Country food and whimsy mark celebration at Sylvia Grinnell Park

The shore of the Sylvia Grinnell River was abuzz with live music, country food, and merriment on Saturday for a celebration at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park.

Nunavut Parks employees host celebrations every summer with help from Parks Canada staff at all territorial parks across Nunavut. Grise Fiord also hosted an event Saturday at the hamlet’s visitors centre.

Children at Sylvia Grinnell park scrambled across the tundra paths searching for items in a scavenger hunt while picnickers square danced to live music and throat sang throughout the late morning and early afternoon.

“We also have a big pot of caribou stew and we have some parks staff making bannock,” said Kiersten Williams, co-ordinator with heritage appreciation for Nunavut Parks.

“It’s a little bit windier than we’d like, but it’s keeping the bugs away.”

Parks Canada staff helped out with the event, including the department’s dancing mascot, Parka the beaver.

Temporary traditional tattoos for all ages and a throat singing demonstration were also part of the entertainment.

Buses from R.L. Construction Ltd. ferried participants to and from the park every half hour.

Midway through the event, Williams estimated more than 250 people had taken part in the celebration.

Here is the full schedule for this summer’s upcoming celebrations:

• Kimmirut, July 19 at the hamlet’s visitors centre from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Kugluktuk, July 19 at the hamlet’s campground from 12 to 3 p.m.
• Rankin Inlet, July 26 at Iqalugaarjuup Nunanga Pavilion from 12 to 3 p.m.
• Cambridge Bay, July 26 at the hamlet’s baseball diamond from 12 to 3 p.m.
• Kinngait, Aug. 16 at a location to be determined, from 11 a.m. to 2. p.m.