INUVIK
The dates for this year's Muskrat Jamboree have been announced but organizers have yet to settle on a location.

A team led by Larry Greenland, front left, powered its way through this round of the plank-walking contest during a previous Muskrat Jamboree. Organizers are working on a location for this year's event. - NNSL file photo

"There's work being done at the usual spot down by the river," said Greta Sittichinli, chairperson of the jamboree committee, referring to the water treatment plant being built near the access to the Boot Lake trail by the river. "So board members are still looking around for a new spot."

She said the key is to find somewhere accessible that can accommodate the hundreds of people who turn out for the snowmobile and dog sled races each year.

"We used to have our opening ceremonies at the arena and it was packed, something like 300 people," said Sittichinli, adding that now organizers use the gym at East Three School and have seen upwards of 500 people come for the kick-off to the jamboree. "It's growing and growing every year. Just go down to the river and you'll see it's full of people and trucks."

This year's event will start April 1 and wrap up April 4. As usual, it will feature a parade, lots of races, activities including muskrat skinning and a traditional dress day, among a multitude of other events. Sittichinli said the group will be organizing a kiddy carnival in June once again this year, having had success with this format in the past few years.

"We don't have enough volunteers to do both at the same time," she said. "But people have told us they really like having the kiddie-carnival in the summer. It's great to see."

For now, the committee is focused on fundraising. Over the years, the budget for the event has grown to $100,000, most of it contributed by the King and Queen contestants.

This year, Edward Cardinal and Chelsy Arey, Joel Lennie and Onida Banksland, Teddy and Loretta Rogers, Justin Frost and Maranda Blake, and William Day and Brenda Bernhardt are in the running to be crowned royalty.

The committee also runs bingos to support the event, although it was unable to last year after missing the deadline to apply for a slot. Sittichinli credited the community with the success of the 2015 jamboree.

"All the couples raised about $90,000 last year," she said. "We just didn't have the funds and the community really responded and came through."

Last year, the committee donated about $5,000 to the Inuvik Youth Centre. This year, Sittichinli said the event is dedicated to the Inuvik Transition House.

"It's so they can buy new furniture and help them with their programs," she said.

The jamboree draws people from all over the region and even further afield to Inuvik each year as both spectators and participants in the various events. The organizing group has been recognized by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for its efforts in years past.

"It just goes to show that the hard work we do is making Inuvik a better place to live," Sittichinli said. "It's a great way to welcome back spring."