Life in Inuvik, Northwest Territories

Here’s one of the newest members of the NWT Legislative Assembly, Alfred Moses, with his parents. The 34-year-old won the election for the local riding last night by five votes, 216 to 211 over the closest competitor.

Alfred said he wanted to create a healthier community.

Inuvik is split into two electoral districts: Inuvik Twin Lakes and Inuvik Boot Lake.

Last night, candidates for Inuvik Boot lake had a debate. Pictured here are: (from top) Paul Voudrach, Chris Larocque, Grant Gowans, and Alfred Moses.

In the riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes: Robert C McLeod has been acclaimed.

The most Canadian thing you can imagine: Young people yelling “car!” and moving the net from the road.

I am back from vacations in Ottawa. Today while cycling in town I saw a fox. He was too quick to catch in a good photo.

As you can see, the fox’s camouflage is especially useful this time of year, when leaves are a mix of yellow, orange and brown.

Here are a few favourite pictures from this year’s Great Northern Arts Festival: Kevin Floyd of the Inuvik Qaqaq club is shown building a traditional boat frame, made from green wood.

Usually such a boat would be covered with watertight seal-skin, but this year they were covered with a polymer. The boats are light and you can lift them with one hand.

Also shown is the inspiration for the boat: An archive photo from 1903.

There is a lookout point alongside the Dempster Highway as you arrive in Inuvik.

It offers a beautiful cliffside view of a lake, with pine trees growing seemingly out of rock.

Don’t miss it!

Always nice to see dogs “being dogs,” allowed to roam around outdoors and explore the world.

Two young hunters were returning to Inuvik alongside the Dempster Highway. Their prize: Three full-size caribou with massive antlers.

Caribou are a staple food around these parts, and while there are rules about harvesting, the hunt continues to supply many families.

I don’t usually review products on this site, but I will vouch for this bug jacket from Mountain Equipment Co-Op.

The “bee keeper mask” can open with a zip for eating, but otherwise it provides welcome relief from the swarms of mosquitoes.

When dozens of mosquitoes are tapping against the side of the hood trying to get inside, it sounds like rain.

CBC.ca/North features a gallery of the Great Northern Arts Festival. This year’s event was spectacular: More than 70 artists visited. 

See the full gallery by clicking here.

Here’s the midnight sun, at the exact second of midnight. The photo is a little overexposed, but you get the idea. Summer is bright here!

Here are two Canadian rangers, from the opening of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

They served as a ceremonial guard.

I have to admit, my eyes popped when I saw this: A renewable resource officer truck carrying a stuffed bear.

The taxidermied bear was being carried outside of the old Sir Alexandre Mackenzie School. For a minute I thought it was alive!

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s national event opened with the ceremonial lighting of a seal-oil lamp called a Qulliq.

These types of lamps have kept people alive in the arctic for thousands of years.

Great link from Kevin Floyd. People are learning the art and science of building traditional-style Quayaks in Inuvik.

Look at those lines! What a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

http://inuvikqayaqclub.blogspot.com/

Canada’s travelling hearings on residential schools, the Truth and Reconciliation Comission, recently held a National Event in Inuvik. The week-long event featured testimony from former students of the residential school system.

Shown here are a few of the outdoor events and activities.

Summer is a very dusty season. Inuvik has a machine called the “husky sweeprite,” which clears the streets.

(After the machine passes, the streets are ready for skateboarding!)

Here is a muskrast, (edit: first said it was a beaver, thanks readers!) swimming around near the East Channel of the Mackenzie River.

Squirrels are starting to busy themselves with tasks in the spring; the obsessive gathering of every food source and the avoidance of predators.

This little guy was spotted in the branches of a pine tree, around Boot Lake.

Aklavik’s Delta Drummers and Dancers were recently invited to perform in Toronto for the 100th anniversary of Parks Canada.

Here they are performing in Aklavik, closing the official Truth and Reconciliation hearing on residential schools.

It won’t be long now until the river clears out. Bring on the summer!

The ice road to Aklavik broke all records this year. It lasted until May 12!

These photos were taken around 10pm; the road was closed the very next day.

A new building, in partnership with Aurora College, is getting ready to open in Inuvik.

The Western Arctic Research Institute was funded by the federal government to provide lab space and meeting rooms for visiting scientists. There will also be an effort to involve local people and have them see the research work that’s happening.

This is a beautiful and modern building, designed in an open and energy-efficient style, with exposed concrete, steel walkways, etc. Looks great!

Inuvik’s fire department is staffed by volunteers. About 30 people are part of the agency, which has some great camaraderie. Most of the volunteers don’t have jobs in emergency services; they can be called from their jobs or beds at any time when a fire happens.

The Firefighters’ Ball is Inuvik’s way of saying thanks. Every year the department throws a bash. There’s a Rookie of the Year Award as well as the Boner of the Year Award for the biggest on-the-job mistake.

The firefighters also recognize a firefighter of the year. The ball has a theme and this year it was “Outer Space.”

As you can see, pop-culture is everywhere. We have common heroes, villains, characters, icons and people love to dress for an occasion!

Seen here: Two young students walk to class on top of a raised metal structure called a utilidor. (The ground is frozen, therefore it would be too costly and complicated to bury things like sewage and water lines.)

Walking around at 12:30am last night, unable to sleep.

Looking around at a very illuminated Inuvik, and realizing: 24-hour sunlight is now here.

Today, April 21st was Gwich’in Day. 

There was a barbecue lunch in Inuvik in front of the Chief Jim Koe building, with ingredients provided by local people. This means caribou stew, reindeer soup, smoked arctic char, dry whitefish and more. 

The final photo is a fruitcake loaf with berries, which are picked in the hills around the region here.

Happy Gwich’in Day everybody, and hello to any Gwich’in readers out there!

Around this time of year (mid-April) you can start to see snow melting over the streets.

That means a few sparks from snowmobiles as they cross from side to side.

Here’s one last shot from the jamboree: Fans watching the snowmobiles at high speeds on the frozen Mackenzie River and Boot Lake.

Third photo courtesy Merven Gruben: Ultra-marathon runner Alicja Barahona ran 370 km from Inuvik to Tuk and back in under a week.

Local runners took a bus and ran alongside her, for the last 30km of her journey.

The fundraiser — which took place at -30 —- gathered almost $20,000 for the Inuvik Homeless Shelter.

Here are some outdoor photos from the Muskrat Jamboree. It’s a wonderful time of year, which features games such as:

-Tea boiling contest: (Fastest to build a fire and make tea)
-Log sawing
-Foot races
-Nail driving contest (Who’s the fastest carpenter?)

Upon a recent visit to Inuvik by the Nathaniel Dette Chorale, the singing group was introduced to the town by former mayor Peter Clarkson, who now works with the territorial government.

He explained about 24-hour sunlight, local oil and gas development, the pipeline and the temperatures, as the musicians (from Toronto) got a ride into town.

Pictured above: Fun and games at a community feast, featuring the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers.

Last photo is beluga whale Muktuk which is served with BBQ sauce.

CBC recently participated in the “Skills Link” career fair in Inuvik.

Here, a student reads the weather, as another listens on headphones.

The tables turned, reporter Philippe Morin answers questions about his work and time at Carleton University.

After the Muskrat Jamboree activities on April 1st, there were beautiful Northern Lights.

I didn’t have my tripod, but these photos are a pretty accurate view of the lights’ intensity.

It’s always a pleasure to see green Aurora Borealis swirling above the homes. The effect is obviously much stronger as you get away from Inuvik and the sources of light.