Karen Yip has been involved in Baker LakeSA国际影视传媒檚 Festival by the Lake since its origins in 2015.
SA国际影视传媒淲e were interested in promoting healthy activities,SA国际影视传媒� said Yip, now community wellness coordinator for Baker Lake, about the inspiration for the annual community celebration.
This yearSA国际影视传媒檚 in the first weekend of September saw hundreds come out to enjoy days of activities, shows and games. Those included bouncy castles, jigging contests, magic shows, Sleepy the Clown, teen dances, face painting, fireworks and more.
SA国际影视传媒淭his year we were encouraging volunteerism,SA国际影视传媒� said Yip. SA国际影视传媒淲e had some great help from the Junior Canadian Rangers. They just formed not too long ago and they were more than willing to come and help us out. That was really great because the volunteers were instrumental to making the festival happen.SA国际影视传媒�
Their involvement was also an opportunity to provide some mentorship, said Yip, teaching the junior rangers about crowd control, inventory and security. The youth also entertained the community with some ranger drills.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a great event,SA国际影视传媒� said Yip. SA国际影视传媒淲e had entertainers come in, we had local people entertain us. It was a really great community-building event. We had lotos of participation from people in our community, and lots of fun for the kids.SA国际影视传媒�
It was almost an international event, she said, with an entertainer coming all the way from Oklahoma for it.
SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the highlights for me was we had Inuit throatsinging and drum dancing demonstrations,SA国际影视传媒� said Yip.
Even Elders came up to dance.
SA国际影视传媒淪ome of the Elders you donSA国际影视传媒檛 see very often,SA国际影视传媒� said Yip. SA国际影视传媒淪ome of the Elders have physical limitations and have challenges walking and things like that, but a lot of them got up there and it was really special.SA国际影视传媒�
Charles Lauder, known as Sleepy the Clown, returned to Baker Lake for the second year in a row to participate.
SA国际影视传媒淭he energy and warmth of the children and people here is amazing and wonderful,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎 few faces I recognized from last year, gave it my all and crashed hard Monday night. Felt honoured to be a part of the community feast, sitting with the Elders and first time eating caribou.SA国际影视传媒�
Every year, the festival has been different. Yip said it was her goal early on to provide entertainment that people didnSA国际影视传媒檛 see all the time. That was the inspiration behind SA国际影视传媒淣unavutSA国际影视传媒檚 first ziplineSA国际影视传媒� in 2017 and hot air balloons in other years. She was especially thankful for all the volunteer help, plus the showings of Inuit Broadcasting Corporation footage and 15 caribou for the feast.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been evolving,SA国际影视传媒� said Yip, adding that the event was held off during the Covid years. SA国际影视传媒淚t was really nice this year to have so much help because it enabled us to do so much more.SA国际影视传媒�
Yip said the festival was made possible with the support of the hamlet, Agnico Eagle Mines, Ookpik Aviation, Northern Store, hamlet arena staff, fire department, MLA Craig Simailak, Mayor Richard Aksawnee and much more.
