Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 01/99) - Taxis operate all across the North, from Kugluktuk to Tulita, Norman Wells to Arviat and Tuktoyaktuk.

But even though they're in these towns and hamlets, the drivers aren't always home and the cabs aren't always running.

Kowmuk's Taxi in Rankin Inlet, you can be sure, will get you there. They run two, 12-passenger Bombardiers.

"In the winter, we can go anywhere with the Bombardiers. They're perfect for this area," driver Danny Kowmuk said.

His dad, Simon, has cut trails with Bombardier snowmachines for 35 years. Each year, Simon is the first to venture from Rankin to Arviat.

"My dad makes the trails and everyone follows," Danny said.

"People wait for him to drive across before they'll go on the ice."

Kowmuk's Taxi ferries cargo to remote exploration camps but they also handle charters. Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove and Baker Lake are common destinations. Danny said they even travel more than 400 kilometres to Churchill, Man. And at a cruising speed of 35 km/h, depending on the trail, it's a long haul.

Once, Danny got himself in trouble on Churchill River.

"It was late spring and I almost went right through the ice," he said.

"My dad came by and pulled me out. I was lucky to drive away from that one."

Out of the many yellow-page listings, Joannes' Taxi out of Tuktoyaktuk stands out. There are few females in the taxi business. There's one less now.

After four years of driving, Joanne Edwards parked her van for good a few months ago to be with her family.

"It was a lot of fun, especially meeting all the people," Edwards said.

"Hearing old stories about the land and the town from elders is something I'll miss about driving the taxi."

Her longest journey was to Fort McPherson, driving a group of elementary students to a science fair.

"It was my first long charter and we all had a great time," she said.

"A bird hit my windshield and cracked it but other than that, it was a good trip."