Yellowknife (Jan 17/05) - People in the Kitikmeot have reached into their pockets and, in many cases, their piggy banks donating whatever spare change they can to aid tsunami victims.

Caroline Robinson at the radio station in Cambridge Bay went on air shortly after the news broke about the tsunami, asking for donations. She ended up raising $5,000 by Jan. 10.

"I just went on air, I think it was Dec. 29, and I got an awesome response. It was just overwhelming," said Robinson.

Along with the fire and recreation departments, Robinson also helped organize a "Skate and Dance" at the arena last week and raised an extra $162.

Now she is trying to get in touch with the Royal Bank which said it would match relief donations.

Jeannie Illuitok in Kugaaruk was so shocked at the news she approached a radio announcer and asked her to teach her how to work the radio station herself so she could start fundraising.

"I felt so bad for those people over there," said Illuitok. "I had to do something."

Her radio efforts for just three days last week brought in $758 which she gave to the Catholic church which was collecting donations.

Grade 7 students in Kugluktuk went door to door last week and collected $436.22, which they gave to the Canadian Red Cross.

"I was very proud of them when they came back. I had tears in my eyes," their teacher Rosemary Meyok said. "We didn't even inform the public we were doing it. It was just a spur of the moment thing.

"We were studying peace, and the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. But what happened in Asia was a natural disaster," said Meyok. "And my students said, 'Gee, all those poor people.' How sad we felt. There were so many people without homes, without anything left."

There have been regular fundraising drives on radio 90.30 CYYH in Taloyoak that have raised about $1,000 to date for the Canadian Red Cross.

"It's almost like it's hard to believe. But it's real. And their generosity came through," said Bob Lyall in Taloyoak.

Fundraising efforts have been "slow" in Gjoa Haven because the microphone at the radio station isn't working, said Peter Akkikungnaq.

But in just two days last week using the phone line over the radio he raised $212.39. Akkikungnaq said people in the North can relate to many of the terrible images now on television of starvation and suffering.

"When I was a young man in the 1960s, I knew hunger many times. I feel these people feel the same, when they have no food or water."

The hamlet office is helping Akkikungnaq continue fundraising efforts for another few days.

"We're collecting money," he said. "Hopefully two more days."

The hamlet will transfer the money to the Canadian Red Cross, Akkikungnaq said.