Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Feb 08/99) - Organizers of Iqaluit's annual spring festival say planning for this year's week-long event is moving full speed ahead.

Shani Watts, the chair of the Toonik Tyme 1999 Committee, said a basic outline of events had already been drawn up and that she still needed volunteers to help pull off the daily activities during the week.

"The idea now is to get the word out on what the planning is and to get people involved and the work done. To actually make things happen, we can always use extra people," said Watts.

In particular, Watts said she needed performers to take part in the opening ceremonies scheduled to kick off Toonik Tyme on April 5. She also needs artists to sign up for a carving and ice-sculpting contest, residents to donate their traditional tools to a showcase contest, seamstresses and models to participate in the annual fashion show and teams to sign up for the Corporate Challenge games.

Watts said several new events -- including a contemporary art show and a live auction -- had been added to the list of activities this year and that the festival had taken on a more traditional flavour.

"We've got new, fresh ideas and we're making some changes. All in all, everybody who's involved is pretty excited about the new things and how they'll turn out. We've got more Inuit on the committee and people with fresh ideas," said Watts.

In particular, the lineup for the grand finale is more reminiscent of traditional Inuit ways. Including hosting the ceremony from a giant igloo, Watts said the closing would see more traditional songs and games.

"We're calling it the qammaq. After the feast, everyone will go to a big igloo on the hill and there will be drum dancing, throat singing, ayayay singing, lit by qulliq and lanterns," said Watts.

For more information, or for people who are interested in volunteering or participating in the events, contact Watts at the Iqaluit courthouse or attend the next organizing meeting, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the courthouse.