John Curran
Northern News Services

Colville Lake (Sep 05/05) - There's nothing better than a wedding to bring folks together - except for maybe three weddings on the same day.

In Colville Lake, a trio of couples got their marital plans aligned and all held their ceremonies on Aug. 20.

Father Emmet Crough came to the hamlet to preform the ceremonies for Wayne Kakfwi and Snowbird Kochon, Bobby Dean Manuel and Linda Kochon as well as Chief Richard Kochon and Monique Lafferty, who was originally from Rae-Edzo.

"We had lots of people here," said the chief who had to pass on attending the recent Dene National Assembly in Deline as he was getting ready for the big day.

"I took about 10 young people out on the land and we got three moose for the feast afterwards."

There were plenty of mouths to feed as some residents said more than 100 guests came to the community of about 120 from Rae-Edzo, Fort Good Hope, Deline and Yellowknife.

"It was very good," he said. "We were going to wait until the winter road was in, but everything just came together right for August."

Some reports from the community put the number of charter flights bringing wedding guests to the hamlet at 12.

"It must have been a record," said Robert Lyslo.

He attended the wedding, but was forced to stand at the back of the church as there wasn't enough room for everyone. "Some people were stuck outside," he said.In addition to the ceremonies and feast, Chief Kochon said there was a two-hour drum dance followed by a fiddle dance.

"Then I went to bed, but my sister had an outdoor party that went on until morning," he said.

He said the event was made all the more special by the talented Rolland Codzi.

"He sang Wedding bells are ringing," he said. "He has such a beautiful voice that some of the elders had tears in their eyes."