Did you know?

- T here are over 1300 pingos on the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula

- P ingos only grow where there is permafrost

- About a quarter of all the pingos in the world are in the Tuktoyaktuk area

- T wo of the world’s biggest pingos, Ibyuk and Split, are in the Pingo Canadian Landmark , just outside of Tuktoyaktuk

- I byuk Pingo is 49m (160 feet) high – that’s the tallest pingo in Canada, and the second tallest pingo in the world!

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Ibyuk Pingo is at least 1000 years old, and it’s still growing 2 cm a year

- The vegetation that covers pingos protects the inner ice core from melting. If the ice is exposed, the pingo slowly collapses

- Scientists have found old collapsed pingos in Ireland and the Netherlands, which means once it was cold enough there for permafrost

- Parks Canada and the community of Tuktoyaktuk are planning new boat facilities and an interpretive trail near Ibyuk Pingo in the Pingo Canadian Landmark .

by Zoe Ho

First Row: Ellen Smith, Rosemarie Kuptana, Elizabeth Crawford-Hansen, and Judy Francey.

Second Row: John Holman, John Banksland, Andy Tardiff, Simon Routh (he was there to discuss the SAM school archive project), and Albert Elias.

Residential School Survivors to form Society

First Project: A Reunion for Survivors, Church and Government

TThe Beaufort Delta Residential School Society has big plans. First, it will register formally as a society to access federal funding, then from July 10th to the 14th, it will pull together the largest reunion party in the NWT for survivors, church and government. It believes these three groups need to communicate to bring on healing.

“We want to all come together and bridge the gaps, to celebrate the victories that did come out of this system. Many are saying let’s have a happy occasion; we’ve gained friendships and education. Some people will be impacted by what we are doing but there will be caregivers in place for them,” said Ellen Smith, former residential school student.

Ellen and Elizabeth Crawford-Hansen conceived the idea of a Beaufort-Delta reunion in1997. They drew up a fundraising proposal with the help of their society, the Beaufort-Delta and Sahtu caregivers.

The society expects about 1000 attendees, made up of former students (from Aklavik, Inuvik, Fort McPherson, Herschel Island, Fort Providence and Hay River), caregivers, church leaders, aboriginal leaders, and government officials.

“The stories of residential school survivors from the NWT will finally be recorded like they were in Where are the Children, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation’s exhibition on Healing the Residential School Legacy ”, Ellen said.

The society recognizes it is not easy for survivors to speak publicly about their experiences, however they urge survivors to speak up so they can reconcile the past for the younger generations.

Besides hiring coordinators and facilitators, this project requires support from volunteers in the ISR communities. Ellen said, “There’s been a lot of people saying can we do anything? And I say yes, this is the time for you to help.”

Positive accelerations in the preparation process have taken place ever since Rosemarie Kuptana came on board in February. She will help finalize the proposal and do the paperwork needed for society status. The National Residential School Society has also donated a $50 paperwork fee for the society to be legally registered.

Now they are looking for an organization with financial expertise to administer their funds. Ellen said they have sent out requests for help to the IRC, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the Mayor of Inuvik, and Chief Richard Nerysoo.

“The IRC are sorry they can’t accommodate our request as they are swamped with the pipeline, but they promised to assist us in any way they can as time goes on, with in-kind donations,” Ellen said. Funding for the reunion will be sought from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Government of the Northwest Territories, IRC, GTC, the National Residential School Truth & Reconciliation Committee, and the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

The Town of Inuvik, SAM School, Aurora College, the Beaufort-Delta Health & Social Services Authority, the Family Counseling and Justice System and the ICS have provided positive responses, donating facility space and manpower. Individuals who would like further information can contact John Holman at 777 5109, John Banksland at 678 2412, and Ellen at 777 5279/2510.