Over the weekend, Air Inuit, the official airline of the Ivakkak dogsled race, flew thirteen dog teams from all around Nunavik to Inukjuak, where the race is set to start this year. Over 125 dogs were flown in from Akulivik, Kangirsuk, Kangiqsujuaq, Kuujjuaq, Puvirnituq, Quaqtaq and Tasiujaq. With the two local racers already on location, all fifteen participating dog teams are now settled on the sea ice in front of the community, getting ready before the final countdown on Tuesday morning.
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The return of the Inuit Dogs
At the end of the last century, the pure-breed Husky dog was nearly extinct in Nunavik. Nowadays, Inuit people mostly travel by snowmobile. Yet, the memories of another time when dogs were man’s most reliable partners are not so far behind. Long known to be man’s best friend, dogs were once essential to the survival of Inuit in the merciless arctic environment. In fact, only a few decades ago, sled dogs were a foundation of the Inuit nomadic way of life.
These brave allies were central to seasonal Inuit movements, especially in the winter.Strongly built with a thick fur, huskies can withstand bitterly cold temperatures and are capable of lugging their share of supplies during long hours travelling across the endless tundra. Harnessed to a sled or simply keeping pace alongside their master, dogs made it possible for Inuit to cover great distances in their search for game to provide for their families, and to transport heavy loads (...).
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