2006 Census

National Inuit Leader Says Census Data points to Call for Action (January 15, 2008): The President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Mary Simon says Inuit must recognize that the Inuit language is eroding and be prepared to do whatever is necessary to reverse this trend to protect, preserve and enhance the Inuit language and the different dialects that we speak. Ms. Simon was responding the Statistics Canada 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Survey that reported an overall erosion of Inuit Languages. “Let’s not kid ourselves, the state of our Inuit language is in critical condition, and if we lose our language, then we will have lost our culture,” said Mary Simon.”I don’t want to be looking at statistics in 2011 that point to further erosion of our precious language. The numbers released today confirm a trend that our language is eroding, slowly but surely.”

Census numbers portray ‘crisis’ among Inuit: Simon (January 16, 2008): A Canadian Inuit leader said she’s worried about new statistics that show poor conditions among Canada’s Inuit, from crowded houses to fewer people using traditional languages. "To me, it’s a crisis, and we need to deal with it," Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said Tuesday in response to the latest aboriginal and Inuit census statistics released by Statistics Canada.

Inuit, aboriginal populations grow across North (January 16, 2008): Aboriginal populations grew across Canada’s North in the last 10 years, leaping in Nunavut and the Yukon while making smaller gains in the Northwest Territories, according to census figures released Tuesday by Statistics Canada. Almost half of Canada’s Inuit call Nunavut home, the census found. About 24,600 people, or 49 per cent of all Inuit, live in the territory. As was the case in past counts, 84 per cent of all Nunavut residents in 2006 identified themselves as Inuit.

Winnipeg has most aboriginal people in Canada (January 15, 2008): More aboriginal people live in Winnipeg than in any other major city in Canada, according to new census data released Tuesday by Statistics Canada. […..]The growth of the city’s aboriginal population — defined as those who said they were Indian, Métis or Inuit — has been dramatic in recent years, growing by 22 per cent over five years, compared with only one per cent for non-aboriginal Winnipeggers.

Aboriginal language shows gains and losses (January 15, 2008): The growth in Canada’s aboriginal population hasn’t necessarily translated into more people speaking an aboriginal language, the 2006 census reveals. […..]In 2006, the Inuit’s knowledge of Inuktitut was fairly strong, with 69% reporting they could converse in it, but it was a drop from 72% a decade earlier. Fewer Inuit are also reporting it as their mother tongue, the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual at the time of the census.

Canadian indigenous numbers soar (January 16, 2008): Census figures in Canada show a big increase in the number of Canadians who describe themselves as belonging to one of the country’s indigenous peoples. Data from the 2006 census shows there are now almost 1.2 million aboriginal people - 4% of the population and a 45% rise since the last census in 1996. The survey also shows that more than half live in or near urban areas.

Rising number of natives creates ‘policy time bomb’ (January 16, 2008): Ottawa’s power to define who is - and is not - a status Indian in Canada is facing increasing strain in light of new census data revealing a growing number of people identifying themselves as aboriginal. Statistics released yesterday show the aboriginal population in Canada has grown 45 per cent in the past decade and now exceeds one million people. As a percentage of Canada’s total population, aboriginals have increased to 3.8 per cent in 2006 from 2.8 per cent in 1996.

1 million mark shattered in ‘06 census (January 16, 2008): The number of Canadians who identify themselves as aboriginal has surpassed the one million mark for the first time in census history. In all, 1,172,790 identified themselves as aboriginal people in the 2006 census, a category that includes North American Indian, Métis and Inuit. Higher-than-average fertility rates are only part of the equation. More people are choosing that ethnic designation for themselves, according to Rosemary Bender, director general of social and demographic statistics for Statistics Canada.

Native housing conditions reach a ‘crisis situation’ (January 16, 2008): A Saskatchewan First Nations leader says the latest Statistics Canada numbers that show nearly one in four aboriginal people live in homes requiring major repairs points to a "crisis situation." "It speaks to the crisis at hand and what it means is governments have to take action. It’s their own report telling them," said Glen Pratt, vice-chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).

Cities ‘need aboriginal plans’ (January 16, 2008): Census data showing that in B.C. more aboriginal people live off reserves than on them should prompt the government to develop long-term social strategies in cities, says the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. The aboriginal-advocacy group was reacting yesterday to numbers released by Statistics Canada showing that, in 2006, 60 per cent of the aboriginal population in B.C. lived in urban areas, while only 26 per cent lived on reserves.

‘A large pool of untapped potential’ (January 16, 2008): Nearly half of Canada’s aboriginal population is under 25, according to the latest census information, and it’s a fast-growing group that faces different hurdles than the rest of the country. Children and youth make up 48 per cent of the aboriginal population, which Statistics Canada defines as including those who identify themselves as Inuit, Métis or First Nations (status and non-status Indians). This will create greater demand for housing, job training and education from preschool on, the report says. By contrast, just 31 per cent of the rest of the country falls into the 24-and-younger bracket.

Aboriginal population young and growing (January 16, 2008): For more than one hundred years, aboriginals have been walking off native reserves and into the nation’s cities. And according to Statistic Canada’s latest aboriginal census data released yesterday, there are now more First Nations people in cities than on their traditional lands. But that mass exodus may be coming to an end. The proportion of status Indians living on reserve compared with those off reserve has barely budged in more than a decade.

Akwesasne fears census data could be used against its citizens (January 16, 2008): Grand Chief Tim Thompson recalls Statistics Canada collecting census data as a young child in Akwesasne First Nation, but those memories date back more than 40 years. The aboriginal territory refused, like 21 other reserves across the country, to participate in the 2006 census performed by Statistics Canada because its people feel the information could be used against them.  "It has a lot to do with ownership, access and control," Thompson said. "Because of the questions they are asking in the census, we will not have ownership of the information. With that, we will not have control over how the information is used. Our community is very protective of that information because it could be used against us."

Climate Change

Huge fracture in Beaufort Sea ice pack worries scientists (January 15, 2008): A massive fracture discovered this winter in the Beaufort Sea ice pack could be a sign of things to come as climate change continues to warm the Arctic, according to a leading climate researcher. The fracture, first discovered in December, occurred in the Beaufort ice pack off the west coast of Banks Island in the Northwest Territories.

2007 Was Tied as Earth’s Second Warmest Year (January 16, 2008): Climatologists at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City have found that 2007 tied with 1998 for Earth’s second warmest year in a century. Goddard Institute researchers used temperature data from weather stations on land, satellite measurements of sea ice temperature since 1982 and data from ships for earlier years. The greatest warming in 2007 occurred in the Arctic, and neighboring high latitude regions. Global warming has a larger affect in polar areas, as the loss of snow and ice leads to more open water, which absorbs more sunlight and warmth.

Glacier acceleration causes unearthed (January 16, 2008): Analysis of the Kennicott Glacier in Alaska, has led researchers to speculate that it is being accelerated due to internal plumbing issues, therefore also explaining the acceleration of glaciers observed recently on the Greenland ice sheet that are contributing to global sea rise. The study, carried out by the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA, indicates that melt water periodically overwhelms the interior drainpipes of Alaska’s Kennicott Glacier and causes it to lurch forward.

Study confirms Greenland ice sheet melt due to global warming (January 16, 2008): Global warming is behind the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, new research from an international team of glaciologists and climatologists confirms. The scientists, from the UK, Belgium, Denmark and the US, arrived at their conclusion after analysing glaciological and meteorological records going back some five decades. Their findings are published in the Journal of Climate.

Greenland Melting More Than Anytime in 50+ Years (January 16,. 2008): Greenland has melted more in recent summers than at any time in at least 50 years, a finding that supports the link between global warming, the melting of the Arctic and Greenland, and sea level rise. The international research team was led by Edward Hanna of the University of Sheffield, and the study was published the results of their climate and glacier data analysis in the Journal of Climate Jan. 15.

National

Inuit stand up to enviro-fascists (January 15, 2008): Environmental activists banging on aboriginal drums and chanting sweet nothings to their self-styled mother earth pseudo-religion  have an interesting foe on their hands: Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit of Canada, said a petition by environmentalists to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) seeking to protect the Arctic bears is driven more by politics than ecological imperative.

Regional

Tahera Diamond files for protection from creditors (January 16, 2008): Tahera Diamond Corp (TAH.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday that it is seeking creditor protection because it cannot meet current obligations with its cash flow and cash on hand after a plan to cover debt to equity fell through. Tahera, whose main asset is the money-losing Jericho diamond mine in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, said there was insufficient interest in an equity offering and it had no other viable strategic alternatives. [Related]

Nain water main break puts town under boil order (January 15, 2008): A broken water main is creating serious problems for residents of a town in northern Labrador. The school in Nain is closed, and the town clinic is only accepting emergency patients. As well, all residents have been asked to comply with a boil water advisory.

‘Generous’ Inuvik elder mourned after body found (January 15, 2008): As family and friends of Inuvik, N.W.T., elder Maurice Cardinal mourned his death, some raised questions about the treatment of those who are homeless or battle addictions. The frozen body of Cardinal, 59, was found Sunday morning in a makeshift shack on the edge of Inuvik. Local RCMP said Cardinal, who often lived at Inuvik’s homeless shelter, had been drinking with friends the night before. Police are investigating the matter, and plan to send his body to Edmonton for an autopsy.

Draft impact statement filed for Bathurst port, road proposal (January 15, 2008): Proponents of the Bathurst Inlet port and road proposal say they’ve made a big step forward in the project, by submitting a draft environmental impact statement to the Nunavut Impact Review Board. All 5,000 pages and 10 binders of the impact statement from the Kitikmeot Corp. and Nuna Logistics, which are jointly proposing the port and road project, arrived at the review board’s offices in Cambridge Bay earlier this month.

Young Adults Group-Goose Bay (January 15, 2008): There is a Young Adults Group formed for youth between the ages of 19 and 30years in Goose Bay. Michelle Parsons works with Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development and she is in charge of the program. She says this group will meet to discuss the activities that they will have throughout the month.

Labrador Pharmachoice Update (January 15, 2008): The new pharmacy in Happy Valley-Goose Bay  is a joint venture between Pharmachoice and the Labrador Inuit Development Corporation. Labrador Pharmachoice opened its doors last October and Quintan Roberts is the Manager. He says the business is working out better than what most people expected. He says more and more Nunatsiavut beneficiaries have been coming in to use its services.

DHSD Youth Group- Goose Bay (January 15, 2008): A very active Youth Group has started in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Michelle Parsons works with this group. She says the group meets on a bi-weekly basis to plan activities and events the Youth can hold. Parsons says attendance for this group is always high and that 12 Youth is the lowest attendance rate since it was formed.

Them Days Magazine (January 15, 2008): “Them Days” magazine was granted funds last August by the Provincial government to construct an Archival Facility. Susan Felsberg is Chair of the Board of Directors. She says a construction committee has been formed.

Canada Post Rate Increases (January 15, 2008): If you mailed a letter to the United States or Overseas yesterday you would have noticed an increase in postage. John Caines works in Public Relations with Canada Post. He says although there is no basic domestic letter rate increase for 2008, there is one for letters destined for the US and other countries. Letters, cards or postcards going to the US are gone up by 3 cents and now costs 0.96 cents to mail. In the meantime letters destined for international destinations are gone up by 5 cents and now cost $1.60.

Other

Russian Arctic shelf bigger than expected (January 16, 2008): Results from a scientific expedition in the Russian Arctic this summer indicate that the Russian Arctic shelf might be bigger than previously anticipated, the Russian Academy of Sciences reports. According to researcher Gennadii Matishov, the expedition, which was conducted with the nuclear icebreaker “Rossiya” this summer gives heavy evidence about the similarity of the Lomonosov Ridge with the Russian Siberian mainland.