Letter from the Editor

Working for Tusaayaksat Magazine and the Inuvialuit Communications Society has been an honour.

I grew up loving magazines and being attracted to the job for that reason, but I leave with my thoughts centred around the great people of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

Our drum dance issue was a joy to produce. I visited almost every community in the ISR and photographed and interviewed people performing on the land. They gave me my own personal shows, and the stories elders and others would tell after were just as remarkable as the dances. Most people can't even pay for those kinds of experiences.

Living in the Arctic gave me a lot to reflect on as a born-Vancouverite. I come away with envy of the connections people here have to their culture. I often wondered what my culture was - did we have songs and dances? Did we have a unifying way of life? Did we have a few crucial maxims around which we rallied and lived our lives?

Not really, if I'm honest. I grew up with Canadian values, but how that differs between Vancouver, Toronto and St. John's is unclear. I guess our cultural activity is hockey, or fishing? It's not as easy to identify as the culture in the North.

During my time at Tusaayaksat, I tried to keep my name out of the magazine to the extent I could. These are supposed to be Inuvialuit stories, not mine. I viewed myself as a microphone, not a director. I hope I achieved something close to that.

If there's one thing I believe the Arctic needs, it's a few more game-changers. A few more people who aren't scared of getting controversial or caught in the crossfire for speaking their mind. A few more radicals who will push back against the darker parts of life in the North.

Nowhere is perfect, and everyone here is aware of the problems behind closed doors. Only the light of truth can burn away those shadows, but not everyone can handle the risks of exposure. I met, interviewed and profiled many intelligent, inspired and inspiring people during my time here. There is no shortage of potential heroes in the Arctic, provided they are brave enough to fight.

Thank you for all of the hospitality, for sharing your stories, and for letting me take your pictures. It has been an unforgettable honour.

QUYANAINNI / THANK YOU, Stewart Burnett, Editor-in-Chief