Spence Bay (Oct 06/03) - People in Taloyoak are clinging together following the deaths of three children in two days.

"We're meeting with the children right now," said Dennis Lyall on Thursday.

"We're making sure they know what's really going on and what these healers and debriefers are doing."

Lyall is a community volunteer with the health committee, and a support worker.

He has seen the community stand strong after two children fell through thin ice and drowned Sept. 27.

Two days later, a 17-year-old youth took his own life.

"People are smiling, but you can tell it hasn't left their minds yet," said Lyall.

"The town is very quiet."

Health and social services staff and debriefers from Cambridge Bay and Yellowknife are working with residents.

Debriefers gather people in the community together to talk about the sad events and how to best move forward and get over the loss.

"We are doing quite a bit better," said Cpl. Warren Gauchier who helped revive a child who fell through thin ice on a pond behind the school.

"It's unbelievable the amount of input by the young children in this community," Gauchier said.

"Usually the children just clam up.

"But this time they're speaking their minds. We're making lots of headway."

Lyall said when the community learned of the drownings on Saturday night, all the stores closed early. School was cancelled Thursday for the funeral of the youth who committed suicide.

Lyall said the messages being sent to parents by all the counsellors in the town have had a healing effect.

"The strong one for parents was they need to keep an eye on their children." he said.

"Wake up with them, go to sleep with them. Go watch TV together. Be together as a family. Talk to them. That is the message being given to the community." The message Taloyoak has been getting from the young people is even more extraordinary, Lyall said. "Please pay more attention to us. We want to be with our parents more," he said.

"Respect is another thing they are asking for. There are some powerful messages out there." Now young people in the community have decided to organize a floor hockey tournament for the weekend.

"They felt they've been sad too long," said Lyall. "Now let's get back together and get on with life."