By Karli Zsch枚gner
Special to Northern News Services
With a year missed in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Inuvik Muskrat Jamboree kicked off its 65th anniversary raising over $109,000 between four fundraising SA国际影视传媒榬oyalty couplesSA国际影视传媒� in six weeks.
Originally having to share the jamboree weekend with TuktoyaktukSA国际影视传媒檚 Beluga Jamboree, the hamlet made the announcement last Tuesday night of the committeeSA国际影视传媒檚 decision of the rescheduling for the following week.
InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 Adrian Kagyut and Davonna Kasook won as the winning fundraising couple with over $38,000 announced the evening of April 21 at the Midnight Sun Complex. Runner-up fundraisers were Maring Wade and Clarissa Esagok, Sarah MacNabb and Miranda Pingo, and Kara-Leigh Skiffington and Brandi Larocque.
New for this year, the jamboree committee chose to rename the dual fundraisers as SA国际影视传媒榬oyalty contestantsSA国际影视传媒� instead of SA国际影视传媒楰ing and QueenSA国际影视传媒� to keep it more open, said jamboree chair Greta Sittichinli.
SA国际影视传媒淭here was not many people who signed up to participate,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎 suggestion was made to allow friends to work together to fundraise.SA国际影视传媒�
This was similar to AklavikSA国际影视传媒檚 jamboree committee decision of announcing all-queen fundraisers, said Mina McLeod, chair of the organizing committee in Aklavik.
The cost to run InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 four-day festival was about $150,000. Sittichinli said.
Thoughout FridaySA国际影视传媒檚 opening ceremonies, Elder Gerry Kisoun was awarded the Sandra Ipana Legacy Award, received at the event by his daughter Claudine and granddaughter Winnie.
SA国际影视传媒淭his Award recognizes us recipients as good volunteers in our community, especially for our Muskrat JamboreeSA国际影视传媒檚 that we host each year,SA国际影视传媒� said Kisoun over text message about the recognition of long-time jamboree volunteers. SA国际影视传媒淵ou couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 get a better person to name it after. Sandra Ipana was (a) volunteer extraordinaire.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚t is an honour and a privilege to receive this, especially from our own.SA国际影视传媒�
With more than 25 arts and crafts vendors and seven food vendors, an Arctic market was held in the morning along with open tours of the Inuvik community greenhouse, Igloo Church, and Inuvik Tourism Bureau.
Six types of cross-country snowmobile races were held the afternoon to the evening of April 22, followed by dances and jigging contests. Firs- prize age category winners were Elders Roy and Julia Cockney of Tuktoyaktuk, Robin Greenland and Doris Rogers, and fundraising contestant winners Adrian Kagyut and Davonna Kasook.
Madelaine Proulx was visiting Inuvik for the first time visiting. Her friend, Laurence Carter, from Quebec City encouraged that this was the best time of the year to come.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 having a blast,SA国际影视传媒� she said watching the jigging contest. SA国际影视传媒淲e have some jigs in Quebec City and never really understood what it was, so the contest here is very interesting.SA国际影视传媒�
This is also Karl HogueSA国际影视传媒檚 first time in Inuvik visiting from Old Crow and from Montreal.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 very happy to see Ski-Doo races, some of the best parts,SA国际影视传媒� saying in Old Crow, there arenSA国际影视传媒檛 Ski-Doo races like during the Beaufort Delta jamborees.
Sittichinli said this year they used the Speedhive app to track the snowmobile races which people can view from their phones.
Following SundaySA国际影视传媒檚 traditional games as harpoon throw and snowshoe races and kids snowmobile races, AklavikSA国际影视传媒檚 Courtney Charlie added a fourth winning in the 75-mile womenSA国际影视传媒檚 track race.
AklavikSA国际影视传媒檚 Brayden John took home two prizes in Sunday eveningSA国际影视传媒檚 singing and fiddling talent show: second in solo singer and first in duet with his sister, Shannon Furlong.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat was our first time doing a duet,SA国际影视传媒� said Furlong as they sang a gospel song SA国际影视传媒楪reat Speckled BirdSA国际影视传媒�. SA国际影视传媒淚 always play music, I love listening to music, I love coming to events like this. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e here to have fun and play for everyone.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭o everyone else, you all did good too,SA国际影视传媒� she added.
The brother and sister were one of two contestants in the duet category along with Tianna and Colton Gordon-Ruben. Budding artist winner was Savannah Walker, top singer was Clifton Francis, and top fiddler Michael Francis.
International champion Anny Malo and her partner, Marco Rivest, took again first and second as they did in AklavikSA国际影视传媒檚 jamboree, in MondaySA国际影视传媒檚 Isaac Simon and Mary Firth Memorial Dog races with the champions receiving $4,000.
Prior to games including tea boiling and muskrat skinning, 42-year old Jimmy Kalinek won the $5,000 menSA国际影视传媒檚 33-lap 100-mile track race, followed by Isaac Lennie and Aklavik youth Matthew McLeod in third.
SA国际影视传媒淚t feels great,SA国际影视传媒� he said with a total time of one hour, 56 minutes; his best lap time was three minutes, 26 seconds. Having been racing for 24 years he said, he encourages other to keep at it.
SA国际影视传媒淲ork hard, donSA国际影视传媒檛 give up, and keep positive,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
