Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

AKLAVIK(Jul 10/98) - After 12 years as the hamlet of Aklavik's senior administrative officer, Knute Hansen has embarked on a second career: tourism.

The past two summers, he worked in Dawson City, Yukon, informing tourists about the North and answering their questions.

This year he has returned to his hometown of Inuvik to share his love of the region.

"We're here to cater to visitors," the Inuvialuit manager of the Western Arctic Regional Visitor's Centre says from behind an information booth.

Suddenly, the sound of a frontier fiddle splits the air.

The sound sample indicates a tourist is interacting with one of the tourist centre displays.

Hansen says tourists usually know a lot about the North from research before they arrive. Still, there are some who don quizzical looks and ask about utilidors: "What are those metal things running all through town?"

Life at the Western Arctic tourist centre is quieter than in Dawson City as fewer tourists make the extra steps to the far North.

But Hansen says he believes the number of visitors were up in early June, before rain temporarily washed out the Dempster Highway.

"(The increase) is probably because of the 100th anniversary of the Klondike in Yukon," he explains as sounds of talking sea creatures chatter in the background.

And when the tourists arrive at the four-year-old centre, they are usually surprised to see such a modern and elaborate facility.

Bit by the travel bug himself, Hansen has explored Asia, Europe and much of North America.

"My favorite part of the job is meeting people and learning about different countries while explaining parts about this area," says Hansen, who is in his 40s.

"This second career (since working at the hamlet of Aklavik) is not so stressful but enjoyable and it's something I'm good at."

So far, the 1998 season's blend of tourists have included many Americans but equal numbers of Canadians, Hansen says.

"There are also a lot of Germans and Swiss."

As Hansen turns to assist some tourists who just walked inside the centre, sounds of Dene drummers beating drums resonate, indicating another tourist is learning from the displays.