Nunavut’s abundant wildlife provides for families, communities
‘My Corner of Our Land’ – Nunatsiaq News readers reflect on Nunavut Day
Having the most beautiful but “harshest” land is what makes Nunavut great, Jenny Wasylkoski says on Nunavut Day. (Photo courtesy of Jenny Wasylkoski)
To celebrate Nunavut Day, Nunatsiaq News invited readers to share what makes their corner of the territory special to them.
We have the most beautiful but yet harshest land and environment and that’s what makes it so great.
We have an abundance of wildlife all around and all year round. We are very fortunate to able to hunt and provide for our families and the community.
Every season is different and brings families and friends together, fishing all year whether it be by nets, jigging or rodding, camping, hunting, swimming in the lakes, preparing nipku in the spring, drying fish in the sun, 24 hours of sunlight in the summer and the beautiful and amazing northern lights.
And that is my little corner of our land. A Yellowknifer now but my heart will always be in Arviat, my hometown, where the land is flat!
Jenny Wasylkoski lives in Yellowknife but calls Arviat home.
As much as I wish wildlife was abundant, it simply is not true. We wouldn’t have Tuktu quota’s in multiple regions, limited polar bear tags, and diminishing Whale sightings. We also wouldn’t have people from other regions offering cash to purchase wildlife caught in another region to be shipped to them.
Our forefathers did not always have access to tuktu as well from my elders I understand there is a cycle as their food source is one of the slowest growing plants in the world so they follow this cycle.
They eat al the food, their population starts to decrease and continues to do so until their food source has time to grow back, once their food source grows back their population starts to increase again. It is a natural cycle that follows their food source.
I agree with both. I am also unsure animals are hunted in the spring when it is breeding season? Shouldn’t hunters not want to hunt during these times to build up wildlife stocks?
It is wonderful to read your story and the way Nunavut has touched the lives of so many people. As a southerner it is a shame we know so little about the north and the people.
I am not saying that they hunt caribou all year.
Like I said different seasons.
Please no negative comments. This is to appreciate our Nunavut!