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INUVIK - Marie Coderre's involvement with the Association des francophones du Delta du Mackenzie goes beyond just connecting with her own culture; it's a way to reach out to others.

"We try to promote the language and create bilingual social and artistic activities, and we try to reach people and add more to the diversity of the community. We don't want to have a French ghetto," she said.

Marie Coderre, co-ordinator of Association des francophones du Delta du Mackenzie, and president Richard Letourneau are shown with their Grade 2 and 3 Sir Alexander Mackenzie school students on Thursday. They'll be among the many wowed by African entertainer Jean Pierre Makosso, when the association welcomes him to Inuvik on Feb. 27. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Coderre is the association's co-ordinator. Along with a supporting group, which includes president Richard Letourneau, who's also a French teacher at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school, the association has managed to attract 80 members from the community.

They've done it largely by the effort members have made to promote bilingual events, providing a comfortable environment in which people to learn and enjoy.

There are association branches in Hay River and Fort Smith, under the umbrella of the Federation franco-tenoise in Yellowknife.

Thanks to the association and Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, Jean Pierre Makosso, an internationally-renowned bilingual African actor, storyteller and dancer will be putting on a free show at the community centre on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. He'll also be performing for students and putting on storytelling workshops at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school.

Before arriving here, he'll be making a stop in Yellowknife. In fact, Coderre worked with the federation folks there to lure Makosso to the North.

Originally from Congo, the current Gibsons, B.C., resident travels the world wowing audiences young and old with his joyous displays of traditional dancing and storytelling.

He promises it will be a spectacular show for all.

"I love discovering new people and new places," said Makosso. "I make people happy and I like seeing joy around me. I'm so looking forward to visiting Inuvik."

Coderre, who's also a French monitor at the elementary school, is hoping to have the same sort of support for this event as the last musical event the group hosted, when they welcomed Manitoba based La Bardasse to Inuvik last November. Coderre said she was thrilled by the turnout the traditional French-Canadian band received.

It's the 26-year-old's second stint in the North. She first arrived in Fort Smith in 2004 where she stayed for two years working on and off as the association co-ordinator there.

She enjoyed developing the association and being immersed in a completely different culture from her own. She calls the North fascinating, particularly the uniqueness of the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in cultures.

That partly explains why she moved to Inuvik in 2007 after taking a hiatus from the NWT and returning to Montreal. That and the fact that her boyfriend took a teaching job at Samuel Hearne secondary school.

Coderre isn't sure how much longer she'll stick around Inuvik, but said she plans on making the most of it by promoting cultural diversity as a means to draw people together rather than apart.

"I think it's an interesting, diverse community here," she said. "I think it's nice to embrace that and celebrate each other's culture."