Kiviuq takes a modern journey
Pelly Bay marionettes dance their way home

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 27/99) - Kiviuq, an Inuit legendary figure who passes through a series of journeys and trials in his lifetime, has resurfaced in modern-day lore.

This time however, Kiviuq, and six of his friends, went head-to-head with U.S. Customs officials.

But as legend has always had it, Kiviuq triumphed and made it home safely once again.

"It's a bit uncanny how this was so parallel to the life of Kiviuq and his adventures," said Marla Limousin, the senior administrative officer of Pelly Bay, the Kitikmeot hamlet in which Kiviuq's most recent trial began.

She explained that the situation, which went on to garner North American media attention, began because the elders were trying to preserve their culture.

"Our elders were interested in relaying some of their legends to the youth and we wanted to work together on something that combined lights and sound and a stage production. The elders would use their traditional knowledge to tell the legend," said Limousin.

Always interested in marionettes, she said she put forward the idea of using puppets in their production and after the elders chose the legend of Kiviuq, they went off and produced seven characters made of whale bone and sealskin.

Knowing the marionettes needed to be fine-tuned before they'd be ready for the stage, Limousin contacted Dan Butterworth, an American artist and puppet-master for his help. Off went Kiviuq and his cast to Butterworth's home in Rhode Island, N.Y., but as they were crossing the border, the boxes were opened and because all but one of the marionettes was in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), six were seized by U.S. Customs officials.

Limousin said she contacted Nancy Karetak-Lindell's office and that after intense lobbying from the federal and territorial governments, and due to serious pressure from media in the States and in Canada, the puppets were sent back to the elders in Pelly Bay -- but not before Kiviuq and company travelled around the country undergoing forensic testing.

"It was such a relief. These things were made from their hearts and souls and they were really glad to get them back. I was also really happy and I realized how fantastic this thing has been," said Limousin.

Because of the controversy and the unsuccessful attempt at getting the puppets into good working shape, Limousin said they decided it would be easier for Butterworth to travel to Pelly Bay.

Scheduled to arrive on Oct.4 for a week of fine-tuning and workshops, Limousin said Butterworth also wanted to complete a video production of the legend because of the amount of interest that had been drummed up. Limousin is currently looking for $40,000 in contributions to get the stage and video productions off the ground and it is her hope that the video be distributed to schools around the country and used as a teaching tool.

Limousin further added that the hamlet was receiving calls regularly about purchasing the marionettes and that officials were considering going into production on them as an economic development opportunity for the residents.

To that end, and with the goal of completing the original stage production, Butterworth will work with community residents, teaching people how to plan out and produce puppets and how to make sure they are assembled to give them the full range of motion.

A 25-year puppet veteran, Butterworth also said he had a lot to learn from Pelly Bay's artisans.

"They're so skilled at carving hands and sewing the costumes. We're really going to watch them do that," said Butterworth, from his home in New York State.

"What we want is that so when we go away, they can continue making these. It will free them up in their thinking and they'll know they can create anything they want to."

For more information about the workshops, contact Limousin at the hamlet office.