The sixth edition of Nunavik’s dogsled race ended yesterday in Kangirsuk, on this beautiful first Tuesday of April, as the last dog teams crossed the finish line with pride, three days after the already two-time Ivakkak champion, Peter Kiatainaq and his racing partner Peter Qisiiq Jr. did, once again taking the coveted Ivakkak Cup back home to Kangiqsujuaq. Now that everybody was in, it was time to celebrate! Last night, during a feast of traditional Inuit country foods held by the community, various well deserved awards and prizes were hence presented to the heroes of this year’s challenging race across Nunavik, from the eastern Hudson Bay coast to the Ungava Bay coast, from Puvirnituq to Kangirsuk (click on “See full story…” below for more details).
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The Ivakkak 2006 champion, and now three-time victor of this prestigious dog team race, Peter Kiatainaq, was handed back the Ivakkak Cup, which he and his partner, the young Peter Qisiiq, will be taking back home to Kangiqsujuaq. Officials of Makivik, the Inuit Corporation that organizes this event for its people in Nunavik, presented them both with a gold medal and a cheque of $3500 each. The president of the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec (FCNQ), Paulusie Kasuadluak, then presented them with their big prize, a complete set of household items worth no less than $9250 and that includes a leather couch and easy-chair, queen-size bed, stainless steel refrigerator, small freezer, washing machine and dryer. The racing pair also received plane tickets to Montreal from First Air, as well as hotel accommodations at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport Travelodge in Dorval.

The silver medallist, Tamusi Sivuaraapik and his son Johnny, from Puvirnituq, were also each presented with cheques from Makivik Corporation, in the amount of $2500 apiece. They chose the four-stroke Yamaha 1000i 2006 generator and snowmobile supplies offered by Kuujjuaq Motosport, for a total value of over $1600. The pair was also presented with a Congeniality Award, mainly recognizing the 64-year old musher’s good humour and entertaining stories throughout the race.

The bronze medallists, the Séguin brothers, John Jack and Alain, from Kangiqsualujjuaq, also each received cheques of $1500 from Makivik, and decided to take home the Big Boggan fibreglass sled and two Coleman gas stove offered by the North West Company, which runs all Northern Stores in Nunavik, for a value of $1500 as well. Both were also presented with a Sportsmanship Award for their always fair play and genuinely good conduct with other dog teams.

In fourth place, Matthew Nassak and his nephew Etua, from Kangirsuk, each received a $1000 cheque from Makivik, choosing the pair of portable VHF/GPS radios and accessories offered by Umiak Builders in Kuujjuaq, worth about $1500. For his incredible performance this year on the way to the finish line in Kangirsuk, the local musher was also presented with the Most Improved Award.

In fifth place, the one-legged musher, Harry Okpik and fellow musher Willie Kulula Sr., with whom he had partnered up for this year’s race, both received a $500 cheque, and were rewarded with two hand-tailored down parkas of a value of $650 each, which will be custom-made for them by Nunavik Creations. The wonderful pair from Quaqtaq was also presented with a Team Spirit Award.

As to leave no one empty handed, the other much deserving teams were also presented with participation prizes of $250 each by Makivik, as well as various awards:

In sixth place, Novalinga Novalinga and his partner Adamie Angiyou, both from Puvirnituq were also presented a Team Spirit Award, for their good work together.

In seventh place, from Inukjuak, Simeonie Elijasiapik, who participated in the race with his son Arthur, was presented with the Veteran of the Year Award, for a tremendous performance at the age of 58. Not to mention that Simeonie had travelled on his own, along with fellow musher Adamie Inukpuk, all the way from Inukjuak to the start of the race in Puvirnituq.

In eighth place, Peter “Boy” Ittukallak and his young athletic partner Aisa Surusilak, both from Puvirnituq, won the Rookie of the Year for a great performance in this first time racing a dog team.

In ninth place, the Beaulne brothers, Jani-Marik and Juani, also from Puvirnituq, were presented with Congeniality Award as well, for their generally good humour, which they shared with all others around during the race.

In tenth place, Adamie Inukpuk and his partner Aipilie Echalook, both from Inukjuak, were presented with the other Sportsmanship Award, for their competitiveness. Charlie Arngaq, the president of the Avataq Cultural Institute also presented the pair each with a $500 cheque, as recipients of the Nutaraaluk Iyaituk Award, a tribute to this dear departed Ivakkak musher who took great joy in going out with the dog teams each year for this challenge in the most traditional of ways.

In eleventh place, Willie Cain Jr. and his partner Tommy Annahatak, both from Tasiujaq, were presented with a Fellowship Award, for their support to other teams during the race.

In twelfth place, the youngest of the mushers, Poasi Kenuajuak and his partner Andrew Novalinga, both from Puvirnituq, were presented with the Award for Best Effort, for having finished the race on their own, no matter how long it took.

In thirteenth place, young musher Etua Lucassie and his older brother Jusipi Lucassie, both from Kangirsuk, although Jusipi now lives in Aupaluk, were presented with the Perseverance Award for their persistence in finishing the race, even if they had to walk a long while alongside their dog to make it home to Kangirsuk.

In fourteenth place, Johnny Arnatuk and his partner Tamu Tukkiapik, both from Quaqtaq, were presented with the Dedication Award for the ardour in which they continued on throughout the race, regardless of their mishaps on the trail.

Finally, last, but not least, Adamie Qumak, of Akulivik, and his younger partner from Puvirnituq, Allie Tukalak, were presented with a Fellowship Award, for the help they provided Johnny Arnatuk with when he lost his dogs earlier on the trail.

To reward the mushers for having completed this incredible journey across Nunavik, from the eastern Hudson Bay coast to the Ungava Bay coast, from Puvirnituq to Kangirsuk, a few more prizes –First Air and Air Inuit plane tickets, hotel accommodations at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport in Dorval, Northern Stores $500 and $100 gift cards, etc.–were also drawn amongst them, making a few extra winners most happy.

Again, 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 kept 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 21min 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		April 4		8 days 21hrs 29min 15sec