Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Aug 13/99) - The Town of Inuvik has a job opening, but it's not just for anyone -- the successful applicant must be as good as Christine Kasook, or as close as they can get.

On behalf of the Department of Public Services, John Bulmer recently posted an intriguing advertisement around town. It called for someone to provide "cemetery cross lettering services" for approximately 50 existing crosses and on an as-needed basis.

Contacted last week, Bulmer explained that, unlike in the south where tombstones are popular, almost all the grave-markings in the Inuvik cemetery are white wooden crosses with the names of the deceased and the dates of their birth and death painted on them. He added that when Christine Kasook first took up the task of painting the crosses a few years ago, she established a new benchmark.

"She added fancy touches with flowers," he said, "and that's the standard I want to maintain."

Indeed, Kasook's contribution to the cemetery is impressive, if not revolutionary and unique to the whole of Canada. She has transformed scores of plain wooden crosses, in some cases with no inscription at all, into works of art that honour both those whose names they bear as well as their families and friends.

Like all revolutions, Kasook said this one came in stages and began with a school project about Inuvik.

"No matter what topic I thought up, it seemed to be already taken," she said, "but then one day I went out with my grandmother to visit my sister's grave and I couldn't believe what a mess the cemetery had become."

Kasook said she contacted Gary Kolback at the town hall and received his support for a make-over project -- one that focused on the weather-worn markers.

"I told him I would do it voluntarily if the city provided the crosses and the paint," she said.

With Kolback's backing, Kasook began painting the plain white crosses -- beginning with classic black lettering, but soon moving into colour and then adding more elaborate touches like bright yellow flowers, deep red roses, green leaves and spiralling vines.

"The first time I painted a cross it was family-related and I just thought I'd try it," she said, "and I kept thinking of what my grandmother said -- that what I had done was a great thing for my Uncle Jim and really helped out his family."

Though her grandmother, Ruby, died not long afterward, Kasook began painting more and more crosses as her fame spread around town and the demand for her talents increased.

"I always feel good when a cross is completed and I feel proud when I see all of the crosses I've painted in the cemetery," she said, "but it's something I can't take money for."

Indeed, Kasook said it's also become increasingly difficult for her to set aside the time required to paint. A full-time office worker and a mother of four, including a new baby and inquisitive little girl, Kasook said she can only continue to paint crosses in special situations. It's for this reason that the town began looking for a successor.

But as she worked over a new cross for her grandmother's grave last week, it was clear that Kasook's efforts will long be valued by those they touched. Lying on the table was a thank-you card to her that quoted from the Bible.

"Good people will be remembered as a blessing."