Meet the student journalists who covered Nunavut Quest

A group of youth from Igloolik got the chance to experience life as journalists when they followed mushers, elders and organizers along this year’s Nunavut Quest from Arctic Bay to Pond Inlet.

Working as correspondents, the participants reported daily updates from the field and took pictures of the race as it unfolded.

The Nunavut Quest Field Course is sponsored by Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Ilagiiktunut Fund. The participants earned a semester credit for their work.

Read more about the group below:

Cadence Arnatsiaq

Cadence Arnatsiaq

Cadence Arnatsiaq is 17 years old.

She is the daughter of Elisha Awa and Pauline Arnatsiaq, both from Igloolik. She was born in Iqaluit, raised in Igloolik, lived a few years in Ottawa, and now lives in Igloolik. Cadence is very close to her mom and is very grateful for her mom always being there for her. In her free time, Cadence loves to spend time with her family and visit her grandparents.

In this field course Cadence gained the confidence to communicate more openly. She noticed that she didn’t have the courage to speak out loud and when she spoke it had always been very quiet. Getting to follow the Nunavut Quest is a dream come true for her. She learned that meeting new people can light up her life. Through meeting new people she learned a lot about herself. 

If you know her you know that she is quiet. If you really know her, you know that she started speaking when she was three years old.

Dylan Kayotak

Dylan Kayotak

Dylan Kayotak is 18 years old.

He was raised by his parents Mike Joseph Kigutaq and Heather Paniq in Iqaluit.

At the age of three he moved to Igloolik with his mother and currently he is under the care of his twin sisters Sheba and Sarah Kayotak. For a while he dropped out of school, but returned to school to try and break the cycle of addictions and struggles in his family.

He’s grateful for the courage to return to school and for the opportunity to follow Nunavut Quest. 

In this field course he learned how to naqitariniq (tie the qamutik) from land instructor Michael Apak Irgnaut by using the body to tighten the rope to the qamutik. This experience has made him more capable doing things with other people.

Dylan learned to be more patient to get to the town and he likes to help out the elders. During his free time, he likes to help his sisters by cleaning and taking care of his brother and nephews. He loves visiting his grandmother.

If you know him you know that he stays at home a lot. If you really know him, you know that he has a lot of relatives in Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet, and Igloolik.  

Kenneth-Owen Angilirq

Kenneth-Owen Angilirq is 17 years old.

Kenneth-Owen Angilirq

His family is from Igloolik and he is also from there too.

He lives with his grandparents and helps them a lot. He is in Grade 11 and is proud of himself for not giving up. He looks up to people who are more experienced than him. Both in Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet, his friends and family were looking forward to meeting him in person.

In this field course, he learned about the landscapes, weather and camping from the land instructor Michael.

This year was his first time following the Nunavut Quest and he was very grateful to be picked for the journey and learn more about qimmuksiujuaktii (dog teams and mushers).

In his free time, Kenneth-Owen likes to go out with his few friends and go ice picking with his cousin Devin Angilirq, who has more experience from going out on the land with his father.

In the future, Kenneth would like to go out on the land more and learn more about hunting. He wants to do different things more especially what he couldn’t do before.

If you know him you know that he is a quiet person and still learning. If you really know him, you know that he is only quiet around people he doesn’t know.

Leonard Siusangnark

Leonard Siusangark

Leonard Siusangnark is 16 years old.

He is the son of Ruben and Gwen Siusangnark both from Igloolik. He was born on Nov. 8, 2007. He grew up in Igloolik being kind and welcoming. 

Leonard is grateful for being able to come to Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet because he has never been in these communities before.

In this field course he learned how to get along with other people on the team and make new friends. He really likes meeting new people, because making new friends is like making someone happy.

Leonard loves to help elders. When he helps an elder he feels like he is making everyone proud. During his free time he likes to go for walks, help others, or use his phone. He is looking forward to going home to Igloolik because he can see his family and sleep in his own bed again.

If you know him, you know that he gets shy when someone asks him to dance. If you really know him, you know that he actually loves to dance.

Riley Michael Qamukaq

Riley Qamukaq

Riley Michael Qamukaq is 15 years old.

He was born on Aug. 15, 2008, in Iqaluit and raised in Igloolik.

His parents are Jimmy and Daisy Qamukaq. Riley is the oldest of his siblings, he has two brothers and three sisters. He is grateful of his lovely family and his best friends. One of his best friends is like a big brother to him since they have been friends since they were four or five years old.

In this field course, Riley learned how to tie a qamutik from the land instructors. He got little bit stronger. He also learned to fix his attitude.

Growing up, Riley was a bit of a bully and teased others. And now he is trying to be a better person by not bullying and teasing anymore. He got to meet his cousin in Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet, and even made a few new friends.

In his free time, he likes to play video games and be on his phone.

If you know him, you know that he likes to watch hukki, or square dancing. If you really know him, you know that he only likes to watch hukki but not to hukki himself.

Bernice Satuqsi

Bernice Satuqsi

Bernice Satuqsi is 16 years old.

She is the daughter of Ryan Kalliraq and Lucy Satuqsi. She was born in Iqaluit and raised in Igloolik. She is grateful for her cousins who are also her friends. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her friends and families. 

In this field course she learned that setting up camp is hard at first but once you get used to it, it gets easier. Bernice enjoyed staying on the land and experiencing new things with the group. 

If you know her, you know that she is quiet with strangers. If you really know her, you know that she talks a lot with the people she knows. 

This article and the accompanying pictures are the result of a partnership between Nunatsiaq News and Igloolik youth participating in the Nunavut Quest Field Course, a project sponsored by QIA and the Ilagiiktunut Fund.