Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Arviat (July 27/05) - April 1, 1999 - the birth of a new Canadian territory - was also the birth of John Ray Mariq's passion for drum dancing.

During celebrations that day, "my mom told me to start dancing with a couple of my friends," the 17-year-old Mariq said last week from the Kivalliq Traditional Summer Games in Arviat.

Six years later, his grasp of this Inuit tradition will aid him in the pursuit of a third drum dancing medal, and will also take him to the Canada Summer Games in Regina, Sask., this August.

He won first and second place, respectively, in the previous two games for drum dancing.

His skill goes beyond drum dancing, though.

Mariq won 16 medals in the 2003 Kivalliq games, and seven medals in 2004. He is competing in 26 events this year.

"My parents were teaching me how to play (traditional games) when I was just a boy," he said.

As this is his first year competing in the senior division, he expects tough competition.

But Mariq practices his events a couple times a week, and is confident.

"My favourite event is the push-up skipping," he said.

Competitors in this event must jump from a push-up position over a skipping rope swung by two other people.

Mariq has placed first in this event at previous games. His record is 42 skips.

His well-rounded athleticism will not take him to all the events.

"I'm not competing in the elders games," he said with a laugh. "I've still got how many years?"

Artistic endeavour

Now that the Kivalliq games are behind him, Mariq will join 52 other young artists from around the country who, with guidance from eight mentors, will collaborate on an artistic performance at the Canada Summer Games held Aug. 6-20.

Mariq was focused on the Kivalliq games last week, and did not have all the details on the Canada games, but he expects to be drum dancing.

Despite being given creative freedom, Mariq would like to "keep it traditional." He will perform a traditional dance in traditional clothing.

His great uncle taught him to dance, and also made his drum for him.

"At first it's hard," Mariq said of the art and the performances. "It's kind of freaky."

He says he might get nervous dancing in front of so many people, but his experience, confidence, and relaxed attitude suggest otherwise.

"I wanted to go for the trip and have fun dancing," Mariq said.

He will bring his own drum on the trip -- which is something he feels is important.

"All drums they look the same but they sound different," he said.

His drum is good.