yesterday was the Mass Registration. this is when all the clubs, organizations and groups present themselves in the Arctic Winter Games arena. i had a table booked for my Natural Parenting and Breastfeeding Support group. i was between the quilting table and the speed-skating table. across from the dancing table. the dancing table was the most fun, because a small severely balding man in jeans danced with two asian women. they kept a healthy distance from him, though.

a girl scout lady and a public health nurse gave me thumbs up. men strained to read my sign and then jumped away, as though stung. hellooooo! breastfeeding is not a dirty word.

most parents with babies walked by. one said she already got all the support she wanted, thank you very much. this is actually what she said, "I already got all the support I wanted, thank you very much." geez. it is not like i was making her to sign up.

an elderly inuit woman tsicked (is this a word?) me for not conducting my group in inuktitut. "i will find someone to translate the sign," i said. i felt embarrassed. she gave me a cold stare. "but you can't lead your group in inuktitut, right?" right. can't.

7 moms signed up for my group. two were enthusiastic. one said she wished i was there last year.

there was a writing table too. i signed up for something, i think to be getting an email if a writer comes into town with a workshop.

i also signed up to get set up for composting.

all the presenters were southerners. 99% of people signing up were southerners. i think only about a hundred people came during the 4 hours that i was there.

note: southerners in iqaluit are people from the rest of the world who are not native to the arctic. not people from mississippi and alabama.