Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Monday, May 28, 2007

ARVIAT - Arviat residents have been using song and dance to promote healthy living among youth.

School counsellor Billy Ukutak organized a youth talent festival about two years ago when he felt the suffocating silence surrounding the issue of suicide had to be broken, and local youth needed a venue to celebrate their talent and bring the community closer together.

Ukutak, who has felt the pain of a lost loved one to suicide himself, was enormously successful with his effort and his family has stepped up to produce three additional shows since then.

The fourth show was held recently in Arviat and focused almost entirely on youth performers.

Ukutak said the three-day event went extremely well and his family is now looking to bring the concept to other communities.

"The shows are geared towards making youth feel good about themselves through their talent as part of a healthy community suicide-prevention initiative," said Ukutak.

"The school gym was packed for each of the three performances and we only hope the festivals continue to grow in popularity."

Ukutak's daughter, Jocelyn Malla, organized most of the recent event, including finding judges to award points to the performing acts.

The performers with the most points advanced each round on their way to the $300 grand prize, which went to Caroline Angalik.

Ukutak said more than 50 acts took to the stage during the event.

"People had so much fun, and it's great to see the youth performing, being happy and feeling like they're someone special.

"The shows were a happy time for the whole community."

Ukutak's family has started a small business, of sorts, to address the need for suicide-prevention initiatives in Arviat.

Ukutak said another daughter, Charlene, is the driving force behind the enterprise.

"Charlene put this all together and the rest of her sisters, as well as my wife and I, do what she asks us to.

"She calls the shots, so, as far as the little business goes, she's our boss in a way."

Ukutak said the venture focuses on holding community events to promote happiness and well-being, and attack depression.

He said the dance fests and dance battles the family puts together give all ages the chance to participate.

"It's important we have something that appeals to all ages in our community, from youth to elders.

"We've featured many types of dances in our shows, including square dancing, teen dancing and tap dancing.

"Our next event will focus on the drum dance."

Ukutak said the community has supported each of the events he and his daughters have organized.

He said if things keep going as well as they have been, the shows may become regular pastimes that are fun for the entire community.

"At the end of the day, seeing people smiling and taking part in the different dances and talent shows is what this is all about.

"These events help make our community healthier and that's what we want to see in Arviat."

The Ukutak family would like to see their events held across the Kivalliq, and are eyeing Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet as the next two communities to host a show.

Ukutak said the first step is to inform the two mayors about what they're doing in Arviat and, hopefully, interest them in hosting similar events in their communities.

"My wife, Louisa, will be talking to the mayor of Rankin to explain all the different aspects of our daughter's small business in hopes of booking a show in that community to begin with.

"We're just planning this right now, but, hopefully, we'll see some movement in the future."

Ukutak said if his family can work things out in Rankin and Baker, they would also like to show youth in those communities how Charlene organized the Arviat events.

That way, he said, Rankin and Baker youth may become interested in helping their communities by hosting the same fun-filled shows.

"The shows provide a way for the people of Arviat to have fun times with each other in a community setting.

"We'd love to see other Kivalliq communities, and all across Nunavut, organize these types of shows and dance battles so they can have their own fun.

"Having fun together, as a community, is what this is all about."