Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (Oct 16/00) - Bessie Sikatak wants more small businesses to be part of future Kitikmeot trade shows.

"Don't just have big businesses. Smaller businesses need the exposure," said Sitatak, who owns Qilaut Originals, a Kugluktuk-based arts and crafts and custom-sewing business.

Sitatak was among only a few small companies to have booth space at the first-ever Kitikmeot Trade Show, held Oct. 4-6 in Cambridge Bay.

About 30 businesses had booths at the event, and organizers were pleased with the turnout.

Sitatak said having a booth was well worth it. She makes traditional dolls and clothing and takes custom orders for work coveralls and jackets.

Besides selling her products at the two-day event, she also took orders for custom sewing.

The Kitikmeot Trade Show can be "especially" significant for a new businesses, she added.

"New businesses need that exposure."

For its part, Nunavut Government's Department of Sustainable Development provided funding for two small businesses from each of region's communities.

The Kitikmeot Inuit Association funded a youth representative from each community.

Graham Noble, Cambridge Bay's new economic development officer, said organizers will look at when and where the next trade show will take place.

"It is a regional trade show, Kugluktuk would be a good venue," Noble said.

"The original intent was to have mining and contracting companies," he said. There may be representatives from those sectors at future Kitikmeot trade shows, he added.