by Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 19/97) - Christmas is going to have a special ring this year in Jean Marie River -- the ringing of telephones that is.

Last week, the Deh Cho settlement of about 70 became the second last community in the North to receive local and long distance phone service for the first time. Only Bay Chimo, in the high Arctic, is now without phone service and this can't be accomplished until commercial power is installed.

All told, 21 phones are now in use in Jean Marie River.

The service was inaugurated with a flown-in feast of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Tim Horton Donuts, with dignitaries from Yellowknife, on hand for the celebration.

"The reason for our getting together today is to celebrate this special occasion," area MLA Jim Antoine said during the speeches before the feast. "Today is another milestone in the development of your community of Jean Marie River. The founders of this community have left us their spirit and it's up to us to keep it up."

Antoine also talked about the possibilities this technology will create. Jean Marie River now has access to faxing and the Internet, he said.

Jean Marie River band manager Fred Norwegian, took the crowd through the community communication history -- from the wireless to the lifeline phone at the band office to the present day.

"I made the trip three times in one night (to the lifeline phone) and the phone was busy each time," he joked.

Chief Yvonne Norwegian also discussed the lifeline phone during her remarks.

"When this was the only phone, everyone came here," she said. "Now that everyone has a phone at home, I'm afraid no one will come to the office."

NorthwesTel's NWT assistant vice-president, Don Yamkowy, said the hookup of Jean Marie River is the culmination of a three-year program to bring telephone service to seven under-serviced communities in the North.

Snare Lakes, Colville Lake, Nahanni Butte, Kakisa and Trout Lake are the other communities who received phone service under the $3 million expansion.

It cost about $360,000 for the Jean Marie portion of the work.

But, none of these facts and figures mattered to the excited residents of Jean Marie River last Wednesday.

"I'll phone my cousins in Fort Simpson," Malerie Hardisty said when asked what her first call would be.

"I've already called someone -- my girlfriend in Saskatchewan," said Lawrence Hardisty. "Was she surprised."