Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, July 9, 2007

INUVIK - The Inuvik Petroleum Show was abuzz with talk of development, investment, opportunity and profit on June 14.

Amid the different booths and presentations were Inuvik's Peggy Jay and Ulukhaktok's Mary Okheena.

They showed visitors historic photos and culture, on behalf of the Inuvialuit Cultural Society.

News/North sat down with Jay to discuss the idea of mixing local culture and big business, and the ICS's efforts to represent aboriginal culture at the show.

NEWS/NORTH: We're seeing a lot of business here, but you're presenting culture. Can you tell us about what you've brought?

PEGGY JAY: This whole section (pointing to surrounding tables) is the Inuvialuit section. We wanted to create a feeling of bringing the culture - the people aspect - into the petroleum show.

As you can see, we've got all the business booths showing our different Inuvialuit companies.

But we wanted to create a place where people could touch, feel and buy traditional art.

N/N: That's where Mary comes in, yes?

PJ: (laughs) Yes, we have Mary Okheena from Ulukhaktok, who is doing stencil printing and selling her stuff as well. We also have some fiddle music playing. We brought some history here, to give a context of the people. It shows where the people come from. Tools and artifacts.

We also have a little section for sitting down with cultural books. Cathy Cockney and Marie Jacobson from our cultural centre can also answer questions.

Behind you, you can also see two drum-dancing parkas: One made of fur, and one made of cloth. They are beautiful, and were made by elders in the communities.

N/N: And there's food, of course....

PJ: Yes, we have fresh-made Eskimo donuts and some dry reindeer meat. We also had some dry fish yesterday but it all went. (laughs)

N/N: Why is this important?

PJ: Most people who visit the show are only here for two days.

If they can't get out into the Delta and the communities, we want to bring those communities here, so they can look, touch, taste, feel the Inuvialuit culture.

N/N: Is there a certain type of irony, of bringing traditional culture to a big oil business trade show?

PJ: Well, you've got to have a balance, and I think here we've created a balance. You need to create an understanding on the business side of the people side.

If you're working in Inuvik you're working with with Inuvialuit, so let's show people who the Inuvialuit people are.