Brodie Thomas
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 9, 2008

INUVIK - While most Northerners will tell you they are from one town or another, Tommy Thrasher is a citizen of the whole Beaufort Delta. Born in an iglu on the Arctic Ocean, he has spent time in both Gwich'in and Inuvialuit communities.

Thrasher can speak four languages: English, French, Inuvialuktun, and Gwich'in. He can also sing in a fifth language.

"While I was (in residential school) I was an altar boy. I was in the choir and all the songs they sang there was Latin. So I became fluent in Latin but I didn't know a word that I was saying. Even today I can still sing all those songs in Latin but I still don't know what they're saying," said Thrasher with a laugh.

His sense of humor is well known in the delta.

With his wide ranging traditional knowledge and skills, little wonder that Thrasher recently received honorary certificate from Aurora College for his contribution to the traditional arts program.

Although he now lives in Inuvik, Thrasher feels at home just about anywhere in the Delta.

"I was born in Liddy Harbour in November (1934). I happened to be out on the trapline with my parents. I was born in an iglu and we moved from Liddy Harbour to Paulatuk. From there I went to school in Aklavik," he said.

During his years in residential school he lost his Inuvialuktun language. He had to relearn it from his family.

"For me it was very hard and even today I still hesitate with some of my words. After I left school, I picked it back up though my grandparents. My dad spoke to me only in English."

Thrasher's first wife, Lucy Jane Vaneltsi, was from Fort McPherson. His mother-in-law taught him how to tan hides, and he picked up the Gwich'in language.

Thrasher said he worries about the loss of traditional knowledge, and that is why he helps out with Aurora College's art program.

"I see it every day when I'm in the communities. I see the young people doing nothing. There's nothing for them to go back to if they ever happen to be left alone in this world. The traditional life is the only way we know how to live. It doesn't cost anything to go get traditional foods. You just need to know how to do it."

Thrasher is now 73, but he certainly doesn't act his age. He has a lot of plans for the summer and fall. He will be assisting Aurora College students with moose hide tanning in Fort McPherson in the next few weeks. Then he will be heading downriver to go whaling.

He won't even be slowing down for the winter.

"My trapline camp is about 25 miles from here (Inuvik). I'm going to build that up this fall and live out there for most of the winter," said Thrasher.

He is living proof that age is only a state of mind.

"I'm still a kid yet," he said.