Coppermine (July 07/03) - Ron Tologanak helped set the stage for Canada Day celebrations and the 10th anniversary of the land claims agreement.

News/North: You are a busy guy.

Ron Tologanak: Yes I am! (Laughs).

N/N: What is in store for your community? What has your job been like for the last few months?

RT: I have been doing a lot of soliciting, trying to organize the (Circumpolar) games happening July 9-14, getting travel arrangements finalized and accommodations for Circumpolar Games, and we're having a music festival at the same time.

We also have Canada Day celebrations, we're having bike races for kids, barbecued hot dogs and a Polar Bear swim.

I don't know how cold it's going to be. There's still some ice out there on the ocean.

And our 15th annual fishing derby is July 17. It's busy. It's crazy.

N/N: How long have you been the recreation co-ordinator in Kugluktuk?

RT: I've been doing the job since January of last year.

But I've been involved with this kind of stuff for the last 20 years.

I'm originally from Cambridge Bay and I've been here since 1981.

N/N: When did it start getting really busy for you this year? In the last few weeks?

RT: It's a busy job.

A lot of letter writing, asking for donations. We have a triathalon, too, and I have summer students working for me.

One student is a recreation assistant, another is a waterfront assistant for our waterfront program.

We also have a day camp program where we register kids, four years to 12 years old.

N/N: Is it fun when you get to hang out with the musicians that come there and all the people?

RT: Of course.

N/N: You're the guy in the middle of the action.

RT: I'm participating in the music fest, too. I have a band here -- Aghaliak (means Northern Lights). I'm singer and lead guitar. There are five of us. We've been together since February of last year.

N/N: I think that's cool you're going to be performing.

RT: It's just going to be evening work for me. So I've got all day to watch games and help out.

N/N: Who are the other bands playing at the festival?

RT: The band from Pangnirtung has five people (lead by Tim Evic on squeeze box) and the band from Arviat also has five (Paul Irksuk is lead singer and rhythm guitarist).

The Arviat band performed here back in 1995 and the Pang people performed here at the signing in 1993.

I'm actually master of ceremonies as well. I'm introducing.

N/N: How do you keep your energy up for all that?

RT: Be happy I guess. (Laughs). I enjoy it.