Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 26/01) - Some people have a gift spinning gold out of dark moments in history.

While making a speech at a sports celebrity auction, Nunavut Commissioner Peter Irniq told a story of reading a letter to the editor in which a reader wondered "where all the Eskimos had gone to."

Irniq, an Inuk from the top of head to the bottom of his kamiks, couldn't resist sending in his own letter.

"They're all down in Edmonton," he wrote, "where they win lots of Grey Cups." The crowd roared its approval.

One of those Eskimos sat down to a meal in Iqaluit last Saturday, acc-ompanied by a slippery character if ever there was one.

Henry "Gizmo" Williams, probably the speediest punt returner to ever don a Canadian Football League uniform, rolled into the city alongside former Edmonton Oilers captain Al Henderson.

The pair of retired sports heroes paid a call to Canada's newest capital to raise money for amateur sport in Iqaluit.

"I think that it's a worthy cause," said Williams, adding that he also hoped to visit students during his visit to Nunavut.

The fundraiser was hosted by the Driving Force Nunavut and Nunavut Auto and Heavy Equipment, in conjunction with First Air.

About 100 Iqalungmiut crowded into the lobby of Iqaluit's new Arctic Winter Games complex, dividing their time between a sit-down dinner and placing bids on sports memorabilia donated by the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Pavel Bure.

"I don't know," said Stu Kenn-edy, when asked which item piqued his interest the most. "My wife puts in the bids and I just write the cheques."

The rest in attendance showed where Iqaluit's true colours lie. A Montreal Canadiens jersey, autographed by the entire team and sold by silent auction, had the highest bid of any silent auction item, going for more than $200.

The energetic Williams moved and talked a mile a minute, selling strips of 50-50 tickets and showing off his two Grey Cup rings.

His and Henderson's salesmanship obviously paid off. By night's end, they had raised more than $20,000 for the Iqaluit Amateur Hockey Association.