Place where ulu parts are found...

This week's work adventure was to Victoria Island, which is shared by NWT and Nunavut, to visit the community of Ulukhaktok (formerly known as Holman). The flight takes approximately 2 hours, if the weather is right... I slept through most of it, since we were flying over the ocean which is just like a blanket of white with nothing much to see.

Upon approach to Ulukhaktok (during which I was awakened by a sudden drop in altitude) it became apparent that the community is located in a beautiful area, with hills and cliff faces of beautiful rock. The buildings follow the crescent shape of a bay, and lie within the shelter of the hills. Much like Sachs Harbour, there are way fewer vehicles in town than in the Delta, due to a lack of road access. The people are some of the friendliest I've met, and the local culture is very present. English is interspersed with the Inuvialuktun dialect, while most people wear homemade parkas and outerwear, while babies are carried under parkas on their mother's backs.

The weather was significantly colder and windier than back home in Tuktoyaktuk, but it was sunny and clear skied for most of the time. Despite the weather, Christina and I took the opportunity to hike up "Inukshuk Hill" as it is called by some, and got a better view of the town.

Of course the main purpose of the trip was for work, attending community meetings and obtaining feedback on our various initiatives that we're working on at this time. However, there was plenty of time to speak to our Ulukhaktok friends and see the place they call home. The people from Ulukhaktok are seriously kind, and seriously hospitable.

Here are some highlights of the trip:


Arriving at Ulukhaktok airport. Lots more snow than in the Delta right now. Check out those snow drifts by the door.


A carved template for local print making. Ulukhaktok is well known within the ISR for its crafts, as they are quite beautiful and plentiful. Unfortunately, supply in the craft shop was low during our visit.


Inside the school. They have preschool to grade 12 here, unlike some of the other smaller ISR communities. Christina and I somehow got recruited to represent ILA for a few hours at the career fair. Oh the north...


Dog teams out on the bay.


Beautiful Ulukhaktok landscape.


A good catch!


A view from "Inukshuk Hill." Quite the hike!


Is that a warehouse? Trailer? No, no... that's the Arctic Char Inn. Surprisingly homey inside!

Other than this brief synopsis, nothing out of the ordinary to report about my trip to Ulukhaktok. No wildlife whatsoever... other than some stuffed muskox and polar bear in the school. And approximately 45 muskox hides in the craft shop. Maybe I'll see my polar bear, muskox, or caribou next winter, fingers crossed!