Sanikiluaq residents to open 20-year-old time capsule

Sanikiluaq residents will gather Saturday afternoon in the high school gym to open a time capsule sealed two decades ago.

They expect to find baby clothes, handwritten letters, childhood scribbles and keepsakes left behind in 2006 by community members, including many who have since died.

The capsule-opening at Paatsaali High School, organized by the community’s recreation department, will come after a country food feast and an opening prayer.

“The capsule was stored under the Paatsaali school and was in the crawlspace for 20 years,” said Ashley Appaqaq, Sanikiluaq’s recreation co-ordinator.

“There are things ranging from letters to pictures to small items like stuffed animals, keepsakes, baby hats from when everyone here was babies — cool stuff like that,” she said. “I also saw some cash, which is pretty cool.”

Appaqaq said the original metal capsule filled up quickly, so additional boxes were sealed inside an airtight container built to hold the overflow.

Saturday’s event marks the second time the capsule has been opened, part of a 20-year community tradition.

The time capsule was created in 1986 to mark construction of what was then called Nuiyak School — now Paatsaali school.

That capsule was opened on Jan. 1, 2006, during a gathering at the Kattitavik Recreation Hall. Community members signed their names on the outside after the capsule was resealed, then it was stored away again.

“It was crazy to see the names signed on the box. I remember I was around six or seven years old when this happened,” Appaqaq said, adding that her own name is among them.

“It’s in the sloppiest writing, but it’s there.”

Saturday’s event was initially planned for Jan. 1, exactly 20 years since the capsule was last opened, but widespread illness in the community forced the delay.

“But everyone’s feeling better now and there are no more blizzards, so everyone’s good to gather again,” she said.

Sanikiluaq resident Daniel Novalinga, who was 11 years old in 2006, said he doesn’t remember what he put into the capsule. But he’s especially curious about what his father, who passed away in 2007, the year after it was sealed, may have left behind.

“I imagine it’s going to be emotional for people — especially family members of those who didn’t make it,” he said. “I already see quite a few names [on the capsule] that are deceased.”

Appaqaq said a moment of silence will be held to honour community members who have died.

The time capsule and its contents will be open to the public from 2 to 5 p.m. after the feast and photos will be shared on the community’s Facebook page, Appaqaq said.

Sometime after that, the capsule will be resealed and stored away for another 20 years.