SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (April 2, 2012) -- Over $880,000 worth of Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs (GMVF) were sold at a wild fur sale hosted by Fur Harvester's Auction Inc. on March 22, 2012, bringing total GMVF sales this year to over one million dollars.

Demand for NWT furs increased again this year, particularly from buyers in Russia and China. An NWT marten pelt went for an unprecedented $380 and a lynx for $400, the top auction prices for these species against all others from across Canada and the Northern US.

YELLOWKNIFE (April 2, 2012) -- Colin Taylor, a mediator with more than 30 years of experience, will be assisting the Government of the NWT and the Union of Northern Workers as they work towards a new collective agreement.

The GNWT and the Union have been negotiating a new collective agreement since December 19, 2011. After three rounds of negotiations, agreement was reached on a number of items. However, on March 1, 2012, the parties agreed to go to mediation to resolve the remaining issues.

FORT RESOLUTION (March 30, 2012) – Elders stood proudly in the gymnasium of Deninu School with dozens of hardcover English/Chipewyan dictionaries on Monday, March 26.

Students addressed the crowd in Chipewyan during the launch, welcoming community members and thanking Elders for their contributions to the dictionary project.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 29, 2012) – Dr. André Corriveau will assume responsibility as Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) for the Northwest Territories effective June 2012. He was appointed by Health and Social Services Minister Tom Beaulieu.

Dr. Corriveau was previously the Chief Medical Officer of Health in Alberta and also served as Chief Public Health Officer for the Northwest Territories from 1998 to 2009. Dr. Corriveau will also continue to serve as provincial-territorial co-chair of the Public Health Network.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 29, 2012) -- The Northwest Territories has reached a final agreement with the federal government for the renewal of the Territorial Police Services Agreement.

The current agreement expires on March 31. The new agreement has a 20-year term and features historic changes to management and financial transparency provisions. The agreement also continues to support local detachments working with communities to ensure an effective police force reflecting the diversity and needs of the people they serve.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 28, 2012) – The first Dene languages apps for iPhones and similar devices will be available for free download on the iTunes store in late April.

“I am very pleased to be announcing the launch of this important tool,” said Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.  “We must ensure that our languages are preserved and revitalized for generations to come.  Engaging our youth in learning their traditional languages through this new technology is a progressive and encouraging step.”

YELLOWKNIFE (March 27, 2012) – The Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, met with representatives of the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board last week.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 23, 2012) – At the Heart of It, the seventh book in The Land is Our Storybook series, was launched at the Prince Of Wales Northern Heritage Centre with authors Mindy Willett and Raymond Taniton. 

YELLOWKNIFE (March 15, 2012) – The federally imposed borrowing limit has been raised to $800 million from $575 million.

The increase represents the successful discussions between the federal Minister of Finance, the Honourable James Flaherty, and the three territorial Ministers of Finance about the definition and adequacy of the territorial borrowing limits.

YELLOWKNIFE (March 14, 2012) - Promoting the NWT's vast mineral base and highlighting opportunities for prospecting and investment in the NWT mining sector was the focus for Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay last week at the 2012 Prospectors and Developers Convention (PDAC) in Toronto.

Minister Ramsay was accompanied by Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche and Hay River North MLA Robert Bouchard. He met with potential investors and companies currently exploring or seeking approvals to develop new mines in the NWT.