Yellowknife (Aug 18/00) - The governor general's "jacket" has been hung in a place on honour, a visual memento of her visit.

The jacket is a beaded artwork by Deline artist Rosie Takazo.

The work was unveiled Aug. 9 during the Community Gathering held at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex. It was presented as a gift to Gov. Gen Adrienne Clarkson from the Town of Inuvik, and then donated to Centennial Library by the town, as per Clarkson's wishes, Mayor George Roach explained.

"It is traditional when we have VIPs visit our community for the town to come up with some kind a unique gift," Roach said.

"In this case, Mrs. Clarkson felt that it could be donated to a local enterprise. We couldn't think of anything better than the Centennial Library."

Clarkson told the audience, "We always like to, instead of having things presented to us, to have that gift given back into the community in every place we go."

She said the artwork looked wonderful.

"The beading is beautiful, and I think to really value and understand this traditional work of beading is a marvellous thing, and I'm just thrilled with it," Clarkson said.

"It's quite exciting to think of your very dynamic library, which I know the Centennial Library is, having this non-verbal but articulate piece of art to commemorate our visit."

Clarkson's husband, renowned author John Ralston Saul, said the library was the perfect choice to receive the gift.

"It's wonderful something is being done that has to do with culture and images and the library.

"Because reading books, learning, education are still as important as they always were. There are people who say it's all about computers. It's still all about words and about ideas and about images and about culture."

The artwork is a replica of a beaded fringe moosehide jacket, a fact to which Vicki Billingsley, head of the library committee, referred.

"You'd be interested to know this is already being referred to as the 'Governor General's jacket'," Billingsley said, provoking laughter among the many in attendance.

"There are many different ways of telling stories," she said. "We have here work done by an elder in Deline who brought it to the Great Northern Arts Festival to show her culture in a way that can be passed on and appreciated by everyone now.

"I thank you for making it possible for everyone here to appreciate it," Billingsley said.