Pond Inlet school link with Chiddingstone
David Kalluk, his son Levi and I left Pond Inlet by snowmobile at midday on the 16th. After a long and very arduous 12 hour journey we arrived back in Arctic Bay. We travelled through deep ravines where the snowmobile would only just fit with towering cliffs above us and across rough broken sea ice. As the day wore on the sky turned a vivid blue-pink and looked astounding with the snow covered mountains set against it.
Whilst in Pond Inlet I met the staff at the elementary school and Ros and her staff were enthusiastic about the link with Chiddingstone and Edenbridge schools in the UK. I managed to give a presentation to the upper and lower year groups and the students all enjoyed opening the parcels sent to them from Chiddingstone and Edenbridge. We are hoping the friendship will work out for the students and we welcome them all on board!
I would like to mention a word of thanks to Don Kranz who kindly put me up whilst I was in Pond Inlet and also Ern, Eileen, Donna and Ros and her team for all the help and support..thank you all.
Whilst in town I spoke to Jake, a hunter, and he explained to me how a polar bear is hunted. When he sees a bear he cuts free his lead dog who runs to the bear and nips it on the hind quarters and back legs. When the bear is then confused he releases more dogs which also run to the bear and surround it. Then, on his order, they drop down, allowing the bear to be shot. I have no doubt that it is a very dangerous undertaking but hunting is part of life up here in the north and the hunter takes these things in his stride as a necessary occurence.
Simon and I hope to begin the long dogsledge trip back to Iglulik tomorrow. The temperatures are still in the -30’s but the strong breeze from the north freezes exposed skin within a few minutes so we are hoping it will drop by then. Hello to all back in the UK.
