Carol Leigh Wehking in the Northwest Territories

After nearly 15 hours of travel from home (not counting overnight in Yellowknife), I arrived in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and began storytelling immediately at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School. Through the week, I told in three schools of the Beaufort-Delta Education Council, in three communities: Inuvik, Aklavik, and Fort McPherson, and also gave public performances in all three communities.

Flying by small plane (one- and two-engine varieties) over the Mackenzie-Beaufort Delta at low altitudes in the grey light of pre-dawn was part of the wonder and enjoyment of my tour. Monday was the only afternoon in which I did not have an evening performance, and gave me the opportunity, together with Janine Hoff, the librarian who accompanied me (and looked after me in every way!) on my tour, to go dogsledding – a truly northern experience! Each of us drove our own team in the pearly waning light through the sparse snowy forests of miniature birch and black spruce, up and down hills, and across two small frozen lakes. What an introduction to the austere and beautiful landscape in which I spent my week!

The hamlet of Aklavik (the name means "place where one gets grizzly bear" in Inuvialuktun) is a blend of cultures of Inuit, Gwich'in, Métis and non-aboriginals. Central values to Moose Kerr School in Aklavik are Respect, Humility, Honesty and Integrity. At Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson similar values were prominently visible to remind students to respect their traditional cultures as well as their school learning opportunities.

I told stories mainly from other circumpolar places: Siberia, Scandinavia and Iceland, as well as bringing some from farther and less familiar climes, such as Africa, India and Texas. The children were attentive and polite and offered interesting interactions around the stories, which they relished greatly.

Newcomers are welcomed in the North in a down-to-earth style. There is no fuss, and no questions are asked, but people go out of their way to be helpful in a matter-of-fact manner that truly makes the stranger feel at home. Teachers, students, principals, and librarians all were hospitable, generous, and friendly without being effusive. They were proud to display their schools' and libraries' wealth of culture and amazingly comprehensive facilities (considering how small the communities really are). The best affirmations I got from the students were hugs from the little ones and a sly and secretive thumbs-up from a thirteen-year-old.

As we flew away from this delicious week of people and stories, another gesture of generosity was made by our flight attendant: after the regulation refreshments, she passed out still-warm home-made cookies to all on board!