Tusaayaksat – Fall 2020

UKIUKRAQ FALL 2020 ANGUNIAQTUQ HARVESTING

ON THE COVER

Inuvialuk hunter and harvester Dean (Manny) Arey retrieves fsh from his net on the Peel River across from Alfred Semple’s camp in Akłarvik.

Letters From ICS

Publisher Inuvialuit Communications Society

Editor Jason Lau

Guest Editor Michelle Gruben

Art Director Kyle Natkusiak Aleekuk

ICS Manager Tamara Voudrach

Ofce Administrator Roseanne Rogers

EDITORIAL

Storytellers Kyle Natkusiak Aleekuk, Kayla

Nanmak Arey, Renie Arey, Charles Arnold, Brenda Benoit, Robyn Apiyuq Boucher, Corrine

(Kunana) Bullock, Bradley (Oukpak) Carpenter, Stephanie Charlie, Jennifer Costa, Frank

Dillon, Lillian Elias, Douglas Esagok, Nunga

Felix, Colin P. Gallagher, Alex Gordon, Richard Gordon, Michelle Gruben, Lisa Hodgetts/ILH, Jody Illasiak, Melvin Kayotuk, Allen Kogiak, Ellen V. Lea, Paden Lennie, Natasha Lyons/

ILH, Jonas Meyook Jr., Sarah Meyook McLeod, Shane Nakimayak, Stephanie Nigiyok, James Pokiak, Tyrone Raddi, Chris Ruben, Mardy Semmler/IWB, Tanis (Akutuq) Simpson, Billy Storr, J.D. Storr, Margaret Thrasher, Brian Wade, Kaitlyn Wilson/WMAC-NS.

Artists Kyle Natkusiak Aleekuk, Deeanna Benoit Smith, Caragh Crandell, Cora Devos, Nunga Felix, Hunter Franson, Taylor Ipana, Melvin Kayotuk, Mariah Lucas, Tom McLeod.

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Umoja Toronto, Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre (Beverly Amos, Ethel-Jean Gruben) on the Inuvialuktun Playing Cards project.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President, Iñuuvik Lucy Kuptana

VP, Tuktuuyaqtuuq Debbie Raddi

Treasurer, Uluhaktuuq Joseph Haluksit

Akłarvik Director Frederick Arey

Paulatuuq Director Denise Wolki

Ikaahuk (Sachs) Director Jean Harry

BUSINESS OFFICE

Inuvialuit Communications Society

292 Mackenzie Rd. / P.O. Box 1704

Inuvik, NT X

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Contact icsfnance@northwestel.net or phone +1 (867) 777-2320 to subscribe or renew. As of this issue, our prices are: $20 CAD (1 year) and $36 CAD (2 years). Find us also on Apple Books.

TUSAAYAKSAT IS FUNDED BY:

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

GNWT (Education, Culture and Employment)

UBLAAMI! We are pleased to present you with the Fall 2020 Hunting and Harvesting issue of Tusaayaksat Magazine, guest edited by Akłarvik’s Michelle Gruben. Tis issue is special because it reminds us of where we draw strength from in difcult times—tamainni (all the land). We traverse stories from Inuvialuit who use the land and animals fully and completely for sustenance, tools, clothing, income, and art. Aarigaa!

With the holiday season upon us, we begin looking inward and giving thanks for all that we have and all that is to come in the new year. We reflect on the challenges these past 12 months, and there have been many! I would encourage you to be kind to yourself when you think back on this year. Celebrate every win—no matter how small. We as a community cannot expect to be running at full capacity, or demand "excellence" during this time. With so many around the world and now here at home who are struggling, we need to be as empathetic and compassionate with each other as possible. Nukuuyukkun

In honor of the new generations of hunters and harvesters to come, I will end with a photo of my irniq on his first spring hunting trip in Ikaahuk. Liam Elanik—nunami!

Celebrate our land, the fortunes of its bounty and life-giving abilities, and celebrate our people.

Quyanainni, Quviasuglusi Qitchirvingmi, Nutaami Ukiumi Quviasuglusi! Tank you, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

TAMARA VOUDRACH MANAGER, INUVIALUIT COMMUNICATIONS SOCIETY

nunami tamainni (Peace on Earth)!

THANK YOU FOR TAKING the time to read the latest publication of Tusaayaksat. ICS is pleased to ofer the Hunting & Harvesting edition of the magazine. Tis edition is produced by the hard work and creativity of Tusaayaksat Editor, Jason Lau and Guest Editor, Michelle Gruben of Akłarvik Hunters and Trappers Committee (AHTC).

Michelle is an exceptional AHTC Resource Person in Akłarvik. She is actively engaged in advocacy for Inuvialuit hunters and harvesters, and is also IRC’s representative on the NWT Water Stewardship – Aboriginal Steering Committee.

We feature many harvesters both full-time and part-time, and of course could not feature all, so are planning a subsequent edition in 2021. I hope you enjoy the profiles and stories; I am happy to see several harvesters have agreed to be interviewed, as most Inuvialuit are reluctant to speak about themselves at all.

Today we are living in a society where a lot of food is store-bought, like the flour in your cupboard and tea on the table—but nothing can replace tuktu, qilalugaq, and iqalukpik. Nothing can be so fresh as aqpiit or kimmingnat picked right from the land. Tis is harvesting and hunting.

As we continue to enjoy the abundance of the land, let's respect it as well. I am disheartened to see a lot of garbage left on the land; we should all make every efort to bring back our trash. Teach our children to bring back their garbage as well. Tis land is yours and the responsibility lies within you to be its guardian.

As we reach the Holiday season I want to wish each and every one of

you a very peaceful and enjoyable Christmas season with lots of rest and gratitude for the good country we live in, and the opportunity to live a peaceful existence in a strong democracy. Let’s appreciate the opportunities we could have, and the life that can be lived if we choose to do so.

I leave you with a picture of me and my mom Phyllis out at our bush camp in the Mackenzie Delta living our best life, taken in 1975.

Be safe and stay healthy during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Quviasuglusi

Qitchrivingmi!

LUCY KUPTANA PRESIDENT, INUVIALUIT COMMUNICATIONS SOCIETY

SHOWING OFF YOUR AUYAQ SUMMER 2020

Amber-Joy Gruben @adjg12

Jasmine Ruben Karla Kuptana @karlaraekuptana Tanis Blake @blakers.04

"Hoping to inspire some kids to go to post-secondary school! If I can do it, so can you! Take advantage of all the Inuvialuit funding we get—the opportunities are endless! If any of y’all have any questions about my experience, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be happy to be a mentor for you." —Amber-Joy Gruben

NEVER SAY DIE ALWAYS SAY DEADLY

My name is Michelle Gruben. I’m originally from Tuktuuyaqtuuq, but I moved to Akłarvik maybe 25 years ago, when I was a young teenager. I’ve been living in Akłarvik for all these years since.

I grew up with my parents Roger and Winnie Gruben in Tuk. I learned a lot of respect from them and my grandparents—my ataatak Willie Gruben, and my anaanak Helen Gruben. They provided encouraging words and traditional knowledge when I was younger; my jitjii and jijuu did the same.

In Tuk, we used to always go geese hunting and fshing in the spring with my dad and my uncles like Bigman (Robert Gruben) and Dang (Patrick Gruben). They always took me out. When I was a young girl growing up, I was not scared of things. I loved going to Shingle to go fshing, because it all just reminds me Tuk—just on the other side, the ocean. I loved going to Shingle to cut fsh, just to see the landscape, to see no willows. Growing up in Tuk there’s no willows—no nothing. Moving into the Delta, it’s diferent, but I learned to love this community of Akłarvik.

I think I’m lucky to have this job as Resource Person with the Akłarvik Hunters and Trappers Committee (AHTC). I had just happened to go to the store one day and I saw the job posting; closing date was the day I went to the store. That was in March 2009… and I’m still here at Akłarvik HTC, October 2020!

I have much respect for the land, from what I was taught from my anaanak and ataatak, my

MICHELLE GRUBEN, GUEST EDITOR

parents, and my in-laws. I have much respect for the animals, the land, the water. We need to treat this area with respect for our future generations. When I look at our future generations, I think of my nieces and nephews and their kids they’re gonna have down the road. We still have to provide for those kids in the future—it could be 100 years from now.

As Inuvialuit, we are strong people. We always help one another, and I think that’s my rule here at AHTC: to help [and] assist other members of the community. I’m not here for myself, I’m not here for things I wanna get done. I’m here for what the membership here in Akłarvik or in the other ISR communities [wants]. ‘Cause we all have to work together to get things done properly. So that’s part of the reason I just love my AHTC job. Sometimes I might be stern and whatever, but I think I learned that from my anaanak

I also sit on some other co-management boards as an Inuvialuk representative, keeping in mind all opportunities for Inuvialuit within the ISR.

If it wasn’t for COVID-19, this ofce would’ve been busy with people coming. It’s good to see all these emails and biographies that our people are sending [in]. I’m happy that [we are] gonna put out this Harvesting issue and to focus on Akłarvik, ‘cause that’ll be (gotta use my famous word) deadly! I’m honoured to be part of this Harvesting issue. I’m honored someone thought of my name and I just wanna continue to be the person I am by helping the membership.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank ICS for giving me this opportunity to be Guest Editor. I enjoyed it! As I always say… Stay deadly!

Allen Kogiak

GUARDIAN OF THE LAND, WATER, AND ANIMALS

My name is Allen Kogiak. I was born in Iñuuvik and pretty much raised up here in Akłarvik. See, I’ve always been out on the land trapping, and I was pretty much a full-time trapper back in the mid 80s, trapping with my uncle Buster McLeod in Iñuuvik.

We had a pretty good operation for trapping. So, I was doing that and then the prices started to go down. To me, it kinda didn’t seem like a viable option for future, so I left around ’86— that was the last time I trapped.

So, I went back to school back in early 90s at Arctic College in Fort Smith. I only had a Grade 9 education, so I couldn’t really get into whatever I wanted. I took pre-employment mechanics because at that time I was really interested in mechanics, and still am. I was also always on the land, passionate about our animals, our land, our environment, and keeping it clean—so I decided I’d try and take the Renewable Resource Technology program. Tey told me I needed pretty much Grade 12 and really high marks in science.

I really worked hard there. Man… I just gave ‘er! I worked as hard as I could and at the end of the year, after my exams, everything—I came

out pretty much on top of what I needed. Ten I applied and got into the Renewable course. Tat was a really tough course I tell you— you have to be dedicated 100% if you want to do something like that. And I wanted it, so I worked hard. Tere were lots of really tough courses like entomology and zoology… basically anything ending with ‘-ology’, you’re studying!

I graduated, but along the way when I was in college, I wanted to make my name and my face known—that this is what I was passionate about. I got my foot into the door with various federal agencies and other non-governmental organizations that deal with the environment, the land, and animals. During my first year in

Renewable, I went to work for Wood Bufalo National Park as a Visitor Activities Ofcer, where I was taking tourists out to look at bison and interpreting diferent stuf in the park.

While I was in that role, I went upstairs and introduced myself to the Warden Service, sat down with them, and told them what I was doing, and what all my interests were. Te second year, when I graduated, we had my convocation ceremonies on the Friday, and by Monday I was wearing a uniform—a full-fledged Park Warden for Wood Bufalo National Park!

From there, I met one of my co-worker’s dad; he was district manager for Indian and Northern Afairs in Fort Smith. He mentioned they would be creating another position for a LandUse and Water Inspector and asked if I would be interested in something like that. I said, “Yeah, I would!” Tat’s what I wanted to do—to be in a position where I can protect my land. And when I say, ‘my land’, I mean all our land in the NWT. It’s our land; we all have to protect it.

I met with two guys: Floyd Adam was one of them (he was the big head honcho of the whole

Indian and Norther Afairs of all the NWT), and Rudy Cockney at the time was the district manager for Iñuuvik. I got all gussied up—dressed up real nice—expecting a huge interview for such an awesome position with the federal government, but we just sat around having cofee and talking all morning!

Rudy said, “Well, when can you move?” And I said, “Well, I need at least 2 weeks to put my notice in.” He said, “Okay, well, 2 weeks from now the movers will come to your house.”

Sure enough, 2 weeks later, boy, we were on the plane to Iñuuvik and I was happy because I had left home in 1986. I got on with Indian and Northern Afairs as a Land Use Inspector.

After that, I promised my wife that we’d be in Iñuuvik [for only 5 years], ‘cause she’s from the Yellowknife/North Slave region, and she wanted to go home. 5 years went by just like a blink of an eye. Keeping my promise, we left, and I went to Yellowknife and ended up working at the mines. Ten, from there, I moved to Tulita for about 5 years, then back to Iñuuvik, then here in Akłarvik.

THE MEANING OF MUNAQSIYIT

"It's like: Guardian. You see, I think throughout the world, there’s this 'Guardian' program. Not only Inuvialuit have it; there's places in other countries like Australia. There are 'guardianships' all over, doing the same thing as what I'm doing. It’s not only us—it's almost every culture. Some BC Indigenous peoples have the same thing. There's all over like this, and it's important because it gives us a heads-up for you to have somebody there in case something happens [to] make sure things get rectifed and reclaimed. So, it's awesome, man." —Allen Kogiak (Photo from Joint Secretariat – Inuvialuit Settlement Region)

MUNAQSIYIT MONITOR

When I got home, I started working as an employment ofcer upstairs for Akłarvik Community Corporation for about 2 or 3 years. Last year, I seen the ad for this position, Munaqsiyit Monitor. And it sounded good! Just right down my alley because it’s a position where I can be a part of protecting my land—and this is my land here in Akłarvik, the Delta. Tis is our land; this is where I grew up. Tis is where I learned to trap and fish.

So, I applied on this position. I wasn’t the first choice, I'll tell you that—but it was eventually offered to me. I signed on Oct 20th of last year, 2019. Now, I’m in a position to be able to play a pretty big part in protecting our land. Once I got hired on, they brought us all for training and I took this community-based monitoring program.

Tere is one Munaqsiyit Monitor in each of the ISR communities. As a Munaqsiyit Monitor, I am the eyes and ears for our people, for the land. I look after and look out for the land, the animals, the water, the environment. Any problems or any concerns in those areas, people will come to me or they’ll call the HTC ofce.

CURRENT WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In the past, during jiggling season there were always people leaving fish behind, leaving mess behind. Last year when I got hired on, I said I’m gonna be monitoring all these sites. We got Jackfish Creek right across from here, we go up the Akłarvik River a little ways, you got Mar-

tin’s and a little further is Jim Firth. You come back this way, you head up North towards the coast, you go to Six Miles, and also to my granny Martha Dick's. Tat’s where pretty much the fishing areas are, for jiggling. People always left fish, you know. So, I put signs up to remind people not to leave messes behind at those sites and I’ll patrol them.

I also monitor the ice road with Max Kotokak. He’s our other Munaqsiyit Monitor in Iñuuvik. So, we meet up half ways just before you get to Mackenzie—just passed Clovis and Darlene’s camp on the road. We meet up there checking for garbage, accidents, or if somebody broke down. It could be anything. And last year, when they were doing gravel haul, there was lots of problems with vehicle breakdowns. Holy, man, talk about huge oil spills! When they break down, antifreeze spills. Antifreeze is the worst because if an animal sees it, they lick that antifreeze as it kind of tastes sweet to them. So, they keep ingesting it because it tastes good— but it's poisonous, bad for them.

As a Munaqsiyit Monitor,

I am the eyes and ears for our people, for the land. I look after and look out for the land, the animals, the water, the environment.

When hunters and trappers notice something that’s out of the ordinary when going out, they know they can contact me and make sure we do something about it—or we get the right, proper authorities to go out there. As soon as they see something on the road, they’ll call me up right away or message me on Facebook and say, “Hey, Allen, you should check this out. Tere’s a truck broken down. Look like a big huge spill or whatever underneath.” If I know it wasn’t there yesterday, I jump in my car and take of. I always have my camera—I got to take pictures and recordings. I’ll document everything on paper and do reports. Tis way I can get it right of to the NWT Spill Line. Once you get it to them, it’s out of your hands and those guys will contact the proper authorities and something will be done.

Another thing, too, is: say if somebody broke down, they know to call me. I got my Ski-Doo here and everything all ready. I just gotta keep gas handy in case something happens late at night. Ten I can just fire up my Ski-Doo and go pick up somebody or look for somebody. So, yeah, my job is wide open—but mostly we’re looking after the environment and the animals.

A GREAT JOB STARTS WITH EDUCATION

I love my job. It’s something I'm passionate about. Another thing I'm really passionate about too is our environment—with global warming, climate change. I always try to keep up to date with that.

Any chance I can get to go to these conferences is really important to me because we’re going through quite a bit here in Akłarvik. Especially with thawing permafrost, because the whole town is on [it]. Now it’s turning to water—but what happens after that? Tere’s no more stability. Te damage is done. It’s taking place and there no stopping it. Tere’s nothing we can do. Here in Akłarvik, our roads used to be solid and now it’s water [and] not solid anymore. Houses are shifting; banks are eroding really fast. Once that ice pops out and it’s exposed to the outside environment (like the air, sun, heat), there’s no stopping that from slumping too.

Tis is stuf that’s really important to me; I'm really happy I am in this position. It's awesome and you get to travel on the land. It gives me a good opportunity to be out and mostly to protect our land—that’s the best thing. Te main

thing is: our land is important because it provides for us. It provides food, it provides shelter, and everything. We have to really be diligent and keep our land clean as much as we [can]. Our animals as well—we have to manage ‘em well.

I have done a lot of things, I worked in various jobs along the way—but my passion was always trying to protect the land and get a job like that. All this was made possible through my education. Tere was hard work and sacrifices, but it paid of. Te places I’ve been, the training I've received, the people I’ve met… it's awesome and I get to protect our land. I started with my education. I mean—I worked hard, and I stress that to kids today. With your education, you might have to give up a few sacrifices. You might have to go away from home, but it’s gonna make you a better and stronger person. If you're like me and you get your education in something you’re passionate about, then you do something your passionate about. You’re gonna go far and do it good.

The Munaqsiyit Program was launched on October 19, 2019. Monitors throughout the ISR have been hired for the program “as the eyes and ear of the land”. They include: Max Kotokak Sr. (Iñuuvik HTC); Frank Wolki (Paulatuk HTC); Allen J. Kogiak (Akłarvik HTC); and Ron Kallak (Uluhaktok HTC). Sachs Harbour and Tuktoyaktuk HTC Munaqsiyit Monitor positions are both vacant. The crew holds responsible duties that include going out on-feld, collecting and observing data, and connecting a communication gap for Western Science and Traditional Knowledge. The program is growing and is always encouraging more Inuvialuit participants. (Words by Joint Secretariat – Inuvialuit Settlement Region)

Brian Wade

BEING IN BALANCE WITH THE UNIVERSE

My name is Brian Wade. I am 35 years old. I have been married to my wife Carmen Wade for 7 years and we have been together for 14 years. We have two beautiful children: Abigael, who is 11, and River, who is 2. My mother is the late Lena Gruben, and my father is Ron Wade.

I was raised by a single mother, visiting my dad down South only for a few weeks every year. My mother and I lived in numerous places throughout my childhood, which included Yellowknife and Iñuuvik. We moved away from Iñuuvik to Calgary when I was 11 years old because my mother wanted me to pursue a higher quality of education. I later moved back to Iñuuvik when I was 21 years old, following the oil patch work. At this point in my life, I was a city boy through and through. I knew nothing about hunting and the land. I always enjoyed fishing, which kept me somewhat connected.

Living in Calgary throughout my teen years meant I sacrificed the crucial years of learning how to hunt, navigate, and be out on the land— the years when boys usually get their first caribou, or learn to call geese. All of this was sacrificed because I was away from the North, and away from my older cousins and uncles who would have taught me.

When I moved back to Iñuuvik and established myself in my early 20s, I had a job, family, and children, but I felt like I was still miss-

ing a part of me. I tried filling that void with alcohol and weekend fun. Tis only made the emptiness worse. It wasn’t until I was 30 years old that my wife surprised me with my own snow machine. Tis gave me the tool I needed to go out and explore. I recall sitting there looking at a map, remembering key location points, and taking of—no fears, excited to be out on the land. Now that I look back, I may have been a little naïve to the dangers, but it all worked out in the end. I stayed on the main trails and learned them, the bearings, lakes, and rivers first. Once I learned the main trails, I was set. From there, I learned the fishing seasons: when to fish for loche, coney, and lake trout. Tis gave me fulfillment that I had never felt before. I remember my first trip to Sitidgi Lake 45km east of Iñuuvik, and thinking how cool it was to be that far out of town, with nobody around, and having the whole lake to myself.

Once I had the fishing figured out, I wanted to learn to hunt. For one whole year—all four seasons—I tailed one of my older cousins: learning the harvest seasons, knowing what to look for, how to read tracks, and how to process our kills. For giving me the knowledge and taking the time to teach me, I will always be grateful to him. He gave me the gift of providing for my family, and skills I can pass down to my children. I remember the first moose I killed by myself. My mind went blank. I completely forgot

A good hunter doesn’t envy anybody, or get jealous of anybody else’s catch; instead, they encourage and congratulate each other because there’s an understanding that everybody gains if we all share with each other.

how to gut and process the animal! Luckily, instinct kicked in and I was able to quarter it.

In my opinion, a good hunter or harvester is someone who understands the cycle of life. Te animals and fish that are sacrificed to nourish and feed our people. A good harvester is someone who not only hunts for their immediate family, but hunts for anybody in their community. A good harvester doesn’t get caught up on the -30oC weather, but understands that people are hungry and need the meat, sacrificing their frost-bitten cheeks to fill freezers. A good hunter doesn’t envy anybody, or get jealous of anybody else’s catch; instead, they encourage and congratulate each other because there’s an understanding that everybody gains if we all share with each other.

Let’s fast forward 5 years: my wife, children, and I love being out on the land. We built our own cabin out at Imaryuk (Husky Lakes). We eat only meat that we have harvested. For over 2 years we have not bought meat from the stores! Our diet consists of moose, caribou, geese, and fish. We have a respect for the land and the animals we share our land with. It is very important to us that we learn together and explore as a family. I make every efort to teach River and Abigael everything I know and everything I learn. My wife Carmen gives me the time I need to harvest, and the support I need when I fail. I have a great job that supports this lifestyle we live. I am truly grateful for all who are in my life.

I enjoy giving out what I harvest. It gives a purpose to going out and harvesting. Te smiles and gratuity you receive when you give someone meat or fish is rewarding; you gain a sense of accomplishment. I try to give to the Elders, single mothers, and people who don’t have the ability to go out and harvest first. If somebody asks, though, I will never say no. I was taught to give the Elders the “golden goodies” like the tongue and heart, and to give away clean meat without hair, not the wounded meat.

Having the tools, guns, supplies, and gas to go out and enjoy these activities isn’t cheap. Te initial cost of buying these machines is outrageous, and then there is maintenance and upkeep on top of that. It takes a lot of creativity to aford these luxuries. My wife and I have come up with a few ways to support our adventures. One of these ideas was selling battered fish

plates made from local fish. I go and ice fish, set net, or rod and reel for the fish, then fillet and cook it. My wife cooks the sides and does deliveries. We make the batter and tartar from scratch. It has worked up to this point, and people seem to really like it. Te other way we supplement the costs is by selling moose dry meat. I was never traditionally taught to cut and make dry meat; I just picked up a knife and started slicing. I like the traditional taste of it, so I just use salt and hang until it is dried. Once again, people seem to like it. Being creative is key to being able to go out and enjoy our land. Times have changed—you cannot just up and go. It takes financial planning and a lot of resources to make a trip possible.

If COVID-19 has afected us in any way, it has given us more time away from town. It has secured funding from the governments to give everyone the means to go out on the land. Tis has encouraged us to spend more time out there. We love being on the land. It doesn’t even matter what we are doing—exploring, hunting, fishing, or just spending time in our cabin. Te life we live in town is only so we can have the means to live our life out on the land. I love the sites we have seen, the memories we have made, and the lessons I’ve been taught. I am grateful to my mother for raising me to be the man I am today, my family for being beside me no matter what, and my Inuvialuit culture that guides and teaches me daily.

Being an Inuvialuk, and feeling the fulfillment from being out harvesting, travelling—I would encourage everybody to try and get away from town as much as possible. Our ancestors travelled and socialized together, living of the land, living among the animals, and having a balance with the universe. Tis is what is ingrained in our souls. Te land heals all wounds and helps sort a confused mind.

Our land—the ISR—is so vast. At a glance it could seem so empty, but if you stop, look, and listen to it, it will feed your body, your soul, and your mind.

Margaret Thrasher

CARRYING ON MY FATHER'S KNOWLEDGE FOR THE FUTURE

My name is Margaret Trasher. I reside in Iñuuvik, but am originally from Tuktuuyaqtuuq, NT. I was raised in Tuktuuyaqtuuq with my family of 8—my dad, mom, four sisters, and one brother.

As far as I can remember, at the age of 5 years old, I can reminisce of when I first started learning and watching my parents harvest our traditional foods. My dad, Lawrence Trasher, was a very well-known fisherman in Tuktuuyaqtuuq. He had dedicated most of his time and daily routine to his fishing in the summer and fall seasons. Tere were times when he and my mom would take us down to the smoke house where they would both cut and hang dryfish. Oh, how I

miss those memories to this day! My dad would take fish to Elders of Tuk and those who needed the food. His wise words always come back to me. He would say, “Help and always give to Elders.” I am thankful for watching them and learning by their side. If it weren’t for them passing on the Traditional Knowledge, I would not know how to harvest the whitefish today. Now I do the same as they did: make dryfish, give to Elders, and teach my children—or just let them watch and play.

I had grown to love to harvest a second traditional animal during the late fall seasons of September. We would head to our fall/spring camp known as Galiptut (shallow waters). Tere,

Me at the age of 18-19 years old on the land hunting; me and my dad beside our smokehouse; our camp Galiptut (shallow waters) outside of Tuk.

My dad cutting whitefsh at a fsh-cutting contest; my recent photo of a jumbo whitefsh I had cut up; my daughters helping down at the harbour, fxing our table for fsh.

I would hunt our ‘wavies’ [snow geese] and speckled belly geese— better known as yellowlegs. Tis I had learned from my late father, Lawrence, at the early age of about 12 years old. I can remember I had started shooting the 410 then. I mostly used the 410 to practice on closerange geese and until I got the hang of shooting guns; then, I switched to 20-gauge shotgun. Ever since the first day I learned to shoot geese, I was hooked. I loved to help harvest for my mom and dad, and still do to this day. I had not only learned to shoot, but also watched my mother make geese dinners—plucking, gutting, and cutting the goose every way to make soups and roasts. I hope to pass

on the knowledge in my memory to my children, as they now watch and learn from me when I prepare foods and cook. My most memorable time would be watching my parents cut up both fish and geese to prepare them for our dinner. Now, I show my kids the exact same routine as my parents had shown me.

Honestly, I think that’s what makes a good harvester and hunter: having the patience and the will to learn, and to listen to those who can show you how to prepare and harvest our traditional animals. To this day, I know how important it is and how much it means to our way of life. It is how we survive, how we live, and it’s a part of who we are as Inuvialuit. Our El-

ders have left us to pass on what we know, from making foods and clothes to not wasting anything we harvest. We were taught to not waste our animals and foods. Tat is one thing I'll remember that my dad told me: "If you kill it, then you will eat it, so don’t kill animals for fun. We don’t waste food.” I took that very seriously. If you harvest and you cannot use something, then give it away to those who can make use of it.

With my knowledge, I try my best today to help my mother and others. Tis past summer of 2020, I finally had the time to make dryfish and harvest for my mom. We sure had fun. We also took my daughters to the same spot where I used to play

at their age. We would collect wood for fire, fix tables for cutting fish, cut, dry and hang fish, as well as have picnics. It made my heart full of joy and happiness because I know how much I loved to play on that Tuk beach as a kid, and now my kids enjoy it. Eight years have come and gone since my dad passed, but with his knowledge carried on, I can still hear his words and see him harvesting fish and geese. I'd like to say thank you Dad and Mom for showing me how to live our ways of life. I am very grateful and very thankful.

One thing I'll remember that my dad [Lawrence Trasher] told me: "If you kill it, then you will eat it, so don’t kill animals for fun. We don’t waste food.” I took that very seriously. If you harvest and you cannot use something, then give it away to those who can make use of it.

Melvin Kayotuk

CAPTURING THE BEAUTY OF THE LAND

I’ll never forget what my parents taught me: animals are our life and food.

I grew up in Akłarvik, NT. My early memories are of West Channel hunting visitors from other camps in the early 80s. All camps were flown to on airplanes—I was just a kid then. My earliest hunting experience was shooting a caribou with a 3030. My dad and his friends helped me—it was a very exciting time. My dad, my late brother Lawrence, and I would also go to the coast every year to hunt polar bears. I miss those days. My parents have since passed away from cancer.

My dad would always talk about Prudhoe Bay, so I moved to Kaktovik, Alaska in ’96 to work at an oilfield. It was the best experience of my life; I was known to my employer as the toughest [person] they ever saw!

I now have spinal stenosis, which prevents me from working. I missed the oilfield dearly, so my friend Steve and I started a tour company taking people to see the polar bears. We get people from all over the world—we even took a few Canadians.

I was always intrigued by photography, but never got into it until we purchased a couple of Nikon cameras last year. I’ve since taken a lot of photographers to see polar bears. I now love

to photograph our polar bears and anything else that shows our beautiful land. I know what it’s like now—photography is very interesting!

We now live with COVID-19. My parents would have never known if they were still alive—they would have still lived in the bush! Because of COVID-19, we’ve lost all of our clients this year—which afected me and my business hard. It’s not just about the money, but about taking people to see the bears. COVID-19 also afected my family hard. We would travel to Akłarvik to visit every year, but now we are not sure how long it will be before our next visit.

We have to respect our Elders. Tey are the ones that teach us to know where to go and hunt. I’ll never forget what my parents taught me: animals are our life and food. It makes me feel really good to be a good hunter and to respect the land. I’m very, very sorry for our young people; they need to get out more. Tey still do, but things are very, very diferent now. We used to visit Elders a lot. It is very important to show the young people how to properly harvest food from the land and talk about weather changes.

We are now in a diferent world, but I will continue to take my pictures of the land.

This photo is of my late brother Lawrence Kayotuk and a walrus skull we found, captured years ago. It had gone under a giant iceberg and we never seen it again, until maybe ten years later. I found it on the beach not too far away from where we set it. This was my best fnd ever.

Shane Nakimayak

HUNTING AND HARVESTING ARE IN OUR BLOOD

Hello, my name is Shane Nakimayak. I am 33 years of age, and I am from Paulatuuq, Northwest Territories. I have 3 kids—my daughter, Sophia (the eldest at 8), and my two boys, Glen and Devon (2 and 1).

Growing up, I was always out with my grandparents, who adopted me at a young age. Te most memorable time in my life was when my grandfather made us a home in the treeline (Bekere Lake Lodge), neighbours to Lac Rondevue (owned by Billy and Eileen Jacobson).

Before the cut of of hunting caribou for sport, we were always out from August to October. Tose were the best 3 months anyone could ask for if you loved being out on the land—especially if it was in the treeline.

My first encounter with animals was with caribou when they were migrating North one year. We jumped in our boat with a 25-horsepower Mercury and waited for them to start crossing the lake. We watched for at least an hour before the sport hunters made their choice, so we let them pass until the chosen tutku were far in the lake. From there on, it was easy

picking. Tis would happen a few times more as we had multiple hunts going. I was too young to help with the meat, but as I watched, my grandfather taught me how it was done step-by-step—never missing a moment. Seeing all the parts that came out of the caribou was a big mystery to me, like the bible, kidneys, heart, and liver, so I had questions all day for my grandfather! He said that these are the parts that make a good meal—not just the meat and fat—so eat what you think you can. If not, someone else might want it.

My current relationship with the animals is very respectful and caring. I’m out on the land every season, starting with geese hunting, char fishing in our big lakes, whale hunting up North of home (which I just got hooked on), then in the fall for caribou for a few months until freezeup, then up the river for char again.

Hunting and fishing here never stop! If you want to be a good hunter, listen to what the Elders have to say about the land and the animals because their advice is crucial to the next generations. Nothing has changed about the land and how

Family photos of Bekere Lake Lodge when outfitting was at its prime; my daughter Sophia Mae Krengnektak.

hunting is done, so again, listen to the Elders. We don’t have much of them now who paved the way for our future.

If I was asked if COVID-19 afected my hunting and fishing, I would say no because if you’re out on the land, you’re most likely to be safe and sound as long as you have heat, food, and water.

My advice for future hunters and harvesters is to just be out there whenever you can, because it’s the biggest part in our tradition and culture. It’s in our blood and, most of all, it’s our way of life. Some may want to go to college or find a new place to live. I went through this in my teens but realized that I was meant to be here with my grandparents where my whole life was spent. Still today I’m living those days over and over, which I also want my kids to do as well, because living this world today, there is no use leaving home [in the North] when isolation is not a bad idea.

So, take care of the land and the ocean, and they will provide you with a blessing of good country foods... quyanainni and have a good winter my fellow Inuvialuit!

My advice for future hunters and harvesters is to just be out there whenever you can, because it’s the biggest part in our tradition and culture. It’s in our blood and, most of all, it’s our way of life.

Nunga Felix

DRAWING, STUDYING, AND HUNTING ANIMALS

I was born in Iñuuvik on June 18th, 1998 and was raised in Tuktuuyaqtuuq. Tere’s no other place like home where I would have wanted to be brought up.

I first started fishing and hunting when I was 8 years old; that’s when I started working with fish, watching my uncle Chris cut fish down at our smokehouse, and make pipsi (dryfish). I would have always gone to see if there would be any conies for me to practice on to try and learn how to cut fish. After that, that’s when I knew that I would be working on fish every year; I knew how to work and clean the fish later through the years!

Goose hunting is another thing that I love to do. When it comes to hunting geese in the spring, I spend most of my spring living out on the coast. Goose is one of my favourite country foods that I harvest of the land for myself, my family, and others who can’t hunt. I got my first gun when I was 9 years old, and that same year, I started hunting geese with my uncle Chris. He also showed me how to hunt seals and drive boats.

Te year I turned 18, I finally got the chance to go caribou hunting. I caught up to some other hunters, and they said that the caribou

weren’t too far from where we were. I followed one of the hunters about 35-40 miles away from town to where the caribou were. When we got to the caribou herd, I did not know what to shoot—bull or cow—so I watched my partner to see what he shot. After he got his caribou, I started to shoot the one that I thought I could; I managed to get 6 caribou for my first time hunting them. After we gathered our caribou on the lake, I watched as my partner skinned and butchered them. Since it was my first time hunting caribou, I did not know how to skin. After he was done skinning two caribou, I started on my own and got the hang of it after my second one—with a bit of help and guidance. Ever since that day, I have loved hunting caribou and working with the meat.

I’m very happy with what I’ve learned through the past years! I’ve travelled with many people growing up—I picked up a lot of diferent hunting skills and a lot about the land. I’m very thankful for those who took their time to teach me everything that I know today. With what I’ve learned, I can now pass it on to our younger generation of future hunters and providers for the community.

I usually just use what comes to mind when I’m going to draw, and I always study the animals closely and get a good look at the animals. Tat way I would know the look and form of what I’m going to draw.

I mainly work on fish during the long summer. Ten, when fall and winter arrive, that’s when I’m busy hunting caribou. I hunt caribou in the fall time before freeze-up so that we’ll have enough meat to last us until wintertime comes. Ten, I harvest the caribou throughout the winter for myself, my family, friends, and Elders. When spring arrives, that’s when I start to hunt and prepare geese for the summer and coming winter. I am now the main provider for our family, and I always try to think of others who may not be able to hunt, or single parents in need of help.

Te thing I love about hunting is that I know my family, friends, and others will be eating well. It’s really hard for our people to not have our taste of food from the land. Growing up, our country food is usually our main food that we eat. I will always try my best to help others in any way possible; that’s just the way I was brought up. “Always share and help others no matter what, sharing is caring!”

To be a hunter and provider, it takes a lot of years until you know every hunting and sur-

vival skill, as well as the landmarks. It takes a lot of learning and listening to be a hunter [and/or] provider. I don’t look at myself as the best hunter or tell anyone that I’m better than them. We are all equal—that’s how I look at hunting or being a harvester.

Tis year, with COVID-19, I thought that it was going to be difcult to go out on the land, but it really created a lot of opportunities, like funding for gas and food. I have never seen so many people out camping during the winter and spring before, which was a good thing, because it kept a lot of people away from town. Having all of these seasonal on-the-land programs throughout the year makes it easy for our youth to get the chance to learn our traditional and cultural ways of living, as well as survival skills for the future when they do start to go hunting on their own. It puts a big smile on my face when I see our younger generation wanting to take their time to learn and wanting to be out on the land more.

To be a hunter, it takes a lot of years until you know every hunting and survival skill, as well as the landmarks.

Jonas Meyook Jr. THE WOLF WHISPERER

My name is Jonas Meyook Jr., from Akłarvik. My father was Jonas Meyook Sr. from Alaska and my mother was from here. I just like hunting—I’ve done it all my life with my parents and other people like Tom Arey Jr., Bob McKenzie, and my brothers.

My father started hunting along the coastline from Alaska to here, but mainly from Herschel Island to Shingle, Running River, into town here, and up in the mountains. He hunted down to the coast where it’s all flat country. He said that’s where he could see his animals, and then track and chase his animals. So, that's how I got into hunting. I ended up staying down at Herschel Island for a few years with Bob Mackenzie and others, coming back with my relatives, like Tom Arey. From there on, I started hunting on

my own and working for a while. Once I got a Ski-Doo, I started hunting and I never stopped. Me, I started hunting wolves and wolverines— big game. I never hunted small game after that. I stick with wolves, wolverines, grizzly bears, sheep, and muskox—grizzly bears in springtime, polar bears in falltime. One day, if I ever get a goat, then I’ll fulfill my dad's dream because he hunted all the animals. He used to always come home with diferent animals from [around] Herschel Island, trapping all winter foxes and rats.

You’re always learning more when you’re following animal tracks. Where the animal goes, you gotta go! When I chase animals, I go up and down the Richardson Mountains, where sheep stay. We walk up on top there. I really don’t care for travelling the river—me, I go up in the mountains because it is safer. My life is up in the mountains and down towards the coast; I don't really know Delta as good as the mountains. We go up and down rough high mountains. Like steep mountains and that, you could [go] vertical and full blast. Sometimes, you fly 20, 30 feet— just ski jump!

THE WOLF WHISPERER

I hear wolves howling all the time. Once you hear wolves howling, we just start howling back after that. Sometimes, we’ll be traveling and see wolf tracks, so we start calling them. Next thing, you hear ‘em calling back! Tat's when we find out where they are, and we try and track ‘em down after that. Once they howl, they're gonna want to know who you are, too, so they're gonna come and check you out.

Just as long as you howl, like a dog noise— anything like that. Every time a wolf herd is together, they all know each other’s howls. If they hear you make a diferent howl, they're gonna be like, “Hey, you're diferent! Diferent territory. We don't know who you are.” Wolves are always territorial.

Te first time I [howled] was when I was hunting bear. I knew there was wolves up in the mountain, so I kept howling. I knew the wolves was there so I brought a couple of friends of mine the next day and I started howling. We watched 10 wolves running towards us! Every time wolves get close, the pups always start getting closer first—about 100 yards, maybe—and the adults wait for a while. Ten, they start circling you.

My friend Robert Archie and Tomas Gordon there—they got kind of nervous. [One of them] started loading up his rifles and said, “Holy! Look at that—you called those wolves right to us.”

I told him, “Well, what you’re scared of? We got the gun. We got Ski-Doos. We're hunting.”

PREDATOR HUNTING

We hunt a lot of wolves mostly to keep the wolf population down. Most I ever got one year was 19 wolves! One Elder told me—quite a few years back—that they shot about 60 wolves in between here and Canoe Lake, in order to save our Porcupine caribou herd. Tat's how come we got a large porcupine caribou herd, ‘cause they were hunting wolves. Te thing about hunting wolves is keeping the caribou population in check— that's the thing people don't think about.

One thing I really don't like is when there's people in other communities cutting of their people from hunting caribou, because of declining [population]. If those guys hunt their wolves, they wouldn't have declining caribou.

When my mother was alive, she used to always have first choice at my animals. Like sometimes, I'll bring two wolverines or a bunch of wolves home, and I'll show her. She says aarigaa, then I know she likes it and you know, it's hers! She always had first pick [on] them there and then. Nowadays, I deal with taxidermists and people who are wanting that. I never sold a wolf since my mother passed away, [but] I just sold an Arctic wolf to a woman in Alaska after putting it on Facebook. I told them I just about kept it!

WOLVES VS WOLVERINES

Some would say polar bears and Grizzly bears are the top animals, but once a wolverine gets full grown, they're the top animals of the North. In the moonlight, Bob MacKenzie saw the biggest polar bear... and a wolverine chasing it away from a carcass! He said, “Wolverines are the top animal of the North.”

Wolverines have really sharp claws because them, they climb trees. Ten the jaws: they always clamp up on their nose and start biting around. Sometimes they find wolverines up in the trees and willows and shoot them, when you're up in the hills.

Most wolverines just take anything away from wolves. Nowadays we hear stories with Billy Archie about how wolf packs are getting bigger, because they said he see wolf tracks just about wide as a Ski-Doo! Tat's a lot. Me, I caught about 20 this year. Most of them come

from Alaska—big herds down that way. Tey always follow the caribou when they're coming from the Alaskan side. Wolves come from the coast, too.

One of my friends Dale calls me qavvik (wolverine). Because I travel alone, he said, “Yeah, you're just like a qavvik.”

A VIRAL FACEBOOK VIDEO

We knew there was wolves on the other side in the canyon. Sheep started running out, so I started howling. All the while, I'm skinning my two sheeps. I howl for a while; I skin for a while. An hour and a half later, in that video, the wolves’ grey heads start popping up. You could see where they’re running down at the end. About 7 to 10 of them started coming up. I start barking just like a dog—that's going to make them really start coming. [My common-law] was making that video. She was counting the wolves, elbowing me, and saying, “Look at their heads!”

If you guys saw that video on Facebook, what you don't see [is] on the right side of us were six more that came up [much] closer than what you saw! All together [there] must’ve been about 20 of them!

Some viewers just didn't like the video. Other than that, people said: well, this is what we do up North to save our caribou, [we] know hunting and this is our life. If it wasn't for hunting wolves, we wouldn't have any caribou.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING WOLF HUNTERS

Just be safe and make sure you know your areas when you're traveling. You gotta try and learn your snowbanks, which way the wind is going, and traveling around the ocean. Sometimes you get “white-out” and drifting, and that's what really buggers you up! Sometimes you don't know the wind switches.

When you're up in the hills, you gotta know where the main trail is. I would be on the main trail before it get[s] dark, and we always try to stay on the main trail. I'll say: don't get of the trail until you see something—because if you get caught in a storm, you're trying to find your way around and you got two trails now. Two trails don't make as good as one trail. Stay on the trail until you find wolf tracks or something, then start expanding out to try and track it.

When I go travel around the country there, I always try to stay away from them deep creeks and stay on the main trails until springtime. You could go pretty well anywhere because there's lots of snow. Te one thing about snow is that, when you're going traveling, it's got to be packed, and it'll hold the Ski-Doo.

Up this way in the Delta, the snow is still soft, so you're sinking through. You got to be more careful about that for traveling with tundra and snow, because we have “rock country” towards John Martin towards Sheep Creek; we have tundra country from Cash Creek Timber. I call Canoe Lake side “tundra side” towards the coast, and it’s more safe to travel down that way.

Never run out of shells. Always have extra shells for bear or something when you're walking back to your boat, especially in the fall times.

Listen to Elders when you go hunting. Te Elders will tell me: if you go this far, you'll see this and that.

THIS IS THE LIFE

I like traveling. If I had a million bucks, I would buy 10 Ski-Doos and a truck, and then travel around, ‘cause the winter is my lifetime.

Winters feeds a lot of hunters and trappers and give people a good life. 20-30 years down the road when there's no snow, some people gonna be wishing, “Boy I wish I drove a SkiDoo,” or something. Traveling with Ski-Doo—at least I got to do all that. And [I’m] still doing it, still trying.

Alex Gordon

I am from Tsiigehtchic, NT, and I grew up in Akłarvik.

Every summer, we would travel to the Yukon coast (Shingle Point) and do our harvesting for beluga whales, fishing, caribou, and also berries. My most memorable part is being at Shingle Point. Growing up there every year with all the families sharing and looking after each other and traveling together—everyone was always busy. What makes a good hunter or harvester is someone who listens to their parents or Elders when being taught. Be patient—you don’t need to rush. Because you’re on the land, you have all the time to learn.

COVID-19 didn’t afect my hunting and traveling; it actually helped me get on the land more with the funding available for gas and groceries.

My advice for the next generation is to keep teaching your kids so they can keep the cycle going.

You don’t need to rush. Because you’re on the land, you have all the time to learn.

Stephanie Charlie

I grew up in a small community of 500-600 people called Akłarvik. I have lived here most of my life as most of my family are from Akłarvik. Growing up, I have always been around my dad, uncles, and cousins, hunting and harvesting caribou and geese. As long as I can remember, I have always observed from the blinds and ran to get the geese after they were shot. Around the age of 12 was when I started doing the shooting.

At that same age was when I started learning how to cut, hang, smoke, and store fish. My late Ama Alice Husky taught me everything on how to work with fish. Being at Shingle Point cutting and working with fish with her is my favourite memory of harvesting fish.

Alice Husky was my great-grandmother. She came everywhere hunting and fishing with our

family. She was a great person to our whole family by helping everyone with cutting caribou for drymeat right up until she couldn’t do it anymore.

For me, the pandemic hasn't given me any problems with harvesting animals this year. I still went out to our family camp by the Mackenzie River for geese, to Shingle Point for almost a month to harvest fish, and continued harvesting fish when I got back home to Akłarvik on the Peel River.

When hunting and harvesting any kinds of animals, I think you need someone to teach you to do everything—not being taught the same thing many times, but having the knowledge to learn once and let it stick with you. Someone has to teach you in any way to do anything with harvesting native foods. You need to be taught about where to go, whether it’s in the mountains, the river, lakes, or the flats. You need to be taught how to work with whatever meat it may be and to store it properly. Tere's going to come a day that you will have to do it all on your own.

HARVESTING UNINTERRUPTED BY COVID-19

Sarah Meyook McLeod

My name is Sarah Meyook McLeod, I’m from Akłarvik. My parents are Jonas Meyook Sr. and Sarah Meyook Sr. I grew up down at the coast mostly and then moved to keep in and out of town—in town for a few months and then back out on the land. I mainly grew up around Shingle Point and Herschel Island, so I used to travel down that way until my dad passed away. We go back and forth lots.

Growing up with my mom, siblings, auntie, and uncles, I [learned] how to work with seal. My dad used to have seal nets; him and my uncle used to have two or three out and they used to catch quite a bit of seals. We used to skin them and eat some, but it’s been so many years now. Tey used to hunt caribou and we used to always fish, following the char coming up this way. We used to have camps here and there in the Delta. After we were done harvesting for whale or fish at Shingle, we used to come this way [and] fish until just about middle of September, all the way up to close to town.

We used to [work with seal] at Herschel. We used to buy fur. My dad and my uncles, they used to hunt seals and once in a while they used to get walrus. We used to skin seals, dry them and sew with them, but it’s been many years since. I never work with seal for years... Oh, golly, maybe 25 years or longer?

PHOTO by TOM MCLEOD

After my parents died, I haven’t been to Herschel for years, [since] 2006 or 2005. I went down with couple of friends and my sister because we had a memorial for my auntie down there when she passed; [of] course we wanted to go. Tat’s the last time I went. I did get ofers to go down to be a cook and that, but since I started working at the Akłarvik Health Centre, I keep turning [them] down.

My two older boys work there now as park rangers. I keep telling these guys: I gotta try to go down one of these times. In the springtime? We fish. We used to whale, and we used to do lots of stuf like that. I never been to Shingle point, too, for about 4 years. After my mother passed, we go down there couple of day trips to fish for a little while.

Other than that, we’ve been just traveling in the Delta. We trap and hunt goose and caribou; once in a while we’ll get wolverine or wolves. Before I started working (it’s going on 4 years now since I started), I travel quite a bit on the land with my kids. We go hunting, fishing, picking berries.

VISITING AQPIK HEAVEN

I like to pick berries. I don’t know [if] I’m the best but I pick quite a bit because I always try to bake with it. We do go places here and there to pick cranberries. I hardly pick blueberries. I like to pick aqpiit (cloudberries) ‘cause we travel around quite a bit, go places here and there to pick them. And people always ask me: “Where's your secret spot?”

One Elder, before she passed, kept telling me about Fish River and said: “I used to pick berries in there. Tere’s lots of aqpiit, lots of cranberries.” After 15 years, we finally found that spot this year—and we did pick quite a bit of berries from in there!

I show my kids [these spots] because I like my kids and grandkids to travel with me. Tey come camping with us ‘cause we built a cabin at Police Cabin (on Police Cabin Lake, on the border between NWT and Yukon) for my berry picking, where you can just land, walk up, and pick aqpiit. I don’t like rushing back, so we all have a place to stay for a couple of days, go pick berries, and check around for caribou.

I always tell them: any little channel, we’ll take and follow. "Let’s just go look around, and we’ll check places.” And that’s what we do. I al-

ways let ‘em be my driver and go places to look for berries.

When [my son] Tom was small, there was one place my uncle showed me in a lake at Yaruvaluk. He’d said: “I’m gonna show you where’s a berry place. Don’t tell people! Don’t give your spot away.”

Tom was small; he must’ve been about 8 years old I think. And he seen all these aqpiit. Now we call it “Aqpik Heaven”, ‘cause it was so much berries that first time we start picking. He said: “Holy, lots of aqpiit.” I said: “Yep. Your ataatak showed me first this place.” He named it Aqpik Heaven so that’s what we call it when we go there. ‘Cause you could just [get] on the land, walk a little ways, and it was just covered! But these past few years wasn’t too much.

So, I show my kids few spots and where to go to pick berries. I take them all over. I pass it on to them so they could know where to go.

FAMILY FIRST

When we go out on the land, we always ask them to come with us just so they can learn how to work with stuf. [My granddaughters] already know how to shoot [a] gun. We always try to take them out with us, ‘cause we hunt lots of beavers and muskrats too.

We still go out on the land lots. [My husband Ian] traps minks and I go out with him; we help him quite a bit with trapping. He also follows me to Shingle, so we travel and harvest from both sides.

Nellie Arey—that’s my sister—she’s been all over. She really knows that way, and all the [Inuvialuktun] names. I take my other sister and brother out—show them and try to tell them: “Watch the Land.”

My boys, they show [others] how to skin and stuf like that. My oldest son, when he gets his fur, he always try to make his daughter skin; she’s pretty good at it. Last fall, [a] few hunters got caribou and I guess that girl didn’t know much how to skin and cut it, so my oldest granddaughter Gabrielle would show her how to skin and where to cut the caribou. Tey said: “Oh you know lots!” And Gabrielle said: “Yeah, my dad taught me, my Aaka and my Poppa taught me.”

So, we try to teach our kids and our grandkids. I tell the grandkids: “Blood can’t hurt you, you could wash it of, it might smell for a little

while but it’ll always come of.” I always try to teach them how to cut meat and stuf like that. But these kids, they always really work with meat, fish, rats, and muskrats.

I don’t touch foxes or lynx—always let them do that. ‘Cause the time I seen bugs on lynx and... they’re pretty big ah? So I said: “I’m not touching those!” I don’t skin those but I skin anything else. I said that’s [Ian’s] job to do (and he does it).

A CLOSE ENCOUNTER

And that time I was really picking cranberries up this way (up Black Mountain) and we call that place “Cranberry Heaven” because there’s so much cranberries! I was really picking cran-

berries—not paying attention to nothing. Usually I look around a lot, but not this time. Tere was so much berries so I wasn’t paying attention. Good thing [Ian] came down to me, ‘cause he said: “You know there’s a bear behind you?”

Tere was a Grizzly bear behind me not far from me! [Ian: He was just picking berries behind her!]

Yep, so holy—I sure opened my eyes! He said I should shoot up in the air to scare him... Never even moved. [Ian: We had a pile of lumber up on the hill there; it just sat on that lumber and laid down. We had to shoot up on the gravel to make that gravel pop up and get it scared.]

Sometimes I get so carried away from just picking. But now when we go out berry picking, we always look out all over us!

He named it Aqpik Heaven so that’s what we call it when we go there. ‘Cause you could just [get] on the land, walk a little ways, and it was just covered!

PHOTO by TOM MCLEOD

Douglas Esagok

Hi, my name is Douglas Esagok. I was born and raised in Iñuuvik, but spent a lot of my childhood out in the Delta hunting, fishing, and trapping. Come March 1st, my parents would pull me and my siblings out of school to go to our family cabin to trap muskrats, and other fur bearing animals.

Some of my earliest experiences were when my father Frank Joe Esagok taught me how to snare rabbits. He once allowed me and my older sister Diane to run our own muskrat trapline, and to his surprise, we actually caught a lot of muskrats. Beginners luck—haha!

Nowadays, I continue to hunt and trap to sustain my family, ofset my income, and practice Inuvialuit culture. I also train younger hunters, whether it be family members or not.

But mainly, I hunt and trap to keep my skills sharp. It brings me great joy to see and handle a nice fat moose, caribou, or prepare a beautiful prime fur pelt for an auction or local sale. On top of that, you get the feeling of pride that comes with a successful harvest.

One of my most memorable moments was when I watched in awe of one of my hunting partners, who took over when we harvested a big bull moose together: he basically pushed me

aside and said, “I got it!” So, he went to work gutting and skinning. He’s now a very accomplished harvester himself, whom many members of his own family rely upon for meat, maktak, fish, and so on.

Like many Inuvialuit, we respect the wildlife we harvest and do our best to harvest sustainably and ethically, mainly because we know not only youth are watching, but our Elders are too.

So, as a young hunter, I was guided by my Elders and carry their teachings with me; I apply their knowledge almost daily. I was very lucky to have had the upbringing I had mainly because I lost my father and mentor when I was 12 years old.

My uncles Abel Tingmiak, Ernie Dillon, and Lefngwell Shingatok, took me under their wing and taught me about traveling the land, hunting, trapping, and fishing, mainly because they all knew I was eager to learn from the thousands of questions I’d ask them!

When it comes to hunting for food, youth should be taught which parts are edible on caribou and moose, and how to clean it properly. Just because they may not eat a certain part— for instance, head, hooves, or stomach—there’s always Elders in town that want those parts.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last March, it scared me to the point where I took my family out to our cabin, so we’d be safe should things ‘hit the fan’ in the NWT. We had to pack up and leave pretty fast, as most people in town were doing the same. Luckily, we had assistance from IRC with funding to help us get out, as it seemed almost impossible, because it is so expensive just to go for a weekend—let alone the possibility of staying out for up to three months, or maybe more.

Te upside to all of this was that I got to take my wife and two daughters out for spring break-up. We harvested muskrats, geese, and ducks while we were out there. Our longest stretch was 42 days without going into town! We saw tens of thousands of geese migrating all spring. We had a good spring, although we did flood out! Tankfully, the water receded after two days so we were okay.

In closing, my advice to the next generation of hunters and harvesters is: always respect the land and the animals, listen to your Elders, take only what you need, never waste, and take all the edible parts of your harvest! Quyanaq!

We respect the wildlife we harvest and do our best to harvest sustainably and ethically, mainly because we know not only youth are watching, but our Elders are too.

Chris Ruben

ENSURING THE RIGHT TO HARVEST

My name is Christopher Ruben and I am an Inuvialuk Beneficiary from Paulatuuq, NT. I was born in Cambridge Bay, NU, and moved from there to Paulatuuq in 1972.

Well, I grew up with a very traditional lifestyle with my dad and mom (Edward and Mabel Ruben). Each year—especially when it was the season to harvest, like August—we'd be getting ready to stay at the Hornaday River for about a month or so, fishing and ensuring we have the fish (char) stock for the long, cold winters! Not only that, we would harvest caribou when it was time to do so—especially middle/ late August to September when the tuktu are migrating south! On July 1st, we'd be preparing for the annual Beluga Harvest, traveling a good distance to get the whales; it’s always an exciting time! Goose hunting I'd say for me would be on top of my bucket list each year for sure, and that’s when it warms up in the spring of May.

It’s priceless to be out there with the land and the animals. You feel a big part of it in your body; you feel free, and you’re getting good healing from the land. It's one of a kind. You

have to be out there to feel all the energy, like you’re one with Mother Earth or Nature! I love everything about our animals. Even if it’s just a bird or a flower or a bee—it’s all one! It's amazing...[harvesting] is something I'm very happy to be a part of each year.

If you want to be a harvester or a good hunter, it has to be taught from your parents, or maybe a friend, an uncle, or a brother-in law. You have to be taught especially with the land; you have to know the country that surrounds you in your community! If you have that drive to want to learn, it shouldn't be that hard! You’re never too old to learn!

If you’re going to harvest for food, then yes— every bit counts if it’s for food on your table or even making clothing, sewing, or what have you! Ten yes—use all that you can!

COVID-19 has had an efect on everyone. For example, if you ordered shells for your rifle or shotgun, you’d experience delays in getting your supply from retail stores, and it won't make it on time! It slows the process of harvesting. Te only other option I see is to get it ahead of time.

But, the community hunters are always aware of harvesting times. So, doing your stock before hunting—it prepares you even more.

What I’d have to say about the next generation is: take it slow, ask questions, don’t rush yourself in what you're harvesting for, take everything that can be used, don't waste. Soak in everything that you’re taught from Inuvialuit teachers, community Elders, leaders, your father, uncle, brother, sister, mom, or aunt.

All of this is continuing on our traditional lifestyles, ensuring the next generations have this Harvesting Right—for now and for the future!

Pictured: Caribou Hunt at Thrasher Lake, September 2019.

Take it slow, ask questions, don’t rush yourself in what you're harvesting for, take everything that can be used, don't waste. Soak in everything that you’re taught.

This thriving Inuvialuit business is ready to warm our hands and our hearts this winter

Qiviut The Next Hot Commodity

WORDS by TANIS "AKUTUQ" SIMPSON & BRADLEY "OUKPAK" CARPENTER

PHOTOS by CORA DEVOS

Our family is from Ikaahuk on Banks Island. My greatgrandfather Fred Carpenter was one of the first people to settle on the island.

Fred Carpenter was born in October of 1908 near Tuktuuyaqtuuq and died April 14th, 1984. His mother was an Inuvialuk named Divana and his father was John Carpenter from France. Fred moved down the west coast and settled north of Cape Kellett on Blue Fox Harbour. Then he returned to the mainland, not coming back to Banks Island until 1937. That year he established the settlement of Ikaahuk (Sachs Harbour), named for the ship Mary Sachs of the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913.

Fred's status as the leader of Ikaahuk (Sachs Harbour) is legion. He was a good man who took interest in his community and tried to help others. Fred Carpenter teamed up with Fred Wolki's brother, Jim, to begin running trap lines. Together they became known for their superior dog teams, as well as becoming two of the top fur trappers in the Canadian North.1

Animals do play a large role in where I am from. We relied heavily on animals for sustenance and clothing. My family has always hunted various animals. I personally don't have much experience hunting or harvesting, since I grew up in Iñuuvik and everything was provided by my family for my mom and me. However, my mom always prepared traditional food for me; even as an adult she would send me country foods as ofen as she could.

My frst experience was goose hunting on Banks Island; before that I have worked on preparing wild meat for consumption. When I lived in Ikaahuk (Sachs Harbour) for

“Fred Carpenter and Tommy Goose,” Inuvialuit Cultural Centre Digital Library.

1 From North Star of Herschel Island – the Last Canadian Arctic Fur Trading Ship by R. Bruce MacDonald

a year as a teacher, I was able to go ice fshing and geese hunting in the spring. It was an amazing experience and I would love to do it again. I hope in the future I can go on other hunting trips for bigger game.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Working with muskox hides began in July 2019 when we started our business Qiviut Inc. The hides are dried and then the qiviut is combed out, which is then made into qiviut yarn. Working with the hides is a lot of work, but also makes me feel more connected to my culture and home. The process of obtaining the mill began with my brother Bradley "Oukpak" Carpenter who found the mill for sale from Alaska. We discussed partnering up and decided that it would be a great business. He few to Alaska and picked up the equipment but it sat unused for a while until we found a space available. From there we began purchasing

muskox hides from Ikaahuk (Sachs Harbour) and Uluhaktuuq hunters. With the mill equipment, we are now able to create qiviut yarn, Nuna Heat hand warmers, roving, and recently have begun to make knitwear.

When we frst acquired the mill, the machines were so intimidating, but with time and patience we were able to run them with minor issues. When we initially started the business, our goal was to be 100% Inuvialuit-owned and operated, and so far, we have held true to that. It has been an amazing journey and an extremely steep learning curve. Through hard work and perseverance, we have overcome many obstacles along the way. We have seen a steady increase in inquiries from around the world. So many people are intrigued by qiviut and want to learn more. As a result, our sales have begun to refect this.

THE PROCESS

There are many steps in processing quality yarn. The frst step—and most important one—is patience. I can't stress this enough! The milling process begins with combing muskoxen (singular: umingmak; plural: umingmat) hides which can take up to two days of steady combing. Others may sheer their hides, but we prefer to hand comb ours. Once the fbre is combed, it is thoroughly washed and dried. It then moves to our carding machine, which straightens the fbres into roving (long and narrow bundles of fbre) and helps to remove the guard hair. The carding machine is also where we mix other fbres with Qiviut to create our yarn blends. This can take multiple runs to get it ready for the next machine, which is the pin drafer.

The pin drafer takes the roving and turns it into pencil roving coils, which are ready for spinning. The spinning machine not only spins the coil into single strands, it also combines two or more strands together resulting in a spool of plied yarn. Our mill produces either skeins or cones of yarn. The fnal step (which is optional) is the dyeing process. Dyeing can be quite involved and ofen requires a skilled hand, but the results are always worth the extra efort.

TYPES OF YARN AND PRODUCTS

At Qiviut Inc. we produce four types of yarn: 100% Qiviut and three blends called Kunik, Niviuk and Qiviut Fingram Sock. In our Inuvialuktun language kunik means "kiss" and this blend consists of 60% Qiviut, 25% Superwash Merino and 15% Silk. Niviuk is an Inuinnaqtun word which is a term of endearment and this blend consists of 60% Qiviut, 30% Cashmere and 10% Silk. Our Fingram Sock Blend is made up of 40% Qiviut, 35% Superwash Merino, 15% Silk and 10% Nylon. Many of our blends and dye colour names refect our culture, land, and language. We wouldn't have it any other way.

All of our yarn can be used to make our knitwear, which is Qiviut Inc.'s newest venture. We are producing mittens, hats, scarves, neckwarmers, socks and much more. Most of our knitwear is produced in house by our talented team member Robby "Halogak" Inuktalik (pictured on right). Robby came on board nearly a year ago and has become our most valuable asset.

Another product we ofer is Nuna Heat. Nuna Heat is a hand/foot warmer made from 100% Qiviut fbre. In our language Nuna means "Earth" or "Land". The idea came to us as a result of growing up in the North. My grandparents used to collect Qiviut of the land and stuf it inside our mitts and boots to keep us warm. We are basically carrying on a tradition passed on through generations.

There are many steps in processing quality yarn. The first step—and the most important one—is patience.

A THRIVING BUSINESS

When Qiviut Inc. was frst incorporated, we were producing yarn as a wholesaler. Fast forward a year, we are now producing beautiful knitwear. We are set up in Nisku, Alberta, where we have a storefront and our mill under one roof. In the months to come, we plan on hosting spinning and knitting classes where our customers can learn all about working with this amazing fbre and tour the mill. It would be nice to see some of our Inuvialuit participating in our classes. Although we are located in the South, there are many Inuvialuit and Inuit benefciaries located in or around the Edmonton area, and, as we grow, we hope to provide training and job opportunities to those who are interested. We have many people in the North who contribute in various ways to the mill; this includes harvesting, hide preparation, and combing. As we grow and learn, we expect more of our process to expand back into the North. We are very proud of how far we have come and excited about what the future has in store for Qiviut Inc.

Our plans for the future are to continue to grow Qiviut Inc. and distribute luxurious yarn and knitwear. We would also like to be able to give back to our communities by donating money that will beneft our people in the North.

Our people have always ensured that animals are harvested ethically. All parts of the animals are used for food, clothing, or crafs. The hunters are given a quota of how many muskoxen can be harvested in the year and this ensures that they are not over hunted and nothing is wasted, our people only hunt what is needed.

Qiviut Inc.'s website is www.qiviutinc.com and we are also on Facebook and Instagram @qiviutinc

The pandemic has caused so much misfortune due to separation and isolation. We have always been a people who stick together and helped one another when times are tough. Designed by 10-year-old Inuvialuk artist Gabriella Haogak-Carpenter, 100% of the profts from sales of our new t-shirt will go to assisting Inuvialuit ‘who reside outside the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). They come in sizes S (small) all the way to 6XL, and are $30.00 CAD plus shipping and handling. Contact us via Facebook or Instagram Messenger to place an order today.

As we grow and learn, we expect more of our process to expand back into the North.

"

Tis is my ofce," exclaims Frank Dillon, as he looks around the Firth River 'fish hole', while taking a quick lunch break in between catching hundreds of fish with a seine net. He does this every fall as part of a multi-year program set out to monitor Dolly Varden populations in rivers situated in the North Slope mountains. Tis program is one of many where Akłarvik harvesters monitor Dolly Varden through the Akłarvik Hunters and Trappers Committee (AHTC) and in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC), Parks Canada, Yukon Territorial Parks, and numerous community members.

Frank Dillon at the Firth River.

Photo by Ellen Lea.

WORDS by ELLEN V. LEA (Fisheries and Oceans Canada), MICHELLE GRUBEN (Akłarvik Hunters & Trappers Committee), COLIN P. GALLAGHER (Fisheries and Oceans Canada), JENNIFER COSTA (Parks Canada)

FEATURING

FRANK DILLON, RICHARD GORDON, ALLEN KOGIAK, PADEN LENNIE, BILLY STORR, AND J.D. STORR

This Is My Office

WHAT IS A DOLLY VARDEN?

Dolly Varden, known locally as iqaluqpik (Inuvialuktun) and dhik'ii (Gwich'in), belong to a group of fshes called char, which includes Arctic char and lake trout. Although they are diferent species, Dolly Varden were called Arctic char in the past because they appeared similar to one another.

On the North Slope, diferent types of Dolly Varden can be found within a river system. Sea run, or anadromous char, grow to larger sizes (almost 3 feet) and migrate seasonally between the river and ocean. Resident Dolly Varden, typically males that are small in size, spend their lives in the river and sneak spawn with sea run char. Lastly, landlocked char are separate populations of small-sized males and females located above waterfalls.

The general distribution of sea run Dolly Varden in the Arctic extends from west of the Mackenzie Delta into the Yukon North Slope and Alaska. Dolly Varden are important to the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in cultures and diets, especially for the communities of Akłarvik and Ft. McPherson.

that char but, mmm, it's ever good." —Michelle Gruben

"It's been a big food source for many years. It's really big with our family. Every Christmas, when our family comes together, we have what we call a cardboard party. We cut up fsh eggs, frozen char, and stuf like that, and most times you can't get my kids to the table to eat—but if there's char cooked, they'll sit down and eat almost a whole fsh." —J.D. Storr

Sea run char are harvested as they undertake their seasonal migration from the spawning and overwintering area in the upper reaches of certain river systems, known locally as the 'fsh holes,' to coastal waters during summer to feed. The fsh holes are distinct areas where groundwater is continuously fowing, which prevents these areas from freezing, supporting the char eggs' development through the winter months.

Populations of sea run Dolly Varden are found in both the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) and Gwich’in Settlement Area (GSA), in the upper reaches of Firth River, Joe Creek, Fish Creek (Komakuk), Babbage River, Big Fish River, Rat River, and Vittrewka River drainages. Traditional harvesting areas include fshing camps along the Yukon coast, channels of the western Mackenzie Delta, and the fsh hole areas.

"Who knew char tastes so deadly. It's beautiful! I love it… You can have quaq, dry fsh, you could cook it [in] the fre, boil it, like there's all diferent ways you can eat

Male Spawner Dolly Varden underwater. Silver (non-spawning sea run) Dolly Varden.

Photos by Ellen Lea.

“When you involve the community when you're developing these plans…if we have buy-in, they want to be a part of this thing and they want to make it work.” —Billy Storr

( TOP – BOTTOM ): Jordan McLeod and Keegan Arey at Shingle Point; Nellie Arey cutting fsh at Shingle Point; Frank Dillon holding tagged Dolly Varden. Photos by Colin Gallagher.

CO-MANAGEMENT & MONITORING OF DOLLY VARDEN

Following community concerns that certain Dolly Varden populations had declined, working groups were established to support local decision-making through an adaptive co-management approach. Fishing plans were created that refected the land claim agreements and community priorities and knowledge through representation from harvesters, co-management organizations, and territorial and federal governments. The working groups and associated fshing plans were expanded with the co-development of a comprehensive management plan (established in 2010).

The focus of the West Side Working Group (WSWG) has been Dolly Varden stocks originating in the ISR, with a focus on the Big Fish, Babbage, and Firth rivers, for their management through fshing plans, monitoring programs, and research projects, and for consulting on and communicating these decisions. Furthermore, Inuvialuit have worked closely with Gwich'in leadership on populations originating in the Gwich’in Settlement Area through the Rat River Working Group.

Monitoring can take diferent forms, yet is best accomplished through partnerships and leadership from the community. Monitoring can answer questions such as: How many are there? How big are they? How old do they get? What are they eating? How do they interact with other animals in their environments? How many are harvested from each population? Where are they going? Are they healthy? What habitats are important, and how can we protect those areas? How are things changing over time? How can we adapt to climate change and other challenges?

This kind of ‘for the community, by the community’ monitoring approach has been used for fsh and marine mammals across the ISR for decades including, but not limited to, beluga whales, ringed seals, Arctic char, and lake trout. These programs have relied on the comprehensive knowledge and experience of Inuvialuit harvesters at every stage, from priority setting, project design, the documentation of information through scientifc and/or traditional knowledge approaches, all the way to the interpretation and application of results to community-based decision making.

"Right in the IFA it gives you those three principles to protect our Inuvialuit culture and heritage. And that is what HTC does! But it comes from these harvesters and monitors. Monitors are the ones that are like: 'Hey, there's something!'" —Michelle Gruben

Inuvialuit harvesters are hired by their respective Hunters and Trappers Committee to work on monitoring programs. These programs are designed to build community capacity, and in many cases provide the opportunity for monitors to lead these programs for several years (and in some cases for decades). These monitors are considered the "eyes and ears" for the membership. They are highly respected as knowledge holders and leaders by their communities and their government or academic colleagues, who in some cases they have formed long-standing partnerships with.

Every March in Akłarvik, local community experts, researchers, and co-management partners sit around the table, exchanging scientifc and traditional knowledge and their observations on Dolly Varden populations in the ISR. Not only do the community monitors have an active role in the collection of important information reviewed at these meetings, co-management partners also depend on these community experts as lead advisors and knowledge holders to support decision-making at the local level.

Harvests have remained relatively low and carefully managed through community leadership and strong co-management. However, the threats related to climate change and limited habitat availability continue to underscore the importance of monitoring Dolly Varden and their habitats.

“We have to adapt today. Things are going to change. We are a resilient people. We’ve been adapting and changing forever, you know? And that’s what we’re good at, adapting and changing.” —Allen Kogiak

Since 2009, Akłarvingmiut and biologists have been conducting an annual tagging (mark-recapture study) program at the 'fish hole' in the Big Fish and Babbage Rivers. Starting in 2014, DFO and the AHTC partnered with Parks Canada to conduct annual tagging for Dolly Varden populations in Ivvavik National Park. Tis partnership's main objective has been to tag and recapture Dolly Varden in the Firth River watershed, including Joe Creek, to estimate population size and collect biological information.

Each September since 2014, the project team has travelled from site to site by helicopter with a long (16 m) seine net rolled up in the basket, ready to capture fsh similarly to the traditional method of 'sweeping' the pools at the fsh holes. Using this seine net in deep, fast, boulder-flled waters can be tough work, and the crew has to be quick on their feet, but the reward for a good net deployment can be huge, sometimes catching hundreds of fsh at once. Collecting biological and tagging data and documenting observations over many years allows for monitoring changes in the population.

"It's like a big puzzle piece, but it's all coming together because we're catching, tagging fsh, [and] feeding the community. But that all starts at your HTC level."

—Michelle Gruben

The team captures and tags hundreds of char each fall. The time spent in this important area has allowed the team to explore other sites based on traditional knowledge. For example, while the team was initially focused on the Joe Creek and Firth River fsh holes, Danny C. Gordon provided direction on where to fnd the ‘fsh hole’ at Fish Creek near Komakuk Beach. This well-respected Inuvialuit harvester and Elder from Akłarvik has observed char during his many travels in the area over the years. In 2016, the project team was excited to get to the location that Danny C. had shared and have continued to visit the site annually since. Not only was there a population of Dolly Varden at this site, but also a biologically unique one compared to other rivers in that it has a much higher density of "resident" char (ones that stay in fresh water their whole lives despite connectivity to the sea).

“It’s nice to be able to be involved in the feld work because you get to see that traditional knowledge applied directly. When we went to Danny C’s site that he suggested and found not only lots of char, but something that you didn’t see in other sites, that was so special to be a part of frsthand.” —Paden

Lennie (Parks Canada)

Frank Dillon frst started working on Dolly Varden assessment programs since 2009 and has participated annually as a community lead on the program in Ivvavik National Park. Frank always treats the land with utmost respect based on values taught by Elders and other harvesters in the community. Through all of his work in this program and others, Frank has earned the respect of the AHTC Board as one of the community's key knowledge holders and advisors to inform harvest and monitoring decisions.

“Always when you get more than enough for yourself, you always distribute it out to those Elders who can’t go out and do what they love to do… Every time my son goes out, I always tell him: ‘Give out your catch, you’ll have better luck next time.’” —Frank

Dillon

“Frank is such a good, dedicated worker. He’s not only working to gain his knowledge and share his knowledge, but he makes HTC deadly. So, when he’s deadly, we’re deadly!” —Michelle Gruben

Several other community members have also participated in this program over the years, receiving training and sharing their knowledge and observations with the community. The benefts of this long history of training participants from Akłarvik were evident in 2016 when community members from Akłarvik led every aspect of the feldwork at the Big Fish River 'Fish Hole'. They also showed a new participant how to catch, tag, and record the information.

“Community members all say, ‘Why do we always have to get someone from DFO? How come they just can’t do it, our own community members?’ So, fnally that year there was Frank Dillon, Deon Arey, Danny Gordon Jr, and Lee John Meyook. They went out and did this project all on their own. That goes to show: over 30 years of the claim and it’s about time! Our Inuvialuit members did this on their own. And then every year it’s getting better. Every year, it’s getting better and better.” —Michelle

Gruben

TOP : Frank Dillon, Colin Gallagher, Ellen Lea and Paden Lennie at the Firth River. BOTTOM : Upper Firth River including aufeis. Photos by Ellen Lea.

Ivvavik was established under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement to ensure that this biologically and culturally important area was protected. It was the first national park to be created through a land claim settlement in Canada. Te Inuvialuit and the Federal Government work together to manage the land, animals, habitats, and operations of all the National Parks in the Western Arctic.

( TOP – BOTTOM ): Desiree Arey at Shingle Point (by Colin Gallagher); Jordan McLeod sampling char at Shingle Point (by Colin Gallagher); Sam McLeod and Edward McLeod fshing at Qikiqtaruk (by Ellen Lea).

MONITORING DOLLY VARDEN FISHERIES ALONG THE YUKON COAST

Following break-up each spring, many Akłarvik harvesters travel westward along the Yukon coast to their summer camps for harvesting, vacation, and time away on the land. While harvesters are setting nets from the shore mostly for herring (Arctic cisco), Dolly Varden are also caught along the coast during their summer feeding migration. The Dolly Varden captured along the coast can come from various river systems, even ones from Alaska, as the populations mix together over the summer.

Since 2011, Jordan McLeod has been consistently hired by the AHTC to collect biological and catch information from community harvesters at Shingle Point, along with a team of community monitors and DFO biologists. The training over the years has resulted in a transition towards greater independence and leadership. The feld program is currently led entirely by the community, through Jordan, junior monitors, and another community team collecting ecosystem information under the Arctic Coastal Ecosystem Survey. Jordan has also participated in the WSWG for years, becoming the Chair in 2012.

“I’m most proud to see our own Inuvialuit taking on these larger roles. To see our own people do it—that makes me proud, makes HTC proud, makes this community proud. And it makes that person proud, because they know they can do it. And to see that proudness on their face makes me say, ‘Oh you know, right on!’” —Michelle

Gruben

Inuvialuit Park Rangers at Qikiqtaruk (Herschel Island)

Territorial Park, in addition to their other duties, have also been working with DFO since 2011 to collect biological samples and catch information from Dolly Varden harvested during summer. Yukon Territorial Parks and AHTC have worked together over the years to run 'on-the-land' programs at Qikiqtaruk, with youth, Elders, and other community participants. These programs continue to be a valuable opportunity to share knowledge on this area's importance to Inuvialuit culture and history.

“Qikiqtaruk is a place of harvest for Inuvialuit, and as a territorial park we continue to co-manage through harvest and sampling data for AHTC and DFO through the IFA and Park Management Plan.” —Richard Gordon (Yukon Territorial Parks)

Accessible by dog team or snowmobile, the Big Fish River fsh hole area in the Richardson Mountains is an important traditional harvesting area for the community of Akłarvik. Due to conservation concerns with observations of population declines by the community and co-management partners, the Big Fish River and all of its tributaries, including the fsh holes, have been closed to fshing in the Northwest Territories Fishery Regulations since 1987.

“[Te Big Fish River has] traditionally been where everybody fished for char. People are trying to maintain their ties to the land, to where we’ve been before, and we like to continue to see tradition stay because our membership in Akłarvik is pretty traditional. We like to keep things going if we can. So, I think that’s good because it lets our young people know: this is where my dad fished, my grandpa fished, and that’s important to us.”

—Billy Storr

A number of research and monitoring initiatives have been undertaken through the WSWG to better understand the habitat and size, characteristics, and dynamics of the Big Fish River population. Although the population has been lower than historical levels as observed through traditional knowledge, it showed stability through the early 2010s. All available scientifc and traditional knowledge was brought forward through the WSWG to establish a safe harvest level and design a monitoring program for summer harvesting at the mouth of the Big Fish River, beginning in 2012.

The AHTC, representing the interests of their community membership-at-large, continued to advocate for harvesting at the Big Fish River fsh holes. Through the community's commitment to the sustainable management and monitoring of the population through the WSWG, the AHTC has led a community harvest at the fsh holes each fall since 2014.

A team of harvesters, including youth and Elders, was selected by the AHTC each fall to lead this community harvest at the fsh holes. Following the harvest, the team have brought the fsh back to Akłarvik for distribution to Elders and other community members to enjoy. One of the highlights of these harvests is the opportunity to listen to Elders share their traditional knowledge of the area, describing the area's importance and how things have changed over time. In some cases, this was done formally through interviews, but more ofen it was done informally through conversation over a warm meal shared inside a canvas tent. The AHTC team also worked closely with DFO and FJMC staf to record biological information from the harvest, ofen late into the night by the light of headlamps and lanterns.

“They usually get the same people, so they know the same procedures and practices and how to do the job right and safely. It’s a big thing, safety. So, they’re doing awesome. They’re really good when they come back, and they report their fndings—you know, they’ll do a comparison of how it was this year compared to last year or…fve years ago. It’s always good to have the same person doing it. Even if you bring other people on… that way we have consistency and they can see how it was back then compared to today.”

—Allen Kogiak

While this community harvest approach has been a success over the years, the membership wanted this to transition further towards a traditional harvest where harvesters travelled out to the area independently. In 2020, the AHTC developed a management and monitoring plan under the WSWG, including how they would allocate the safe harvest level to anyone under their membership who expressed an

interest in fshing at the fsh holes. This harvest plan was supported through the co-management process, providing the opportunity for harvesters to fsh out there on their own and report back on their total catch.

“As Inuvialuit, we’re taught not to over-harvest. I think that’s why Akłarvik HTC kept pushing to get it open at the Big Fish River fsh hole. And today, I’m proud to say that our community members could look forward to fshing there on their own.” —Michelle

Gruben

Quyanaqpak to the many community members who have led and participated in these programs over the years; the Akłarvik Hunters and Trappers Committee for their ongoing leadership; and the Fisheries Joint Management Committee, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Parks Canada for their continued support for these important programs.

We encourage you to get in touch with your local Hunters and Trappers Committee for more information on ways to get involved if you are interested in participating in similar programs in your community.

“Don’t be scared to learn. If there’s ever a time you get to try something new, don’t hesitate. Working with fish, I didn’t know how but if it wasn’t for trying, I’d never know. You never know unless you try.” —J.D. Storr

( TOP – BOTTOM ): Danny C. Gordon at Big Fish River harvest; Peter Archie, Stephanie Charlie, Desiree Arey and Danny C. Gordon at Big Fish River; Big Fish River fsh hole 2019 team. Photos by Ellen Lea.

WORLD OCEANS DAY

Since 2002, World Oceans Day celebrations have been rotated and hosted annually in each of the six communities of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). World Oceans Day gives us an opportunity to not only celebrate the ocean and its pristine abundance since time immemorial, but also to celebrate each diverse community and their relationship with their ocean home. It provides a knowledge sharing and outreach opportunity to educate about protecting the environment through our daily activities. Finally, World Oceans Day is a vital opportunity to acknowledge the regional Beaufort Sea Integrated Oceans Management collaborative eforts amongst Federal, Territorial and Indigenous Governments, and co-management bodies to work together for the Beaufort Sea and ISR.

My name is Corrine (Kunana) Bullock. I have been a public servant with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans since 2015. One of the project files I oversee, and my favourite by far, is coordinating the annual World Oceans Day activities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR).

My current position came available at a time when I was looking for opportunities to apply my newly acquired skills and knowledge from the Business Administration program at Aurora College. I am grateful that I applied and that DFO gave me this opportunity, as the last 5 years have been challenging, rewarding, and pivotal in my growth as an individual, a spouse, a parent, an Inuvialuk and regional community member.

Born and raised in Iñuuvik, my Anaanak and Ataatak Ruth and Nels Pulk were my knowledge foundations for connections within the region, and I cannot express how valuable our grandparents' traditional and local knowledge is in navigating who we are and where we come from. Growing up, I had the opportunity to visit most of our ISR communities through school, cadet, and family trips. Along the way I have met relatives, made wonderful friendships, and learned and absorbed every chance I got.

Te Harvester theme for this issue had me thinking about my own experience or perspective on hunters and harvesters in

our region. Everything I know is because of willing and patient teachers. My uncle and auntie Richard and Olive Binder are two people that I respect and admire for their dedication to not only actively continuing our way of life, but also sharing their knowledge and supporting our families in joining them. I recall the year I was in Grade 5 or 6; I became awestruck and so impressed with Uncle Richard and Uncle Hiram Oscar’s (below) expertise. Trying to put my finger on it, they were like real live superheroes to me. Tat confidence and capability, that knowing and partnership they both exuded in their humble ways

A look back and a look forward at the sustenance for the people of the North. (S. Mangelana)

First winter visit to the Arctic Ocean. The ocean has always meant home. A place of tranquility. (Luisa Ospina)

YOUR OCEANS DAY SUBMISSIONS

will stay with me for my lifetime. I can recall even earlier memories of having that same wide-eyed awe and comforting safety travelling with my grandparents.

Our hunters and harvesters are truly experts of the land, and when I first entered a committee meeting that combined both our land experts and experts in research and management, I felt a great deal of unworthiness, as who was I, with my little knowledge in either discipline? I resolved to learn, ask questions, and do the best I could to understand and give my best effort. I truly believe that knowledge-sharing and continuous learning between willing teachers and students are so important in building community, empowering, and allowing us to take care of one another.

World Oceans Day has been an eye-opener for me. Tis annual celebration has been taking place in the ISR since 2002—a testament to longevity and a resource that connects each and every one of us. To commemorate this year, the organizing committee chose to look back at Oceans Day through the many logo drawings submitted between then and

now and enjoy a trip down memory lane. Te annual celebration is normally rotated and hosted in each one of the 6 ISR communities, and has helped me to become more regionally-minded, to work closely, and to get to know members of each community. Tese relationships have been the backbone of the success of each event, and I have personally learned so much from each and every one involved. Each community is so unique and diverse; a 'one size fits all' approach would not work. It is also inspiring to see the life that each community breathes into this celebration each year. Te planning and coordination that takes place every year would also not be possible without the many Beaufort Sea Integrated Oceans Management partner organizations that come together to plan, collaborate, and volunteer their time in executing the best possible celebration for each and every community every year. Tis year, and every year, I would like to thank the passionate individuals that come together and bring a new level to the ISR Oceans Day celebrations. Now that we know a virtual celebration is possible, I look forward to exploring the potential that this additional format can provide.

To me, the ocean means home and nourishment. So much of what we rely on for life and sustenance originates or connects here. Oceans Day represents a day to celebrate the ocean and our relationship with it, a celebration of the unique hosting community, and finally a celebration of the hard work and working relationships between the many invested organizations that work together for our region. Te ocean truly is a connection place for us all. Quyanainni!

The ocean means family time in the spring and summer, and a place where I harvest fsh and whale. (Shauna Charlie)

The ocean means life and connection. There is life in the ocean and we are all connected by it. (C. Kasook)

Life. Everything. Important memory, as we took my mother out to our camp, and for her to get out and see the ocean.

(Khingana Wingnek)

Oceans Day represents a day to celebrate the ocean and our relationship with it, a celebration of the unique hosting community, and finally a celebration of the hard work and working relationships between the many invested organizations that work together for our region.

WHAT DOES THE OCEAN MEAN TO YOU?

Te 2020 World Oceans Day in the ISR went virtual and was open for outreach across the entire region. Te call out was for all youth, families or individuals in the ISR to enter a contest for inclusion in Tusaayaksat and a chance at cool prizes by telling us: What does the ocean mean to you?

A contest and survey were initiated on June 8th through social media and community outreach through local resource personnel and bulletin boards. Te contest was open all summer and allowed entrants to show us their Arctic homes, favourite ocean activities, ideas for curbing pollution footprints, or ocean inspired drawings.

Te contest was closed on August 31st and all posts were entered into a draw by 2020 Oceans Day organizers. With close to 50 entries between the survey and media hashtags #protectourarctic and #protectourocean, eight adult and four youth prizes were drawn. All entries are featured here in Tusaayaksat. We would like to thank all participants.

To promote awareness of ocean management and conservation in the ISR and Beaufort Sea, the Oceans Day committee interviewed Integrated Oceans Management participants who bring their local perspectives to conservation. Read on to learn about their perspectives and work.

As this is the first virtual outreach event for World Oceans Day in the ISR—it can only get better.

Quyannaini. Quyanaq. Quana. Tank you. Merci.

DRAW WINNERS AND PHOTOS

DRAW WINNERS AND PHOTOS

Ataatak and granddaughters enjoying life out on the ocean. Teaching granddaughters how to drive and steer the boat. (Emery Keogak)

SURVEY RESULTS

Special thanks to Aurora Research Institute (ARI) for support survey development, hosting, and compilation of results.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MARINE ARCTIC ANIMAL?

Here is a picture of my son helping us cut herring to make dryfsh. (Shayla Arey)

Our family trip to East Whitefsh for whaling—tents at the top, a sun for all the sunny days and a feather for the eagle feather I found on the beach.

(Kayleigh Lennie)

˜ Beluga

˜ Polar Bear

˜ Ringed Seal

˜ Bearded Seal

˜ Bowhead Whale

˜ Narwhal

˜ King Eider Duck

The ocean, to me, means everything—both physically and emotionally! We must continue to protect it for generations to come. The ocean feeds us, and the beauty it shows reminds us of how fortunate we are to call it "home".

—Katrina

Cockney

It feeds us! Catching char in the nets.

(Adele Alonak)

Living beside the ocean, it is a wonderful life where you can travel throughout the year either by dogs, Ski-Doo or boat. The ocean provides us with some of the food that we need for the year and I would not want to live anywhere else.

WHERE ARE PARTICIPANTS' FAVOURITE AREAS IN THE ISR?

Snow house in construction on the Arctic Ocean. (Tianna Gordon-Ruben)

—Donna Keogak

SUSTENANCE,

Te ocean is a beautiful place to be, to hear waves on the shore... the salty smell of the wind in your face and the chaotic sounds of birds in the 24-hour daylight!

—TUNUNIK

POWER, BEAUTY. —NATASHA K.

Map brought to you by ARI's GIS Team.

The ocean means a great deal to me. It is there to provide traditional food for our families and enables them to travel along it to get to our traditional camps where we harvest our food. The ocean means that I’m home.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FISH FOUND IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT?

˜ Arctic Char

˜ Dolly Varden

˜ Broad Whitefsh

˜ Arctic Cisco/Herring

˜ Salmon

˜ Inconnu/Coney

˜ Crookedbacks

˜ Eelpout

We need to protect our Arctic and Ocean for our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We must teach them our traditional values and to continue to survive of the land! Being out on the land is therapeutic for the mind, body, and soul!

Te ocean means so much to my family. We go to East Whitefish every summer for fish and go whaling to provide native food for the winter months. Tat's why every one needs to keep our oceans clean. Te most beautiful view [is] when we wake up looking into the ocean and watching the whales come close to camp.

—GAILANN RADDI

To me, it means life; without water, we could never survive.

—NDAY

—Tianna Gordon-Ruben

—Debbie Raddi

YOUR OCEANS DAY SUBMISSIONS

TYRONE RADDI

Our family makes an annual trip down to our family's whaling camp at East Whitefsh. This trip takes place so that our family can stock up their fsh and whale supply for the cold winter.

(Paden Lennie)

WHAT DOES THE OCEAN MEAN TO YOU?

As Inuvialuit, the main staple in our diet is fish, whales, seals, and stuf we can get out of the ocean. We have a lot of land animals that also rely on the water. In my opinion, the ocean is our greatest asset; we need to put in measures to protect it.

Seeing the sunset on the ocean is beautiful and it's almost spiritual to see the sun setting over it and be in that presence.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MARINE MAMMAL OR FISH?

I love broad whitefish especially in its dried form and I love eating beluga; it is how we grew up and a part of us. I lived in Alberta for 17 years and was landlocked and had no lakes around. Te only time I got to enjoy the sea was when I went to Red Lobster… and now when I’m here, every day we get to experience our very own 'Red Lobster'.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OCEANS DAY MEMORY?

Unfortunately, I have missed a lot of the Oceans Day stuf because of previous commitments I’ve had. I do remember the activities that were put on on year and the happiness it brought by bringing everyone together and connecting people around our Ocean and culture. Tat is the best memory of Oceans Day I have!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR OCEAN WORK.

MAIS-EMSA (Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness) has been a collaboration point between Tuktuuyaqtuuq and Cambridge Bay in partnership with Transport Canada. Because of the work that both communities are doing with the EMSA project, we have lots of similarities on what we request from government because of our lifestyles and the communities. Communication and coordination are important; I reached out to Beverly Maksagak the first day I was hired under EMSA. It was really new in Tuk, but they had already been doing it in Cambridge bay. I have been to Cambridge Bay three times during our work and have been able to help address issues in Victoria Island waterways. We mirror each other in the EMSA work; our budgets and contribution agreements differ slightly to accommodate specific needs in each region.

I do the training on the AIS equipment and the communication devices such as radios. I have been very fortunate that Henry Steen was someone very knowledgeable with these technologies and someone who shared his knowledge with me; I in turn was able to share this knowledge with Cambridge Bay. Te dependence on the water is very similar, so we have been very successful in getting programs approved for both of the communities.

Anaanak and Ataatak travelling on the Arctic Ocean with their grandchildren to their coastal camp. (Laura Hicks)

Tyrone makes it clear to organizations and anyone he deals with that Traditional Knowledge has to be held as equal or greater whenever we make decisions. Te people up here should decide what happens in the Arctic and that importance is being realized and has led to more efective working relationships.

CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF THE TARIUM NIRYUTAIT MPA WORKING GROUP?

Te Working Group is important because we can bring our community concerns to government and our knowledge to the researchers. For example, we have less herring this year and we want to know why this is. We want to address the importance of these staple foods, if they are being affected by climate change, and why they are disappearing. Tese priorities can be brought to these types of tables to make the research happen. A lot of times, these co-management projects not only help us address our community priorities, but also brings reconciliation with government by working in this type of partnership, as we both need each other’s expertise.

WHAT DOES BEING A HARVESTER MEAN?

Being a harvester is something that builds connections with families and peers; you are constantly learning, and it is life-long learning if you are open, active, and willing. Te conditions are always changing year-to-year, and the cost of food is so high here that it's great when you can go down to the ocean with $50 of gas and feed your family for months.

Te bonds created with family and friends when people are teaching you how to harvest—there is nothing like that bond. Harvesting is something you automatically grow up doing when you are Inuvialuit and grow up in the ISR. Some families can’t do it as much and they didn’t have people to teach them unfortunately, but there are still opportunities to cre-

ate that bonding and memories, and to pass this knowledge on to our children. I am 46 years old and still learning—really lucky that I get to go out with a lot of experienced people who will teach me. I am lucky that I can provide my family with food. Unfortunately, I can’t always go out as much as I used to, but now my son is 16 years old and experienced and capable enough from his own learning to be able to provide for our family.

MARINE SAFETY THROUGH MAIS-EMSA

We never want to see accidents happen and there are things that will happen that are beyond anyone’s control—but at least we have a better chance of bringing closure to a family by having tools in place to do whatever we can to minimize risks. We are looking at inReaches for people and we have AIS that keeps track of people, always. I had an assistant develop a winter travel plan that people can use and fill out so we will know when and where they are going; it also asks if they have certain supplies. It helps take some worry of when you know folks have this equipment that will help them be okay for a day or more. IRC sees this, too, and are installing more AIS units. We are hoping for more coverage and are working with Canadian Coast Guard to try and bring that to the ISR; we are really working hard to make sure that happens. Te more people that we can get to buy into these safety programs, the better. Funding is a big barrier, but we are working to improve this to give everyone a fair chance to come home. I get comments from wives saying 'thank you'; they now can contact their husbands or are aware when they will be arriving later than expected and know why they are still out there.

My vision is to one day be able to sit on the beach in Tuk and radio over to Uluhaktuuq in real time, and have that type of connectivity within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

WHAT

DOES THE OCEAN MEAN TO YOU?

It means we get 'ocean food' diferent then 'delta food'.

(Karla Isabelle Smith)

The ocean is a place to be a family, To share the waters with one another and with all who live there. To explore and learn and grow. The ocean provides food. (Jay Gruben)

It means I can eat a meal for dinner and a meal for breakfast. (Patrick Akhiaktak)

The ocean means a lifelong connection to my homeland. it means a future for my children. When I see the ocean, I know I'm home. (Anonymous)

OCEANS DAY SUBMISSIONS

JODY ILLASIAK

WHAT DOES THE OCEAN MEAN TO YOU?

Te ocean is incredibly meaningful to my family, our community, and the region. Te majority of our diet comes from the ocean—that should say it all right there! We not only get to go out and harvest, but specifically in those summer months during whaling season, we are able to camp with our whole families. It provides bonding time and it is peaceful being away from cell phones, tv and electricity. It provides peacefulness, togetherness, and connection within our families.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MARINE MAMMAL OR FISH?

I have two: Arctic char and beluga whale. It is hard to categorize either or, so I choose both as they are at the top of the list in terms of their importance as food.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OCEAN’S DAY MEMORY?

A memory that comes to mind is the 2017 Oceans Day celebration that was hosted in Paulatuuq as part of the designation of the Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area. Tis was a very important and joyful event for our community, and the hoodies and t-shirts are always a nice way to commemorate, look back on, and remember. We had the kids' logos printed on the front of the shirts, with a map of the MPA on the back. It is especially good that the children are involved through the logo drawing contests, as it involves them and gets them thinking about our local resources and things they can do to contribute or be involved. So, one day when they are joining these conversations, they will have a foundation to pull from.

WHAT DOES STEWARDSHIP MEAN TO YOU?

Every table that I sit at, we are trying to get the youth involved, for that transfer

This is where we wait and hunt for King Eider ducks. Stunning, beautiful land of the Midnight Sun in Uluhaktuuq. (Anonymous)

To share good foods with family; for seafood fsh, maktak, feast. Eat from the ocean. (Carmen G.)

Tuktuuyaqtuuq Arctic Ocean Sign. (Chantal Gruben)

Shingle Point, sea, sky, and drifwood with Arctic fowers. (Sittichinli)

of knowledge. From my own experience joining committees, I was head-first into a lot things and a lot of learning took place 'on the fly'. If we can prepare the youth continuously, they will be able to pick up these conversations more readily. After the first year of absorbing my surroundings on these committees, and understanding the co-management structures, conversations have become more meaningful and connections made more easily. We can give our youth a head start, to have this information sooner.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR 'OCEAN WORK'.

I am involved with the Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam MPA Working Group that is directly involved with setting the priorities for the management and monitoring of this MPA. I also sit on the Paulatuuq Hunters and Trappers Committee and oversee the shipping file for the Inuvialuit Game Council. It is pretty heavy work, but purposeful and necessary. When meetings are taking place all at once, it becomes at bit difcult to keep up, as I strive to bring 100% dedication and attention to each of these committees.

WHAT DOES BEING A HARVESTER MEAN TO YOU?

1. I have the option to provide healthy and unprocessed food for my family.

2. Te freedom to go out on the land and get away from all the technology and chaos we live in.

3. Te ability to lessen the load of buying expensive meat products from the grocery stores.

4. A flipside to the cheaper aspect, and something you cannot forget: there is potential to burn upwards of $400-800 gas to locate the animals you are seeking to harvest, as they do not always frequent where you are used to seeing them, and you have to go out further and longer to find them. I have always been told from my grandparents and Elders that the animals will not always be in the place you are used to seeing them, and this is an important knowledge perspective, as they have been watching these cycles pass for 50-70 years.

5. Every body has their own special techniques and ways of carrying out their lifestyle and their traditions. Te end result is the same—we all want a full freezer and a happy family.

ANY PARTING THOUGHTS?

When we are talking about 'taking care of the land', we have our co-management bodies in place, and through these bodies, Inuvialuit have begun to understand the science and research needed to implement the programs and are able to take care of 99% of the monitoring positions at the local level. I am ready to see our traditional and local knowledge incorporated more meaningfully. Working as partners together, we can develop a common understanding for our decision making in the region.

(Anonymous)

Inuvialuit have begun to understand the science and research needed to implement the programs and are able to take care of 99% of the monitoring positions at the local level.

What the ocean ofers. (Chelsey Smith)

You fnd these on the beach—so cool! The ocean is exciting and peaceful, all at once.

Flying over the reindeer herd north of Tuk. (Celtie Ferguson)

My Grandpa Buck. Learn all you can and experience the ocean directly. (Crystal Lennie)

The ocean provides marine wildlife and its food that sustains us. Ocean is warming up. (Michelle Gruben)

Hivulirmi 1900ni Inuvialuit Umiuȓanik aturunagutiȓuat, qiȓungnik pilianik kikiangniklu atuqhuting qilalugarnirutikȓamingnik.

Umiuȓat tingilarautalgit, anguniarutikȓangit ungahiktuamun iglauȓaȓut nunamin, itȓuamunlu immamun, ukuat ahiin kayapiat himauhikangiit.

1936mi kaapanit tauqirniarvingiha taraliuyuqtuamik taraliutitchaqlugu ahiin, Richard N. Hourde.

Pulaktaquvlugu Uaalinirmi kanatami Tariumi taraliuquvlugi inuit huȓarautinginik maqpiraanun

iliakȓamingnik tautuktualiamingnun, Quliaqtuat tatqiqhiutitlu. Matkua ilangit tariliangini

Hourdetam qilalugarniaqtuanik qilalugarniaqtuat Tuttuȓaqtuumi, NWTmi qaniani.

In the early 1900s, Inuvialuit began using wooden whaleboats with sails for hunting beluga whales. Whaleboats could venture farther from land, and into deeper waters, than the kayaks they replaced.

In 1936, the Hudson’s Bay Company arranged for a professional photographer, Richard N. Hourde, to travel to the Western Canadian Arctic to photograph people and activities for their magazine, newsletters and calendars. Among Hourdes’s photographs are a series he took of a beluga whale hunt near Tuktuuyaqtuuq, NWT.

Taraliuqtit: kaapaniit tuqurvianni

Taraliuqtit tutqutangit: Don Vanvliet, Aipaarnihat tutqurvianni manga nunaptingnin paqitanik iningat.

Qimilriuqti: Charles Arnold

Mumiktiitangi (Panigavluum) Lillian Elias

Photographs: Hudson’s Bay Company Archives

Photograph restoration: Dot Vanvliet, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre

Research: Charles Arnold

Inuvialuktun translations: Lillian Elias

Anguniaqtit katitchiȓut umiuȓanik qilalugarniarutikȓamingnik. Te hunters gather at the whaleboat.

Anguniaqti aghaaqtut malrungnik angugaȓangnik hagaligaangnik qilaugarniarutikȓanik. Loading the whaleboat.

Ayaktut umiuȓanik ivaqłiriaqhuting qilaluganik. Heading out in a whaleboat to look for beluga whales.

Roy Kikoak aqutauvluni umiuȓami anguutiqpalingnmik, Gerard Siksigaaluk nalunaiqhimavlugu tikuktuutivlugu. Roy Kikoak steers the whaleboat with the sweep oar, while Gerard Siksigaaluk guides him.

Joe Nasogaluak aulayuminaiqługu qimiqȓuraa nauligani aklunaamik. Joe Nasogaluak attaches a drag plate to the harpoon line.

Roy Kikoak qarȓiqhuraa huputini Gerard Siksigaaluk aqutiliutivlugu. Roy Kikoak loads his rifle while Gerard Siksigaaluk steers the boat.

Joe Nasogaluak puviraa avataqpak. Joe Nasogaluak inflates a sealskin float.

Bertram Pokiak pihikaraa qilalugaq. Bertram Pokiak prepares to throw a harpoon.

Uumiuȓaq utiqtuq nulaarvinganun. “Takuyaq ulikluuȓaqtuq napaqtingani ilitchuripkaiȓut anguniaqtaqting angugaat, qilalugamik uhiaqaqhuting umiuȓamingni.’’ Te whaleboat returns to camp. “Te flag fluttering from the mast signifies that the hunt has been successful, and that they have a whale on board."

Imuvlugu tingilarautanga umiuȓam. Iluani qilalugavirniit avguqtat ittut. Furling the sail of the whaleboat. On board are parts of a beluga whale.

Uhiyaraat avguqtanik qilalugamik umiuȓamin. Unloading cut up pieces of a beluga whale from the whaleboat.

Avgunagutigaat qilalugaq aviktuaqlugu hiqumitkaat. Cutting a beluga whale into sections.

“Nulianga irningalu umialingata William [Mangilaluk] avguraat qatiqhak qilalugaqtaqting tikiȓutigaat umialingmingnun anguniaqtaqting qilalugaqtaqting taunangnga tariumingnin.”

"Te wife and son of Chief William [Mangilaluk] butchering a white whale that fell to the lance of the Chief on a whale hunt in the Beaufort Sea."

Nanuq Hunting, Past and Present

WORDS by JAMES POKIAK, LISA HODGETTS & NATASHA LYONS

My ancestors, my father and his father before him, have always followed those traditional ways of hunting [polar bears], like following the pressure ridges, following the cracks; because they know they’re going to either spot a bear track, or either spot the bear itself, or spot a bear hunting down a seal, trying to get to a seal hole, slowly going to a seal hole, or going to a seal that’s already basking on the ice. Either of those kinds of situations are going to come up, because they’re following the pressure ridges, and they know where the polar bear is going to be out hunting the seal. [Traditional Knowledge Holder, PIN 120, Uluhaktuuq, translation]

From the earliest times, Inuvialuit have hunted nanuq (polar bears) on the sea ice, passing their rich knowledge of these animals, their habits and the ways they interact with the world around them from one generation to the next.

Nanuq bones are found on ancient Inuvialuit sites across the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, including the Washout site and Pauline Cove on Qikiqtarruk (Herschel Island). We also find them at Kuukpak on the East Channel of the Mackenzie, at Sauniqtuuq in Imaryuk (Husky Lakes), and at Arviq near Ikaahuk (Sachs Harbour). Together, these sites span the period from roughly 1300 years ago into the fairly recent past. Nanuq bones form only a small percentage of the animal bones at these sites. Tey are, however, slightly more frequent at Nelson River on the south coast of Banks Island near Nelson Head, which many Inuvialuit Traditional Knowledge holders have identified as a “hot spot” for polar bears.

Inuvialuit nanuq hunting strategies have changed over time with the advent of snowmobiles and guns, but still depend on an intimate knowledge of these animals and the land. James Pokiak of Tuktuuyaqtuuq, whose family outfitting company, Ookpik Tours (https://ookpiktours.ca), guides polar bear sport hunters, talks about the diferences between nanuq hunting with a dog team compared to a snow machine, and between guiding and subsistence hunting:

Polar bear hunting never changed too much when it comes to the preparation of going out: camping gear, gas, oil, grub, and whatnot. Whether subsistence hunting or guiding, weather of course has a lot to do with the success. Ice conditions are forever changing from year to year. Hunting by dog team is a lot more work and challenging compared to snow machine. Dogs need

to be trained for pulling heavy loads. On a guided hunt [with dog team], you need to have more patience as clients are paying big bucks to go on a hunt. You need to be able to talk to them and make them aware of the dangers involved as wind direction and ice conditions play a big part in the success of the hunt. Subsistence hunting by snow machine is not as demanding.

Reflecting on the long history of Inuvialuit nanuq hunting, James Pokiak writes:

Long ago compared to today, hunting with bows and arrows and spears was a lot tougher, but in those days dogs were used to bay the polar bear to get up close for a kill. It took a lot of courage to harvest a nanuq like that. I am always amazed at how our ancestors were able to survive in the harsh conditions they had to withstand.

Polar bear mittens: These nanuq skin mittens are from the MacFarlane collection, a group of Inuvialuit objects collected in the 1860s around the Anderson River. They were collected by Roderick MacFarlane who managed the Hudson Bay trading post at Fort Anderson. The objects are housed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. and documented on the Inuvialuit Living History Project website: www.inuvialuitlivinghistory.ca.

The quote that opens this article is from a detailed report on Inuvialuit Traditional Knowledge of polar bears published by the Joint Secretariat in 2015. You can access the report (and the wonderful podcast that goes with it) here: https://wmacns.ca/yukonnorth-slope/wildlife/nanuk-polar-bear.

James Pokiak (L) and Albert Elias (R) discuss Inuvialuit harpoons from the MacFarlane collection during the Inuvialuit Living History Project visit to the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Centre in 2009. Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.

Long ago compared to today, hunting with bows and arrows and spears was a lot tougher, but in those days dogs were used to bay the polar bear to get up close for a kill. It took a lot of courage to harvest a nanuq like that. I am always amazed at how our ancestors were able to survive in the harsh conditions they had to withstand.

—James Pokiak

SIX GENERATIONS OF POKIAK NANUQ HUNTERS. (Top to bottom) Pukkiq; Julia, Bertram, and Enoch Pokiak; Bertram Pokiak; Myrna Pokiak, James Pokiak, and Jacob Pokiak; James Pokiak and Edward Pokiak.

Cache with nanuq skull: This stone food cache containing a polar bear skull is from a very old camp on the south coast of Banks Island. Other bones from the site provided a radiocarbon date around 1400 AD.

credit: Lisa Hodgetts.

Mariah Lucas imagines a longago nanuq hunt. Art credit: Mariah Lucas.

Photo

For this issue, Tusaayaksat reached out to more than 80 Inuvialuit harvesters and hunters from all ISR communities who were nominated by their families and friends on Facebook. What is published in this particular edition reflects only the individuals who responded and not the entirety of Inuvialuit hunters and harvesters.

While we are incredibly proud of the stories showcased in this specific issue, Tusaayaksat recognizes that there are still countless families inside and outside of the ISR with generations of harvesting knowledge and experience that often go unrecognized.

Tusaayaksat respectfully honours the selfless work of hunting and harvesting done by Inuvialuit since time immemorial, and we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to take an equitable approach in featuring as many Inuvialuit stories as possible.

Tis is why we will be releasing at least one more Hunting and Harvesting issue in the future!

While we are not able to publish individuals' stories without their explicit consent, we will continue to work indefinitely with rotating Inuvialuit Guest Editors to fairly represent diverse perspectives of Inuvialuit everywhere.

We welcome any ideas, comments, and suggestions at any time and look forward to hearing from you!

WORDS BY KAITLIN WILSON Wildlife Management Advisory Council North Slope (WMAC NS)

Ask folks what makes the Yukon North Slope special to them and you’ll probably hear something like this:

Being out on the land or at the coast is like a renewal, refreshing your spirit of yourself.

Pretty much all this area where we go is a special place to us because that’s where we get our food from, and we harvest our berries and geese, ducks...right from here [the coast] all the way up to Akłarvik...

Shingle Point is the best. You have a lot of access to a lot of things. You can pick berries, or you can make yourself dried fish, caribou meat, everything...Tat’s my favourite place in Yukon, is Shingle Point, and that’s where I brought up my little ones.

AULLAVIAT & AUNGUNIARVIK

CARIBOU, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE ON THE YUKON NORTH SLOPE

[from participants of the Yukon North Slope Inuvialuit Traditional Use Study 2018]

If you’re lucky, you might even hear a great story about a community bowhead whale hunt, a journey on foot from Alaska, or summer days spent at Shingle Point as a kid. Tis is all to say that, for Inuvialuit, the magic of the Yukon North Slope is no secret.

In preparing the new edition of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan for the Yukon North Slope (part of our mandate under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement), our Council centered these powerful values and connections expressed by Inuvialuit.

We’ve undertaken years of research to better understand and manage this special place. Our work included documenting Inuvialuit Traditional Use, Inuvialuit Traditional Knowledge of key animals and their habitats, and a number of Western science-based studies. All of these projects have been highly collaborative, especially with the Akłarvik Hunters and Trappers Committee.

“All of us need to keep in mind that we need to work together for the future.”

—Michelle Gruben, WMAC NS Alternate Member

With the new Plan, we are showcasing some of the most important animals and issues for Inuvialuit. Cross cutting all of this, though, are the efects of climate change.

Disappearing land along the coast, more shrubby vegetation, new wind and weather patterns—these are part of the climate change picture people have been witnessing on the Yukon North Slope for several years now (Figure 1). What will it be like in 20 years? Well, the future of this place is tied to how all nations around the world manage greenhouse gases over the next few years, so there is a range of possible outcomes. But, based on the best available information, the Yukon North Slope is predicted to experience even more change.

Shifts in plant communities and weather can have all sorts of efects on ecosystems, and the people that are a part of them. Caribou are a perfect example of this interconnectedness. Following guidance from the community of Akłarvik, we focused key sections of the Plan on the Porcupine Caribou Herd. It was clear how important these migratory herbivores are

FIGURE 1 This series of photographs across years illustrates how vegetation is changing on some parts of the Yukon North Slope. On Qikiqtaruk, shrubs are growing taller and replacing other plants. This change has implications for animals, people, and the ecosystem as a whole. Images from Team Shrub’s article, Eighteen years of ecological monitoring reveals multiple lines of evidence for tundra vegetation change, used with permission of the authors. Photographs were taken in the second half of July in 2009–2017 and likely in early July in 1987.

to the ecosystems they support, including Inuvialuit. Te highly mobile herd depends on predictable sources of food. Teir movement between calving and foraging grounds is also heavily influenced by factors like snowpack and is sensitive to disturbance.

Decades of data let us know how Porcupine caribou use the Yukon North Slope at diferent times of year. When doing our research to support the Plan, we came to understand the importance of the Eastern Yukon North Slope to Porcupine caribou during the mid and late summer. Tis is a critical time after calving when mothers need to find food for their young so they can grow stronger and survive the harsh winter.

Inuvialuit have long recognized the importance of the Eastern Yukon North Slope, not just to Porcupine caribou but the wealth of life this area contains, including fish, bears, birds, plants, important travel routes, and cultural sites. In the process of developing the Plan, the Akłarvik Hunters and Trappers Committee wanted to celebrate this exceptional place, so they named it Aullaviat/Aunguniarvik. Aullaviat means “where the animals and the people travel” and Aunguniarvik means “where the people go to hunt and harvest.” What’s in a name? Everything, in this case.

“

Te new name tells you right there, why it is so important. Te name fits for the area. Te PCH has a huge range. It’s up to us as users of the herd to protect the caribou and their habitat, for the future. It’s up to us to respect the animals.”

—Michelle Gruben, WMAC NS Alternate Member

With the information supporting our Plan, we can see when and where caribou movement overlaps with Inuvialuit Traditional Use (Figures 2 and 3). Tis helps us to understand the relationship between caribou and people on the land, how and where they interact, such as in Aullaviat/Aunguniarvik. Combined with predictions about shifting climate and vegetation, we can start to see where this relationship might be vulnerable to change. It also helps us to see how we can protect it.

Something we have learned in doing this research is that there is still a lot of uncertainty in

how the Yukon North Slope is going in change in the coming decades. Using the best available information, we can predict how climate and ecosystems might look in 20- or 50-years’ time and what kinds of places might be at the greatest risk. We are still learning, though, about how that might afect where caribou are able to find food, how that might shift where Inuvialuit are able to harvest those caribou safely, and the myriad other interactions that make the entire Yukon North Slope—Ivvavik National Park, Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park, and Aullaviat/Aunguniarvik—the rich breadbasket that it is.

FIGURE 2 . Porcupine caribou frequency of use on the Yukon North Slope during midsummer, based on 21 years of tracking collar data. Darker orange indicates areas that have been used more frequently across years.

Climate change is a big, complicated issue. Sometimes it even feels too big. Kayla Nanmak Arey has spent many summers on the Yukon North Slope, with her family and also as a scientist. Her words are a powerful reminder that we can all play a role in finding solutions:

I sometimes find myself overwhelmed when I think about the broader conversation of climate change….Te magnitude of these issues can be daunting and stressful. But, often the toughest conversations to have are the most deserving of attention. And this conversation is happening whether I want it to or not. And if that’s the case, I choose to participate in it. I choose to acknowledge my role on this story. We all have the power to make this choice. And I believe it’s making this choice together that we can make our impact.

I also acknowledge the amazing people who are also active participants in the story. People at home, in the ofces, and in the schools, all come together to learn about these issues and build on the knowledge that will help us address

environmental changes. We are all connected, just like all the parts in an ecosystem. And we are all here to work together.

In the coming years, Inuvialuit-led research, monitoring, and programming will be increasingly important in tackling change. As Michelle reminds us, Inuvialuit “are the ones that have to adapt. It changes our harvesting and our travel. We’re the ones out on the land.” Our Council has crafted the forthcoming Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan and all the information it’s built on with the intent to support that work: in communities, in governments, in schools, and beyond. We hope the Yukon North Slope remains the thriving home it currently is for Inuvialuit, for caribou, and for all those that rely on this special place.

FIGURE 3 . Inuvialuit Traditional Use related to caribou as documented during the Yukon North Slope Inuvialuit Traditional Use Study (WMAC NS, 2018). This footprint of use is not comprehensive. It is limited to the knowledge shared by study participants and represents a snapshot in time. Undoubtedly, Inuvialuit interactions with caribou extend beyond this footprint and are subject to change over time.

WMAC NS expects the new Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan for the Yukon North Slope to be available early in 2021. Keep an eye out on our website wmacns.ca and follow along on Facebook @wmacns.

TUTTU TUKTU MEAT CHART

You know if you ever come across somebody that’s cutting up meat, ask for the Bible. Te Bible (aminiliq) is the stomach; it’s got pages. You wash it really good. You boil it. But you gotta have [it with] the fat of the caribou (tunnuq). You cut that up and put it in the frying pan. After you cook that aminiliq and boil it, you cut that up also, small little piece. You put it in there, and you put a little bit of broth with it after that. It’s a a fried stomach. But the Bible; we call it the Bible cause [it’s got pages]. Tat one you cut it into small pieces and throw it into that grease. Tey boiled that bone, too, right up to get all that grease all out of it. Tat’s how they could get their grease. —Renie Arey

roasted caribou head, tongue

antlers for carving/art hair for tufting

Caribou ground& stew meat

blade roasts and steaks, chuck roasts and steaks, ground, stew meat

brisket ground& stew meat

legs/bones for marrow, soup

Caribou Meat Chart

tender cuts

Use dry heat. Roast, fry, broil, bbq

medium tender cuts

Use moist heat for extra tenderness

less tender cuts

tender cuts

Use dry heat. Roast, fry, broil, bbq

medium tender cuts

Use moist heat for extra tenderness

less tender cuts

Use moist heat. Braise, marinate, pot roast, stew

Use moist heat. Braise, marinate, pot roast, stew

tenderloins

backstrap steaks, rib roast ribs, ground and stew meat flank steaks

short ribs, rolled rib roast

liver, heart, kidneys

T-bone steaks roastrump

round roasts and steaks

hide for leather/tanning

stewground& meat

'Homey' Away from Home

After 9 months of battling breast cancer, Brenda Benoit is ready to welcome visitors again to her 'second home'.

Hi, my name is Brenda Benoit. I work at the Akłarvik Inn [as] an Inn Caretaker. I look after the place, do house cleaning, check people in, and check them out. And I’ve been here for a long time—over 10 years! Last year, I was diagnosed with cancer. I took 8 months of for medical, and I just came back in July. I’m all done with chemo now. Cancer-free!

It feels good to be back at work. When I came back, I started cleaning the whole house because of the pandemic. And I learned lots from that COVID too; I came back with signs, sanitizers, and masks. From July to September, we started getting guests coming in and I was so happy to be back at work doing something again!

WHAT’S THE HISTORY OF THE INN?

Tis used to be my auntie Bessie and Donald McWatt’s house. Tey had five kids—that’s why there’s so much bedrooms! So, it worked out really good, where we have five bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom, and then two bedrooms downstairs with a bathroom, plus another room for ofce.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING AT THE INN?

Meeting all kinds of people. People come and people go, but I always enjoy visitors. Visitors come, I welcome them in, and they always say, “this place is so homey”, you know?

When you get checked in at a hotel, you usually don’t know where you're going or what

you're doing, and you don’t know anybody. So, I always try to be helpful with guests when they come—make themselves at home.

I get to meet lots of people—doctors, dentists, electricians…and Tusaayaksat! [laughs] We have people coming to board meetings from out of town; we even had the NWT Legislative Assembly come to Akłarvik one year!

I meet all kinds of people and they’re all good people. When you be good to them, they be good to you… Tey always say, “treat people the way you wanna be treated,” so I always try to do that here. I really enjoy having visitors here and helping them out.

WHAT

MAKES AKŁ ARVIK INN SO SPECIAL?

Tey always say: “Oh it's so homey in here—what do you do?” And I always tell them: “When you love your job [and] when you have a good attitude, you be good to everybody and everybody’s happy.” So, I always try to have a good attitude.

I’ll show guests around the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, living room, and my little office there. I show visitors a map of Akłarvik and where to go.

Anybody can check-in late, I don’t mind—I take a taxi and come to check them in. I even leave sign at the window with my name and numbers, where they can contact me if they need to come here. I’m getting stronger and happy to see people and check them in.

It’s a good place to go to—nice and homey. I try to make it homey with a good attitude. Spending all week with us—that's good company! I like the company in the morning when people are staying here. We just let them be and do their own thing, and I do my own so I’m out of the way.

Tey always say, “Tis is your second home!” Yeah—I’m here all day, and home in the evening…I really enjoy working here.

ANY LAST WORDS FOR THE GUESTS VISITING

AKŁ ARVIK INN?

Yes. Akłarvik Inn is a good place to go to where its homey, and you have your own space. We have a fully loaded kitchen and living room with TV and radio, as well as breakfast on the house. I let guests choose which room to stay

in. Everything is nice and clean—Javex every other day; Lysol wipes all over the place. People say it’s nice and homey, with lots of room, lots of space.

I am just happy to be working, and happy to be alive. And I just gotta do my exercise to gain my strength back. But otherwise, I’m still strong—getting stronger every day.

Guests are always welcome, just phone the ofce for reservations. I’d be happy to expect guests.

Akłarvik Inn is a bed and breakfast located in Akłarvik, operated by the Ahklavik Development Corporation and Akłarvik Community Corporation.

Price: $210.00 per night

Continental breakfast provided (bread, cold/hot cereals, eggs, cofee, tea, juice)

Contact:

Akłarvik Community Corporation

P.O. Box 119 Aklavik, NT X0E 0A0

m accmanager@inuvialuitcc.com

O 867-978-2414 d 867-978-2815

designed this t-shirt: "to show people to not litter."

Deeanna agrees: "We decided to clean instead of throwing away garbage because we have to save the ocean and the rivers."

WORLD WATER DAY 2020

Since its designation by the United Nations in 1993, World Water Day, March 22 of each year, has been recognized and celebrated around the world with a variety of events highlighting the importance of sustainable management of the world's freshwater resources. Although a different theme is identified for each year, “2020 - Water and Climate Change”, in large part events are tailored to the geographical, cultural and economic circumstances at each location where an event is held.

Hunter Franson and Deeanna Benoit Smith show of their winning t-shirt designs. Hunter shares with Tusaayaksat why he

In the Northwest Territories we are collectively blessed with an abundant supply of freshwater, however there are many signifcant challenges in ensuring this supply remains free of contamination and is made available to all territorial residents in a manner that is consistently safe and adequate to meet their needs. Of equal importance is that liquid and solid wastes are managed in a manner that do not pose a threat to the wellbeing of our environment and our water resources—as an example, the impacts of discarded plastics on our environment is an issue of increasing concern as they slowly break down into microplastics and are now visibly present across the world’s oceans and freshwater systems.

The Inuvialuit Water Board (IWB) wanted to assist in bringing the message of how important water and waste management is to our everyday lives. As part of the IWB Communication Strategy, the Board agreed that an annual event would assist in bringing this message to the communities. World Water Day was launched in Tuktuuyaqtuuq in 2019 and World Water Day 2020 was to be held in Akłarvik, with Paulatuuq, Uluhaktuuq and Ikaahuk (Sachs Harbour) in the following years.

IWB staf were able to go to Akłarvik in October 2019 to introduce World Water Day 2020 to the community partners: Hamlet of Akłarvik, Akłarvik Community Corporation, Akłarvik Hunters and Trappers Committee, Akłarvik Child Development Centre and Moose Kerr School. IWB also provided details to Moose Kerr Students for the art contest with the winning artwork used for the World Water Day Akłarvik 2020 T-shirt.

In January and February 2020, Parks Canada and Department of Fisheries and Oceans were able to give educational presentations with a focus on water and waste management to the Moose Kerr School. The main World Water Day event that was to be held March 27, 2020 had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The IWB received artwork submitted by Moose Kerr School:

• Ms. Heather Greenland – Kindergarten Class 2020;

• Ms. Amy Wynot – Grade 1 & 2 Class 2020;

• Mrs. Lamia Obeid – Grade 4 & 5 Class 2020;

• Ms. Crystal Norris – Grade 6 & 7 Class 2020;

• Mr. and Mrs. Nathan and Melindi Bristow –Grade 10 – 11 Class 2020.

We selected artwork for the World Water Day Akłarvik 2020 T-shirt design submitted by:

• Caragh Crandell – Grade 2

• Hunter Franson – Grade 5

• Deeanna Benoit Smith – Grade 6

The t-shirts were to be given to each of the students and community members that participated in the main event. Since the main event was cancelled, IWB felt that it was in the community’s interest to have the t-shirts. In October 2020, the IWB shipped the World Water Day Akłarvik 2020 t-shirts to each of the partners for their distribution to students and community members.

As the COVID-19 Pandemic has restricted gatherings and travel in the NWT, the IWB has had to postpone any further WWD events until the restrictions have been lifed.

WORDS PROVIDED BY MARDY SEMMLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INUVIALUIT WATER BOARD

Inuvialuit Water Board, 151 Mackenzie Road (Mack Travel Building) 2nd Floor, P.O Box 2531, Inuvik, NT, X0E 0T0. Phone: (867) 678-2942 • Email: info@inuvwb.ca

Inuvialuit GIFS have arrived

Project made possible by Canadian Roots Exchange

My name is Kyle Natkusiak Aleekuk and I am the Art Director for Tusaayaksat Magazine. I was asked to collaborate with the Inuvialuit Communications Society to design emojis and GIFS that relate specifcally to Inuvialuit life and culture—including a wide range of Northern animals. Our hope it that this project, funded by Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE), will function as a fun and accessible way for people to interact with each other while furthering their knowledge of Inuvialuktun.

Each emoji or GIF is accompanied by an Inuvialuktun translation and were designed as a way to help people learn to speak Inuvialuktun through the medium of digital technology. I designed these images using the Procreate App for the iPad Pro, along with the Apple Pencil, and it was a major learning curve for me at frst. Once I started to navigate the app and its features, I better understood how it could be used to design simple images that could be deciphered as a small icon.

The most challenging component was illustrating the various fsh species and ensuring that each representation was identifable. I believe that when people see each image and its accompanying translation, it will resonate with them. Working on this project was a great opportunity for me to learn Inuvialuktun words as I did not grow up speaking it; I grew up in Alberta quite distant from my Northern roots.

These emojis and GIFs will also be turned into a deck of playing cards that will function as fash cards for language learning and will be incorporated into classrooms within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. See next page.

Taylor Ipana is five years old and in kindergarten this year. Her favorite colour is purple. She loves to dance—especially to the Red River Jig. She also enjoys being outside and going out in the bush with her mom Leah and her sisters Cassidy and Amber, and brother Derek. Taylor likes to create artwork and paint with her cousins Brooke and Joella. Tis painting is of the Northern Lights.

"I painted this / the northern lights / Merry Christmas / Taylor Ipana"

Uvlumi! My name is Robyn Boucher, and my Inuvialuktun name is Apiyuq. I’m an Inuvialuk, born and raised in Iñuuvik, NT. I absolutely loved growing up in Iñuuvik, being able to take Inuvialuktun language classes, and having the opportunity to take part in hunting and fishing trips put on by the school. My earliest experience working with animals was in SHSS (Samuel Hearne Secondary School), when my class and I went out to a camp where an Elder taught us how to work with hides: how to clean them, smoke them, and make use of all parts of the animal.

I mainly work with moose and caribou hide, and I’m learning more ways to use porcupine quills in the jewelry I make. Inuvialuktun language class in SAM School was where I learned how to bead and sew. I think it’s so beautiful that artists, including myself, have been able to find uses for displaying parts of animals that would otherwise have little use. For example, when hunting a moose, you can use the meat for food such as dry meat, moose steaks and hamburger, the fur for tufting, and the hide for clothing such as slippers, card holders, and earrings. You can even make use of the antler, by painting it to display at home, or even slicing it to use on earrings.

My advice for the next generations of Inuvialuit who are interested in hunting or working with animals is to pay attention to what your Elders tell you! Tey are so valuable and knowledgeable. Take the time to go hunting with your , and take notes when your anaanak is showing you how to harvest aniTe possibilities will be endless once you take on their knowledge! Quyanainni!

STIR-FRIED MUSKOX

For fans of hearty dishes on a cold winter day, this recipe from Stephanie Nigiyok is a "musk"-try.

"This is a favorite of mine to cook whenever I have muskox meat."

MARINADE :

• ¼ cup soya sauce

• 2 tbsp honey

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1/3 cup syrup

INSTRUCTIONS :

1. Toss muskox strips or cubes in marinade and let sit in the fridge for an hour

2. Fry until brown and add a cup and a half of frozen veggies

3. Steam with one cup of water and then combine four and water in a bowl and whisk. Add to the meat and veggies to thicken

4. Serve over rice

OPTIONAL :

HOME - MADE POTATO WEDGES

1. Cut potatoes into wedges and coat w olive oil, a dash of salt & pepper, as well as seasoning salt

2. Cook in a 400° oven for 40 mins

3. Turn over once halfway through

Brooch featuring traditional moose hide and a wolf pendant made of bone.

Top: A pair of earrings I made with caribou hide pieces. Bottom: A pair of earrings I made with porcupine quills.

HAWKS SUPPLY HAS YOU COVERED FOR WINTER HARVESTING.

ON THE LAND:

• Ice augers

• Knives and foldable shovels

• Ice chippers

• Camping fuel, headlamps

• Makita chainsaws + replacement chains, bars and oil

• Winter clothing: Ski-Doo jackets, bibs, gloves, and boots

INDUSTRIAL:

• Blast Heaters (Mr. Heater)

• Assorted hoses and clamps

• Tools: Industrial and regular grade

SPECIAL OFFER:

Inuvialuit Harvesters Assistance Program (IHAP) Discount

Hawks Supply will ofer special discounts for all purchases made under the Inuvialuit Harvesters Assistance Program (IHAP), which provides ongoing assistance to Inuvialuit sustenance harvesters.

For more info about IHAP, visit: www.irc.inuvialuit.com/program/inuvialuitharvesters-assistance-program

CLEANING:

• Paper & cleaning products

• Disinfecting & cleaning chemicals

• Hand sanitizer stations

• Disposable face masks

iShipping is now available everywhere in Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut. Call for more details.

TRANSPORTATION:

• Headlights & lightbars

• Block & oil pan heaters

• Fuel additives & cleaning products

• Mobil1 oil

• Replacement flters: oil, fuel & air

• Snowmobile oil

• Sparkplugs, bearings & pull cords

• Interstate AGM batteries