After 12 days out on the land and sea ice of the eastern Hudson Bay coast since the start of Ivakkak 2009 in Inukjuak on March 25, the eighth edition of the dog team race ended today in Ivujivik, over 500 kilometres (300 miles) further up North. The excitement was at its peak on the sea ice in front of this northernmost community of Nunavik, and the province of Quebec, where the finish line was set up. The population of Ivujivik must have doubled this weekend, as people from all over Nunavik flew in or came by snowmobile to come and see the dog teams arrive from their great journey. It is not every day that Ivujivimmiut see dog teams pull in their community, as they have no dog team since the passing of their local legend, Nutaraaluk Iyaituk, a musher who used to participate in Ivakkak cheerfully every year. Emotions were therefore running high when the crowd saw the first dog team approach. Novalinga Novalinga of Puvirnituq was the first to cross the finish line, making him the new Ivakkak champion. Willie Cain Jr. of Tasiujaq, who was in the lead for the greater part of the race, came in second place overall, after losing ground to Novalinga in the past couple of days. The one-legged musher, Harry Okpik, of Quaqtaq, came in third place overall, and was greeted like the hero that he is when he arrived in Ivujivik. The fourth place was taken by another team from Puvirnituq, Peter Boy Ittukallak’s, who had the time of his life during this race. Also from Puvirnituq, Johnny Sivuaraapik, came in fifth place overall. His father, the late Tamusi Sivuraapik, who was Ivakkak’s first champion in 2001 and was probably watching over him during the race, would have been proud. With three teams from Puvirnituq in the top five, Puvirnitumiut definitely have something to be proud of! Within the lunch hour, most teams had made it to Ivujivik to cross the finish line (see results below). The last two teams to pull in, were those of Juusipi Qisiiq and Matthew Arngak, both from Kangiqsujuaq. With very tired dogs, the two mushers decided to put their dogs together and crossed the finish line as one, both on the same sled pulled by their 21 dogs, sharing their efforts and helping each other, as it is the tradition for Inuit. After some time to rest in the afternoon, the racers were treated to a community feast of country food, after which the Ivakkak 2009 closing ceremony was held (see details in full story). Congratulations to all of the dog teams that took part in another great edition of the Ivakkak dog team race!

Shortly after all the dog teams crossed the finish line, the people gathered around the Ivakkak 2009 racers to applaud all of them and celebrate this year’s champions with a medal ceremony, during which the Ivakkak Cup was handed to is new champion, Novalinga Novalinga, who was so happy that he kissed the trophy! To commemorate the end of the dog teams’ great journey during Ivakkak 2009, the participants were treated to a community feast of country foods, which the community had gathered especially for the occasion: seal meat, a delicacy of igunaq (fermented walrus meat), caribou, Arctic char and other fish, cooked or just plain good raw. And for desert, cakes were especially baked by community members participating in a cake contest, for which they had to decorate their cakes with the Ivakkak of dogsledding theme in mind.

After a good meal shared together and a dancing exhibition by a local dance troop, a closing ceremony was held, during which various well deserved awards and prizes were presented to the heroes of this year’s Ivakkak dog team race. Thanks to the generosity of the race’s loyal sponsors, everybody left with something, leaving no one empty handed:

The president of the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec (FCNQ), Mark Oqituk Amamatuaq, presented the Ivakkak 2009 champion, Novalinga Novalinga, with the first 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 Ivujivik, Adamie Mangiuk, representing the Inuit corporation that organizes this event for its people in Nunavik, then presented this year’s champion with a $7,000 cheque. The racing pair also received plane tickets to Montreal courtesy of Air Inuit, as well as hotel accommodations for two nights for two, courtesy of the Montreal-Trudeau Airport Travelodge in Dorval. A handmade parka and hat with Ivakkak written on it were also donated to Novalinga and his partner from Makivik Corporation board member Adamie Mangiuk.

The silver medallist, Willie Cain Jr., of Tasiujaq, received a $5,000 cheque from Makivik Corporation. Amongst the prizes to choose from, Willie and his racing partner, his cousin Joseph Cain, chose a pair of plane tickets to Montreal, courtesy of First Air, and one night for two at the Dorval Travelodge, as their prize. The pair was also presented with the Sportsmanship Award for their always fair play and genuinely good conduct with other dog teams.

The bronze medallist, Harry Okpik of Quaqtaq, received a cheque of $3,000 from Makivik, and chose an Iridium satellite phone of a value of $1,800, offered by the Kativik Regional Government’s Hunters Support Program as his prize. Harry was also presented with the Dedication Award, for the care with which he treats his dogs, for the dedication his young partner, Junior Tukkiapik, showed the one-legged musher during the race.

Drawings made by local grade school students were also presented to the mushers in the top three.

In fourth place, Peter “Boy” Ittukallak of Puvirnituq, received a $2,000 cheque from Makivik, and chose to take home an Arctic Cat EX2400 generator worth $1,800 offered by Nunavik Marine Supply Service. Peter “Boy” and his young partner Juani Nutaraaluk were also presented with the Fellowship Award, as they were always ready to land a helping hand to other teams in need.

In fifth place, Johnny Sivuaraapik of Puvirnituq,received a $1,500 cheque from Makivik and took home a beautiful handmade sealskin parka offered by Nunavik Creations, a subsidiary of the Makivik Corporation. The musher and his partner, Tommy Sallualuk, who had to work out their differences at the beginning of the race to become a great pair, were therefore presented with the Team Spirit Award.

Johnny, was also presented with a special award in the memory of his father, the late Tamusi Sivuaraapik, who was the first one to win Ivakkak, in 2001, leading the way for many other Inuit of the younger generations to follow in his footsteps and pursue the ancestral tradition of dog sledding. For this, the Tamusi Sivuraapik Award has been created and will be presented at each edition of the Ivakkak dog team race, to the musher who displays such traits. This year, it was presented to his son Johnny, for taking up his father’s dog team and keeping his legacy alive by participating in this year’s race with his father’s dogs.

The community of Ivujivik and its recreation committee also presented drawings made by local artist Qumaq Iyaituk of the late Tamusi Sivuaraapik, as well as of local legend, the late Nutaraaluk Iyaituk, who both used to participate in the Ivakkak dog team race each year.

Every other participating dog team was presented with a participation cash prizes from Makivik Corporation. The mushers hence left with $750 in their pockets and their partners with $500 cheque, for their efforts. Each team was also presented with a small trophy to take home with them: In sixth place, Johnny Arnatuk of Quaqtaq, was presented with the Most Improved Award, as the musher from Quaqtaq, who started out in eleventh place, finished the race in sixth place, just short of the top five, definitely an improvement from his prior performances in previous years.

In seventh place, Juusipi Qisiiq of Kangiqsujuaq, who started out in the top three, but whose young dogs tired out overtime, was presented with the Perseverance Award for the determination him and his partner, his little brother Paulie, showed in finishing the race no matter what.

The president of the Avataq Cultural Institute, Charlie Arngaq, also presented Juusipi with a $1,000 cheque, for the traditional way in which he uses his dog team,using them for going out hunting and fishing, instead of going by snowmobile like everybody else does nowadays.

In eighth place, Simeonie Elijassiapik and his son Arthur, of Inukjuak, were presented with the Congeniality Award, for always having a smile on even through tough times during the race, always happy just to be out with the rest of the pack.

In ninth place, Adamie Inukpuk of Inukjuak, was also proclaimed Veteran of the Year. At 65 years of age, Adamie not only still racing in Ivakkak since the beginning, but is also promoting the tradition of dogsledding to the younger generation of Inuit in his home community of Inukjuak, where he teaches Inuit culture. His young partner, Lizzie-Ann Kasudluak, also from Inukjuak, was presented with a Rookie of the Year trophy, for being one of the youngest participants. A beautiful painting made by a local artist Qumaq Iyaituk was also presented by Makivik board member Adamie Mangiuk to Lizzie-Ann, for being the first female to ever take part in Ivakkak. Lizzie-Ann’s mother, Eva Kasudluak, also presented Adamie Inukpuk with a beautiful pair of sealskin mitts that she made especially for him to thank him for giving her daughter this great opportunity.

In tenth place, Johnny Aakutaaq Angnatuk and his son Sammy, from Tasiujaq, were presented with the Award for Best Effort, for their active participation in this year’s dog team race.

In eleventh place, last but not least, Matthew Arngak of Kangiqsujuaq, who was the youngest musher taking part in this year’s race, was proclaimed Rookie of the Year. His partner, Tuniq Koneak, also from Kangiqsujuaq, was presented with a Team Spirit Award for the amazing support he provided his team-mate, in times of need.

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

Offered by First Air, two extra plane tickets from Kuujjuaq to Montreal and return, were drawn, one won by Peter Boy Ittukallak and the other by Race Coordinator Jobie Epoo.

Offered by Air Inuit, two extra plane tickets to anywhere in Nunavik and return, were drawn, one won by Johnny Sivuaraapik and the other by Aibilie Moses.

Gifts cards in the total value of $2,500 offered by the North West Company, which runs all Northern Stores in Nunavik, were also drawn amongst the racers and support crew. A $1,000 gift card was won by Novalinga Novalinga, two $500 gifts cards were won by Adamie Inukpuk and Junior Tukkiapik, and five $100 gift cards were won by Tuniq Koneak and Arthur Elijassiapik, as well as members of the support crew, Solomonie Alayco, Lucassie Echalook and Adamie Sivuaraapik.

Two SPOT tracking devices, offered by Qaujimautik Systems Inc., a company that offers safety and survival technologies of navigation and communication, were also drawn amongst the racers, and won by Johnny Aakutaaq Angnatuk and Lizzie-Ann Kasudluak.

A beautiful sealskin wall hanging of the Ivakkak logo made by Maggie Tooma Kulula during the Art Workshops that Makivik Corporation organizes was also offered to Isabelle Dubois, the Race Coordinator, to show organization’s, as well as the mushers’ and support crew’s appreciation of the hard work and many hours she has put in this race, as well as over the years, since the start of Ivakkak in 2001.

Various camping gear was also distributed to the mushers, offered by the Co-op of Inukjuak.

Come back and visit us again online in days to come, as photos of the Ivakkak 2009 dog team race will soon be posted in the photo gallery.