INUVIK
Loretta Rogers was crowned the 2017 Muskrat Jamboree Queen after raising a staggering $66,146.70 for the event, more than one-third of the total money raised by all queen contestants.

Loretta Rogers is the 2017 Muskrat Jamboree Queen. She raised more than $66,000 - over one-third of the total money raised by all queen contestants. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

"This year, myself along with my family, we did this for the past and present," said Rogers.

"The past being my auntie Sandra (Ipana) and my uncle Roy (Ipana), who made a huge, huge dedication to the Muskrat Jamboree all their life. Carol (Dick) and Tommy Chicksi, they were here right from day one, and Abel Tingmiak.

"These people are the ones that showed us, the next generation, how to raise money so we could continue going strong."

Muskrat Jamboree queen candidates raised a total $178,692.10 this year. They raised the money through raffle tickets, food sales and many other kinds of fundraisers.

Rogers has competed for queen along with her husband, John Rogers, for king in the past. Rogers estimated the pair have raised more than $180,000 together now over the years.

"He's the one that helps me and gets me to where I need to go," said Rogers.

"When I'm doing my bingos, he's there 110 per cent. My kids are there 110 per cent. It's really important that family is involved."

Most of her money was raised through the ticket sales.

"The guaranteed portion of your money is the tickets, so if you sell the most portion of your tickets you know you have that and it's all guaranteed," said Rogers.

"The fundraising part like merchandise bingos, drawing straws, food and stuff like that, that comes into the second role. It's a lot of hard work, lots of hours away from your family and friends. You have to have a full dedication to what you're doing to raise the money."

Many of the queens this year had young children they had to stay with, she said. Rogers was a little more free in that her children are old enough to look after themselves while she goes out to fundraise.

She supports the Muskrat Jamboree because of its greater role in the community beyond the one weekend of fun, pointing to the committee contributing all year to elders' programs, youth programs or even helping family of people who have passed.

"They're contributing all year round," said Rogers.

"That's why it's really important for my family to help with the Muskrat Jamboree. It's not only a weekend thing.

"It's all year round. It's important because it's not only the youth that they help. They help the whole community, and it's not only Inuvik that they help, it's all the Beaufort Delta."

Rogers joined 91-year-old Emma Dick to cut the cake during the opening ceremonies.

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