Nanuq is king of Arctic-inspired chess set

A men’s group in Cambridge Bay has helped create a Nunavut-inspired chess set that features polar bears, grizzlies, snowy owls, rabbits and muskoxen.

Clifford Nzombato plays an Arctic-inspired Snakes and Ladders game he helped create at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The board features northern wildlife. Players who land on an animal’s mouth slide down to its tail. (Photo by Nehaa Bimal)

Hunter Nathan Kaoslead has led the Cambridge Bay men’s group for two years. He said the idea emerged last year as the men played chess, Snakes and Ladders and cards at their weekly game nights.

“As we were playing, we said to each other, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome if these were Arctic animal pieces?'” Kaoslead said.

Kaoslead first drew the animals on a napkin, then figured out how they could replace traditional chess pieces. He also consulted elders on names and characteristics.

The resulting Isumaniq Chess includes a polar bear, or nanuq in Inuinnaqtun, as the king; a grizzly bear, or akhak, as the queen; a snowy owl, or okpik, as the bishop; a rabbit, or okalik, as the knight; and a muskox, or umingmak, as the rook.

An inuksuk represents the pawns.

“Most of our communities have lost our language, so it was very important to get it in the game, for educational purposes for all ages,” Kaoslead said.

The squares include the English and Inuktitut names of each Nunavut community. The reverse side of the board features Arctic Bite, an Arctic-themed Snakes and Ladders game. 

“One game simply wasn’t enough,” Kaoslead said.

Kaoslead developed the game with Clifford Nzombato, through their company, KT Game Centre.

Nzombato came to Nunavut in 2009 and has worked as a social worker in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Pond Inlet. Last year he moved to Cambridge Bay, where he also runs Arctic Air Cabs in the community.

He said in an interview that he had picked up the first shipment of the finished game while down south in late September.

“When I went to the warehouse to pick it up, I nearly fainted,” he said. “I mean, it’s come to life.”

The first production run is 2,500 games, which are available to purchase online for $120 each. 

The game sets are manufactured in China and Nigeria because the company could not find an affordable Canadian producer, said Nzombato, who is funding the venture himself.

He is now seeking partnerships from the territorial and federal governments, as well as Canadian gaming developers to develop an online version.  

Kaoslead said that he and Nzombato plan to start with plastic game pieces and, once those sell, invest in limited-edition pieces made by Inuit carvers.

Nzombato also wants to bring Inuit game designers into KT Game Centre, including youth.

Proceeds will support programming for the men’s group, through which members gather for cooking, games, cultural activities and time on the land, Kaoslead said.

Around 200 games have been shipped to Cambridge Bay, and he said the group is looking forward to seeing the final product.

“I can see these games coming into the men’s group as a reason to spend time together,” he said.