New research by Jack Hicks, a social research consultant living in Iqaluit, Nunavut, tracks how suicide trends in the Arctic correlate with increased colonialism and modernization in the Arctic. Historically, suicide in the Arctic was uncommon, but the suicide rate dramatically increased when national governments forced Inuit people in Alaska, Nunavut, and Greenland off the land and into larger communities. Read more in a CBC article, "Research tracks Inuit modernization with suicide, offers hope for improvement" or you can listen to a interview with Jack Hicks on the CBC show, As it Happens. You can also download a copy of the journal, Indigenous Affairs (in PDF) with Jack Hicks' paper, "The Social Determinants of Elevated Rates of Suicide Among Inuit Youth," or you can download a copy of his slide presentation (in PDF).

As of September 1st, the Government of the Northwest Territories structural and philosophical changes to their income assistance program, including changing their philosophy from one of "last resort" to "providing adequate financial assistance in combination with supports and services to help people achieve self-reliance." Substantive changes include:

• A food rate based on Canada's Nutritious Food Basket to meet Canada's guidelines for healthy eating;
• A clothing rate adjusted for cost of living by community;
• New benefits for seniors and persons with disabilities;
• A $150 increase in the single shelter rate;
• A new unearned exemption of $1,200 a year;
• An increase in the earnings exemption.

Canadian Social Research Links a number of related publications from the NWT: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ntbkmrk.htm. See the Northwest Territories Income Security site and more on how to apply for welfare in the Northwest Territories.

Last week, at the National Aboriginal Women's Summit, the Minister for Heritage and the Status of Women announced five years of funding to build and support women's shelters on reserves. According to the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada news release, $56 million dollars will support 35 existing women's shelters and build up to five new shelters on reserves. Aboriginal women who live in the northern communities and off reserve are concerned because the funding does not include all aboriginal women. Read more in the CBC article, "Northern women 'excluded' from federal shelter announcement."

The Strategic Research and Analysis Directorate at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has released a report called Levels and Sources of Individual and Household Level Income for Inuit in Canada, 1980-2000. It focuses on income-related indicators for the population with Inuit ancestry. The report finds that although average incomes increased from 1980-2000 for Inuit people, they remained much lower than those of all Canadians.

A senior in Yellowknife has been evicted from her publicly-subsidized home, which she had lived in for 14 years. She is expected to give up her two bedroom home and move into a seniors home. This would make it impossible from her children to stay the night with her, like they have been taking turns doing with her two bedroom home. The Northwest Territory Housing Authority insists that her eviction is necessary. The behaviour of the Northwest Territory Housing Authority have begun a fight for the government to improve the administration of public housing. For more details read the NNSL's article on the case.

The closure of the Con mine in Yellowknife is causing much strife among residents of the area. Many mine employees, who lost their jobs due to the closure, live on territory which is part of the mining company's property. Those families on this territory are being asked to move from their homes. Although many people would be willing to buy their property the process required for this to occur takes too long for that to be a viable option. For more information a CBC story on the mine closure is available online.

Ottawa's Minister for Human Resources says that the North West Territories (NWT) are redirecting the child benefit bonus in such a way as it deprives poverty stricken people of money they deserve. The NWT minister in charge of the allocation of the child benefit bonus argues that the redirection of that funding is not damaging the poor, since it is used to fund programs for low income earners and welfare recipiants. For more information, read the CBC article and commentary on the debate.

Originally the government of the Northwest Territories announced a new rent scale for people living in public housing that would see people with higher incomes paying more for their government housing. Intended to have started April 1, tenants in public housing would have paid rent based on an assessment of the household income but that program has been put on hold until after then Territorial elections. Information about the Yukon Government's intended housing plan and an article about the plan's delay is available online.

Elders in Inuvik have organized and are demanding town council to move ahead with plans to develop a popular tourist campground into a multi-unit housing complex. Read a CBC story about the elder's housing plan.