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Southward-bound Poltaruk plans to keep Northern ties Kevin Allerston Northern News Services Published Friday, July 22, 2011
"I said (I was leaving) in 1987 and that didn't last long," said Poltaruk. "It's never forever." In 1987 he was travelling to Vancouver to pursue acting. This time around he is heading to Regina and touring North America with the Country Gospel Music Association. "The Country Gospel Music Association is something that I got kind of brought into this year. They're based out of Missouri and are an international organization. There's a lot of big names that belong to it, and then there's a lot of people like who you would find here. They are performers, comedians, story tellers and whatnot," said Poltaruk. While he is looking forward to performing with the association, pursuing new challenges means leaving the North. "Now, unfortunately I've got to go south to do the mainstay of my work, and that happened before when I went to Vancouver in '86 and discovered that if I really wanted to get into the industry, I've got to go down there and I did really well," said Poltaruk. "I tend to get myself involved with stuff I haven't done before. It's just sort of what I do. I'm only 60, I've got lots of time to make a career," said Poltaruk. Since his return to Yellowknife seven years ago, Poltaruk has been involved in the Recording Artists Association of the NWT (now Music NWT), has organized many shows featuring local performers, co-ordinated city festivals such as Raven Mad Daze and the 2010 Caribou Carnival, acted in local films, helped record albums for local musicians and performed as frontman for Rick and the Relics. As for Rick and the Relics, he said they will be going on a hiatus, but hopes the rest of the band members continue truckin' on. "I think they are going to continue on their own, and it will be The Relics of some sort. I'm hoping they will, because they're talented and they deserve to do that," said Poltaruk. But before the band's hiatus, he was able to do something he has never done before at last weekend's Folk on the Rocks: watch Rick and the Relics perform, with Leon Redbone of Sesame Street fame. "We're talking about an icon in the industry. It was a surreal experience. It was the first time in the eight years that Rick and the Relics has been around that I got to hear them from the audience's point of view," said Poltaruk. "It was kind of a mind-blower for me." He said it ranks at the top of his list of memories from his 31 years in Yellowknife. But, as he said, he will be back. "There's already a few people asking to bring me back for special events and whatnot, so the Relics will perform special events like that," Poltaruk said. Another notable experience for Poltaruk was working with former premier Stephen Kakfwi after he left politics to pursue music. "I actually worked with him on his first album and it was a great experience," said Poltaruk. Kakfwi returned the compliment. "I've known him for years and it was great working with him," he said. "He helped me with the album, In The Halls of His Mind, and on that album was a song inspired by the residential schools experience, and it really touched a lot of people. "I was at a Truth and Reconciliation event and a lot of people were touched by it. Sixty people bought the album at the one event, and it sold about 2,000 copies." Poltaruk had a message for Yellowknifers: "To the musicians and artists of Yellowknife, do not stop writing. Do not stop producing. Do not stop painting. Do not stop speaking. Do not stop anything that would allow you to develop and keep going. It's what makes our lives full. And I want to thank them for the years of great joy they have given me in the industry in this town. God bless them. I've been in a lot of places, but Yellowknife musicians are first in my heart."
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