Day 3: The stormy weather returns


The dog teams leave Raglan in the morning with renewed spirit, but are forced to stop earlier than expected, due to the return of the bad weather. Fortunately, they are not too far from the mine road and its employees are happy to welcome the qimutsitiit and their crew again amongst them for another night.

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After spending the evening sharing stories with fellow Inuit employed at the Raglan mine, and getting a good but short night of sleep, the qimutsitiit and their crew were back in the bus early in the morning to get their dogs ready to go again. The wind hasn’t given up on them, but the sky seems clear when they head out, this Friday, March 14 of 2003. However, the elders of the group are expecting the weather to change. But since everybody is eager to go, the morning start takes place as planned. Soon enough, everybody will have to admit that the elders were right. Their predictions turn out to be more accurate than the Environment Canada weather forecast. About 20 miles away from their starting point, the wind grows stronger causing a total whiteout. To ensure that nobody gets lost in the storm, the race officials decide to stop the race right away. They quickly make up a finish line in a sheltered area, close to the road that connects the mine site to Deception Bay, near Asbestos Hill. Fortunately, the qimutsiit are not too far from one another, and before it’s time for lunch, everybody has made it safe and sound. Since they are not too far from the mine complex yet, and close to the road, it is decided to leave the dogs behind and head back to Katinniq with the bus to spend another night in the “northern hotel”, playing pool, bowling, and watching movies on a full stomach. With the warm welcome of the mine’s employees who are happy to see their friends and relatives back amongst them, the teams moral gets back up. All qimutsitiit are hopeful that this never ending storm, which has been after them since the start, will finally let go of them.

Rank Racer Today’s Time Total Time
1. Peter Kiatainaq 2 hrs 2 min 36 sec 8 hrs 18 min 16 sec
2. Willie Kulula Sr. 2 hrs 2 min 44 sec 8 hrs 33 min 40 sec
3. Charlie Watt Jr. 2 hrs 2 min 6 sec 8 hrs 35 min 22 sec
4. Bobby Novalinga 2 hrs 0 min 1 sec 8 hrs 44 min 38 sec
5. Aisara Kenuayuak 2 hrs 16 min 3sec 10 hrs 4 min 50 sec
6. Tamusi Sivuaraapik 2 hrs 47 min 58 sec 10 hrs 18 min 4 sec
7. Harry Okpik 2 hrs 20 min 45 sec 10 hrs 59 min 6 sec
8. Charlie Inukpuk 2 hrs 20 min 10 sec 11 hrs 5 min 33 sec
9. George Annanack 2 hrs 24 min 2 sec 12 hrs 21 min 3 sec
10. Willie Cain Jr. 2 hrs 31 min 10 sec 12 hrs 40 min 48 sec
11. Juani Beaulne 2 hrs 42 min 20 sec 13 hrs 16 min 5 sec
12. Adamie Qumak 3 hrs 13 min 10 sec 13 hrs 43 min 29 sec
13. Adamie Inukpuk 3 hrs 12 min 1 sec 13 hrs 56 min 10 sec
14. Nutaraaluk Iyaituk 3 hrs 26 min 24 sec 13 hrs 56 min 37 sec

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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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