Posted: Feb 20, 2021 6:00 AM CT | Last Updated: February 20
The Dakhká Khwáan Dancers were one of several artists who performed at the Arctic Inspiration Prize ceremony that was broadcast across the country for the first time in its history.(Arctic Inspiration Prize)
The Arctic Inspiration Prize awarded more than $3 million to seven northern projects from music education to food sovereignty to Indigenous-led conservation.
The million-dollar prize went to Imaa, Like this: Children and Youth Expressing Themselves Through Music. Their project is focused on teaching Inuit children music, employing Inuit youth and music instructors and to mentor youth to become musical leaders in their communities.
The Yukon New Democratic Party has been busy fielding candidates for the upcoming territorial election, widely expected to be called this spring.
The party says it has nearly 20 candidates waiting in the wings to be nominated – but most of those haven’t yet been publicly named.
Party leader Kate White says she’s eagerly waiting to unveil those candidates, which should occur in the next few weeks.
“I’m really excited,” she said.
Two of the named candidates, Dave Weir in Haines Junction and Michelle Friesen, have been interviewed by the Star.
“I really didn’t have much choice about deciding to run,” said Weir. “There are changes that need to be made, and the privileged few are in charge. It’s a big social divide I want to be able to speak up and be involved.”
It calls for rewriting both the Quartz Mining Act and the Yukon Placer Mining Act.
The strategy recommends a much greater role in oversight of the industry by Yukon First Nations, and greater procurement opportunities for First Nations. It recommends greater opportunities for First Nations to gain equity in mining projects.
It suggests an overhaul of the collection resource revenue royalties.
The strategy recommends the promotion of mining in the territory be transferred from the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources to Economic Development to eliminate any perception of conflict of interest.
It recommends greater efforts in the classroom to educate Yukoners on the benefits of mining, to offset the negative legacies left behind by the industry in the past.