When we woke this morning we were off shore from Pond Inlet, a community of just over 1600. We were met by a couple of local guides who took us on a walk through town to the Community Center where we were treated to a cultural show.

our guides

Winter outfit

Tha Inuit tend to be tiny

The show consisted of examples of throat singing, some athletic exhibitions of sports played in the Northern Competitions, drumming, and a couple of other local activities. It was an excellent show.

Floor of the Community Centre

Throat Singing – the object is to make the other person laugh. Note the baby in the pouch

The Drummer

A game – tossing ball in air

We saw women walking around town with their baby in the hood like this – still use this method a lot

Footware – sealskin outer with a handmade liner

The men had different winter activities – this object here was to push the other guy past a line

They said it was like Muskox fighting

Jut like little boys another game was to punch each other in the arm until someone gives in

Mouth pulling – another game

The flag is the flag of Nunavut

The younger man gave a series of demonstrations from the Arctic Winter Games that he has competed in a number of times.

Exploring a sod hut on the way

A Young girl and her puppy (husky)

Typical street scene – no paved roads anywhere – it is all permafrost

Local department/grocery/convenience/hardware etc. store

Demo – lighting the oil “lamp”

Sod hut

 Library, Gift shop and museum

After we walked over to the Cultural Center/Library and gift shop. Gary & I purchased a whale bone sculpture which we later discovered was done by a local, well known artist who has pieces in the National Gallery.

Pond Inlet is in a beautiful setting, surrounded by mountains, some with glaciers sliding down to the sea.

The Scene from our landing spot

The town from our landing spot

Pond Inlet was initially the site of a residential school. One of our guides had been brought here to attend the school. She said without that she would have had no schooling. When the kids were originally brought here their families would follow to be close to them. No housing was provided for the families who would live in tents and sod houses they built on the edge of town. It sounds like there was about 3 generations that attended the residential schools – our guide, her parents and grandparents. While at the school they were punished for speaking any language other than English and were not permitted to practice any of their traditions.
There is now schooling for local children from kindergarten through to grade 12. Our guide’s daughter has just left to attend college in Ottawa.
When we arrived the Canadian Navy was already here – a small ship and a larger passenger ship on its way to Greenland also pulled in. Busy day in town!!

The roads are not paved, mud and no communities in the Arctic have any docking facilities so it is always a zodiac ride to shore and back.
Tonight 2 of the researchers regaled us with some stories of close encounters with bears, included one about a missing thermometer- just think about it!