Yellowknife (Feb 09/04) - The Aklavik Drummers and Dancers, as well as singer-songwriter Mackenzie Pope of Hay River, will represent the culture of the NWT at the Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alta.

Pope applied four or five months early for a spot on the cultural contingent for team NWT. He works for a plumbing and heating contractor and took time away from the toilets to speak to News/North.

He hopes the national TV exposure will give his music career a boost.

"I've got nothing to lose," said Pope. "Down south, you've got Brian Adams, Shania Twain and all these other people from Ontario and Saskatchewan. If I can put my little town on the map, I'll be happy."

Although Pope generally plays electric guitar, he thinks he'll be on his acoustic in Fort McMurray. He expects to play a lot of rock and "karaoke."

"It's going to be a lot of fun," he said. "It's a rush being up in front of all those people. You should try it."

Practice twice a week

"They're pretty excited and looking forward to it," said Dean McLeod, Aklavik's recreation co-ordinator. He submitted the drummers and dancers' application and his son Jordan is one of the lucky teens going south later this month.

He put together the proposal to Sport North after the group got back from their trip to Ottawa last year to perform for Canada Day.

He included pictures of the Ottawa performance and other videotapes.

"I thought it would be good for these kids if they could go," he said.

Right now the group is negotiating with Sport North to get the full group down to Fort McMurray. So far Sport North has said yes to nine participants, one more than usual. They'd like to send 10 -- eight youth as well as one male and one female adult chaperon.

Dean Arey tried out many times for the Arctic Winter Games for soccer and curling as a youth, but never made the team. Now he gets to go to the Games -- as a chaperon.

"They're practising Mondays and Wednesdays," he said of the dancers. "They won't be nervous. In Ottawa they were dancing right on the street."

Mind blowing

The Aklavik drummers and dancers already have a fan in fellow delegate Pope.

"They're going to blow minds away," said Pope.

For each Arctic Winter Games, the host community sets the criteria for selecting cultural delegates. Sport North and the NWT Arts Council worked together to call for applicants from the 13 to 26 age group last October and November. The decision was made in December.

Sport North treats cultural delegates as full members of team NWT, covering transport, lodging and meals -- even outfitting them with a team uniform.