Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

TALOYOAK (Oct 18/99) - Extra, extra! Read all about it -- Taloyoak's Netsilik News is about to roll off the presses and hit the streets.

That's right news junkies. There's a new game in Nunavut and it's published by a group of students at Netsilik school in the Kitikmeot region.

Headed up by teacher Peter Maguire, the newest edition of the newspaper is due out on Taloyoak's stands this week.

"This issue we've got an article on each of the new teachers on staff -- there's eight of them and we also have some of the new community members," said Maguire, in his seventh year at the school and in his third year with the newspaper club.

Comprised of a dedicated group of volunteers ranging from Grades 4 to 12, the six to seven page newspaper is published about once every two months in both Inuktitut and English.

In terms of content, Netsilik News contains information about upcoming school events and celebrations and includes news about community activities.

The reporters, while they don't see the benefits in such academic terms, admit to having a good time working on the publication.

"I like taking pictures and interviewing people," said Johnna Jayko, 16.

"It's fun and sometimes they get nervous, the people I'm interviewing."

With Netsilik News for the last three years, she said she liked to show the newspaper to both community residents and family members because of their reaction to her work.

"They're proud of me and they like what I do."

Ditto, for Nancy Aqqaq.

Even though it's just her first year with the club, she said she was happily anticipating taking home the first issue and showing it off.

"I'm excited to take it home," said Aqqaq.