Music CD dedicated to time spent in the Kivalliq
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (May 23/01) - A one-time Rankin Inlet Co-op manager is putting fond memories of his time in the Kivalliq on CD.
Ted Schinbein arrived in Rankin Inlet about 30 years ago to give Jack Anawak and Joe Kaludjak a hand to get the Co-op store they had started on solid business ground.
An avid musician, Schinbein learned how to play button accordion from Sally Curley (Tatty), worked with Charlie Panagoniak and Mike Kusugak, and played many a Rankin square dance with Luke Issaluk and Tommy Sammurtok.
Schinbein's CD is titled Remembering Rankin. There are seven songs currently in production and seven more waiting in the wings that have already been written.
"My time in Rankin was so much fun," says Schinbein, who now lives in Mitchell, Ont.
"In those days, you'd play until you were ready to fall off the chair and then you'd hand your instrument to somebody else and away they'd go again.
"In tribute to all those dances, I put a medley on the CD of button accordion, guitar, fiddle and banjo of old favourites such as Oh Suzanna, those types of songs.
"I put it on there purely for the fun of it and I hope it will put a smile on a few people's faces."
Schinbein enjoyed Ran-kin's party lifestyle at the time a little too much and starting drinking heavily. He became worried his drinking was going to start affecting the store and he left Rankin to deal with alcoholism.
"I left to get my life back in order. It took me awhile, but I haven't had a drink now in about 10 years."
Schinbein is also infamous in Rankin for being involved in the great flag caper and one song on the CD tells that tale.
"To make a long story short, the Arctic Research Training Centre flag came with a few of the Bay Boys when they arrived for a beer night, as it was called back then.
"It was meant as a joke and we were going to put it back a day or two later, but Bob Williamson, who ran the centre, was so flipped out about it we were scared to take it back in case we were caught.
"It stayed in a trunk in my home for all those years and every now and then I'd take a look at it and grin."
Schinbein hopes to come back to Rankin to release the CD sometime during the next year.
"We have so many fond memories and wonderful friends in Rankin. Whether it's this year or next, we can't wait to see everyone there again."
