Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik . (Feb 01/02) - It was a night fit to make a good Scot proud.

Around 90 bonnie lads and lassies converged at the Finto Inn banquet room last Saturday evening to hold a Rabbie Burns Dinner. Organizer Effie MacLeod said the event has a long and proud tradition here.

"I welcome you to what is at least the 20th annual Burns Supper in Inuvik. We believe that it's probably the most northerly in the world," MacLeod said.

"We've been checking on the Internet, and as far as we can tell, there are thousands of Burns suppers happening all over the world. But we haven't found one in a more northerly location than Inuvik."

The haggis was carried in with much fanfare, with MacLeod delivering the address to the haggis.

A number of toasts were held. While paving the way for Chris Garven to do the toast to the lassies, MacLeod noted that Burns "was extremely popular with the lassies."

Burns was born Jan. 25, 1759, one of seven children to a Scottish tenant farmer. Deborah Mcleod toasted the Bard and noted he left quite a legacy before his death in 1796 at the age of 37.

"He is the most dearly beloved poetic voice of Scotland and a focal point of Scottish nationalism," Mcleod said.

"But what about the rest of us, the partial Scot or the non-Scot? What does Burns offer us? Well, Burns is one of the most quoted poets in the world," Mcleod said.

"We hear Burnisms all the time, whether we recognize the source or not. We sing 'Auld Lang Syne' every New Year's, for example, and we hear such phrases as 'do or die' or 'a man's inhumanity to man.'"

Mcleod noted Burns remained true to his upbringing.

"Burns as an artist was very true to his own voice and his own experience," she said.

"His courage to follow his own voice and the voice of his people is striking and worth thinking about."

Aside from haggis, the meal included such fare as meat pie, Scotch trifle, Scotch broth and, naturally, a wee dram.

After the meal musical entertainment was provided by Mary Stillwell, Miki O'Kane and Colum McCready, with MacLeod singing "My love is like a red, red rose."

Those present also took part in some Scottish country dancing, starting off with the Cumberland Reel.