Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (June 27/05) - Youth in Rankin Inlet will be able to don capes and pointy hats and wave their wands as the community's Youth Centre's decision to adopt a Harry Potter theme for their day camp was upheld during a recent hamlet council meeting.

While the council chamber was packed by Potter supporters during a regular meeting this past week, not a single resident opposed to the theme bothered to show up.

That left Coun. Donna Adams alone to oppose the magic of Harry Potter.

Coun. Adams told the gathering she strongly opposed the Potter theme. She said her nine- and 10-year-old children look forward to attending camp, but she doesn't want them involved in any way with author J.K. Rowling's boy wizard.

"I'm a Christian and I've never allowed my kids to read Harry Potter books or see the movies," said Adams. "The majority of Inuit are God-fearing people and this goes against our beliefs in what's right."

Adams said many points the camp brochure alludes to, such as using Potter themes to raise self-esteem and promote team building, already exist within the community.

She said those traits have long been associated with Inuit culture.

"We have many talented people within our own community who can promote Inuit culture-based ideas and principals.

"Why aren't we using these people to promote these principles to our kids?"

More structure

Youth centre director Bryan Drakenberg said he informed SAO John Hodgson about the Potter theme six months ago.

He said the theme was added to provide more structure and organization to the program.

Drakenberg became irritated on at least one occasion when responding to Coun. Adams' remarks.

He said he can't understand why some people are expressing concern over a Potter theme, who were never interested in what happened at the centre in the past.

"I don't mean to be blunt, but I can count on two fingers the number of councillors who have visited the youth centre since I began," he said.

"When I first took over, drugs and alcohol were flowing freely from there. If you people care so much, where were you then? Nobody seemed too concerned about that, but now everybody's concerned about Harry Potter."