't need to be lonely journeys, say organizers

"For a lot of the people who had attended, it was their first time realizing there's a larger community of support and people who have sort of walked that pathway together," said Cailey Mercredi. Two Yellowknife women are working to create a space…

May the chonkiest bear win: Tubby titans face off in Alaska for Fat Bear Week

Titans of tub, laureates of lard — brown bears at Brooks River in Alaska's Katmai National Park have spent their summer packing on the pounds and are now facing off in an elimination-style competition for the title of Ultimate Ursid. Call them what…

Puvirnituq students turn slimy, smelly fish skins into strong, supple leather

As a group of seven women in Puvirnituq, Que., found out last week, all it takes is a few days soaking in a tea bath for fish skin to lose its slime and transform into a beautiful material that can be used in sewing and crafts. Fish skin tanning an…

Inuk pilot reaches new horizons in familiar Nunavut skies

After graduating from flight school and going through nearly two months of rigorous training with Calm Air, Doris Ipeelee is looking forward to flying in her home territory. Doris Ipeelee, from Iqaluit, fulfils longtime dream of flying planes Doris…

N.W.T.'s environment department to seek review of officer conduct during search of culture camp

"We are planning to engage outside enforcement specialists to complete a review of this enforcement action," wrote the department in an unsigned email Friday. The N.W.T.'s Department of Environment and Natural Resources says it plans to seek an…