INUVIK
As the 58th anniversary of the Muskrat Jamboree gets set to start tomorrow, the festival is showing signs of fiscal strain following the loss of the lucrative bingo event.

The organizing committee of the Muskrat Jamboree say the event is likely in for some tough times following the town's decision not to offer them a licence to hold bingo March 28. The committee failed to submit its application on time and the town council members declined to provide an exemption. The jamboree's children's carnival, held in June, could be on the chopping block due to a lack of funds. Pictured are chair Greta Sittichinli, left, Sandra Ipana, Bernice Furlong (front), Eileen Allen, Wilma Hendricks and Trista Ipana. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

On March 11, in a brief discussion, town council turned down an application to grant special permission to host the bingo.

The jamboree organizing committee failed to submit its application to the town's lottery licensing committee early last year to secure a date for its own mega bingo, typically held during the festival.

Subsequently, the committee put in an application to the town asking that it be allowed to host an afternoon bingo on March 28, a few hours before the Inuvik Speed Skating Club is to host a $20,000 mega bingo.

Paul McDonald, who organizes the speed skaters bingo events throughout the year, previously told Inuvik Drum it isn't fair to allow a group that missed the application deadline to draw money away from a group that met it.

In discussing the application, Coun. Alana Mero said she wasn't willing to establish a precedent, since the town has previously turned down requests to host bingo when the application deadline was missed.

The vote to decline the jamboree's application was unanimous amongst the councillors present at the meeting.

The missed bingo nets the festival nearly $30,000 every year.

Members of the committee, including chair Greta Sittichinli, said the application deadline was missed due to an unfortunate convergence of events.

The previous vice-chair of the committee had handled the application, she said, and the town also had some turnover in the staff responsible for receiving the application.

The application was lost in the shuffle, somewhere in that process.

The committee has responded to the council with a letter, Sittichinli said.

Partly due to the anticipated cash shortage caused by the lack of a bingo, two snowmobile races have been dropped by the organizers, and the Muskrat Jamboree Kiddies Carnival, a separate stand-alone event for the past two years, might be cancelled.

That's because there simply might not be enough money to run it, Sittichinli said.

"Those little children just love that event because it's all about them," she said. "And the whole town comes out to it.

Without that bingo, it really cuts (revenue) down for us."

The committee members said this weekend's jamboree schedule has been "cut right down," but they're determined to proceed with as light a heart as they can.

"We were kind of discouraged with the decision not to give us the bingo," Sittichinli said. "But we just regrouped and said we're still going to proceed. We're going to roll with what we have."

This year's theme is healthy living and the Inuvik Youth Centre has been chosen as the sponsored organization, where much of whatever money is raised will go.

Through a variety of sober events and plenty of physical activities, visitors are encouraged to think about their bodies.

"There will be dancing Friday and Saturday and families will be down at the river promoting healthy living," said Sittichinli.

That includes the annual jigging contest, which will award the top dancer with $100.

After the contest there will be a performance by the 10-member Inuvik Jiggers, followed by the old time group Delta Good Time Band.

In the running this year for the king and queen are Ted and Loretta Rogers, Kevin Mitchell and Sarena Wright, John Riley Lucas and Skye Day-Macleod, Thomas Anthony and Katherine Sittichinli.

The couple who raises the most funds are crowned Muskrat Jamboree King and Queen.

"They are then awarded with a sash, muskrat fur hats and slippers because they are expected to dance and participate throughout the weekend," said Sittichinli.

The king and queen are announced on the opening day March 27.

With three days of the festival, Sittichinli said organizers are offering up one event after another that will leave visitors feeling anything but bored.

"We're looking forward to seeing you at the river and joining us in our activities," she said.

The event begins March 27 at East Three Secondary School and ends March 30.

- with files from Dana Bowen