Where Nunavummiut and celebrities meet
Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Jun 04/01) - Nunavummiut are teaching celebrities -- and in turn the world -- about Northern living in a most unexpected way.
During brief brushes with "greatness," conversations often switch to Canada's newest territory.
When country singer Willie Nelson invited Rankin Inlet's Joachim Ayaruak to share beer and pizza, Nelson wanted to know about Ayaruak's iglu.
"I said I have an iglu with a microwave and a satellite dish. Then I told him I live in a house just like you do," Ayaruak said.
The chance meeting came after Nelson's concert in Winnipeg.
In keeping with the six degrees of separation theory, everyone has crossed paths with someone famous. What makes it unique for Northerners is the chance to introduce Nunavut as a land of opportunity and expense.
Take MuchMusic's George Stromboulopoulos. During his Baffin Island visit last month, Stromboulopoulos' wallet was $20 lighter after ordering a burger, fries and a pop -- considerably higher than Toronto prices, he said.
He shrugged, raved about trying muktaaq and seal in Pangnirtung and hoped to return some day.
Students meeting the leather-clad TV celebrity kept the encounter in perspective.
"It wasn't that big a deal," said Iqaluit's Calvin Koonark who met Stromboulopoulos in his school's library.
In Pond Inlet, Regilee Ootoova taught model, actress, singer Brooke Shields to gut and cut fish last year -- a monumental accomplishment for an urban vegetarian like Shields.
Sometimes the meetings are quick and -- for lack of a better word -- meaningless.
Sean Doherty met movie star Neve Campbell in Toronto just after Scream 3 was released.
"Her mom and my mom went to school together. It was cool. She looks the same (on screen and off)," he said.
Famous is a relative term. For aspiring politician Fauna Kingdon, shaking hands with Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Human Resources Minister Jane Stewart while working as a legislative page was a thrill.
It was an opportunity to remind the minister how some federal tax dollars help youth.
"I told Jane Stewart how Nunavut youth have lots of opportunity to travel to attend meetings, more so than in the south because we have a smaller population. She had no idea," Kingdon said.
