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Tsiigehtchic crossing open

The ice crossing over the Mackenzie River at Tsiigehtchic is now open to light traffic under 8,000 kg. The crossing opened about a week earlier than usual this year.

The crossing over the Peel River has been open for several weeks now. Travellers are advised to check highway and weather reports before heading out on the Dempster because the highway has been closing regularly due to snow and high winds in the Richardson Mountains.

Wednesday bingo ban

There was a very small turnout from the public when town council held a meeting last Wednesday night on reopening Wednesday night bingos.

A lottery committee made up of representatives from all the groups that benefit from bingo recommended re-opening Wednesday nights to bingo games.

The ban on Wednesday night bingo was originally brought in to ensure that one night every week would be free for meetings and community events. While just about everyone at the meeting said they recognize the good work done by the groups that benefit from bingo, most councillors and citizens questioned the social cost of having yet another night of bingo.

Christmas tree lighting

The Town of Inuvik will hold its annual Christmas tree lighting this Friday at 5 p.m. in Jim Koe Park.

There will also be a special announcement made by the Town of Inuvik. Senior Administration Officer Sarah Brown declined to hint about the nature of the announcement so you'll have to come out to hear it for yourself.

Francophone music for all

La Bardasse, a francophone folk band from Winnipeg, Man., will be performing in Inuvik at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School on Nov. 27.

Although the group sings in French, their high-energy show is designed to appeal to audiences of all languages, cultures, and ages. There will be lots of fiddle music that will appeal to fans of traditional fiddling heard here in the delta.

Activities abound at preschool

Aklavik

The Aklavik Child Development Centre is gearing up for Christmas but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot going on now.

Annie Buckle, co-ordinator of the centre, said preschoolers, toddlers and infants are always busy doing something.

The kids had just finished doing a "crazy, little activity," she said on Tuesday afternoon.

"It's a dancing thing," she said.

The centre - with nine preschoolers and eight toddlers and infants - is chockful of activities.

"We usually do one or two days when people want to come in and sew or do crafts and cooking," she said.

Buckle said the centre is always looking for community members to help out with the activities.

With the holiday season soon approaching, the centre is gearing up for Christmas cooking week in mid-December. Community members will be encouraged to come by the centre and make meals, which they can bring home with them.

The culinary week will culminate with a feast, which is slated to be held on Dec. 17.

Youth camps coming just in time

Paulatuk

Two youth camps will soon be offered to young people in the hamlet of Paulatuk.

Ray Ruben, mayor of the community, said one camp - co-sponsored by the hamlet and the district education authority - will take place west of the community and teach youth how to navigate in the dark.

Elders will show youth how to use the direction of snowdrifts, stars and blowing wind to find their way around "without GPS."

Ruben hoped the camp would take place sometime in December.

Another camp will be sponsored by the local justice committee and will involve hunting and fishing, south of the community in the hills. Youth will learn how to ice fish, set nets and treat animal hides and meat.

The camps are coming just in time, as Ruben reports char, caribou and other game to be abundant around the community.

"Caribou are around," he said. "People have been having successful hunts."

As well, just like hunters in Sachs Harbour and Tuktoyaktuk have reported in this section over the past two weeks, foxes are everywhere in Paulatuk.

"You can see a fox here and a fox there," he said.

"You can see they are screaming for a trappers training program," he joked.

Displaying past and present

Ulukhaktok/Holman

Last Tuesday, Emily Kudlak, community language programmer, was getting set to host a gathering of elders and community members later that week, to pool photos together for an airport display at the Ulukhaktok terminal.

She said it would be modelled after a "beautiful display of Inuit culture" in Kugluktuk.

Kudlak said residents were encouraged to bring in their photos showcasing the history of the community.

"We are looking for photos of the old community site, the move from the community site, the trading posts and Walker Bay, Prince Albert Sound, Reed Island, traditional activities past and present, people dressed in traditional clothing, special events like jamborees and Billy Joss Opens," she said.

"It will be a display of the people of Ulukhaktok: past and present."

The display is being co-ordinated by Kudlak - who will help elders with translations - and acting senior administrative officer Susan Kaodloak.

Kudlak did not know when the display would be up for viewing but said elders were looking forward to the Thursday night meeting.

"They are excited about it," she said. "They like spending time away from home and gathering together, mostly when the days start getting shorter and darkness sets in earlier each day."

Production line in school

Tetlit'Zheh/Fort McPherson

Economic slowdown? Not at Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson, where shop students are busy producing sleds and ice fishing chairs to sell to the community.

Jaksun Grice, vice-principal of the school, said the small sleds, which can be used to tow groceries, supplies for fishing, or as toboggans for kids, and chairs are high quality.

"They are super-functional," he said. "They are made out of wood. They are really sturdy and really practical."

Ten Grade 10 to 12 students are mass-producing the sleds and chairs in an assembly line manner.

The production began this month. Students were involved in design, researching and developing a prototype, said Grice.

They went out to the community, asked people how much they would pay for the items and what else they wanted the products to have, "until they got a consensus on product and price," said Grice.

The products will be sold for just over cost, but ensuring enough return to allow each student to take home an item for themselves.

Teacher Blair Thompson is leading the project.

The students are asking $65 for the sleds.

"The price of chairs is yet to be determined," said Grice.

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