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Family fun in Rankin

If all goes according to plan, there will be at least five Kivalliq hamlets celebrating Family Fun Day by the end of this summer.

The communities of Arviat, Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet all ready host festivities to mark the occasion, while planning continues to have two additional Kivalliq communities join the fold this time around.

A steady hand and a sharp eye will determine the winner between, clockwise from left, Goretti Kakuktinniq, Veronica Kaludjak, Theresa Akerolik, Epiksout Dion and Liz Illnik during Family Fun Day activities in Rankin Inlet on July 28. photo courtesy Karen Yip

Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) community liaison co-ordinator Karen Yip of Baker Lake said AEM recently partnered with the hamlet of Rankin Inlet for that community to host its annual Family Fun Day on July 28.

She said one of AEM's role models, Adrian Angidlik, was on hand to help welcome the community at the event's opening ceremony.

"There were about 15 AEM employees who had a lot of fun participating in the event, including manning the barbecues to flip hamburgers and hotdogs for all the folks who came out to enjoy the festivities in Rankin Inlet," said Yip.

"This was a great community event for Rankin, with plenty of fun-filled activities for the kids, live music, and lots of traditional activities – Inuit sports, traditional-clothing competition, throat singing, and jigging to name a few – for kids of all ages to enjoy."

Yip said the organizers for this year's Family Fun Day in Rankin Inlet did a great job by focusing on supporting the community by engaging local musicians and patronizing numerous local businesses.

She said the efforts put forth by the organizers ensured this year's Family Fun Day was a total community event in Rankin.

"The Niqitsialiurniq Cooking Program (a four-month literacy-imbedded training program in Rankin) made a huge cake and baked trays of sweets for the café," said Yip.

"And, clients from the Rankin Inlet Healing Centre chipped-in by making traditional games out of caribou antler and other natural materials for the event.

"There were tons of prizes to be won, and a good time was had by all!"