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Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (July 20/01) - There is a gal gang wandering through Yellowknife and if you haven't spotted them yet, chances are you will soon.
 Mildred Wilke is the founder of the Divas of the North chapter of the Red Hat Society. The society started a few years ago in the United States and now there are many chapters around the world. - Dawn Ostrem/NNSL photo |
The Red Hat Society of Yellowknife is called Divas of the North. It is a "disorganization" of women, generally over 50, whose main purpose is to be silly, crazy and frivolous.
The over-50s wear red hats and purple outfits while doing so and those younger are draped in lavender wardrobes and pink headwear.
Since divas was started in January, about 25 woman have shown interest, says Mildred Wilke, 57, queen mother of the Yellowknife chapter.
"The whole basis of it is you get out and have tea with your friends," Wilke explained, wearing a bright red hat with leopard print trim, a feathery red boa, purple dress and decorated in long shimmering jewellery.
"Women in this age bracket become invisible so when you get gussied up in your attire and jewels you cannot be ignored."
That theory was put to the test recently when 10 of the girls wandered down to the Wildcat Cafe for tea. They became a tourist interest when people from Toronto and New York, as well as Yellowknife, began taking their picture.
The first meeting was held in February in, fittingly, Mary's Tea Room.
Still in it's beginning stages, not all the women on Wilke's list have come out gussied up yet. She blames a red hat shortage in the city.
Woman are also still coming up with names.
"I just have my name as Queen Bee because we all have foolish names, another woman goes by Queen of the Universe," she said.
Probably the craziest idea planned so far for the divas chapter is the birthday celebration for the oldest member when she turns 70 years in January.
"Another woman is a prospector and knows how to build an igloo, which we will have tea in," Wilke said. "We will have to buy red toques and purple scarves."
