Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Mar 10/00) - Inuvik's George Kunnizzie received an RCMP certificate of merit Thursday for his efforts at the scene of a car accident at the Midway Lake Music Festival last July.

Const. Kelly Tourand presented Kunnizzie with the award on behalf of Sgt. Bill Eubank and the Fort McPherson RCMP detachment during a special ceremony at Aurora College, where Kunnizzie works as a security guard.

"We want to show appreciation for anyone who shows their heart is in the right place and helps out in a critical situation where they risk their own life to help others," said Tourand in making the presentation.

Kunnizzie said he was driving down to the music festival July 31, when he came upon an overturned truck with driver Alfred Moses and his girlfriend trapped inside. With the assistance of motorists like Gill Dick and Pierre Norman, Kunnizzie helped right the burning vehicle and pull out and assist the victims until medical help arrived.

"I'd been taking first aid courses for many years and never thought anything of it until this came up," said Kunnizzie, struck by the emotion of the memory of the accident and the honour being bestowed on him by his peers. Modest by nature, Kunnizzie then proceeded to give a more self-deprecating account of the events.

"People later asked me what happened last summer during the holidays," he said, "and I just told them I was going down the highway and gave mouth to mouth resuscitation to this blonde, and they said, 'Oh, you dirty old man.'"

Aurora campus director Miki O'Kane read a letter of congratulations from Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Roger Allen and said others were en route from Boot Lake MLA Floyd Roland and Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew. She also invited deputy mayor Peter Clarkson and Gwich'in leaders Richard Nerysoo and James Firth to say a few words.

"When something like this happens and one of our people is put in the spotlight, it makes us feel proud," said Chief Firth.

"I think an action like this -- when someone reaches out -- is what makes us a community in the Beaufort Delta," said Clarkson. "It's not just good for the band but for the whole community, and is something for the young people to look up to."

O'Kane also presented Kunnizzie with several small gifts, including what she described as a handy-dandy, Aurora College not-too-expensive, budget-cut jackknife. The college's students and staff gave Kunnizzie a warm round of applause for his efforts, as did his wife Elizabeth, daughter Maureen and grandson Lawrence.

"It's just how George has always been," said Elizabeth. "He's willing to help and look out for other people."