Muskrat Jamboree welcomes spring
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Mar 30/01) - The winner of this year's men's log sawing event at the Muskrat Jamboree will be able to cut some firewood.
The prize will be a chainsaw.
The winner of the women's log sawing event will get to practice other skills when she takes home the prize: a sewing machine.
The chairperson of the Muskrat Jamboree committee says great prizes are just some of the things in store for this year's event, which takes place from Friday, April 6 to Monday, April 9.
"Things are coming along very well," Gerry Kisoun said.
Things kick off with a banquet and old-time dance April 6 at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex. The 2001 Muskrat king and queen will be crowned then.
A parade is being planned for 11 a.m. April 7. Kisoun said a parade hasn't been part of the festival for a few years.
The parade is scheduled to start at Ingamo Hall and follow Mackenzie Road until the post office, where participants will turn off towards the river site.
Dog races kick off that day as well, starting at noon with the Annual Mary Firth Memorial Dog Team Race for ladies. The dog races go through until the final day.
Kisoun has been involved in the festival for a number of years.
The jamboree began in 1957.
"They started up a little carnival and it's just sort of been going ever since. It's just getting bigger now," Kisoun said.
"It takes a lot of sponsors and a lot of volunteers. No one gets paid at the Muskrat Jamboree."
Other events include a drum dancing competition and a jigging contest for young people and adults, as well as snowmobile races.
Kisoun said the jamboree is a good way to shake off those winter blahs.
"We'll probably have a number of tents down there, cooking up good Northern cuisine, and maybe some caribou soup and bannock, or maybe some chili."
