Fort McPherson (Apr 10/06) - The dogs are yipping up a fuss, straining at their lines, but no man, woman or beast is mushing anywhere in this dog race until Betty Vittrekwa-Firth and Wayne Greenland say so.

They are the timekeepers for the annual Delta Joe Dog Race, held as one of the showcase events in the annual Peel River Jamboree.

But more than that, they have not only been the only timekeepers the race has had in its eight years, when it comes to dog racing in Fort McPherson, the duo have the job nailed down to the bedrock.

"We also do the James Neyando New Year's Dog Race," Vittrekwa-Firth said of the other 16-mile two-day race in between the launch of Irvin Perry's dog team and the next one coming down the Mackenzie River bank to the start line.

While Greenland notes who's coming up to the start line and calls out the countdown, Vittrekwa-Firth holds the stopwatch and keeps track of who went where when, and where the racers should be at any stage of the race.

The Delta Joe Dog Race is what the annual event has been called since Dr. Joe Vittrekwa - Betty's brother - passed away in 1998.

Her involvement in the race has as much to do with being part of a community event as remembering a man much loved by the community and well-known by Delta dog mushing enthusiasts.

"He loved dog mushing and lived on the land year-round in the traditional way," she said.

Fort McPherson always had dog races as part of its spring carnival and Dr. Vittrekwa was in the thick of it. "He always participated," she said.

Although she loves being part of the competition, she laughs and says a definite "No!" when she's asked if she races herself. Even getting on a sled brings out a laugh. "Those days are over for me!" she said.

"The best part of being part of the race is seeing all the people come out and participating," Vittrekwa-Firth said.

"Having the dog races is carrying on the traditions."