Iqaluit 2019
Iqaluit, Nunavut - November 2019
We Inuit love our sled dogs! These pups are fed healthy fish and seal, laze the cool summers, and run hard all winter. They’re proud work dogs and they’re very hardy. It’s really too hot for them inside! Historically, the Government of Canada is responsible for killing thousands of sled dogs as a way to force Inuit into permanent settlements and trading posts. The relationship between Inuit and sled dogs is critically important for our culture and way of life on the land, so many Inuit and non-Inuit are working to keep this relationship and practice alive.
Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada
November 2019 - Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut and is situated on the southern coast of Baffin Island. This town of 8,000 people is named ‘many fish’ for the river that runs adjacent and flows into the sea. This week I had a preliminary meeting with a few colleagues turned friends and mentors about the potential development of a research project associated with an Inuit-led proposed protected area between Nunavut and Greenland called Pikialasorsuaq. As a personal dream project of mine, I was very excited to be visiting!
I had once before briefly glimpsed Iqlauit while refueling on a charter flight from Ottawa, Canada to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, though I hadn’t had the opportunity to get out of the plane. I was immediately enamored by the town nestled in the hilly landscape, which reminded me of a much more textured version of home. This opportunity to come back had me very excited!
Additionally, everyone a part of the Iqaluit meeting are also alumni of the Students on Ice Arctic Expedition Program, so we made some time to get together with other student and staff alumni of the program living in town. A picture of us is below!
The meeting itself went well and we will have to see if anything good comes of it in the future!
