Monday marked ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day and just over a month from now, Alice and David Siksik of Gjoa Haven will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

The couple were married on March 18, 1972 at a small church wedding in Gjoa Haven. Alice was five or six months pregnant with their first child.

SA国际影视传媒淭he minister told (David) that itSA国际影视传媒檚 best that we get married before the babySA国际影视传媒檚 born,SA国际影视传媒� Alice recalled.

It was the first of two children they conceived two years apart. They later adopted four others.

SA国际影视传媒淗eSA国际影视传媒檚 a good father. HeSA国际影视传媒檇 go hunt and heSA国际影视传媒檇 teach my son,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding that David has always been a good provider for their family.

Leah Nanordluk, one of their daughters, described her father as SA国际影视传媒渉ard working.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淗e loves to be busy working on his hunting gear. He enjoys fishing, and provides food for his wife, kids and grandkids.SA国际影视传媒�

She said her mother enjoys sewing frequently.

SA国际影视传媒淪he sews for her husband, children and grandkids,SA国际影视传媒� said Nanordluk, who reinforced how much her parentsSA国际影视传媒� time at their cabin means to them.

Before she ever met David, Alice and her family lived in Perry River, on the mainland in the Kitikmeot region, until she was 12 years old. In 1967, they moved to Gjoa Haven.

DavidSA国际影视传媒檚 parents played a very influential role in the two of them coming together as a couple, Alice explained.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I was in my momSA国际影视传媒檚 stomach SA国际影视传媒� I was not born SA国际影视传媒� his step-parents wanted me for a daughter-in-law, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what I heard,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She said they weathered some challenging times during their early years of couplehood.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we were young, weSA国际影视传媒檇 argue and get mad at each other but we still stayed together,SA国际影视传媒� she said, laughing.

But many years of contentment followed, especially when theySA国际影视传媒檇 get the opportunity to go camping and fishing at their cabin, a couple of hours outside of the community.

Getting around isnSA国际影视传媒檛 as easy these days, but there was still a trip to the cabin last summer, Alice noted.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e getting old,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 learned a lot SA国际影视传媒� ISA国际影视传媒檓 still learning.SA国际影视传媒�

With such a major marriage milestone only a short time away, Alice admits that sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been contemplating a celebration.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was thinking about it, if we could have people in my house,SA国际影视传媒� she said.