I had the opportunity to attend a number of the Nunavut Day festivities held in Iqaluit on July 9th. This is the anniversary date of the signing of the land claims agreement between the Federal Government and the Inuit People which led, on April 1, 1999, to the creation of the Territory of Nunavut.
The day started off with a pancake breakfast held at the Territorial Legislature building. We were served pancakes and sausages by the Premier of Nunavut, Eva Aariak, the Mayor of Iqaluit, Elisapee Sheutiapik, and various other political figures.
Later, at the meeting circle in front of the Elder's Residences, the public were treated to food and drinks, including Inuit "Country Food" - essentially raw meat. For a significant portion of the population of Nunavut, this makes up a large part of their daily diet.
I, of course, had to try a piece of everything... different, very different... I could see myself eating this type of food in extremity, where my survival perhaps depended on it, but I don't think I'll be changing my regular diet anytime soon (although I must say, the raw caribou, sliced thin, might be tolerably good with a nice sauce to go with it...). The bannock was something like a tea biscuit, but softer, very good actually.
Later that afternoon there was entertainment at the field in front of the school building and I got a chance to see Inuit Throat -Singers performing. In the evening, a large crowd gathered for the opening of the new Canadian North Airlines hangar. They were giving away free return tickets to Ottawa... I didn't win. Lots of free food and souvenirs though - all in all, a very enjoyable day.
Later, at the meeting circle in front of the Elder's Residences, the public were treated to food and drinks, including Inuit "Country Food" - essentially raw meat. For a significant portion of the population of Nunavut, this makes up a large part of their daily diet. 
I, of course, had to try a piece of everything... different, very different... I could see myself eating this type of food in extremity, where my survival perhaps depended on it, but I don't think I'll be changing my regular diet anytime soon (although I must say, the raw caribou, sliced thin, might be tolerably good with a nice sauce to go with it...). The bannock was something like a tea biscuit, but softer, very good actually.
Later that afternoon there was entertainment at the field in front of the school building and I got a chance to see Inuit Throat -Singers performing. In the evening, a large crowd gathered for the opening of the new Canadian North Airlines hangar. They were giving away free return tickets to Ottawa... I didn't win. Lots of free food and souvenirs though - all in all, a very enjoyable day.
that high tide occurs in the morning and low tide is in the evening. When I first arrived here, the ice had started to clear (helped by an ice-breaker which had come through the previous weekend). It was interesting to see what the tide would bring in every day - one day it deposited a large number of ice chunks in the bay.
which illustrate the difference made by the tides in the bay: 
warm day (temp approx. 14 degrees). I had two suitcases jammed full - Air Canada had nicked me for $75.00 because my large one was over-weight - and were actually refusing to take it on the plane unless I lightened it by 7 lbs. This I managed to do by removing a garment bag (5lbs) and then, a couple of pots and pans which I put in the bottom of the garment bag and took as a carry-on. Unfortunately, in my rush to dispose of my last few items of furniture and do my packing, I hadn't really got in touch with anyone to arrange to be met at the airport. I
knew that I was supposed to have some accommodations lined up - I was getting a government apartment - but I didn't know whether or not that would be available on this day (it wasn't). So, I cooled my heels in the airport for a while and tried phoning some of my Iqaluit contacts. Long and short of it, I ended up back at the Nova Hotel (where I had stayed on my exploratory visit a month earlier).
