SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - There are many question marks surrounding the 2011 Caribou Carnival, including whether it will happen at all.

Rick Poltaruk, organizer of last year's Caribou Carnival, hugs Carney the Caribou the carnival mascot. It's unclear whether the event, now in its 56th year, will be taking place this year. - NNSL file photo

The carnival board missed the city's deadline to receive core grant funding last year and although it was given an extension until Dec. 31, 2010, an application was never received by the city, said Carl Bird, the city's director of corporate services.

In the past, the carnival has received up to $17,000 in yearly funding.

No one seems to know what's happening with the event this year.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the city has been trying to contact last year's carnival organizer, Rick Poltaruk, since September without avail and board members haven't heard anything from him.

"I don't know what they're doing," said Wendy Hebert, who sits on the board. "And frankly I've almost written it off for this year."

The carnival, which started in 1955, usually takes place in late March or early April.

"It was the end of winter celebration," said Van Tighem. "People emerged from their darkened cabins out into the snow of the spring to greet the next season."

Originally, the event was a gathering for trappers that included competitions and the crowning of the Bush King.

In recent years, competitions, which included Dene hand games, snow-sculpting and the Ugly Truck and Dog contest, have diminished into a few kids' games.

"In recent years it's been harder and harder to bring it all together," said Van Tighem.

In 2010, the Caribou Carnival board touted its plans to revive the festival to what it once was, but the event fell somewhat flat.

The location was moved to dry land at Somba K'e Civic Plaza from its long-standing spot on the ice of Frame Lake.

Although it didn't make as much of a splash last year as planned and things don't seem to be moving forward this year, Van Tighem said the city's residents might still be surprised.

"There were years when everybody said, 'It's not going to happen.' And then all these people showed up and said, 'Well I organized this and I organized that,' and then it came together," Van Tighem said. "It's an interesting activity of spontaneity."

Poltaruk didn't return phone calls by press time.

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