Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 7, 2008

KUGLUKTUK - Families in Kugluktuk have passed down the joy of square dancing from generation to generation.

As resident Mavis Adjun recalls, there was once a square dancing group in town co-ordinated by Margaret Havoyiak.

When that group dissolved, Adjun involved herself in another, similar group about 10 years ago.

"Later on, about a year ago, we got the little ones involved, and (they) have their own group. So they're just regenerating," she said.

She said the kids in town love the practices, and that she often gets phone calls from them wondering when they will practise again. Sometimes, she said, there will be about 30 to 40 kids.

The junior group is made up of kids from about age eight to 14, and the senior group includes youth from age 15 to about 23. Adjun said that lately both groups have been intermingling.

"They're kind of mixing together now," she said. "They do fill in when there's not so much of the older group."

Last year, the dancers performed at several events in the town, including the spring festivities, Nunavut Day and the premier's visit.

"They as a local group perform for major events that happen in our community, and we try to keep them involved in all our community celebrations," said Millie Kuliktana, who organized this year's community games during the Christmas season.

As a mother of four children - three of which were involved at one point or another in the square dancing group - she feels it has a positive influence on young people.

"It builds self-esteem and pride among the youth," she said. "It develops teamwork and the history of the square dance group goes back many years, where some of these younger generations' parents used to be part of the square dancing group."

The type of dancing that is handed down through the generations in Kugluktuk is unique to the area, according to Kuliktana. She said many of the dances are actually modelled by the town's dance groups.

The kids are also taught other dances, such as polka dancing and jigging. Kuliktana said the young kids enjoy jigging very much.

"If the kids could get away with it, they'd have a jigging competition every night if they were allowed to," she said.

The local fiddle music, such as the songs played by Colin Adjun, keep the beat of the town.

"It's quite (impressive) to be able to walk into the hall and not only see the adult square dancing, but all the little kids are moving to the beat of the fiddle... everybody wants to be part of it," she said. "Even the little toddlers that show up at the community games are dancing and running around to the beat of the fiddle."

She said the dancing and music includes "everybody from grandparents down to their children - the fiddle has allowed us as a community to keep that as part of our tradition."