Rankin Inlet (Jan 03/07) - The circle of onlookers begins to spread out as Eddie Sandy whips the "pig" around at an ever-increasing speed.

One by one, students leave the players circle after failing to jump high or fast enough to avoid the soft-skinned ball being whipped around on the end of its tether by the student-support assistant.

Ian Sammurtok and Johnson Krako, right, give it their all during the foot-pull as judge Steve Faulkner waits to declare a winner at Maani Ulujuk high school in Rankin Inlet this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Finally, a whoop of glee as Nangmalik Pissuk is the last standing and wins the game.

Off to the left, a group of elders rip pages out of magazines with a speed that belies their age during a dice game.

Elsewhere two students try their hand at drum dancing on the stage while watching the action below them.

Such was the scene at the elders feast and holiday games to mark the start of Christmas vacation at Maani Ulujuk high school in Rankin Inlet this past month.

The school closed on Dec. 20 and will reopen on Jan. 8.

Principal Jesse Payne says the elders feast and holiday games are an annual event on the last school day before the Christmas break. He says an assembly was also held this year to present attendance and attitude awards.

"We also had a number of elder's value awards for December that we wanted to present before the students went on holidays," says Payne.

"We invited parents and elders to the assembly to take part in the presentations.

"We always get a strong showing of elders for our feast.

"It's a good way for students and elders to spend some time together for a couple of hours before the holiday break officially starts."

Payne says the annual event is a good way to raise school spirit at the break, and get members of the community involved with a school activity.

He says a good time is always had by all during the gathering.

"A lot of the kids really look forward to this as a nice way to spend the last day of the year at school.

"It's special for them to host a feast for the elders, and then have a nice little crowd of fellow students, staff, parents and elders watch them compete in the games.

"It's a good way to bring school to a close for the break on a positive note."