Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (July 17/02) - A family sickness will delay the Kivalliq Traditional Games by a week this year.

Rankin Inlet is the host community, but planning for the games was delayed because the hamlet's recreation co-ordinator, Johnny Tucktoo, was out of town for three weeks attending to a sick father in Taloyoak.

Little planning was done in Tucktoo's absence. When he returned to work on July 12, he found that some of the extra-curricular activities had been planned, but the schedule of sports activities hadn't yet been drafted.

Not only that, none of the participants had sent in registration forms.

In addition, Tucktoo said that some of the other communities hadn't yet compiled a full roster of players. In conversations with other rec co-ordinators, he said there was mutual agreement that delaying the event by a week would be a good idea.

The games were originally scheduled to run from July 18-22. They will now run from July 25-29.

The amended deadline for registration is July 19.

Chesterfield Inlet is one of the communities that is still bringing together a team.

"We're in the final stages of picking a team," said Greg Tanuyak, the recreation co-ordinator in Chesterfield. "After the team is selected we'll be filling out the required forms and sending them out."

A different Kivalliq community hosts the games every year. The games pit competitors against each other in the Inuit traditional sports, including high kick, rock jumping, airplane and harpoon throw. Runners also vie for top honours in an annual marathon.

The games also provide a chance for community celebration, and square dances and community feasting usually accompanying the sports. Tucktoo said he expects to see all seven communities represented in Rankin this year.