Repulse Bay (Sep 17/03) - A group of students in Repulse Bay have added to their community's beauty and tourism appeal by building a walking trail to its most famous site.

Adult educator Earl Dean says the Qagmaq Trail project is a prime example of the good that can result from formal and informal partners working together.

Dean says the project began about two years ago, when a group of Arctic College students realized they wanted to do something to help preserve the rich traditional life of their community.

"Close to town is the ancient Thule site called Naujaat, described by Therkel Mathiuson and Knud Rasmusson in 1925," informs Dean.

"Today it consists of shallow depressions in the ground where people once built sod walls and covered roofs with whale bone and animal hides."

Proposals were circulated and the Department of Culture Language Elders and Youth agreed to fund labour costs so that the walking trail could be built.

"Based on the recommendation of Jack Anawak, who knows the area and the people well, Leonna Aglukka expedited the financial agreement with hamlet SAO Brian McQuarrie."

Dean says the project would not have gone ahead without the enthusiastic daily supervision provided by Rebecca Tuktudjuk.

He says Deputy Mayor John Kaunak gave support and direction as only an elder can, telling many fascinating stories about the legends and mysteries associated with the site.

"It's a very nice trail that visitors will thoroughly enjoy while visiting our community.

"The students put two rows of rocks, about 2.4 metres apart, so people can't get lost while on it.

"It's a nice, meditative walk across nice countryside leading to the site."

In tackling the project, Dean says the students formed what's best described as a heritage group and were totally focused on making the project successful.

It takes about two hours to walk the trail to the Thule site and back to town.

"There's a lot of local history surrounding that site.

"In fact, there's still people in town who have memories of living there before Repulse became a real town.

"So, it's got really strong ties to the past."