KUGLUKTUK/COPPERMINE
The 38th Nattiq Frolics April 7 to 12 drew people into Kugluktuk from Inuvik, Holman, Cambridge Bay, Yellowknife and Edmonton, thanks in part to Charlie Major.

Tundra Kuliktana and Nigel Allukpik were announced Queen and King of the Nattiq Frolics for selling the most fundraising raffle tickets. Together they raised more than $10,000. - David Ho/DnV Photo -

Major, a Canadian country music star, is a favourite in the region. He wooed the crowd with his songs both Friday and Saturday nights.

"I think the majority came to see Charlie Major," said organizer Wynter Kuliktana.

"We were really excited about him coming. We did a lot of extra fundraising to get him here. He's a guy a lot of people grew up listening to. I grew up listening to him, because my parents listened to him and their parents."

For example, Kuliktana says she and her husband were driving one day and one of Major's songs came on the radio.

"My husband said, 'If there's anyone I want to see before I die it's Charlie Major.' So I told him I would make sure he saw Charlie Major."

But with or without him, the Nattiq Frolics is the biggest event of the year for Kugluktuk, a community that seems to host an event each week.

"We celebrate the return of the sun and the closing off of the winter season, it being a seasonal indicator that triggers the spring camping and hunting season."

Five other organizers come together with Kuliktana to ensure Frolics are jam-packed with fun: Miranda Atatahak, Dana Havioyak, Jessica VanOverbeek, Lashawna Taipana and Darlene Elias. The women began getting together after Christmas.

"Our first meetings are usually in January, but we talk about it throughout the year," said Kuliktana. "It's very informal meetings. We'll just have dinner, invite each other over."

The Nattiq Frolics schedule is outrageously packed with events, which may help explain why Kuliktana and her gang are mostly all sick and exhausted a few days later.

"I was done on Saturday. I couldn't even make it to the closing on Sunday," said Kuliktana, laughing.

Events include multiple snowmobile races every day, a seal hunt, a chef cookoff, a potluck feast, jam sessions, a youth skate-a-thon, a parade, a hill climb, a $10,000 bingo, a brunch and bazaar, a crib tournament and the list goes on.

The snowmobile races are popular, Kuliktana says, and the whole town comes out.

"The King of the Hill race is the most exciting race of the year. It's a very dangerous race."

Finally, this year, with Mary-Ann Angnahiak, traditional games were brought back.

"We were grateful to have Mary-Ann, who used to be a Frolics volunteer many, many years ago. She was able to do a lot of the ice games, the harpoon throwing and the nail drive and things like that. It was great to have someone devoted to that because before there were just not enough of us to hold the ice games."

Many people turn out to volunteer at each

Frolics, says Kuliktana.

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