b'AROUND TURTLE ISLANDPetition to honour Tommy Prince on new banknote redesignTommy Prince, the most decorated Indigenous soldier in Canadian history, has been selected as one of over 600 eligible nominees to be featured on the next Canadian five-dollar bill. He was an Indian residential school survivor and fought in the Second World War and Korean wars. Later in life, he was forced to sell his war medals in order to help him survive. A petition to consider Prince for the redesign started after the deadline for nominations passed back in March. James Bezan, Conservative MP for Selkirk-Interlake-Eastmanwhere Prince once livedwas one of seven MPs that started the petition.He represents the best ideals of bravery and contribution and sacrifice, as well as needing to tell a story about reconciliation and systemic racismand he encapsulates all that in just his story, Bezan said.Princes face on the new bill could be a symbol for equality. He believed in equal rights for all Indigenous people across the country and in the U.S. The final selection will be announced by the Bank of Canada in early 2021.Eskasoni First Nation launches new company to bring community high-speed Internet Yukon First Eskasoni First Nation has announced that they are starting their ownNation aims telecommunications company, Eskasoni Communications, in order to bring high-speed fibre optic Internet to the community. The new company willto bring solar partner with Seaside Communications to make the project possible.The project has been in the works for the past five years. The band council haspower to made numerous calls and trips to both Ottawa and Halifax to bring the project to fruition. Community members are pleased about the project and are excitedcommunityfor it to reach completion. The pandemic has required more people to depend on an internet system that is unreliable and leaves many residents resorting toVuntut Gwitchin First Nation in Old hotspots in order to get online.Crow, Y.T. is working on a project to get Eskasoni Communications is planning to start installing the fibre optics in homessolar power running to the communitys by the beginning of December. grid, supplementing the current diesel generator system.Complications from the pandemic have broken the project down into three When COVID-19 struck, Northland responded by providing financial supportphases. Though it will still be months to organizations who were working with the most vulnerable members ofbefore the project reaches Phase Three, every community where we have an office, project or facility. Thats more thanthe solar panels are expected to reduce two dozen communities in eight countries around the world. the communitys reliance on diesel fuel by 189,000 litres a year.In Canada, where we have a long history of working together withFor a fly-in community that has no our Indigenous partners, Northland consulted with leadership inoutside road system, obtaining fuel these communities to ensure that our support went where it wascan be expensive and this solar power most needed. project could potentially save the community millions of dollars.As the crisis evolves, we pledge to continue to work with our partners onThe solar project will also be one of the finding ways to help the communities.largest generation projects across the Circumpolar North. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation will own and operate the WE WISH YOUsolar project in a 25-year purchase GOOD HEALTH. agreement with ATCO Electric and the Yukon Government. If all goes well, the community will be able to switch to green energy next summer.42 The Circle Winter Issue 1 2020'