Photo: At the Aqpik Jam, ready for a sweet confection

Here are the three winners in this year’s aqpik picking contest held Aug. 15 as part of the Aqpik Jam festival in Kuujjuaq this week. The first prize of $1,000 went to Elena Labranche (in the middle, dressed in green) with 9.6 lbs of aqpiks picked. The second prize of $900 went to Elisapie Tukkiapik (to the left, in light blue) with 9.2 lbs of aqpiks picked. The third prize of $800 went to Sylvia Labranche (Elena’s daughter, to the right, in purple) with 6.7 lbs of aqpiks picked. Contestants were required to pick as many aqpiks as they could between 1:00 p.m. and 5 p.m. The other people in the picture are Sammy Koneak (left) Eva Kauki and Jana Lingard (on the right.) (PHOTO BY ISABELLE DUBOIS)