Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Dec 19/05) - Scratch Holman off your map and write Ulukhaktok in its place.

The Victoria Island hamlet of 420 people has voted to change their community name back to its traditional one.

Ulukhaktok is the name given to the highest bluff overlooking the community of Holman and was the name used by elders. In Innuinaqtun, the traditional name means "the place where ulu parts are found."

Artist Mary K. Okheena described this as meaning the place where natural copper could be found to make tools such as the crescent-shaped ulu.

The community was renamed after J.R. Holman by European explorers during the Inglefield Expedition of 1853.

Resident Emily Kudlak said she voted for the name change.

"It's important to our people, and our youth. It's their identity that was given by the elders," said Kudlak.

In Aklavik, Knute Hansen defeated incumbent mayor Billy Archie by just 14 votes.

Hansen had served a two-year term as mayor for Aklavik back in the late 1980s, and served as the hamlet's senior administration officer for 11 years.

"I'm very glad I won the election," said Hansen. "It's all because of the community's support."

He said he has some big plans for the community of 600 people.

"I want to maximize employment and opportunities for the people of Aklavik," explained Hansen.

"I want to bring Aklavik back to its glory days."

In Fort Mcpherson, Rebecca Blake was elected mayor with 128 votes, more than James Ross (105) and Philip M. Blake (59).

Tuktoyaktuk voters retur-ned Jackie Jacobson to a second term as mayor.

He said he is looking forward to the next term, and the opportunities that lie ahead, like the all-weather road to Inuvik.

"There are lots of projects in the works right now," said Jacobson.