Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 3, 2007

KUGAARUK - Tony Immingark is doing his best to help people in Kugaaruk acquire traditional skills.

As a community economic development officer, he realized workshops in traditional sewing, carving and kayak building haven't been done in the community for years.

"I just started a year ago and I was looking through some files and... just decided to re-establish it," he said.

The kayak building and traditional sewing workshops have already begun, and a carving workshop is in the works.

Maria Niptayuk and Marie Anguti, teachers for the sewing course, are helping the kayak building instructor Jesse Apsaktaun by preparing sealskins to be used on the frame of a kayak. The three high school students who are taking part in the sewing workshop were taught how to get the fat and fur out of fresh sealskin.

The course will do more than just teach the participants this knowledge, according to Immingark.

"There's not a lot of kayaks that's actually made out of sealskin and I believe that would attract more tourism in different areas," he said, explaining that kayaks are built differently depending on where they're made.

Two kayaks will be made in the workshop. One will be made with sealskin and the other will be used as a showcase of the structure of a kayak.

The budget has not yet been confirmed for the sewing project, which is already underway, but if the money allows, Immingark would like to get the students involved with the production of some clothing.

"If we got enough funding for clothing, we'll get them to make some kamiiks and mitts," he said.

Not many people have signed up for the workshops, with only three learning to sew and one in the kayaking program, but Immingark said he is waiting to hear if there is more interest in kayak building.

Immingark said he would like to turn these workshops into annual events if possible.