Nunavut Quest kicks off with weekend celebrations in Arctic Bay

Nunavut Quest participants from Igloolik and Pond Inlet rolled into Arctic Bay one by one last week.

The excitement of Nunavut Quest built as community members rushed to welcome out-of-towners. Families were reunited as they greeted and hugged each other.

Ten mushers are signed up to compete in the annual dogsled race that runs this year from Arctic Bay to Pond Inlet.

Teams are expected to take about a week to finish the approximately 370-kilometre distance between the hamlets on the northern tip of Baffin Island. There were originally 12 competitors but two dropped out at the last minute.

The first-place finisher will win $20,000 with smaller prizes for the top six finishers. In total, $54,500 in prize money is up for grabs, according to race sponsor Qikiqtani Inuit Association, on its website.

The Arctic Bay Nunavut Quest committee kicked off the weekend celebrations with welcoming games and hukki, or square dancing, April 12 at the community hall. Everyone appeared to be happy to see one another and meet new people from other communities. Laughter and joy filled the community hall until late into the night.

On April 13, the Nunavut Quest committee and elders called a meeting for all mushers, their support teams, race officials, race guides, and youth participating in a field course. In this meeting, they discussed the route, logistics and trail conditions.

Mushers drew their pinnie [vest] numbers which will also determine the starting order on Tuesday, the official start of the race.

Everyone gathered in the community hall again April 13 for the opening ceremony.

Charlie Inuarak, a committee member and race guide, led an opening prayer. Opening remarks were given by Rhoda Natanine, a Nunavut Quest committee member. Qikiqtani Inuit Association vice-president Levi Barnabas and secretary-treasurer Jeremy Tunraluk also spoke.

Mushers wore their racing pinnies and were presented on the stage.

Ina Kigutikakjuk, a Grade 2 teacher at Inuujaq School, organized a hukki with a group of students from grades 1 to 8. The evening ended with hukki competition, raffles and other games.

The weekend celebrations continued into April 14, with a mini-race at 2 p.m. in the bay. Those watching also participated in games down on the ice.

Support teams got busy getting supplies and gear ready for the big trip. In the evening, there was a community feast celebrating both Nunavut Quest and the 25^th anniversary of the creation of the territory of Nunavut.

This year’s Nunavut Quest start time is Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Arctic Bay. Originally, the start was scheduled for Monday, but it was changed to Tuesday, QIA announced on its Facebook page.

The race will run approximately a week as mushers and their teams race to Pond Inlet.

An unidentified musher leads his dogsled team during a mini-race on April 14 in Arctic Bay, one of the events in the lead-up to the Nunavut Quest race from Arctic Bay to Pond Inlet, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday. (Photo by Kenneth Owen Angilirq, special to Nunatsiaq News)

The results of Sunday’s mini-race are:

1^st – Qilliqti Ivalu
2^nd – Apak Taqtu
3^rd – Tom Naqitarvik
4^th – David Oyukuluk
5^th – Nanuraq Uttak
6^th – Lee Inuarak
7^th – Jeremy Koonoo
8^th – Michael Qaunaq
9^th – Owen Jawarenko
10^th – Ruby Oyukuluk
11^th – Daniel Inuarak

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.