TEMPORARY INTERNET AT AN INUIT COMMUNITY AT CAMBRIDGE BAY. REPORTS WRITTEN FOLLOWING.

Not sure when this will get posted we are without internet but I will continue the reports and at some point we will get this up. We were pleased yesterday when we got internet in the library at Pond Inlet. Ken was able to post pictures and we hope an attachment we sent to our office that has a post was received and is now on LCT

August 17, 2014
ICE REPORT – some movement showing but still a lot of red showing at this time. Better than it was yesterday when it looked like it was getting more blocked. We are all keeping our fingers crossed.
PORT INLET
After a little rough weather (not too bad) crossing over to Canada early in the morning we were welcomed to Canada by a perfectly calm sea and absolutely gorgeous snowcapped mountains. The scenery was truly spectacular.

The Canadian officials cleared the ship and we were all anxious to step ashore in Canada. Mad dash to the library where four computers were available for internet use. The young lady behind the counter was definitely not Inuit and she was very helpful to everyone. She had on a seal skin vest with a Narwhal in the seal skin made from using the white parts of the seal skin. I gave her a Narwhal pin that she was delighted to receive. She was actually born in Montreal, but lived in this area as a young child. Her family moved to Scotland where she has spent most of her life. But she decided to move back to her roots in the Canadian Arctic and has been in Port Inlet for three months. I love visiting these towns but absolutely cannot imagine choosing to live here. I bet there was a man involved!

The town is situated in the most beautiful harbors surrounded by mountains and a few icebergs. STUNNING. This morning before we arrived NARWHALS were in the harbor. Such a totally different environment from Greenland. Gone were the colorful houses and dogs everywhere. This was a good size community of about 1500 people and lots of nice buildings. About 200 children are in school here and they have a separate elementary school and high school and a college for educating adults. A local guide took us around the town which is fairly new. Embarrassed to say I cannot remember the exact dates but about 40 years ago they started this community and the Inuit people moved to this area and the town is increasing in population.

One child was asked what her favorite foods were and the response was, Macaroni and Cheese, Seal meat, Narwhal and Pizza. Mixing the traditional with the new! Children were delightful again, so outgoing and they spoke English of course that made the visit far more entertaining. A little boy and girl were riding their bicycles and came right over to us to talk. Super friendly they were delightful. I gave them a pin and they raced off all excited.
The town put on a cultural show that was really outstanding. I must admit I do get a little tired of these shows (terrible admission) but this one was really terrific. It started with a wonderful rendition of the Canadian National Anthem sung by a beautiful young Inuit woman.

Next were demonstrations of the arctic games that involved physical strength and skills from the men. These games are held in the Canadian Arctic regions and gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for the winners. One challenge involved balancing on one hand while they hit a small replica of a seal with their feet. All the skills are designed to help in the strength and balance to hunt. To settle arguments each man would keep hitting the other on the arm until one backed down. The one that we will all remember was the mouth pulling. Each man puts his finger inside the other man’s mouth and pulls the other man’s lip to the side as hard as he can. That really looked like it hurt! This was all fascinating.
Then there was singing and dancing led by the man that bought these local skills and customs back to the people of this town. We were told he was the local celebrity. He had so much rhythm and was truly wonderful to watch. A little boy about 3 years old had his baby drum and was beating away as well with the adults.
Then the ladies showed us “throat singing” that was really remarkable. The ship said they would give lessons. They create really unusual sounds and I have never really heard anything like this before. Then they did the happy dance that was meant to make people laugh. They succeeded we were all laughing. The beautiful young Inuit woman who opened the show had a totally contorted face and crossed eyes.

Then we went into the Co-Op store. It was really big a short supply of fresh produce and what was there was very expensive. THEY DID HAVE CHERRIES but no price for those I decided to give it a pass. Wandering around we saw the clothing and I actually bought a jacket. Seldom buy anything unless I am in Shanghai or India where I have been known to turn into a shopping fiend. The written language is so strange here and the jacket has the local writing and English for Port Inlet along with the man made from stones that is on the local flag. The material was good and it fit. So I left sporting a new jacket last thing I expected to do.
Can you tell I loved this stop the scenery the people and culture were all really interesting.






Old Mud House.


Community Center in Pond Inlet, Canada with INTERNET!!




Throat Singing in the Cultural Center.


Arctic Games.


Very painful Arctic Game.


Not exactly Greenland.