Yellowknife (Oct 30/06) - If you search "Tsiigehtchic" on the world's biggest blog site, Blogger.com, there are more than 50 results. That's not too bad for a hamlet of about 200 people - and it probably says a lot about how the Internet is everywhere these days.

Of course, not everyone who writes about Tsiigehtchic lives there. Some users, like "Mariko_Lucknow" who is originally from Tokyo, Japan, remembers seeing the community while on vacation. Other people use blogs to express their feelings about living in the NWT, and all the joy or frustration that can bring.

One example is Paul Hussey, Tuktoyaktuk's Economic Development Officer.

His blog, "Tuktoyaktuk Communicator," relates bits of everyday news, such as the quality of television cable, local art, and recent hockey scores.

"Everyone in town is cursing and swearing about the quality of their signal. With no cable TV, satellite is our only hope to watch the game," he wrote on Oct. 12.

Another Beaufort Delta blogger is Mark LeBourdais, who teaches at Helen Kavlak school in Ulukhaktok/Holman.

He keeps a blog called "Arctic Mark," which includes more than 1,000 photos. It also hosts observations about life, and serves as a window to the community.

"It all started as a way to send photos to my friends and family back home," LeBourdais said. "It was just a brilliant solution, instead of sending out all the photos myself."

While his blog isn't searchable on Google yet, he said he's been surprised by the international visitors who've read his blog, because they're interested in Northern life.

Last August, when a cruise ship came into town, he exchanged business cards with a German professional photographer, who agreed to link LeBourdais on his blog.

Today, both sites attract each others' viewers.

"It's kind of gotten a life of its own," LeBourdais said. "Quite a few people have left comments on it, and I've even heard from old teachers who left the region years ago."

As for the symbolism of the blog, and the Internet age as a whole, LeBourdais said it's interesting that anyone in Canada -- no matter the population or access to cable TV - can use the internet and broadcast their views.

"It's a window into the community," he said.