Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 30/04) - For Jacob Peffer, 11, waiting for his first chance to join his father on the land for some muskrat trapping gets him very excited.

The skill, passed from grandfather to father and soon to son, was expressed in Peffer's project about muskrat trapping at the Regional Heritage Fair last Friday at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school.

"It's about going out on the land and learning the tools and how to use them," said Peffer of his project, which featured several tools of the trade that were crafted by his grandfather.

Though he has heard the stories, knows about the equipment and can explain how to use it, Peffer says he is looking forward to joining his father this summer for his first real trapping adventure.

Across the room, Fraser Arey and Travis Gordon's project about dog mushing was attracting similar interest from students.

Arey, an up-and-coming musher who competed in this year's Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alta., says he got into the sport through his family.

"My dad, uncle and cousin were doing it and then I started," he said.

Different from Arey and Peffer, who shared something they were familiar with, high school students Jayneta Pascal and Rhonda John from Aklavik's Moose Kerr school used the Heritage Fair as an opportunity to learn more about their culture.

"We learned about the history and we knew life was hard, but not that hard," said Pascal, wearing a beautiful Inuvialuit parka her grandmother made. "Now, we are spoiled and can go to the store to buy things. Back then they had to do everything themselves."

Joining Inuvik elementary students for the fair were students from Aklavik and Fort McPherson. Last year, there were only 10 projects, but this time there were 26.

"This is the largest fair I can remember," said Grade 6 teacher Mary Stillwell, one of the fair's co-ordinators. "When you say the word 'project,' it's hard to get students motivated, but some kids really surprise themselves and it adds an opportunity for students to show off something they can do."

Allison Neyando, Sara Brennan and Alicia Jacobs finished first at the fair and will go on to the territorial competition in Yellowknife in May.