A clamming good time in Kinngait

Kinngait residents rose early for the hamlet’s first-ever clam festival, held Aug. 24 and 25.

“So the community went out at, like, four in the morning with the tides on that weekend,” said Kimberly Young, the hamlet’s senior administrative officer.

The early departure was timed to coincide with the receding tide at the beach, which is 20 to 30 minutes away from the hamlet by boat and a prime location for clam digging.

Many community members already enjoy clamming each year, Young said. But the hamlet wanted to do something more formal to include elders, who may not normally be able to participate.

Clam chowder is ready to eat after the first Kinngait Clam Festival was held recently. (Photo courtesy of Hamlet of Kinngait)

For the Kinngait Clam Festival, transportation was provided including boats for elders.

After it was all over, Young said, participants made clam chowder, traditional clam stews and soups, and then prizes were drawn from a hat, including hunting and fishing equipment to match the theme of the festival. Tarps, stoves and anything that could be used for on-the-land activities were also awarded.

Approximately 70 people of all ages made it out for the two days of clamming, Young said.

“We’re really trying to kind of pull the community together and get back to the roots of things,” she said. “And do more programming around just coming out and being together and enjoying those things together, and doing some positive stuff for the community.”

The event was funded by several Government of Nunavut departments.