 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
Party in Paulatuk Community planning fundraising efforts to ensure charter flights are commissioned for 30th Ikhalupik Jamboree
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 2, 2013
PAULATUK
The only damper of this year's Ikhalupik Jamboree in Paulatuk was a lack of funds to commission charter flights to neighbouring communities.
Faralinne Ruben and Ray Ruben Sr. participate in the Good Man/Good Woman tea-boiling competition – one of many events held during the Ikhalukpik Jamboree in Paulatuk in August. - photo courtesy of Aaron Ruben |
"Family likes to see other family," said Aaron Ruben, recreation co-ordinator. "Nowadays, it's costing an arm and a leg."
Bill S. Ruben, chair of the recreation committee, agreed, Paulatuk residents and people from surrounding communities were calling before the 26th jamboree
began to check if charters were available.
Jamboree events included tea-boiling, fish-filleting and jigging contests, as well as boat races, strongman and strongwoman contests and a drum-dancing competition.
The jamboree kicked off on Aug. 9 and finished on Aug. 12.
"Last year, we did have charters, but this year, due to lack of funding, we couldn't afford charters," said Bill. "It's just unfortunate this year we couldn't afford it."
To charter a flight from Inuvik to Paulatuk and back on Aklak Air costs $8,409 on a Beech 1900 aircraft, according to the airline. The plane can accommodate between 15 and 18 people. Aaron said ideally, he would like to start fundraising earlier in the year in an effort to raise enough money to charter planes for the next jamboree, but even that might not be enough. Fundraising can be hard in a small community such as Paulatuk, he said.
"Different organizations are trying to fundraise, too," he said. "So it's pretty tough in an isolated community where you only have 200 or 300 people and you have to fundraise."
Aaron said though nothing has been formalized, the board has discussed the possibility of saving funds for the next four years to make sure they can afford to charter flights for the 30th jamboree instead.
"That way, you can keep building up your funding year by year," he said.
Otherwise, Aaron said this year's celebration was another successful year.
"Everyone had a good time," he said. "There were no problems during the weekend.
"The weather was 31 degrees. All week was really nice weather. Everybody enjoyed the weekend."
The most popular events included the boat races and the Garrett Nutik Ruben Strongman competition, Aaron said.
"Those were the events that people were enjoying," he said.
Codey Felix and Mabel Thrasher were declared the winners of the strongman and strongwoman contests, Bill said.
Garrett's family donated either a return ticket to Inuvik or $500 to the winner of the strongman competition.
There were canoe and Lund boat races, all of which took place at the beach in front of the community, Bill said.
Ray Ruben Sr. and Molly Ruben won the Billy and Bertha Ruben Good Man/Good Woman competition, said Bill.
Aklak Air donated two round-trip tickets to Inuvik for the winners. Bill himself was crowned king of the jamboree, along with queen Mabel Thrasher. The pair each won a return trip from Inuvik to Edmonton, donated by Canadian North.
Other outdoor events included a barrel roll and lift competition, where participants rolled 45-gallon barrels and lifted them up onto a pallet to see who could do it the fastest, Bill said.
Bill also said a talent show was held at Angik School, which Ashley Ruben won. At least 10 competitors participated, Aaron said.
Other indoor games included men's and women's arm wrestling and arm pull.
Ribbons and plaques were presented to winners of various events, Bill said.
| 
