Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Jun 04/99) - There's little question about the risks involved when children are swimming in nearby creeks and the Mackenzie River, according to Pehdzeh Ki First Nations Chief Tim Lennie.

"It's been getting pretty tense over the years. (The children) are swimming up in the creek where there are a lot of logs...without any supervision," he said.

For Wrigley, a community of roughly 170 people, an Olympic-sized, in-ground pool isn't really a practical or affordable alternative at this time.

"It's more out of a Simpson Sears catalogue right now," Lennie said. "It will be purchased this summer."

It's an eight metre by eight metre above-ground pool, retailing for around $1,500, that the band has its eye on. It's likely to be set up behind the band complex within the next month, according to Lennie.

This pool should be an interim measure, he noted.

"For many years we've asked for a swimming pool in our community from capital planning through the GNWT. For some reason or another, that was taken off our capital plan without any input from the community or any explanation," he said. "That swimming pool was supposed to come up this year...instead of waiting for government, the (band) members feel they should have something immediate. So we might as well just get one off Sears for the time being."

The recreation department had worked hard at fund-raising over the winter and the proceeds will be earmarked for the pool, Lennie said.

Although there are several people in the community trained in first aid and CPR, there isn't a certified lifeguard, he added.

"The issue we have is safety and supervision, and the training that's going to be needed," he said.