RANKIN INLET
Hundreds of people came out to enjoy some tasty treats and cool summer drinks during the annual National Aboriginal Day barbecue co-sponsored by Kissarvik Co-op and the local detachment of the RCMP in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Elder Mary Kaput sings ayaya at the Coop and RCMP Aboriginal Day barbecue in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Co-op general manager Walter Morey said the event went really well, with about the same amount of people coming out as during the past five years, or so.

He said the organizers went through about 400 hamburgers, 400 hotdogs and six large juice tanks during the afternoon event.

"The Co-op has been proud to host this event for more than a decade now," said Morey.

"In fact, I may be wrong, but I believe this is our 11th year to host the Aboriginal Day barbecue here in Rankin.

"We receive funding from the Government of Canada to help cover the cost of the event, and we always hold a number of prize draws in addition to the hotdogs and hamburgers.

"It's important for us to host the event because it recognizes our member base, the majority of whom are Inuit, and it's always good to recognize our National Aboriginal Day, of course."

Morey said the organizers have been trying to add to the event a little bit each year.

He said a traditional dress contest was started in 2015, and, this year, a group of volunteers did some throatsinging, drum dancing and ayaya singing.

"Having these forms of entertainment all at once was a first for us, so it's slowly expanding a bit.

"We also had members of the local fire department with us for the first time this year.

"The volunteers who performed are part of a local group who meet on Thursdays to promote traditional Inuit culture, singing, drumming and throatsinging.

"They did a great job and their participation really added to the event."

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