Nunavut Quest 2009: And They're Off!

Today, all of the teams left Arctic Bay heading to Pond Inlet. And what an event it was. We all went down from the school around 1:15pm to watch the mushers and their support teams head off on their four day "cross-country" journey.

And it was a beautiful day out today too! Sunny (I'm even starting to get a tan on my face, as was pointed out to me today by a co-worker, siting the racoon-eye effect that is going on ... and yes, it does look like I've got coon eyes forming too), -10 with no wind! I could have stayed out there ALL afternoon.



The support teams left about half an hour before the mushers did so that they could be well ahead of them and to the first check point to set up camp before their musher arrived.

While mushers waited for the start time, I busied myself with nabbing picutures, chatting with mushers and other locals. It was pretty neat learning about the teams, the dogs and their ages. Average age of the dogs is about 2-3 years .. and most only "run" for an average of 3-4 years before they "retire".


Here's me with a wonderful team of dogs - oh how cute and cuddly they all were! Some of the friendliest sled dogs I've come across while in the North.

Mushers began leaving Arctic Bay at around 2:10 with two minute intervals between departures (so that there is not a huge bottle-necking of sleds and dogs as they leave Arctic Bay and head around the Point.





As usual, I spent my time down on the ice juggling several different cameras that all served a different purpose - why oh why can't DSLRs have video recording capabilities??!!

I'm currently uploading pictures and editing video so stay tuned for those!

Traditional Inuit Clothing Day

As Darcy has already pointed out (as he beat me to the posting race) today at school was Traditional Inuit Clothing Day (er .. afternoon) as part of the celebrations of last weeks Inuktitut Language Week.

This afternoon everyone (well, for the most part) came decked out in their favorite traditional threads for a "fashion show" that was being held downstairs in the gym.

Listening to Our Past

Listening to our Past is an amazing site on Inuit Culture and Traditions covering many topics such as traditional Inuit knowledge, cosmology and shamanism, traveling and surviving on the land and when North meets South.

The site allows teachers to create questionnaires and other activities for their students to engage in while learning about the Iniut culture in Canada. The site is loaded with pictures of life in Nunavut and of the Inuit culture as well as audio and video segments and downloadable pdf summaries of each section.

Living Traditions: North American Indigenous Games

The Living Traditions: Museums Honour the North American Indigenous Games is a site maintained by the Virtual Museum of Canada on North American Indigenous Games.

The site includes information on a variety of NAIGs, its history, as well as online flash activities and a teachers corner that has many ideas, activities and links to information that teachers can use in the classroom.

Inuksuk and Polar Bear Carvings

My New Qilautii Earrings

Qilautii Earrings, carved by Jina Akikuluk

This afternoon after school, I went to the Heritage Center with a fellow teacher who was looking for mittens. While there, I found and purcahsed these beautiful qilautii (drum) earrings made from narwhal tusk.

Inuit Myths and Legends

As a teacher in the North, I often get emails from teacher friends down south asking about Inuit Mythology and if I know where they can find some resources to share with their colleagues and students. Here's several that I've found pretty useful in planning for courses next term.

Inuit Myths A site developed through QIA (Qikiqtani Inuit Association) and a variety of Government and Non Government organizations, to provide a resource for Nunavummiut and people from around the world who want to learn more about the Inuit storytelling tradition. There are downloadable copies of Taiksumani (a publication of Inuit Myths that are distributed to schools and libraries) and information of Mythological beings.

Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo a digitalized version of Henry Rinks 1875 collection of Myths and Legends.

Eskimo Folk-Tales a digitized version of Eskimo Tales collected by Kund Rasmussen (1921).

First People an online collection of American Indians, First Nations and Inuit Mythology.

If anyone has any other ones that they would like to add to this list, send them my way.

Images of Arctic Bay and Surrounding Area (pt.3)

More Nunavut Quest Photos

Nunavut Quest 2008 - Photo Collage

More Photo's of Musher's Arrival in Arctic Bay here, here and here

Nunavut Quest 2008 Update

Nunavut Quest Underway

There were no clear leaders in the Nunavut Quest dog mushing race from Iglulik to Arctic Bay as of May 2. Iglulik's Joey Aqqiaruq Sarpinak was the first to arrive at camp one, while Arctic Bay's Moses Oyukuluk was the first at camp two. Mushers have already faced their share of challenges in the race. After being held up one day at camp one due to a blizzard, mushers were back on the trail to camp two as of April 29. To make up for a shortage of dog food, mushers also took some time to fish at camp two. Organizers also said a crew would arrange to bring seal as dog food close to camp four May 2.

Nunavut Quest mushers race approximately 80 kilometres per day and are expected to arrive in Arctic Bay May 6 if there are no further delays. Winners will be determined based on time, and official results are expected to be announced in Arctic Bay the evening of May 9.

** Update: The mushers have arrived at the last camp site and will be in Arctic Bay tomorrow, May 7, 2008 around noon at some point during the afternoon or early evening (they didn't leave last camp until early this afternoon). **



link to article

Nunavut Quest Article

Just for those of you down south who are curious about the happenings up here in Arctic Bay with the Dog Sled races fast approaching.

This is an Article from Nunavut/News North, April 21, 2008.

Enjoy!

Nunavut Quest .... and they're off!

Today the 10th annual Nunavut Quest dog team race set off from the beginning point of Igloolik to the ending point of Arctic Bay. If all goes according to plan, the sledders should be arriving here in town on May 8th.

At school we have kicked the educational opportunities into high gear incorporating as much dog sled and dog team knowledge and activities into our lessons as possible gearing up to the sledders arrival.

Can't wait for the teams to arrive here in town!

Qamutik

Picture of the qamutiiq qamutiik qamutik that I got to ride on during yesterday's tour around the frozen bay area.

Kennie and the Polar Bear

This is probably as close as I will ever get to being with a Polar Bear.

Traditional Sewing and Skin Preparation

Elders and teachers preparing skin (caribou and seal) for sewing of mittens and kamiiks during PI week.

Kamiik

EEEE! I received my Kamiik today! And they are beautiful! And warm!

My Toasty Warm Mittens

My hands are nice and toasty on these -48 days with these ultra warm seal pelt mittens!

White Rabbit Fur Trimmed Seal Mitts
These ones have a nice thick fleece lining

Dark Fur Trimmed Seal Mitts
These ones are a little more roomy and the lining isn't as thick so I can get a pair of thin gloves on my hands too for skidooing

Christmas Games in Arctic Bay

This evening, I ventured out with Aletha to the Christmas Games being held in the community / school gym. I wasn't too sure what to expect before arriving, but I am glad I went tonight. I have some pictures of the games , but my camera battery died early on, so I'll post up the ones I have and I'll be posting more throughout the week.

When we arrived, they were just getting started with a dice game, where we had to roll a large foam dice and not roll a 5. If we rolled a 5, we were out. This continued until there was only one person left, and they won a prize.

The next game was a traditional one for the younger girls (7,8,9) where they had to squat down, with one leg stuck out and the other one tucked under them and then switch legs over and over again until there was only one person hopping.

Next was a game was a traditional game for the boys (7,8,9) where they had to leg wrestle each other.

After, was another 16+ game where we had to rip as many pages out of a catalog as possible if we rolled a number 4 until the next person rolled a 4 and took over the page ripper position. I ripped out a total of 60 pages from the catalog. Most of them on my first run out to rip pages.

There were also games for the elders, one of which they had to not make a face after a teaspoon of lemon juice was put on their tongue, and another was a numbers game.

The older kids had a game where they had to put their feet and their arms in their jacket sleeves, and race down the gym floor on their hands and feet squawking like a raven. It was quite amusing to watch (sad that I don't have footage of this game, as it was a hoot!).

The last game that was played before we headed out was a scavenger hunt type game for 16+ (I sat this one out). They had to find people or items that were called out to them by the MCee. It was quite a challenge to figure out what items they had to find as it was all in Inuktitut, but I was able to guess the gist of what was being searched for based on who or what they brought back into the circle.

I'll be heading back to the games tomorrow to get more pictures and maybe film some of the games to send home for the kids to see.

Frozen Seal on the Bay

One hunter's catch awaiting transportation back home: