Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Aug 06/99) - Cruising along the Mackenzie River last week, Lyall Robson compared growing old to a riverboat journey.

"Life is like making a trip," he said, "just like this one."

Robson should know. At age 64, he's done his share of travelling and also knows a thing or two about the water.

In fact, Robson was one of two dozen elders out on the Mackenzie last Thursday to enjoy a lunch and afternoon cruise in honour of the International Year of the Older Persons.

Organized by Inuvik's Year of the Older Persons panel -- including Christine Firth, Ruth Goose and Delores Harley -- the cruise represents a festive, exotic alternative to the regular Elder's Lunch held weekly at Ingamo Hall.

"We wanted to include people on the cruise who, because of health concerns don't normally make it out to all the events," said Firth.

Conditions couldn't have been better. After more than a week of overcast, wet weather, the sky cleared Thursday afternoon and allowed the group to dine outside in the sun as they caught up on news, shared stories and listened to country music.

Having donated their houseboat-barge for the afternoon event, Frank and Sandy Hansen played the role of hosts and mingled with the party.

Goose said the outing was the perfect tonic for the elders -- many of whom she visits in her capacity as a health department home-support worker.

"This is all about plugging in and meeting the needs of our elders," she said.

But aside from certain physical ailments, the individuals on Thursday's cruise said, like Robson, they have few complaints about aging.

Edward Norbert, 66, said the elderly are treated just fine in Inuvik and the generation gaps pose no concern.

"I have no problems," he said, "but I get along well with everybody anyway."

Originally from Tsiigehtchic, Norbert said that if he has any complaint at all it's only that doctor's orders mean he can't venture far from town.

"I lived all my life out on the land and I miss it," he said.

Rudy Villebreun said the toughest thing about growing old for him was losing his wife, Naome, last year.

"I miss her," he said simply, but added that his seven children and 40-plus grandchildren "scattered from Fort Smith to here" have helped him cope.

Villebreun's sister-in-law Catherine McDonald, who also lost her spouse not long ago, was also on the cruise. Like many of the group, McDonald said she was happy and determined to remain in Inuvik though most of her family resides elsewhere. While the elders couldn't explain exactly why they stay, events like the barge cruise and the work of people like the women on the panel are no small considerations.

In fact, Harley said the panel was scheduled to meet today to discuss the possibility of staging a second event to mark the Year of the Older Persons.

"It may have to do with an elders' social or berry-picking," she hinted.