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INUVIK - The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's national event in Inuvik was a success thanks to the community, organizers say.

The community of Inuvik pulled together to help make the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Northern event a success. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photo

Marie-Anick Elie, regional co-ordinator for the event, said Inuvik really pulled together to host the four-day event, which ran from June 28 to July 1. More than 650 survivors registered for the event, with as many as 1,000 participating. Throughout the event, organizers estimated there were 9,000 to 11,000 visits by as many as 2,500 people.

It couldn't have been a success if Inuvik didn't help out, Elie said.

"We were able to pull out over 85 volunteers, food vendors, close to 100 billets. That's amazing," she said. "Without the community engaging, it would have been very different to host the event and make it a success."

The 1,000 survivors included support workers brought in by Health Canada for the event. The 2,500 participants could have visited one event in the evening, such as talent or fashion shows, viewed photos in the learning centre or viewed any of the public statement gathering sessions, either the commissioner's panel or the sharing circles.

The TRC gathered more than 125 statements at the private statement gathering held at the Aurora College campus. That's a fair number compared to the Winnipeg national event held in 2010, when 40,000 people attended but a little more than 250 statements were collected.

In terms of the setup for the event, the Canadian Forces played a role in providing logistics in case emergency shelter was needed. A tent city was set up in the old baseball diamond behind Aurora College though extra shelter wasn't needed. The army also brought up three Hercules plane loads of supplies and materials for the event.

More than 500 people came in to town from across the North, Nunavik, Newfoundland and Labrador and the three territories. They stayed with friends and family and billets, and at hotels, bed and breakfasts, a barge, mining camps near town, campgrounds, and student units at Aurora College.

Organization also included transportation to and from the accommodations and even golf carts for elderly or mobility-impaired people.

The economic benefits for the community also amounted to a success.

Though while Arlene Hansen, owner of the gift shop Originals, did benefit financially from the increased number of tourists, she said sales were secondary to the appreciation the visitors had for local, handmade artwork.

"For me, it was the most exhilarating experience in 20 years as a shop owner," Hansen said. "We had so many aboriginal people that understood the workmanship and time and quality in local crafts."

With hotels booked, restaurants feeding some of the extra people, it's proof that the community of 3,500 can pull off a large, national event.

"It's an opportunity to showcase what we have," said Mayor Denny Rodgers. "We want Inuvik to be the conference destination of the North, and we've spent 15 years doing that."

The media coverage – at least 100 news stories and an expected 50 more now that the event has finished – also helps boost awareness of the community. With this event piggy-backing on the Petroleum Show, it's been a busy time. But town staff have worked hard to ensure each event receives the proper attention.

Rodgers said that Inuvik was the perfect venue for this event, for both the survivors and for the facilities.

"For people to speak and tell their stories, people feel more comfortable in their own backyard," Rodgers said. "We had two residential schools and are an aboriginal community, so it has a comfort level. There couldn't have been a better background for this event."

The local RCMP detachment brought in extra officers from Yellowknife, Fort McPherson, Fort Good Hope and Tuktoyaktuk for the event, as well as an officer from Ottawa who represents the national aboriginal policing services. There were a total of 22 members working in total, including a canine unit and a traffic officer.

RCMP members say there was a low call volume around the TRC event, with virtually no interruptions. Most calls to the police were for liquor violations, traffic infractions, assaults and domestic violence.

Overall, the event proved successful.

"It's really a team effort on the part of the community, leaders and TRC to make it a success," Elie said. "Bravo, Inuvik!"

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