Spring, tariffs and a big ole diamond

Plus join Cabin Radio's podcast discovery club

Apr 03, 2025

A musher races in the Under Dog 100. AJ Goodwin/Cabin Radio

Hello readers, this is Emily, Cabin Radio’s assistant editor with another week of news from across the Northwest Territories.

Happy April! It’s one of my favourite times of year here in the North, spring festival season.

Communities across the territory are gearing up to celebrate spring with events including hand games, feasts, dog sledding, Ski-doo races, tea boiling and log sawing.

The Yellowknives Dene First Nation Spring Carnival starts on Friday in Dettah and the City of Yellowknife has declared a half-day civic holiday to encourage residents to participate.

Other recent outdoor events in the NWT have included the Under Dog 100 (keep your eyes peeled for our video) and Snowking Cup.

This week, Cabin Radio has been rolling out interviews with the four candidates running to be the NWT’s next MP. So far we’ve published interviews with Green Party candidate Rainbow Eyes, also known as Angela Davidson, the Conservatives’ Kimberly Fairman and Liberal candidate Rebecca Alty. On Friday you’ll be able to read our interview with Kelvin Kotchilea, who is running for the New Democratic Party. We’ll also produce a podcast with all of them so you can listen to each candidate.

In other federal election news, Cabin Radio is planning an election debate with three of the candidates from 8pm on Thursday, April 10. Fairman declined to participate.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

Our best stories
A podcast on podcasts
What we’re reading

A view of the Nechalacho "demonstration mine" in August 2022. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio

Stories to catch up on

1. What does Trump’s presidency mean for the NWT’s critical minerals?

The US approach to critical minerals under Trump is very different to that of the Biden administration. We looked into what that means for Canada and the NWT.

2. Lance Briere’s mother waits for news of son who ‘gave me purpose’

Nearly seven weeks have passed since Lance Briere, 32, vanished from Inuvik. There has been no sign of him. His mother described her exhaustion and frustration.

3. What NWT auto dealers make of the looming car tariffs

"Now is the time." Car salespeople admit they overuse that line but, with tariffs on the horizon, NWT dealers say you should get moving if you want a vehicle.

Yellowknife resident Alisha Danielson has been crowned Miss Teen Petite Canada 2025. Claire McFarlane/Cabin Radio

4. Advocating for Indigenous youth through personality pageants

New Yellowknife resident Alisha Danielson will compete for the title of Miss Teen Petite Universal in June. She sees pageants as a way to make a difference.

5. Dehcho Grand Chief wants Ottawa to speed up land talks

The Dehcho Grand Chief called on the federal government – whoever that may be after April – to negotiate more regularly, speeding up a land claim agreement.

6. Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę members ratify self-government agreement

In almost the last step of a lengthy process, voters ratified a deal giving self-government to the Sahtu Dene and Métis of Norman Wells. Here's what changes.

7. Diavik produces 158.20-carat ‘miracle of nature’ diamond

Rio Tinto said workers at the NWT's Diavik diamond mine had "unearthed one of the largest gem-quality yellow diamonds ever discovered in Canada."

8. Imperial given renewed three-year Norman Wells water licence

Ottawa signed off on a three-year water licence designed to keep Imperial Oil's Norman Wells facility operating through a series of environmental assessments.

9. Man designated dangerous offender to be re-sentenced

A man designated a dangerous offender and sentenced to a period of imprisonment with no end date is set to be re-sentenced in Yellowknife following an appeal.