Friends, Spring and early summer is no time for good-byes but seems we have been doing a lot of it lately. As a lifelong artist, the one which hits closest to home would have to be that of the Inuit carver from Tuk, Ronald Taylor.
The recent story in News/North touches so close to home.The Taylors, have always been so well represented at the annual Great Northern Arts Festival since it started in the late 1980's.
So much so in fact, that I would often joke that the Festival, as it's affectionately called, is actually The Annual Taylor Family Reunion.
His story, like that of just about any Northern artist, begins way out there someplace, with him and his brother, Derrald picking up ideas and inspiration on the land, at Kingmallit Bay, at whaling camp.
An Inuit family is especially close-knit, with constant reminders of family ties.
The vast leap from this kind of human closeness, to the cold and unforgiving streets of Yellowknife is just too much for many sensitive artists.
There is always that temptation to escape, if not by the work of carving itself, then with the bottle of wine, which will do its part to at least take you away for a time.
I for one can truthfully say that I was exactly where Ronnie left us, but somehow found what little strength I had left, and with the help of Yellowknifers, who did care, to make it back to where I am now.
And no springtime – when all life returns to our homes – is not a good time for the ones like this man, and, as it turns out, three others from Radilih Koe'/Fort Good Hope, to so suddenly leave us.
An elder was found, right in downtown Norman Wells, an accidental death while drinking. Two others, young adults, of drugs, one a suicide.
Meanwhile, I am glad to hear that of those hopefuls, groups of our Dene youth taken to travel, one from home to Ottawa and a larger one, to New York City.
So, friends, despite all the sadness there is always hope!
Mahsi, thank you.