Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Repulse Bay (May 15/02) - Organizers are calling the 2002 edition of the Nunavut Drum Dance Festival a rousing success.

The annual festival was held in Repulse Bay from April 11 through 18. Drum dancers and Ayaya singers from host Repulse, Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet, Kugaaruk and Gjoa Haven took part in the event.

Marie Kringuk, the secretary for the Illiqusiit (Our Way) Elder's Committee, which plans and hosts the annual event, said the 2002 festival was enjoyed by both the youth and elder participants, as well as the community itself.

She said although the committee was happy with this year's turnout, she hopes more youth will participate at the next festival. The 2003 Nunavut Drum Dance Festival is slated to be held in April in Kugaaruk.

The committee held meetings every day, except Sunday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and discussed a wide variety of festival topics, said Kringuk.

"Every night, we held drum dancing performances from 6 p.m. until past midnight. We had a great turnout from the community every night and the people really enjoyed the event."

The elder's committee discussed preserving Ayaya songs and the traditional manner of drum dancing during past festivals. This year's event saw the drum dancing videotaped and the ayaya singing recorded.

Kringuk said the committee once again noted the importance of drum dancing being presented in the traditional manner.

"The way drum dancing should be presented came up during the Illiqusiit Elder's Committee meetings again this year. Those who spoke all agreed that only one person should be drum dancing at a time," she said.

"You see times now where there are two, three or more drum dancers up at a time, but that's not our custom.

"The committee would like to see drum dancing done in its traditional manner, with just one dancer performing at a time."