Yesterday we headed out to the land to be part of the Cape Dorset Fishing Derby, which I was told has not happened in a long time. The day started early with everyone meeting and hanging around at the local Co-op with their snowmobiles and qamutik (sled). All the sudden someone gave the word and Heidi (our teacher friend from school), Terin and myself jumped into the qamutik and we were off! The journey to the lake (and by lake I mean frozen lake) was really exciting because we journeyed over land that is completely untouched in a giant convoy of qamutiks and sleds. Once there, everyone unloaded and started setting up for the day. A Tupiq (tent) went up, holes started being drilled in the ice, raw caribou legs started being shared, walrus meat being passed around (all frozen, raw and surprisingly yummy), tea and hot chocolates were being passed around, children were being carted up on snowmobiles to sled down amazing hills that surrounded the lake, and then the Derby began!
Watching 100's of people fish through 8 foot deep holes in the ice, dressed in modern gear with a mix of tradition clothes was incredible. The southern world I'm use to seemed a thousand miles away as we participated and watched this Inuit event surrounded by the now familiar sounds of Inuktitut. The day went so quick, it flashed by, but as I've been processing the events of the day, I have again realized the fortune I have had to have had this experience.
our ride
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