Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Jan 02/03) - Tendrils of smoke rise from incense as the seer stares into a shallow pan of river water, where she sees images from the future flow forth.

It's called "scrying" -- a name given to the ancient technique of gazing into an object such as a crystal ball or skull -- for the purposes of divination. This is one method psychic Daphne LeRoy employs to foretell future events.

Together with her spiritual guides, LeRoy provided an exclusive interview with the Inuvik Drum on her predictions for the Delta on the year 2003.

She says a number of sweeping changes are coming to the Delta, but also more of the same in terms of unusual weather patterns.

"We see a lot of flooding next spring and perhaps some serious flooding in Aklavik," LeRoy said. "Not that it will be problematic, just more than other years."

"It will take longer to get the ferry in this spring, because the break-up will be delayed," she said.

A hot and dry summer is heading our way, she says, with lots of bugs from a wet spring.

"There will be bigger and more mosquitoes than you've ever seen, but on the flip side of that, you'll have higher populations of all the migrating songbirds."

LeRoy said the weather patterns will create havoc in the animal kingdom, due largely to the climate change.

"A lot of the animals will be confused about the seasons," she offered. "The rut times, when bears will come out of hibernation, etcetera."

"We see weaker herds of caribou, so that may mean better hunting, but an overall decline in the numbers of caribou."

On the political front, LeRoy predicts municipal politicians may take on territorial positions in the November 2003 election.

"I see a really strong figure stepping forward to represent Inuvik," she said. "This person will increase economic development in future years at the risk of losing some immediate gains."

She sees more community development and a coming together of local people to preserve culture and heritage like never before.

The cards tell her there will be archaeological discoveries in Tsiigehtchic and perhaps even under the sea ice.

"There will be something ancient discovered beneath the ice ... perhaps even a lost civilization."

There will be a greater emphasis on local music and entertainment at this year's Great Northern Arts Festival, with a particular focus on fiddle music.

"There will be more desire from local people to participate in the festival."

Also on the entertainment front, she foretells of Hollywood coming North.

"There will be an American film crew here to film a TV series or a made-for-TV movie," LaRoy said.

The bad news heading our way will be another slow year in the oil and gas industry, but spin offs will bring together people uniting to preserve the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge.

"We'll see some economic decline with a lack of seismic work and other activity in terms of temporary employment, but a resurgence in connectiveness with the land," LeRoy said.

"Particularly through an alliance with all the Gwich'in from here to Alaska."