Ivakkak celebrates its fifth anniversary


This winter’s edition of the Ivakkak dog team race marks the fifth anniversary of the much-awaited annual event. No less than 18 of Nunavik’s best mushers will be competing for the Ivakkak cup this year. Preparations for the race are well underway with participating dog teams being flown at this very moment to Kangiqsualujjuaq, the region’s eastern most community and the February 28 starting point for the race. From there, the race itinerary will take these teams and their mushers around the southern coast of Ungava Bay, through Kuujjuaq and Tasiujaq, before they cross the finish line, 250 miles away, in Aupaluk. All in all, the race is expected to last for about eight days, depending on trail conditions and the weather.
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The Ivakkak dog team race was first inscribed in the annals of Nunavik history in 2001. Ever since, this annual event has been closely followed by all Nunavimmiut. Organized by the Makivik Corporation in an effort to revive this traditional Inuit way of travel and to re-introduce pure-bred huskies to Nunavik, Ivakkak is attracting more and more participants each year and generating as much enthusiasm among Nunavik’s youth as among the region’s Elders (refer to the section The Tradition under the heading A Look Back).

Compared with the first edition of this ever popular event in 2001, the number of participants in 2005 has doubled, clearly demonstrating a keen interest on the part of Inuit in Nunavik for the race and a growing number of dog team owners in the region.

Of course, Ivakkak would not have attained this success without the generous support of the various regional and local organizations, businesses and government agencies that sponsor the race each year in one way or another (refer to the section Sponsors).

For example, thanks to Nunavik’s airline, Air Inuit, participating dog teams are being transported at this very moment from their home communities to the starting line in Kangiqsualujjuaq. As of Saturday evening, it is expected that all the dog teams will have been settled on the sea ice in front of the village. (Air Inuit will also be returning all dogs and their masters to their home communities after the race ends in Aupaluk.)

As well, the communities to be visited during the course of the race have agreed to provide various meat and fish for the participating dogs, while the Federation of Co-operatives of Northern Quebec (FCNQ) will make available dry dog food at the over-night stops between the villages. For their part, the Co-op and Northern stores in the communities visited will make supplies available to the mushers and their support crews. Gas for the snowmobiles being used by the support crews will be donated by Shell Canada in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Halutik Fuel in Kuujjuaq, and the FCNQ Petro in Tasiujaq and Aupaluk.

Thanks to Ivakkak’s many sponsors, the 18 Inuit mushers (refer to the section Participants under the heading Race Coverage) competing in this year’s race have a chance to win many great prizes.

Not only will the Ivakkak 2005 champion take home with him the Ivakkak Cup, he will also be driving a brand new Polaris Trail Touring Deluxe (Edge Touring) worth $10,299 offered by the FCNQ, plus a cheque worth $3,500 from the Makivik Corporation, and a pair of return plane tickets offered by First Air or Air Inuit (depending on the community of departure) along with two nights free accommodation for two at the Travelodge in Dorval.

The musher of the dog team that finishes in second place will go home with an Arctic Cat 2500 Generator (retail value $2500) offered by Kuujjuaq Motosport, a cheque worth $2,500 from the Makivik Corporation, and a silver medal.

The bronze medalist will receive a Mystic Uniden VHF/GPS (retail value $1,500) offered by Umiak Builders and the Nayumivik Landholding Corporation of Kuujjuaq, and a $1,500 cheque from the Makivik Corporation.

The musher of the dog team that finishes in fourth place will be awarded an Equinox Big Boggan filled with camping gear that includes a Coleman stove and lantern, a Northern Expedition sleeping bag and a Bushline tarp (retail value $1,400) offered by the Northern Stores of Kuujjuaq, Kangiqsualujjuaq, Kangirsuk, Kangiqsujuaq and Salluit, as well as a cheque worth $1,000 from the Makivik Corporation.

But wait that’s not all! The fifth place dog team will receive a custom-made down parka (retail value of $650) made by the seamstresses of Nunavik Creations and a $500 cheque from the Makivik Corporation.

The Avataq Cultural Institute also plans to present a $500 veteran’s award to one of the Elders participating in the race in recognition of a great race performance.

Various other awards recognizing the racers’ special talents will also be presented at the closing celebrations in Aupaluk, ensuring that no one goes home empty-handed.

Good luck to all!

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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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