Rankin Inlet (Nov 29/04) - Members of the Rankin Inlet Patrol of the Canadian Rangers spent four days on the land learning and practising traditional skills and survival techniques, as well as a number of military exercises earlier this month.

The Rangers set up camp at Makmanuon Lake, about 50 miles northwest of Rankin.

A total of 28 Rangers, nine of them recruits, and two instructors from Yellowknife took part in the annual event, says Rankin patrol member Albert Kimaliakyuk.

In addition to setting up camp and constructing fall shelters, he said the Rangers honed their skills on the firing range, hunted caribou, set fishing nets and constructed a runway.

Sebastien Curley took the patrol award for being the group's top marksperson.

"We had short notice for this year's exercise and had to have everything prepared in about 18 days," says Kimaliakyuk.

"Things went very smoothly for only having that much lead time, so we were happy with that."

The new recruits worked hard cutting snow blocks and putting out fish nets during the exercise.

"They really enjoyed their time out there and learned quite a few survival skills from the elders," Kimaliakyuk said.

"It can be tough for first-time Rangers out on the land, but this group worked really hard and were quite keen on learning as much as they could from the instructors and our more experienced members."

Once the patrol returned to Rankin, a ceremony was held to formally induct the new recruits into the ranks.

Kimaliakyuk says the event was well attended by friends and family members of the new recruits.