UP HERE IN THE NORTH 

COVID-19 is continuing to skyrocket across the North. The NWT is up to 1,274 cases as of yesterday, with two hospital admissions. (Cabin Radio)

To make matters worse, an outbreak has been declared amongst staff at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. Community spread has also been identified in Délı̨nę, a small hamlet on the shores of Great Bear Lake. (Cabin Radio)

To the west, the Yukon is  over 471 cases. The territorial government is distributing at-home rapid tests to symptomatic individuals who don’t qualify for a routine PCR test at government testing sites. (Yukon News)

And in the east, Nunavut sits around 172 cases. However, the territory will start easing restrictions on Monday. (CBC)

On a happier note, a new exhibition at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife is showcasing the artwork of face masks. Called “Breathe,” it displays 45 different masks hand-crafted by northern Indigenous artists, all using materials such as deer hide and seal skin. (CBC)

Skagway could soon share electricity with Whitehorse. The Yukon Energy Corporation and Borough of Skagway have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore bringing electricity to the US harbour town from the Yukon grid by extending the transmission line from Whitehorse, through northern BC, and down to Skagway. (Yukon News)

Baffin Island is facing a food shortage as COVID-19 and bad weather cause shipping delays. Residents are sharing photos of bare grocery store shelves, and staples such as bread are nowhere to be found. (Nunatsiaq News)

Iqaluit will soon have a new wellness hub, with construction set to begin this spring. Spearheaded by the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, it will provide a variety of culturally-appropriate health care options, including land-based programs, Inuit counselling services, and suicide prevention. (Nunatsiaq News)

Yellowknife’s new elementary school, which is being constructed on the former JH Sissions site, will officially be called Įtł’ǫ̀ School after the Wılıı̀deh word for cranberry. The spot used to be a popular berry-picking location for Dene families. (Cabin Radio)

While we're on the subject: NWT residents who want to be teachers may soon be able to get a Bachelor of Education without leaving the territory. Four educators are currently working on getting an accredited program, based in the NWT but in partnership with the Vancouver Island University, up and running. The aim? To get more Indigenous and northern teachers into NWT schools. (CBC)

Artist Margaret Nazon from Tsiigehtchic, NWT, is going to be featured in the Smithsonian. Well-known for her beadwork inspired by images from the Hubble telescope, Nazon’s depiction of the Milky Way will hang beside a virtual image of Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” Congratulations, Margaret! (CBC)

A study in Alaska relying on video footage from collar cameras worn on caribou in the Fortymile Herd is giving researchers a better idea of caribou movement and diets. One finding is that caribou eat more shrubs than previously thought, which could bode well as climate change pushes woody plants further north. (Nunatsiaq News)

An open letter to Russian president Vladimir Putin is circulating, calling on his administration to stop the use of intimidation and reprisals of Indigenous rights defenders. Signed by 116 different organizations and individuals, the letter comes after the recent detention of Andrei Danilov, director of the Sámi Heritage and Development Fund. (Advox)

And with sea ice melting and the Northwest Passage opening up, experts are warning Canada to “defend against national security threats” as Russia and China eye new shipping routes. They cite Russia’s testing of hypersonic cruise missiles in its Arctic waters, as well as China’s intentions to develop a “Polar Silk Road,” as major concerns. (iPolitics)