Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jun 26/98) - Inuvik joined other Northern communities by playing host to 20 heads of diplomatic missions on a Northern orientation tour June 19.

The group arrived after spending part of June 19 in Cambridge Bay. After staying the night in Inuvik and catching some of the Midnight Madness celebrations, the group left June 20 in the morning.

During their brief tour, the group were given the chance to see the SAMS dancers and eat Northern foods.

They also heard speeches from Nellie Cournoyea, Inuivaluit Regional Corporation chair; Ethel Blake, executive assistant to the president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council; MLA Floyd Roland and Mayor George Roach.

"It's important they see the right people and hear from the right people because this is a Northern orientation tour," said IRC chief operating officer Roger Connelly.

"It's to assist the heads of the diplomatic missions in Canada from other countries of the world to gain a better understanding of Canada and its peoples and its geography. So you try to make sure that people they meet are able to brief them."

The 20-member group included ambassadors from the U.K., France, Israel, Ireland, Uganda, Argentina, Egypt, Rwanda, Vietnam, Sweden, Finland, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tunisia, Benin, Korea, Equador, the organization of Eastern Caribbean States and Togo.