INUVIK
People from around the area celebrated national Parks Day with enthusiasm July 19 at the Western Arctic Regional Visitor Centre.

Parks Canada mascot Parka helped Nellie Cournoyea, chairperson and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and Frances Gertsch, the interim superintendent of parks in the Inuvik Western Arctic management unit, celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Ivvavik National Park July 19 as part of Parks Day. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Hundreds of people flocked to the centre to find out a bit more about the parks in the region and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the creation of Ivvavik National Park.

There was a variety of activities on tap, from nature walks focused on the botany of the area to geocaching to children's games and a barbecue.

So many people attended that organizers ran out of food for the barbecue at about 3 p.m. with an hour of activities still to go.

Fortunately, that gap was filled with an anniversary cake and cupcakes celebrating Ivvavik, which was the first national park in Canada created under the terms of a land-settlement agreement with an aboriginal people.

"Ivvavik was established when the Inuvialuit Final Agreement was signed," said Frances Gertsch, the acting superintendent for Parks Canada's Western Arctic management unit.

"It was the first park in Canada ever established under a land claim. We're celebrating that today, and we're really proud of the work we've done.

"We're celebrating territorial parks and national parks today," Gertsch added, thanking the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment for helping out.

Parks Day, while not a national holiday, is sponsored by Parks Canada across the country, she said. As many as 50,000 people were expected to attend across Canada.

Nellie Cournoyea, the chairperson of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, was on hand to talk about the anniversary of the park, which is located in the northern Yukon but has important cultural and historical ties to the Delta.

"This is a very wonderful and beautiful country that we have," she said. "I'm very pleased we have a gathering like this here. As Frances said, the park was established when we signed our Inuvialuit Final Agreement, and as a result we've wanted to make sure the area is recognized and that people, from time to time, although it's so expensive to get there, have an opportunity to go see the real vast area of diversity in Ivvavik park."

Cournoyea also noted there are two other parks in the greater Inuvik region, including Aulavik on Banks Island and Tuktut Nogait east of Paulatuk.

"We have the privilege of being able to showcase the areas that we have here, and perhaps when these little ones grow up, they can get into a canoe and paddle one of the very important rivers and streams.

"It's a beautiful country and a wonderful land," Cournoyea added.

Corrine Bullock was one of the people attending the event, which was a first for her.

"I've never been to one of these before, but this is great," she said.