All dog teams now in Kangirsuk


27_ID_2006The four last dog teams that remained in the race all made it to the finish line today. Some of the mushers and their partners had to walk all the way during this last day to lead their tired dogs to Kangirsuk, lightening their load, so that they too could make it to the finish line on their four paws. But all have made it on their own and no matter if they came in last, that feat in itself deserves a big round of applauds, which they got from their fellow racers and the community members that gathered together for a feast this evening. After a nice meal of traditional country foods, the Ivakkak 2006 dog team race closing ceremony was held with a trophy and prize distribution to congratulate all the mushers for their long journey across Nunavik, from the eastern Hudson Bay coast to the Ungava Bay coast, from Puvirnituq to Kangirsuk. Visit us online again tomorrow to find out more about the closing ceremony and prize distribution.
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The first one to arrive today, just in time for lunch, was Adamie Qumak, of Akulivik, who has not only travelled across Nunavik, from Puvirnituq to Kangirsuk, but also travelled to the starting line on his own before the race, for an even longer journey than most. Tired, Adamie was grateful to have made it to the finish line and eager to celebrate and dance with people of Kangirsuk.
A couple of hours later in the afternoon, it was Johnny Arnatuk’s turn to show up on the horizon, on the ice in front of the beautiful community of Kangirsuk. Johnny and his partner Tamu Tukkiapik were also very happy of their achievement, which they should be very proud of.

Meanwhile, the safety patrol had gone to check on the two remaining dog teams, Poasi Kenuajuak’s and Etua Lucassie’s, to make sure they were O.K. But although they were all very tired, walking alongside their dogs, they refused to be escorted back to Kangirsuk by snowmobile, wanting to finish the race on their own, with pride.
The 17-year-old musher, Poasi Kenuajuak, and his partner Andrew Novalinga, were the first ones to make it, after having walked over 20 miles to finally cross the finish line. His grandfather, Aisara, who raced the same dogs last year and came in third place, but unfortunately couldn’t make it to Kangirsuk to see Poasi arrive, sent a message his way, to let him know how proud he was of his grandson, which he affectionately nicknames Patsauk, to have made it across the finish line on his own.
A few minutes after Poasi’s arrival, it was Etua and Jusipi Lucassie’s turn to cross the finish line. The young musher, also 17 years old, who raised most of the dogs used during the race, and his older brother both are from Kangirsuk, and although Jusipi now lives in Aupaluk, from where he had also brought a couple of extra dogs to make up their team, he had many friends and relatives to welcome his arrival. The people of Kangirsuk were so proud of them that they hoisted them up on their sled, just like they did for the champion, a couple of days ago.

After all, for having made it across Nunavik, no matter how long it took them, whether it was just over five days or almost nine, all teams that participated in this challenging 2006 edition of the Ivakkak dog team race are heroes…

Congratulations to all!

NOTE: The two teams that were last to arrive at the halfway checkpoint in Payne Lake, one day behind all the other teams, were allowed to leave the camp before their 36-hour mandatory rest was over. Hence, to be fair to the other teams who had stopped for the prescribed 36 hours, the time not taken to rest by Johnny Arnatuk and Adamie Qumak’s dog teams, had to be added to their arrival time, to make up their total time. Johnny Arnatuk’s break was cut short by 15 hours 12 minutes and 33 seconds, which brings his team to the second to last place, while Adamie Qumak left the halfway checkpoint 20 hours 19 minutes and 15 seconds before his time, making him the last, but not least, even though he passed a total of three teams on his way to Kangirsuk.

Please also note that all the dog teams’ start times from Puvirnituq were adjusted back to 10:50 AM during their mandatory rest at the Payne Lake camp. For example, if they had left one minute after 10:50 AM, they were allowed to leave the halfway checkpoint one minute earlier. If they had left two minutes after 10:50 AM, they were allowed to leave two minutes earlier, and so on. This was done so that the teams would arrive in the order of their actual rank at the finish line in Kangirsuk.

Finally, note that the race official are still using Eastern Standard Time (EST), as adjusting their clock one hour later to Daylight Saving Time (DST) would have made the total times of the dog teams during this race one hour too long. Instead, using the standard time, it is really reflecting the actual time that they took to make it to from Puvirnituq to Kangirsuk.

Rank Racer Start Arrival Arrival date Total Time
1. Peter Kiatainaq (#2) 10:50:00 AM 6:11:48 PM April 1 5 days 7hrs 2min 48sec
2. Tamusi Sivuaraapik (#15) 10:50:00 AM 0:07:40 April 2 5 days 13hrs 17min 40sec
3. John Jack Séguin (#8) 10:50:00 AM 1:03:00 AM April 2 5 days 14hrs 13min
4. Matthew Nassak (#16) 10:50:00 AM 9:58:22 PM April 2 6 days 11hrs 8min 22sec
5. Harry Okpik (#5) 10:50:00 AM 8:08:00 AM April 3 6 days 21hrs 18min
6. Novalinga Novalinga (#3) 10:50:00 AM 8:40:39 AM April 3 6 days 21hrs 50min 39sec
7. Simeonie Elijasiapik (#9) 10:50:00 AM 8:44:58 AM April 3 6 days 21hrs 54min 58 sec
8. Peter Ittukallak (#1) 10:50:00 AM 12:43:46 April 3 7 days 1hr 53min 46sec
9. Jani-Marik Beaulne (#12) 10:50:00 AM 12:51:42 April 3 7 days 2hrs 1min 42sec
10. Adamie Inukpuk (#4) 10:50:00 AM 12:52:46 April 3 7 days 2hrs 2min 46sec
11. Willie Cain Jr. (#6) 10:50:00 AM 1:07:43 PM April 3 7 days 2hrs 17min 43sec
12. Poasi Kenuajuak (#10) 10:50:00 AM 4:51:00 PM April 4 8 days 6hrs 1min
13. Etua Lucassie (#11) 10:50:00 AM 5:00:00 PM April 4 8 days 6hrs 10min
14. Johnny Arnatuk (#14) 10:50:00 AM 3:10:00 PM April 4 8 days 20hrs 32min 33sec
15. Adamie Qumak (#7) 10:50:00 AM 12:00:00 April 4 8 days 21hrs 29min 15sec

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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.

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