The book features sections on each community in the Beaufort-Mackenzie Delta region, including Old Crow in northern Yukon and looks as good as any commercial travel guide.

But it's unique in that it was created by a group of local residents and researchers.

The group, calling itself the Western Arctic Handbook Committee, spent five years on the project. Committee chair Alan Fehr organized the group in 1998 when he was the head of the Aurora Research Institute.

With members representing Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the research institute, the private sector and the Inuvialuit Development Corp., the committee started writing funding proposals and deciding on the scope of the book and who would write it. About $300,000 was raised, and a co-ordinator was hired to edit contributions.

As the project developed, it became clear that most of the money was coming from organizations interested in tourism and education -- such as Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, NWT Arctic Tourism, and Parks Canada, so the book was aimed primarily at tourists.

However, sections on local history, archeology and the natural environment, Fehr says he hopes the book will be also become a valuable resource for residents and educators as well.

The first copies of the book arrived in Inuvik this month and were sold at the Inuvik Christmas Craft Fair Nov. 22 to 24 to raise funds for the proposed Inuvik swimming pool and recreation centre. An official book launch is being planned for Dec. 11 with a soup and bannock luncheon at Ingamo Hall.

Distribution plans are still in the works, but the book should be available at Northern book stores soon, Fehr says.

If the book sells briskly enough, Fehr said he hopes enough money can be raised to fund future editions and reprints.