INUVIK - Amier Suliman smiles, thinking back on the last time all the cultural groups in Inuvik came together. Families packed the arena to see traditional clothes, sample culinary delights from across the world, learn about different cultures from the western Arctic to Newfoundland to Africa and, of course, welcome newcomers.

"It was a hit," said Suliman. "We had a lot of food and we ran out quickly."

Suliman, originally from Sudan, arrived in Inuvik nearly 15 years ago. He said Inuvik is based on a fusion of different cultures, and that diversity needs to be celebrated on a community level.

"When I thought about it, I thought we need to do this again," Suliman said. "We've started losing festivities in the summer."

Suliman and a group of passionate local residents are hoping to change that. They're bringing back Inuvik's heritage day and multicultural festival next month after a five-year hiatus, giving all of Inuvik's diverse cultures a chance to shine in the spotlight. A group of residents gathered Aug. 5 to start planning the event, representing the Town of Inuvik and the Gwich'in, Inuvialuit, Metis, Filipino and Islamic communities, as well as other areas across Canada.

"We're going to bring things back, little by little," Suliman said after the meeting.

The festival is scheduled for Sept. 18 and the committee is calling on every cultural group in town to get involved and set up a booth with samples of traditional cuisine - from dry fish to falafel.

Dennis Dulay, a representative of the local Filipino community, which includes about 25 people, said he was looking forward to participating in the festival for the first time.

"It will be good to spread awareness that we are here, and to highlight our culture," he said.

Inuvialuit resident Delores Harley agreed. She said it's especially important that young people take part in these kinds of events.

"It's a fun environment to learn all about our cultures," she said.

Peter Clarkson was mayor of Inuvik when the town put on its last multicultural festival around the fall of 2005. It was successful, he said, but in later years people became too busy to take the time to organize it. Clarkson said he hopes the festival can again become a recognizable annual event.

"It's just a good way to get the community out and sometimes get people out that don't normally come to a community feast," he said. "We're a very diversified community as far as people from all over the place and I think anytime people can get out and socialize and celebrate as a community, it's a healthy, good thing to do."

The planning group's next meeting is set for the last week of August.

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