KUGLUKTUK/COPPERMINE - The halls of Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik smelled good enough to eat Oct. 8 as turkey, stuffing, potatoes and vegetables were laid out for an afternoon feast in honour of Kugluktuk's elders.

The Thanksgiving feast is an annual tradition at the school, said teacher and feast co-ordinator Lori Rudyk. To feed anywhere between 50 and 80 elders requires 18 turkeys and a lot of volunteers.

"The KSO (Kitikmeot School Operations) office is helping, the high school's helping, all the teachers and some parents," said Rudyk. "It's a team effort. It takes a village to cook 18 turkeys. Or a hamlet, I should say."

The turkeys went home with school staff and parents to be roasted all over town. Staff from theKSO office came to the school the morning of the event to help prepare the side dishes - the potatoes, vegetables, stuffing and gravy.

Rudyk said that in response to a letter the school sent to various businesses seeking donations to fund the event, First Air asked to foot the bill for the entire event.

"It's been a great help having First Air involved, especially as the First Air executive can prioritize the shipment," she said.

"I have not always been prompt in getting the order in and sometimes it's been nailbiting if it's going to get in on time. That was a blessing, having everything arrive earlier than normal."

Despite turkey not being a traditional food, Rudyk said most people enjoy it.

"I would love to include country food in the future, if we had donors and cooks available, but I didn't manage that this year," she said.

The students at Jimmy Hikok participated by drawing placemats depicting why they are thankful elders are part of their lives and ways they can show their appreciation. They also worked on a wall hanging that was to presented as a gift to the elders at the feast and performed a song.

Then like any Thanksgiving celebration, there's the divvying up of leftovers.

"We've been happy to send some care packages home because there's always usually quite a bit left over," said Rudyk. "There's usually take-home plates, too. We try and deliver some to elders who couldn't make it."

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