RANKIN INLET - Despite high winds and a chill in the air, Rankin residents came out in droves to celebrate National Aboriginal Day on June 21.

Events included activities at both the Co-op store and the arena.

Reanna Sateana and Andrew Pilakapsi help out during National Aboriginal Day events at the Rankin Inlet arena on June 21. - Kassina Ryder/NNSL photo

The Kivalliq Outreach Youth Council, consisting of members Lori Tagoona, Tara Green, Nooks Lindell and Panikuluk Kusugak, organized all events at the arena. It was the first major project organized by the group.

Youth coordinator Kusugak said despite some complications, the day was a success.

"We organized it all ourselves," she said. "A lot of things were not as smooth as we planned, but other than that it turned out pretty good."

Events included tug of war games, face painting, craft-making and prize giveaways.

Kusugak said around 50 prizes were given out to community members over the course of the day, many of which were donated by local businesses and the hamlet office.

The highlight of the events were the performances by past and present Nunavut Sivuniksavut students, who entertained crowds inside the arena with throat singing, drum dancing and traditional dances.

Kusugak said the students practiced for about two weeks to get ready.

"They had practices an hour a day every day or every other day for about two weeks," she said.

Across Williamson Lake, the Co-op store was also holding events, which included barbecuing approximately 200 hamburgers and 600 hotdogs for the hungry crowd.

Store manager Glenn Woodford said, for the first time, Co-op staff partnered with the RCMP to organize activities.

"So far so good, and it's early yet," Woodford said. "Previous years have always been a success. This is the first year we're combining with the RCMP. The Co-op is about community and so is the RCMP so it is a nice thing to do together."

Sgt. Louis Jenvenne agreed. He said he was one of three RCMP members helping out.

"The Co-op usually put on an event for Aboriginal Day at one time and we put it on on another," he said. "We thought we would get together and have the event together seeing as it was a community event."

Jenvenne said the activities were well-received among community members.

"I think it went very well, there were a lot of people," he said. "We served a lot of hamburgers and hot dogs and I believe everybody had a good time."

General manager Walter Morey said he estimates about 300 residents attended the event over the course of the day.

"It seems like every year the event seems to grow in size and attendance," Morey said.

"If there weren't in excess of 300 people, I would be very surprised; it was a sea of people."

Eliza Sinclair said she and her children definitely had a good time.

"They're having fun," she said. "My daughter keeps bugging me to go get her face painted."