Cabin Talks

Northern communities just dropped off the communications map. A wildfire took out cell, internet and landline – unless you had Starlink. The outage has lasted almost 24 hours and it's still going. Chief Kele Antoine of the Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation says we're not paying enough attention to just how dangerous it is when small, isolated villages lose almost all of their ability to communicate. He found a Starlink to talk to us about it.

Amos Scott's new job is helping to run the Caribou Guardians Coalition, which coordinates different Indigenous Guardians programs that all have the same job: help the herd. He spoke with us about what that job looks like, the health of Indigenous Guardians programs in the NWT, and how you bring the Guardians of the North together. Here's an extra link we mention at the end of this episode: our report from 2022 on how scientists are studying what caribou can hear.

Northern wildfires are changing so much that even their burn areas don't do what they used to do. Previously, if an area burned, we figured that was good for a couple of decades' protection. That ain't necessarily so any more. Marc-André Parisien is a Canadian Forest Service research scientist who's been studying this. He says we're seeing stuff that only just burned... burn again. "It's kind-of mindblowing."

What if there was a podcast that played new northern music and interviewed the artists? We're gonna do that podcast. Consider this the pilot episode. Thoughts? Let us know. On the show: 1:39 Brenden MacIntosh 24:40 Crook the Kid & Manshad 38:01 Lemon Bucket Orkestra (special northern-adjacent guests)

We only just finished agreeing that the NWT's era of big mines is over – and suddenly someone disagrees. Lithium company Li-FT (pronounced "lift") believes it can open a mine east of Yellowknife that, in some respects at least, rivals one of the biggest diamond mines for size. Where did this come from? What has to happen for it to open? What would that look like, and where? And why does Li-FT say the mine has to open before 2030 (which is super quick, by mining standards) if it's going to open at all?

Ollie asks national defence minister Bill Blair to explain the tangible differences northerners can expect from billions in promised defence spending that focuses on the North and the Arctic. Plus Conservative northern affairs critic Bob Zimmer gives his response to last week's defence policy update.

All week, a new paper from a northern economist – warning of an "economic cliff" just years away when diamond mines close – has been reverberating around the NWT. Do we really not have a plan? What's the vision for the territory's economy? If there isn't a vision, what should it be? Hear from the economist who wrote the paper, one of the NWT ministers in charge of crafting that vision, an Indigenous business leader who expects a "wine glass economy" up ahead, and more. If you want the economic situation right now explained in half an hour, this is it.

April's government payments to NWT daycares and dayhomes – designed to help introduce $10-a-day childcare – were late. Some childcare providers say the federal and territorial governments are racing too quickly to make changes. Meanwhile, people trying to build new daycares in smaller communities like Norman Wells can't get the money they need. Speaking to Cabin Radio, the territorial minister responsible apologized for the latest problems. Caitlin Cleveland told us how she wants to fix things and make NWT childcare better. In this podcast, hear from the minister and people at the heart of the industry about what's going on.

“When I got better, I realized I had nothing between the ears. There wasn’t anything there to take up the time, take up the energy.” When Trent Stokes returned to his hometown in Fort Smith, he started a garden. He’s been sober ever since, and he walked Cabin Radio's Simona Rosenfield through that journey. Read more about Trent on Cabin Radio's website. This episode also includes a missing pins update from all the way back in episode 4.

Ali Kincaid describes her journey from being told to change in a Yellowknife broom closet to playing NCAA women's hockey at Cornell. Learn more about Clams n' Moose, your hosts for this interview. You can also read about Indigenous representation in the new PWHL women's pro hockey league, and the huge girls' hockey camps now being held in Yellowknife. Recorded: February 2024.

What went wrong when Yellowknife evacuated last summer? Did some things go right? What has to change next time? Listen to some of the residents who spoke at a public meeting about how the City of Yellowknife handled the summer 2023 wildfires and evacuation. Recorded: March 2024. Read more on the Cabin Radio website.

Yellowknife's Janet Pacey loves trading pins. She has thousands. Or she did, until they ended up 5,000 km away. Janet explains how this disaster happened and what she ultimately wants to do with them – if she ever gets them back. Recorded: March 2024.

Ryan Silke has spent half his life working on a new museum about Yellowknife. Take a tour with him on its opening day. Recorded: March 2024. Check out the museum's website for more information.

NorthSideBaby is a rap artist from the Dene Tha' First Nation in northern Alberta. He recently played Gamètì in the NWT, where Tłı̨chǫ 19-year-old Kaylee Nitsiza interviewed him for Cabin Radio. On this show: who NorthSideBaby is, his popularity in the North, his approach to writing songs about issues like suicide, and his advice for Indigenous youth who aspire to become musicians and creators. Recorded in March 2024. This episode contains discussion of suicide that may be distressing to some listeners. The NWT Help Line is available at any time of day or night on 1-800-661-0844. Kids Help Phone is also available around the clock at 1-800-668-6868 or you can use live chat or text options instead of calling. If you’re trying to help someone who is talking about suicide, the GNWT has a list of resources. Read more about NorthSideBaby on Cabin Radio's website and follow him on Facebook.

John Rodda is the president of the Arctic Winter Games international committee. On this show: How the Arctic Winter Games might be about to change, the questions being asked about the games' future, the effect of climate change, and the possibility of a future games hosted in Norway. Recorded in March 2024. Discover more about the Arctic Winter Games on the Cabin Radio website.

Roseanne Supernault is the star of Cold Road, the new feature from NWT director Kelvin Redvers. On this show: Making the movie on lonely NWT highways, the attention Cold Road is getting, authenticity in Indigenous filmmaking, and how Cold Road creates a map for Hollywood to follow. Recorded in March 2024. Watch the trailer for Cold Road or rent the full movie. Read more from the director on Cabin Radio's website.