Aklavik, N.W.T., students get visit from skilled cross-country skiers

Cross-country skiers who participated in the formativeTerritorial Experimental Ski Training (TEST) program launched in in Inuvik in the late 1960sare in Aklavik this weekend to tout the benefits of thesport to youth.

HaroldCook, his brother David and competitive Olympic skierSharon Firth are all original members of the TEST program, in whichaboriginal students who attended residential school inInuvikwere taughtand competed in cross country skiing.

The trioaddressed students atMooseKerrschool Friday and are participating in events in the community this weekend,including training and a feast at the community's recreation centre Saturday at 6 p.m.

"I encourage you. You people are young and you have much more opportunities open to you ... and if you can use sports to get you there, go for it,"Cook told the auditorium of students, who serenaded the Cooks and Firth with the school song, which quotes the town motto"Never say die."

"Always try to maintain that positive attitude. That's something you're going to have to learn how to do. You know, you're not going to be positive all the time," Firth said.

Taking his aggression out on the skis

Cook told the CBC thatcross-country skiing helped him healthily channel theaggression stemming from the abuse he suffered at a residential school.

"I imagined the abuser being the one ahead of me and I took all of my aggression out on the skis. The ski coach at the time told me, 'You sure know how to hate.'"

All the speakers conceded thatsticking with skiing or any sport is tough, especially when they had to wake up early to go train, but that such perseverance ultimately has its rewards.

Cook said the sporttook the siblings far beyond their community of Fort Good Hope on several trips to ski nations like Norway and Sweden.

"From there we started meeting the big names,the Gretzskies of cross-country skiing," he said.

Cook thinks TEST should start up again.

"I wish the ski program would come back to encourage our leadersto really consider the ski program as a good alternative to alcohol and drug abuse."