YELLOWKNIFE - Mayor Gord Van Tighem has the party hats, pyrotechnics and he's ready to get down. Why? To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Yellowknife becoming NWT's capital, of course.

And not wanting to leave the territorial government out of the fun (or expense), Van Tighem penned a letter to the premier, inviting the GNWT to participate in the festivities.

"We sent a note over to the legislative assembly... 'if you are planning on celebrating we would be thrilled to participate with you,'" said the mayor of his message's crux.

"To me this is an NWT event. I mean if your parents have a 40th anniversary that's pretty special."

However, the mayor's enthusiasm for celebrating is not shared inside the halls of the legislative assembly.

"Whilst this is a significant occasion, it's not one we'll be celebrating with a party," said cabinet communications boss Julia Mott on behalf of the premier's office. "If we're celebrating the fact that the capital moved to Yellowknife, that's significant for Yellowknife but not for the entire territories."

But Van Tighem disagrees that being named the capital in 1967 was significant only for Yellowknifers.

"To me this is an NWT event, more about our governance than about where it is or what it is," said Van Tighem.

"The underlying frustration is someday we need to celebrate that we have a capital and self-government so why not celebrate this year?"

With $15,000 in hand and a party hat planted firmly on his head, Van Tighem promised a great fireworks display at this weekend's Caribou Carnival (please see story on next page) and perhaps a community feast in May, the month Yellowknife officially became the territories capital.

As for the party-pooping attitude of the territorial government, the mayor chalks it up to what he calls "the capital curse."

"While we tend to believe what's good for Yellowknife is good for the NWT and what's good for the NWT is good for Yellowknife, (the government) still has a perspective that it has to focus outwards."