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INUVIK
Plans are underway for the 55th annual Muskrat Jamboree in Inuvik and the committee says it will be bigger and better than ever.

Five teams of four awkwardly tromp down the ice during the plank walk at the 2011 Muskrat Jamboree. The 2012 jamboree will be the 55th and planning is already underway. - NNSL file photo

New competitions, bigger prizes, a hall bingo and more are in the works for the jamboree to be held March 30, 31 and April 1 and 2. The organizing committee held its annual general meeting on Nov. 6, nominated its executive and then got down to the festivities.

"It's going to be an awesome time," said Gerry Kisoun, chair of the committee. "We're planning on a really good couple of days for the community to welcome back spring."

The festival started in 1956 as a way to welcome the hunters and trappers back after a long winter season. The families returned to the community now known as Inuvik for the Easter weekend services, a celebration of spring and the muskrat hunt.

Kisoun has been involved in the planning since he returned to Inuvik in the late 1980s. He thinks the reason for the success of the jamboree and its growth comes from the core group of volunteers who put in so much of their time to planning the event.

"We have awesome volunteers and they just like to be out there and like organizing a big community event," Kisoun said. "Usually the Muskrat Jamboree in Inuvik is the first of the spring carnivals in the Beaufort Delta. We'll be going all weekend from Friday at 6 p.m. to Monday at midnight."

This year's executive is Kisoun, co-vice chairs Shannon Ploughman and Greta Sittichinli, secretary Arlene "Bunick" Allen and treasurer Sandra Ipana, the same crew as last year. Other board members include Louisa Alunik, Patricia Davison, Susan Peffer, Justin Collison and Liz Gordon.

Kisoun thinks that after the long winter, the community needs an event to rally around to get them back outdoors.

"It's great to have something to do. Too many people are watching TV and it's nice to get them out, especially in the spring, to do drum dancing or old-time dancing," Kisoun said. "We can laugh with them and have a good time."

At the AGM, talk focused on fundraising efforts and prizes and making sure they reflect the importance of this year of the jamboree.

The big bingo to be held on March 31 could increase to $15,000 and might include a hall bingo along with TV bingo, so it is more social. Instead of four prizes for king and queen, there will be five and the dogsled races could be longer than in other years.

The committee also plans to have more raffle tickets available since, last year, the tickets sold out by the Friday night. The jamboree sold out with 3,000 in 2010 and upped ticket numbers to 4,000 in 2011. This past jamboree, the event sold out again, so this year organizers will try for 5,000 tickets.

Although prizes haven't yet been set in stone, ideas tossed around included bedroom or living room sets, chainsaws, gas, snowmobiles, iPads, iPhones, and maybe even a cabin. Big cash prizes will still be awarded to the king and queen who raise the most money.

Kisoun said traditions such as the dogteam races, snowmobile races and muskrat-skinning competition will continue. He also hopes people will come out in their traditional clothing. There will be a prize for the most beautiful outfit.

The next organizing meeting will be held on Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex and volunteers are always welcome.

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