2018 Dene Games Summit wraps up

The 2018 Dene Games Summit closing ceremony took place in the East Three Secondary gymnasium Wednesday, Feb. 14.

The ceremony began with athletes participating in a blanket toss activity. Medals were awarded to the athletes by lead organizer Colin Pybus, and thank-you's were said to all who made the summit possible.

The sixth-annual summit took place over four days, Feb. 11 to Feb. 14. Student athletes from all around the Northwest Territories, as well as one group from Newmarket, Ont., took part in Dene and Northern games.

"It's an awesome opportunity for family and friends to get together and share in this amazing aspect of the two Indigenous cultures that are inherent to the area that we live in," Pybus said of the summit. "I'm very proud to be able to host and showcase our school and the community of Inuvik for everybody."

Six students receive Jim Edwards Sittichinli scholarship

Six Inuvik students, including Jeremy Hansen, Matthew Lavoie, Davonna Kasook, Jordan Norman-Goose, Angel Simon, and Jessi Pascal received the 2018 Jim Edwards Sittichinli scholarship Monday, Feb. 19.

The scholarship was created in honor of the late Reverend Jim Edwards Sittichinli, a well-respected elder who committed much of his life to the land and wildlife.

The award is given to students who are committed to a career in renewable resources or related studies.

Australian artists to play at Igloo Church Feb. 22

Shane Howard and Yirrmal Marika will play at Inuvik's Igloo Church at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22.

Indigenous-Australian singer-songwriter Marika sings of his homeland and culture, while Howard plays traditional folk music.

The event is being organized by the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC). Marie Coderre, executive and artistic director of NACC, said the concert will be a good way to show what reconciliation can be all about, and that Howard and Marika on stage together will be a "beautiful symbol" of reconciliation.

"It's an honour to have both of these singers coming to the territory," Coderre said. "They wanted to come for the cultural experience and exchange. In a time of reconciliation, I think it is very important different Indigenous groups from around the world can talk together and exchange."

Howard and Marika are touring all across the Northwest Territories this month.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for youth.

Inuvik fire department to host Pink Shirt Day Feb. 28

The Town of Inuvik Fire Department is hosting a pink shirt day to take a stand against bullying Wednesday, Feb. 28.

Pink Shirt Day is an international campaign to raise awareness about bullying in schools, workplaces, homes and online.

The campaign was started in a high school in Nova Scotia in 2007 by students David Shepherd and Travis Price after they saw another student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt, according to the Pink Shirt Day campaign's official website.

Shepherd, Price, and a group of their friends organized a protest against bullying by giving out pink shirts to all the male students at their school.

Jonathon Michel, acting fire chief for the Inuvik Fire Department, said this is the first time they are hosting a Pink Shirt Day.

Michel said he hopes as many people in Inuvik participate as possible either by wearing a pink shirt they already own, or by ordering one from PinkShirtDay.ca.

"The potential for spreading awareness for kindness is good anywhere, I think," Michel said. "Inuvik is no exception to that. It is always a better option to be kind to others."

Michel said along with wearing pink, the fire department is also encouraging residents of Inuvik to make donations to any local youth organization to show support.

Those who participate can share photos of their pink shirts on any social media platform with the hashtag #bullyfreeNWT.