Seal-skinning ‘showdown’ pits hunter against hunter

Three Canadian Rangers went head-to-head in the Alianait Arts Festival seal-skinning competition on Sunday.

“It’s the Ranger Showdown,” said Ranger Kevin Kudlualik, as he took his mark next to a seal.

Dino Tikivik and Jimmy Nowdlak, senior members of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, rounded out the field.

Jimmy Nowdlak wins the seal-skinning contest hosted by Iqaluit’s Alianait Arts Festival on Sunday. He quartered his seal in three minutes and 40 seconds. (Photo by Daron Letts)

They were the only volunteers to step up when co-ordinator Andrea Anderson invited contestants from the crowd, which had grown to 100 people by the start of the 11 a.m. event.

The competitors’ mission was to be the fastest to skin, quarter and break down their seal in order to prepare it for cooking.

When Anderson dropped her arm, signalling the start of the race, the men picked up their knives and got to work.

There was very little talking during the race as the contestants skinned and cut the meat.

Three minutes and 40 seconds later, Nowdlak stood up, dropped his knife, and raised his red hand first, making him the winner.

It was a personal best, Nowdlak said.

Growing up in Iqaluit, Nowdlak said he learned to process seal quickly by watching his father Joe Nowdlak. He skinned his first seal at age 10, he said, and now he is teaching his own sons.

Once all three seals were broken down, community members divided up the meat and the skins.

Tikivik and Kudlualik helped stir a pot of seal stew that was served shortly after the competition. A line of 250 people soon formed.

The four-day festival ended Sunday night following a concert in the big-top tent downtown.