RANKIN INLET - It was an afternoon of mustard, ketchup, relish and oh-so-tasty hotdogs as the Rankin Inlet detachment of the RCMP held a special Aboriginal Day gathering and barbecue this past month.

Elder Agnes Makpataq Alikashuak is all business as she puts the mustard to the dog during an Aboriginal Day gathering held at the RCMP detachment in Rankin Inlet this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

More than 100 people took advantage of the event to stop by the detachment for some tasty treats, meet the officers and spend a little time engaged in some neighbourly conversation.

Cpl. Gerald Ouellet said the gathering was held to celebrate Aboriginal Day with the residents of Rankin Inlet and to have people in the community stop by to meet the officers who work at the detachment.

He said a similar gathering was planned for every Nunavut detachment.

"We don't get to meet everyone who lives in the community during the performance of our regular duties, so it was nice to have our faces out there for an afternoon in such a pleasant atmosphere," said Ouellet.

"Having gatherings like this also presents a nice opportunity for any new detachment members to meet a nice group of people from the community they serve."

Ouelett said the RCMP ran out of hotdogs for the first time since they started hosting outdoor events such as the Aboriginal Day gathering.

He said the people who dropped by the detachment went through more than 300 hotdogs during the afternoon's festivities.

"I would have thought we were safe with more than 300 hotdogs, but it was great to go through every one.

"We had a lot more people out this year but I believe last year's gathering may have been on a weekday.

"Saturday was a good day to hold something like this."

Ouellet said a few people did approach the officers for information on applying to the force during the gathering.

He said a few others also approached him a little later in the day looking for the same information.

"A few people talked to me about it during the Co-op's barbecue later in the afternoon.

"We did discuss opportunities within the RCMP and let everyone know if they were interested in joining, they could come see us at the station to get more detailed information."