Ivakkak 2005 is Off and Running


Nunavik’s annual dogsled race, Ivakkak 2005, got off to a fine start this morning. By the end of the day’s racing, Novalinga Novalinga (a 24 year old rookie who hails from Puvirnituq) is in first place. He is followed closely by Peter Kiatainaq from Kangiqsujuaq (last year’s Ivakkak champion) and Willie Kulula Sr. from Quaqtaq (a strong competitor every year). A large number of Kangiqsualujjuamiut showed up on the river ice in front of their village this morning to provide a rowdy send off to Ivakkak’s 18 Inuit mushers and their many excited and barking dogs. The village’s heartiest cheers were saved for home-town favourites: John-Jack Séguin and George Annanack. ______________________________
Once again this year, executives from the Makivik Corporation were at the starting line for this important event. Johnny Peters took charge of calling the teams to the line for their staggered starts and George Berthe marked each musher’s departure with swirl of the race flag. George was accompanied by Kangiqsualujjuaq elder, Willie Etok, who held an FCNQ flag. The Federation of Co-operatives is a major sponsor of Ivakkak 2005. Also on hand were Makivik’s Vice-President of Economic Development, Adamie Alaku, and organization President Pita Aatami. Pita, in particular, caught the crowd’s attention when he became entangled in the lines for Adamie Inukpuk’s dogs and was almost dragged inadvertently into the race himself.

Conditions today were difficult. The blizzard that ripped through southern Ungava yesterday dropped a good deal of fresh, heavy snow. This translated into a lot of extra work for the dogs, many of which are more accustomed to the hard, packed snow of the tundra. The temperature was relatively warm, hovering around -10°C.

As has become the tradition, mushers and race organizers met at the end of the day’s activities in a congenial atmosphere to discuss the day’s events and collectively assess time penalties. The first day of Ivakkak 2005 was not without its highlights. Adamie Qumak of Akulivik, for example, missed the first turn in the course. Instead of heading for the high hills that stand on the west shore of the George River, his dogs thought that they would continue up the river, towards the South! Fortunately for Adamie, a village resident on snowmobile caught up to the musher and his dogs and pointed them in the right direction.

As well, all the race’s participants commented on the steep and high hills that they met today. The first was particularly dreadful. In fact, Tamusi Sivuaraapik commented that he climbed for so long and so high he was sure he was on his way to heaven. Later however, the difficulties posed by the conditions on the course reassured him that he was still on earth.

The narrow trails of the southern Ungava region also threw at the racers their share of adversity, especially for those teams from northern Nunavik communities. On occasion, dogs wandering a little too far off the edge of the trail became tangled in the trees. Often in such cases, the only way to untangle a dog is to remove its harness. Inevitably though, further time is wasted because the musher must then coax his dog back to the sled before getting underway again. At the end of the day, three dogs that had been set loose for this reason, or due to fatigue, had still not returned to their mushers. Members of the race’s support crew will return to look for them tomorrow.

In the end however, the racers concurred that the day had been challenging and, for most, an undreamed of opportunity to race through the trees. In short, they all had had a lot of fun.

Tonight, the participants of Ivakkak 2005 will be sleeping along the Tunulik River, close to the Fort-Chimo co-operative’s sports fishing camp. The clouds are breaking apart in the night sky and the appearance of stars makes everyone hopeful that tomorrow will bring cool, clear weather.

Rank Racer Today’s Time Total Time
1. Novalinga Novalinga 4h 03m 52s
2. Peter Kiatainaq 4h 10m 22s
3. Willie Kulula Sr. 4h 18m 39s
4. Charlie Watt Jr. 4h 27m 09s
5. Aisara Kenuayuak 4h 30m 29s
6. George Annanack 4h 47m 21s
7. Adamie Inukpuk 4h 54m 14s
8. Willie Cain Jr. 4h 54m 51s
9. Juusipi Qisiiq 5h 07m 32s
10. Simeonie Elijassiapik 5h 21m 34s
11. Tamusi Sivuaraapik 5h 24m 29s
12. Matthew Nassak 5h 31m 18s
13. John Jack Séguin 5h 35m 50s
14. Nutaraaluk Iyaituk 5h 47m 05s
15. Lucassie Alayco Sr. 6h 01m 46s
16. Harry Okpik 6h 04m 29s

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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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