Before everybody went back home, a day of celebrations was held by the community of Salluit to commemorate the great journey of the Ivakkak 2007 participating dog teams. In the afternoon following the end of the race, the community gathered on the sea ice in front of the village, to applaud all of the Ivakkak 2007 participants and celebrate this year’s champions with a medal ceremony, during which the Ivakkak Cup was handed back to now four-time Ivakkak champion Peter Kiatainaq. Then, for those whose dogs were not too tired, a small dog team race was organized, where both the mushers and their partners had a chance to show off their skills one more time. Around suppertime, everybody then athered at the community centre for a feast of country foods: fresh handpicked mussels, as well as seal meat, caribou and some fish graciously sent by the community of Ivujivik, where the race was originally supposed to end. Community members also cooked some delicious meals and some baked cakes with an Ivakkak theme in mind, for which prizes were awarded. After a good meal shared together and more games, a closing ceremony was held during which various well deserved awards and prizes were presented to the heroes of this year’s challenging race up and down countless hills and through numerous snowstorms, from Quaqtaq to Salluit (click on “See full story…” below for more details). Come back and visit us again online in days to come, as photos of the Ivakkak 2007 dog team race will soon be posted in the photo gallery.

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Thanks to the generosity of the race’s loyal sponsors, the efforts of all Ivakkak 2007 participants that finished the race were recognized with various awards and participation prizes, leaving no one empty handed:

The Ivakkak 2007 champion, and now four-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 Jr., will be taking back home to Kangiqsujuaq once more. The president of the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec (FCNQ), Mark Oqituk Amamatuaq, then presented them with their big prize, a $12,000 gift certificate good for any purchase made at any co-op throughout Nunavik or on order at the selling price (taxes and shipping included). Makivik board member for Salluit, Noah Tayara, representing the Inuit Corporation that organizes this event for its people in Nunavik, then presented the champions with a $7,000 cheque. The racing pair also received plane tickets to Montreal courtesy of First Air, as well as hotel accommodations courtesy of the Montreal-Trudeau Airport Travelodge in Dorval.

The silver medallist, Tamusi Sivuaraapik and his son Johnny, from Puvirnituq, also received a $5,000 cheque from Makivik Corporation, which was presented to them by Willie Keatainak, the president of the Qaqqalik Landholding Corporation of Salluit, which sponsored the race in this same amount. Amongst the prizes to choose from, the pair chose a satellite phone of a value of $1,000 offered by Globalstar and Group CLR. 65-year old Tamusi Sivuaraapik was also proclaimed Veteran of the Year for his tremendous performance in this year’s race.

The bronze medallists, Junior May and his young partner Aqikki Kooktook, both from Kuujjuaq, also each received a cheque of $3,000 from Makivik, and chose the $1,000 gift card offered by the North West Company, which runs all Northern Stores in Nunavik. Both were also presented with a Sportsmanship Award for their always fair play and genuinely good conduct with other dog teams, not to mention their athletic performance during the race.

In fourth place, Willie Cain Jr. and Jusipi Cain, both from Tasiujaq, received a $2,000 cheque from Makivik, and choose to take home the 2007 Yamaha EF 2600 generator worth $1,495 offered by Nunavik Marine Supply Service. For his dog team’s incredible performance this year, Willie Cain Jr. and his partner were also presented with the Most Improved Award.

In fifth place, Willie Kulula Sr. and his nephew Gabriel Putulik Kulula St-Cyr, of Quaqtaq, received a $1,000 cheque from Makivik and took home a pair of fish finders of a value of approximately $350 each offered by Umiak Builders and the Nayummivik Landholding Corporation of Kuujjuaq. The pair who got along real good throughout the race 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 $500 each by Makivik, as well as various awards:

In sixth place, the great pair of Novalinga Novalinga and Poasi Kenuajuak, both from Puvirnituq, were also presented with a Team Spirit Award.

In seventh place, Juusipi Qisiiq and his young partner Tuniq Koneak, both from Kangiqsujuaq, were presented with a Fellowship Award, for the help they provided the team of Etua Lucassie and Stanley Tukkiapik during the first storm after leaving Quaqtaq.

In eighth place, the one-legged musher Harry Okpik, from Quaqtaq, who was accompanied by Juupi Qamugaaluk of Kangiqsujuaq, was presented with the Perseverance Award for the determination he has shown over the years, regardless of his handicap, making him a role model for others alike.

In ninth place, Adamie Inukpuk and his young partner and student Billie Brian Kasudluak, both from Inukjuak, were presented with a Congeniality Award, for their generally good mood, which they shared with all others around during the race.

In tenth place, Johnny Arnatuk, from Quaqtaq, who was accompanied by Matiusi Alaku of Kangiqsujuaq, was presented with the Fellowship Award for the help he provided George Nunga and his young partner Jackusie Alashuak during the first storm after leaving Quaqtaq.

In eleventh place last but not least, Daniel Annanack and his young partner and former student Leevan Etok, both from Kangiqsualujjuaq, were presented with a Congeniality Award as well, for always having a smile on even through tough times during the race, and also for keeping everybody in a good mood by making jokes all the time. The president of the Avataq Cultural Institute, Charlie Arngaq, also presented Daniel with a $1,000 cheque, for the work he is doing in his hometown at school, passing on the tradition of dogsledding to his students, as well as bringing back pure-breed huskies in the region by raising dogs. Leevan Etok, one of his former students, who has since then started his own dog team as well, as also presented with a $500 cheque from Avataq.

As for the teams that didn’t finish the race, but made it all the way to Salluit, they were also presented with a participation prize of $500 from Makivik, as well as various awards:
From Inukjuak, Zachariasie Elijassiapik and his nephew Arthur were presented with a Sportsmanship Award, for their excellent performance throughout most of the race, at least until 61-year old Zachariasie got sick with asthma, which prevented him from finishing the last day of the race.

As for young musher Etua Lucassie and partner Stanley Tukkiapik, they were presented with a Dedication Award, for the ardour in which they continued on throughout the race, regardless of their mishaps on the trail.

Finally, Johnny “Aqutaq” Angnatuk and his son Sammy, from Tasiujaq, were presented with the Award for Best Effort, for having tried to finish the race on their own, no matter how long it took them every day.

To reward the mushers and their partners for having completed this incredibly tough journey from Quaqtaq to Salluit, a few more prizes were also drawn amongst them, as well as amongst the safety patrol that accompanied them:

Etua Lucassie and Willie Cain Jr. each won a plane ticket to Montreal, courtesy of First Air. Willie also won hotel accommodations at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport in Dorval.

Musher Johnny “Aqutaq” Angnatuk, young partners Tuniq Koneak and Billie Brian Kasudluak, as well as snowmobile trail leader Aqujaq Qisiiq, also each took home a plane ticket, courtesy of Air Inuit, good for anywhere in Nunavik or to Montreal.

Musher Zachariasie Elijassiapik and one of the young partners Sammy Angnatuk also won each a parka, which will be custom-made for them by Nunavik Creations.

Congratulations to all!