'Nobody's taking responsibility:' Board says gov'ts must address Yellowknife's arsenic problem

by Garrett Hinchey

Over a decade since Yellowknife's Giant Mine closed its doors for the final time, it's still not clear who will take responsibility in addressing the tonnes of arsenic trioxide dust that have settled in and around the city.

Nunavut board vetoes Agnico Eagle's pitch to test hovercrafts on the tundra

by Sara Frizzell

The Nunavut Impact Review Board has recommended that Agnico Eagle’s plans to pilot hovercrafts near its Meadowbank mine be 'modified or abandoned.'

NWT Soccer scores with first full-time hire

by Mitch Wiles

The NWT Soccer Association has hired their first full-time executive director, thanks to a new three-year funding model from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Sentencing day for murderer of young Fort Good Hope mom

The young man who murdered Charlotte Lafferty will find out today if he must spend six years in prison or at least 10. The sentence hinges on whether the judge treats him as a youth or as an adult.

Ending Yellowknife homelessness would help 1,500 people but may cost $170M, says consultant

by Ollie Williams

Yellowknife faces a tougher task than the ‘major challenge’ in Calgary if it is to end homelessness, according to a consultant preparing the city’s 10-year plan.

Four N.W.T. communities to receive infrastructure funding from feds

Four communities in the Northwest Territories are set to receive a major boost, as the federal government announced over $2.3 million in infrastructure funding on Wednesday.

RCMP investigating 'sudden death' in Whitehorse's McIntyre subdivision

Emergency vehicles were stationed outside a residence on Murphy Rd. since early Wednesday morning. Officials could be seen entering and leaving the residence wearing masks and protective clothing.

Yellowknife's nomadic food trucks looking for permanent homes

by Ollie Williams

A Yellowknife food truck owner wants the city to begin issuing permanent, designated spaces to vendors, saying the present first-come, first-served system is stressful and counterproductive.

'The Kid' from Whitehorse coming up big in WHL playoffs

by Dave Croft

Sixteen year-old Dylan Cozens, called up to the Lethbridge Hurricanes, scored the tying goal in the dying minutes of a do-or-die playoff game Tuesday night, paving the way for the Hurricanes to move on to round three.

Whitehorse mulls larger, $55M operations building plan

The city has long planned a new operations building for city equipment and services. A transit storage facility for the city's 15 buses was to be added sometime down the road, but now officials want to do it all at once.

Northern romance: Nunavut man tracks down traditional dolls around the world for fiancée

by Priscilla Hwang

A Nunavut man expresses his love for his fiancée in a unique way: stone-faced dolls.

'Joke gone bad': Reality TV stunt leads to charges under the Yukon Waters Act

by Dave Croft

Tony Beets was charged after an episode of 'Gold Rush' aired on the Discovery Channel showing gasoline being poured into a dredge pond on Beets' claims on the Indian River, then lit on fire.

N.W.T. health dept. didn't know Kam Lake is being regularly tested for arsenic

by Curtis Mandeville

'For some reason it wasn't mentioned, or if it was, we didn't pay attention to it,' said Dr. Andre Corriveau, who issued a public health advisory based on newly unearthed data from 1989 last week.

Polar bear dies unexpectedly at SeaWorld San Diego

Szenja, a 21 year old polar bear, died at SeaWorld's Wild Arctic Exhibit Tuesday after losing her appetite and energy. Polar bears are known to live 20 to 30 years in captivity or 18 years in the wild.

Yellowknife lawyers to challenge mandatory firearms minimums

by Richard Gleeson

In a Yellowknife courtroom on Tuesday, two lawyers served notice they will be arguing that the four-year minimum prison sentence for discharging a firearm in a reckless manner amounts to cruel and unusual punishment for their clients.

Driving to the top of the world: Exploring Canada's new Arctic highway

There are over a million kilometres of road in Canada, but hardly any have gone as far as our third coast — the Arctic Ocean. But that's about to change.

Inuit fashion featured for the first time at Indigenius show in Ottawa

by Sara Frizzell

The show started in 2013, but until organizers reached out to fashion designer Martha Kyak, Inuit designers had not participated.

New fund to ensure all kids can use the Iqaluit pool

by Angela Hill

The Jimmy Kilabuk Children's Recreation Fund has more than $100,000 to help low-income families get access to Iqaluit's pool.

'Too close for comfort': Former Olympian home after being surrounded by wolves on remote lake

by Paul Tukker

Alain Masson counted 12 wolves through his binoculars, while skiing on B.C.'s Atlin Lake. Then he noticed they were running towards him. 'I didn’t really know what to do.'

Kuujjuaq's Bobby Gordon takes win in return of Iqaluit to Kimmirut snowmobile race

Iqaluit's annual Toonik Tyme festival continues on until Saturday, but an early frontrunner for the festival's big winner may be Kuujjuaq, Quebec's Bobby Gordon, the 2017 winner of the popular Iqaluit to Kimmirut snowmobile race.

Tanya Tagaq pushes U.S. band Eskimeaux to change its name

Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq has convinced Brooklyn indie band Eskimeaux to swap out its name for one deemed more culturally sensitive.

N.W.T. gov't to offer medical escorts to all pregnant women travelling to give birth

Starting now, expectant mothers in the Northwest Territories who have to travel outside of their home community to give birth will no longer have to go alone.

De Beers moves Gahcho Kué charter flights from Edmonton to Calgary

De Beers Canada is moving its twice-weekly charter flights from Edmonton to Calgary, the company announced Wednesday.

Prince Charles, Camilla to visit Nunavut during Canada's 150th celebration

by Kathleen Harris

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will make a three-day royal visit to help celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation. Gov. Gen. David Johnston announced the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will be here from June 29 to July 1.

Yukon First Nation gets go-ahead for biomass boiler project

New, energy-efficient boilers are in the cards for a Yukon First Nation, as the Teslin Tlingit Council received $150,000 from the Yukon government to convert 10 community buildings to biomass heating.

Defective safety valve, improper training to blame for Agnico Eagle diesel spill

A defective safety valve and employees who were not properly trained are to blame for a 30,000 litre diesel spill at Agnico Eagle's Meliadine mine site, according to preliminary findings of an internal investigation into the leak.

Workers plug Alaska North Slope oil well that leaked gas

An oil well leaking natural gas on Alaska's North Slope was successfully plugged by pumping saltwater into the well, according to private and government responders.

'We're there to help:' Nunavut's community coroners head to Iqaluit for yearly training

by Nick Murray

Thirteen of Nunavut's community-based coroners were in Iqaluit last week for annual training, learning all about the ins and outs of the job.

A glacial river has a dramatic change of course in Yukon's Kluane Park

by Brandie Weikle

Climate change has caused the massive Kaskawulsh Glacier in the Yukon to retreat so much that its meltwater abruptly switched direction, in the first documented case of "river piracy" in modern times.

Yellowknife fighter to compete at Amateur MMA World Championships

by Mitch Wiles

Yellowknife’s Jared Tordoff will represent Canada at the Amateur MMA World Championships in Bahrain in November.

Flying economy-class: Could gyroplanes offer Yukoners flights at lower costs?

by Philippe Morin

A Yukon pilot is learning to fly a lightweight hybrid of a helicopter and a plane. Fans of gyrocopters (also called gyroplanes) see potential for relatively cheap airborne tourism, search-and-rescues, aerial surveys and more.

'It scares me': Permafrost thaw in Canadian Arctic sign of global trend

by David Michael Lamb

For years now, buildings in Inuvik have been sinking due to thawing permafrost. It's part of a worrying trend across the Arctic, writes David Michael Lamb.

Could yaks be the N.W.T.'s new cows?

by Jimmy Thomson

One day, Zak the yak could grow to be over 1,200 pounds. Today, however, he is still dog-sized, being bottle fed by the NFTI staff. They say he could be the answer to some Northern farming problems.

'I can see it dying down': Dog sledding on Labrador's south coast might disappear

by Katie Breen

Already once in this lifetime, dog teams have left Labrador’s south coast. Years ago, snowmobiles made their everyday use obsolete. Hobbyists brought them back. But now there’s something else threatening the future of dog racing.

Photos Inuit mushers compete in 2017 Ivakkak race in Nunavik

Photographer Pierre Dunnigan followed 13 mushers and their dog teams in the 650-kilometre Ivakkak race in northern Quebec, which wrapped up this weekend. Check out some of his beautiful images from the race.

Your North: Best reader photos for week of April 10

Shades of blue dominate our best reader photos of the week, whether it's enjoying the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk ice road one last time, swans swimming in spring waters, or skiing on the Arctic tundra. Here are your best shots of the week from across the North.

RCMP say Inuvik, N.W.T., teen last seen Thursday found safe

The police say they spoke with the teenager on Saturday evening to ensure his well-being.

It's the little things: Richard Van Camp to upgrade 1989 family car using $10K from Indigenous art award

by Gareth Hampshire

Edmonton author Richard Van Camp is one of 150 Indigenous artists across the country chosen to receive a $10,000 cash award to support his work.

Jim Smith, remembered for pivotal role in shaping modern Yukon, dies at 97

by Dave Croft

Former Yukon commissioner Jim Smith is credited with the beginning of transition to responsible government in the territory and his kind friendly nature.

Photos Toonik Tyme: Fun and frolics at Iqaluit's annual 'Hello!' to spring

For 52 years, people in the Eastern Arctic have gathered every year in Iqaluit to celebrate the arrival of spring. Here are some photos and video from this year's events.

RCMP release victim's name in suspicious death in Kugluktuk, Nunavut

Police were dispatched to a residence at about 10:30 a.m. on Apr. 10 to check in on 46-year-old Margaret Ogina 'who family and friends had not heard from in a while.'

Metal as fuel? These Canadian scientists are working to make it happen

by Nicole Mortillaro

Imagine one day fuelling your car with iron powder, rather than gasoline. That's the goal of some Canadian scientists who hope that metal will one day provide a cleaner, greener alternative for our cars and other vehicles.

'Surprised, honoured, humbled': Yellowknifer 1st from N.W.T. on Canada Council for the Arts

Yellowknife’s own Ben Nind is one of eight board members appointed to the Canada Council for the Arts — the first from the Northwest Territories.

'I wish they could have done this sooner': Nunavut mothers celebrate new escort policy

by Hilary Bird

A Health Canada change to the Non-Insured Health Benefits for Inuit and First Nations to fund non-medical escorts for pregnant Indigenous women is being celebrated by women and health advocates across the North.

Canadian Rangers kick off northern adventure to mark Canada's 150th

by Dave Croft

All 60 Ranger patrols in the North are relaying a baton, actually a double-bladed axe, across north from Yukon to Nunavut then back to Yellowknife.

'We need to be honest': Yukoners prepare for MMIW inquiry

Commissioners and directors of the federal inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous woman and girls were in Whitehorse to lay the groundwork for the beginning of hearings on May 29.

Child skating on Yellowknife's Back Bay lost, quickly found

Yellowknife RCMP are reminding locals to be safe when outside enjoying the spring weather after a child was briefly lost on Back Bay Wednesday evening.

2 inquiry meetings into missing, murdered Indigenous women postponed

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has postponed regional advisory meetings that had been set for Edmonton and Thunder Bay, Ont., next week, saying they need to be "reformulated."

Atlin seniors worry about rent doubling when federal subsidy expires

A decades-old federal housing subsidy program is coming to an end, leaving many, including a few seniors in Atlin, B.C., worried about their rent doubling next year.

Spring snowmobile trip explores future of Canada's newest national park

by Sara Frizzell

Qausuittuq National Park was created in 2015 and is in its second operational year. The trip will be done by snowmobile over the sea ice from Resolute with the three Parks Canada staff, a conservation officer from Resolute and a local guide.