JAMBOREEING

INUVIK, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Gerry shows us around Inuvik this twilit April afternoon. At sunset he takes us to the Muskrat Jamboree for muskrat dinner. It’s opening night at the East Three School and the gym is packed and rowdy. Mostly with Gwich’in and Inuvialuit families who come from all across the Mackenzie Delta. Since Gerry’s everybody's favorite uncle, we meet a lot of people. Including Mohammad, a prominent member of Inuvik's Sudanese community.

The festivities begin and I roam the room behind my camera. Being no dancer, drummer or storyteller but a conspicuous southerner, I partake surreptitiously as a photographer. Gerry’s nephew, Jimmy, notices my ruse and proudly, defiantly, flashes me his drum.

The drum dance drowns out everything

We hear the beating of the heart
here at the end of the world
and feel that life has no end.
       – Aqqaluk Lynge