Yellowknife (June 18/03) - The Rankin Inlet 3019 Army Cadet Corps have pride not only in their town, but also their territory.

That was demonstrated following the corps latest community project.

They are updating and beautifying the welcome to Rankin Inlet sign posted near the airport.

Michelle Hinds, project coordinator, said the sign needed to be updated.

"It was ridiculous that it said North West Territories for the last five years," she said.

Being that Nunavut became its own territory in 1999, the cadets felt it was time the sign reflected that.

"It has to say 'Nunavut, this is our land'," said Beverly Innukshuk, one of the cadets involved in fixing up the sign.

Twelve cadets lent a hand in making the project a success.

Tim Hinds, acting captain, said the work to change the decals on the sign only took an hour.

"It cost about $300.

"We decided that was a little easier than painting," he said.

Although the decals have been completed on the sign there is still work to be done.

Around the sign is a steel arch that at one time was covered with antlers.

Now only about six racks hang from the very top of the archway. The cadets goal is to collect enough antlers to adorn the entire arch.

"We need as many as 40 or 50 sets," said Tim.

The cadets have almost 20 sets right now and Michelle said the collection has been slow going. She said they expected to have had enough antlers to finish the project already.

"We figured we'd have millions ...they're every where," she said.

Fortunately the donations are beginning to come in now. In one instance, Tim parked his truck and when he came back he found a rack waiting for him. The cadets are anxious to see the arch completed. Some of them remember what it looked like when antlers made up the entire archway.

"It was nice, but people stole it," said Innukshuk.