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Trade show sews up success

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 23, 2011

RANKIN INLET/KIVALLIQ
A steady stream of arts and crafts lovers streamed through the Leo Ussak Elementary School (LUS) gym during the Kivalliq Trade Show earlier this month.

NNSL photo/graphic

John Paul Kopak of Repulse Bay exhibits the work of Repulse artisan Mikki Siusangnark at the Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The school hosted an art show and sale while Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik, right next door, was hosting the trade show's main booth display.

Trade show committee chairperson Pujjuut Kusugak said the whole idea behind the trade show is to provide opportunities for everyone in the region with some form of service to provide to others.

He said the arts component - carvings, wall hangings, photos, dolls, sewing, clothing, and other media - is important to the show because arts and crafts provide an income for many people in the region.

"Being able to provide a venue for regional artists to showcase their work and earn sales during the Kivalliq Trade Show is very important," said Kusugak.

"The LUS show was really wellattended and its organizers did a great job.

"We received a lot of positive feedback from a number of customers at the show, and some of the artists took the time to thank us very much for the opportunity.

"Those who organized and helped with the fashion show told us the youth involved were also pleased to have such an opportunity."

John Paul Kopak of Repulse Bay made the trip to Rankin especially for the art show at LUS.

His table was a popular one, featuring beautiful Inuit dolls, kamiik, mitts, jackets and parkas made by Repulse artisan Mikki Siusangnark.

"I would say I had a good day of sales for (Siusangnark's) items," said Kopak.

"The gym was so full you could hardly move in the morning.

"It slowed in the afternoon, but still stayed pretty steady."

Kusugak said he's not convinced holding a Nunavut-wide show might be better than three regional events.

He said the Kivalliq Trade Show has been very, very successful so far, and he'd rather concentrate on growing the Kivalliq show than move to a larger territorial event.

"In my opinion, the Kivalliq show is a lot more beneficial to regional businesses than being involved in a territorial show.

"Because the Kivalliq show is so wellattended, it puts a real focus on our region and its development.

"That focus makes the show a lot more beneficial for everyone, especially in terms of people making contacts and the networking that goes on between our business community and outside interests at the event."

Kusugak said while Rankin has hosted the first two Kivalliq trade shows, that doesn't mean it has become strictly a Rankin event.

He said the show is for the benefit of everyone in the region and its future won't be confined to Rankin.

"I'm sure some of our larger Kivalliq communities would be interested in hosting the Kivalliq Trade Show.

"And as a committee, we're always looking for ways to share the show.

"We're open to suggestions on ways to improve things and, eventually, I'm sure we'll be able to host it somewhere else."

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