Spring has sprung... Well, Arctic spring at least!

Spring is in full swing in Tuk. This means temperatures hovering near zero and sometimes rising above, and the sun doesn't really set much at all anymore. This makes for long days that are perfect for being out and about on the land. Most of the locals have high tailed it out to Husky Lakes to do fishing and camping and hunting, while we without the means to do so stay in town and work. Nonetheless, as soon as 5pm rolls around, everyone is outdoors soaking up the warm weather and sun.

Spring in Tuk means:


Natural beverage coolers in the snow...


Making campfire pits in a snow drift...


Having campfires in the snow drift... (Me, Amanda and Christine)


And ravens laying their eggs...


Uhhh... that's a pretty big nest.


Even Little Bear is celebrating spring's arrival...

Finally, winter is nearly done, and I can start working on my Arctic tan. Soon enough it will be bug season, so best enjoy spring while it lasts!

Great Northern Arts...

The north is home to many talented artists including carvers, painters, amongst others. Deon and I have acquired a nice little collection from across the north while we've been up here, and I thought I'd share the arts and crafts of the north with everyone at home.

1. Seal Packing Doll Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories



This little lady is representative of the way in which the Inuit carry their babies- in their hoods. The seals are made of ring-seal fur, and the parky is embroidered in great detail.

2. Carved Mobile Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories



This mobile was carved by a local here in Tuk, and features an inukshuk, ulu, polar bear, beluga and Inuit face, all hanging from a piece of caribou antler. This is one of my favourites!

3. Walrus Business Card Holder Iqaluit, Nunavut



Deon picked up this walrus when on business in Iqaluit. It is a carving that is practical for sure.

4. Polar Bear and Seal on Ice Iqaluit, Nunavut



This carving was given to Deon by the NWB before he left. His co-workers signed the bottom of the ice as a nice memory for Deon in the future.

5. Dancing Polar Bear Iqaluit, Nunavut





This is our heaviest, and second biggest carving- the dancing polar bear. I find it amazing that a carver could judge the right way to carve the bear such that it can stand on one paw alone, especially considering how heavy it is, and that it originated from one block of stone.

6. Muskox on Whale Bone Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories



You've seen this one before, but it's still one of my favourites, especially since it was such a good deal! It is also the largest carving we have at the moment, and I think fairly creative- the muskox is made of muskox horn. Furthermore, from what I've heard, whale bone carvings are fairly rare, and I think I'm lucky to have found this one.

7. Paintings on Canvas Iqaluit, Nunavut



Deon picked up these paintings in Iqaluit, and they were also a great deal. I like their unique size and shape, and that the pictures tell a story of people living on the land. I was glad to find the perfect frames for them at Walmart in YK.

8. Sheared Beaver Mitts Inuvik, Northwest Territories



Sort of hard to see, but these are my favourite mitts- sheared beaver is some of the softest fur I've ever felt. They are perfect for cold, windy days outdoors as you can cover your face with the beaver fur and block the wind.

There are a few more carvings and things that we have back in Ontario, and of course our collection here will continue to grow! Can't wait for the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik this summer.

It's Beluga Jamboree Time!

Tuk is alive and moving with the onset of the annual Beluga Jamboree. Inuvik's Musktrat Jamboree and Aklavik's Mad Trapper Jamboree are done, and now it's Tuk's turn. There are many people from out of town who have come in via the ice road (which is scheduled to close as soon as Jamboree is done).


This is where the action happens- on the harbour which has been plowed out to make a parking lot and vendor area.



Jamboree is Tuk's biggest event of the year, and lasts for 4 days. Interesting to note is the fact that this year the Hamlet Council voted to have prohibition from the Tuesday before Jamboree until Jamboree is complete. From what I've heard, this seems to be working well. This means that there is a greater police presence in town from Inuvik this weekend, and they are definitely doing their duty. They're pulling people over for speeding in town (What is the speed limit?) Seatbelts? (No one in Tuk wears a seatbelt) Driver's license? (Who needs a driver's license?) Furthermore, anyone caught intoxicated or drinking anywhere in town this weekend will get a $2,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail. I'd best be on my best behaviour this weekend!

Now on to the fun stuff. Jamboree kicked off with a feast (no traditional foods were present unfortunately...) and some traditional drum dancing. Of course I forgot to bring my camera.

Saturday afternoon some friends and I went down to the harbour to see the games that were going on. Jamboree games include snowmobile races, log sawing, needle threading, toboggan pull, piggy back race, harpoon throw, dizzy stick, nail drive, and three legged race. Some of these may sound easy or juvenile, however in -30 and strong winds they take some effort to complete!

Christine and I participated in the needle threading race:


Yep, that's us with the television camera in our faces...


We placed 4th...

And, last night I went to Kiti hall with my friend Riz to watch the jigging contest. I do love the fiddle music and watching the jigging.


Happy Jamboree!

We have company!

There seems to be quite a military presence in and around Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. Often I'll hear an F18, or one of these big guys, the Hercules:



Many days between commercial flights, you can see F18s practicing their landings at the Inuvik airstrip. They have to have an arrestor wire across the runway when the planes are going to land, and as such, during this time normal planes cannot land. This has been the source of nausea on more than one occasion for me, as the small Aklak planes I'm usually on then have to circle the airport for a little while until the F18 has landed.