Rankin Sparks celebrate Inuit culture
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Nov 29/00) - Rankin Inlet Sparks took the time to appreciate Inuit culture this month.
A total of 14 girls, two boys and Sparks leaders Alison Coman, Margaret Yarema, Tracey Lothian-Redden and Tracy Wallace turned out at the Yacht Club to celebrate Inuit Appreciation Day.
Some of the day's events included throat singing, the making of a beaded headdress, colouring comics, Inuktitut singing and lunch.
Coman says Inuit Appreciation Day was part of the Girl Guides of Canada's Second Rankin Inlet Spark Unit's (Sunday group) activity program.
"We did our program planning from our start in September through until December," says Coman.
"We sent out a pamphlet to the parents explaining each week's theme and this particular week's theme was highlighted by Inuit Appreciation Day."
Energy levels at the event were further charged by the arrival of this year's supply of Girl Guide cookies and the 2001 calendar supplied by the national Girl Guides of Canada office.
This year's national calendar features the Rankin Inlet Girl Guides for the month of March.
The cookies and calendars are now available and are used as annual fund-raisers for the Girl Guides.
There are 98 girls registered in the Rankin Inlet Guiding movement.
Coman says the kids were very interested in the afternoon's activities and the level of participation was high.
"All the kids, our 14 girls and our two male honourary members, enjoyed the afternoon and participated well, especially when you consider their relatively young age (5-6).
"The boys are honourary members because their moms are leaders."
While all the activities went over well, one held particular interest for a number of the kids.
"The throat singing was a big hit because we have a number of Sparks who also attend day care and they're currently practising for the Christmas concert.
"The kids have been practising Inuktitut songs and throat singing, so having throat singing as part of Inuit Appreciation Day worked well for them."
