Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 14, 2007

RANKIN INLET - A trio of Rankin Inlet cadets found themselves showcasing their cultural talents on a national stage earlier this month.

Cadet privates Tracey Kanayok, Mary Kaput and Pamela Napayok of the 3019 RCACC in Rankin throat sang and performed ayaya at the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg before taking part in the Grand Entry of the Manito Ahbee International Powwow Competition.

Cadets Tracey Kanayok, left, Pamela Napayok, second from left, and Mary Kaput, right, performed at the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards and took part in the Grand Entry of the Manito Ahbee International Powwow Competition at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Man., earlier this month. They are joined by their commanding officer, Dorothy Tootoo, and Manitoba Culture Minister Eric Robinson. - photo courtesy of Dorothy Tootoo

The cadets also appeared numerous times at the powwow as part of the event's official flag party.

Corps Commanding Officer Dorothy Tootoo accompanied the cadets on their trip.

Tootoo said the grand adventure began when she received a call from Manitoba Language, Culture and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson, who played a large role in both events.

Robinson planned to invite members of Manitoba's new corps of Cree cadets from Cross Lake.

His conversation with Tootoo led to three Inuit cadets from Rankin also being invited.

"The minister phoned me again a few weeks later and asked if we could select the cadets based on their ability to throat sing and sing ayaya," said Tootoo.

"We had a local competition which got us down to six cadets who were pretty close to each other, talent wise.

"So, we brought in factors such as participation and attendance at cadet activities, and that's how we came up with the girls who performed at the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards."

Tootoo said the cadets had a tremendous time, and the experience was a great confidence builder for them.

She said they all wore beaded amautis with sealskin and caribou-skin kamiks.

The traditional attire led to a number of people asking to have their pictures taken with the Rankin cadets.

Tootoo said the girls also performed at a VIP First Night reception before the awards, which was an intimate gathering of about 150 people.

Among the celebrities in attendance was National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Phil Fontaine.

Tootoo said the only time the girls were a bit nervous about performing was during their first rehearsal at the MTS Centre.

"I have a friend who is an agent in Churchill and she announced to the terminal that the girls were going to perform on our trip down, so they throat sang for everyone.

"The girls were bursting with pride over their culture and performance by the time the trip was over."