Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jul 17/98) - When the Great Northern Arts Festival kicks off tomorrow night for the 10th year, there will be a mix of much-loved familiar events. Also added are some sights not seen in this region before.

The excitement starts tomorrow at 7 p.m. with the opening ceremonies at SAMS. Then, there will be performances daily until July 26.

"Like last year we have the Nihtat Gwich'in square dancers, which includes kids who are five and six years old," said project manager Tanya Van Valkenberg of the opening ceremonies.

"They are adorable and that is a real highlight for a lot of people who come up for the festival."

Van Valkenberg said the opening ceremonies will also feature Inuit drum dancing and performer Matthew Nuqingak.

"Inuit drum dancing is a solo event compared to Inuvialuit and Dene (drum dancing) where it is a group of people," she said.

"It's one person drumming and dancing. Sometimes that person also sings -- Matthew sings -- sometimes they have another person singing. But it's a completely different feeling to it than the Inuvialuit dancing which is a large group of people."

There will be gallery sales from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day where visitors can choose to buy from more than 1600 works of art.

There will be carvings, paintings, prints, sewing of traditional clothing and crafts, and jewelry.

Dozens of artists, who are keen to interact with visitors, will work on their art daily in the festival gallery and in tents outside.

The festival includes workshops, ranging in price from $15 to $40, for both visual and performing arts.

Evening activities include a fashion show, theatrical presentation, story telling, drum dancing and Gwich'in square dancing.

"I don't know whether I can really isolate one night over another one because every night we've planned for there to be something happening that is going to be a delight for anyone who comes whether they are from Inuvik or not," Van Valkenberg said.

Organizers asked all artists who have traditional clothing from their region to bring it. At the festival either they will model it themselves or organizers will have people modelling it.

"Some of the clothing is clothing that is designed by people, primarily in this region, who will also be selling it," said Van Valkenberg.

"This year we're quite delighted to have a group of the Dene Fur Clouds. They're sewers and knitters -- they knit fur garments."

The fur knitting is something Van Valkenberg said she has not seen before in this region.

"I have no visual idea of what it looks like other than that they knit with fur."

There will be a $2 entrance fee daily and evening concerts cost an affordable $2 each to ensure filled stands.