Similar to my last Pangnirtung trip, the main focus in Cape Dorset was to revise transcripts and maps with people we had interviewed, to clarify any inaudible parts of interviews, to draft a diagram linking sea ice terminology in chronological (seasonal) order, and to get out on the sea ice more.  Also similar to the most recent Pangnirtung experience, some of these got done and some didn’t. 

I was saddened upon arrival to find out that another one of the elders that we had interviewed had passed away recently, this one in Cape Dorset.  To add to that, there had been a recent tragedy in town whereby a search and rescue effort ended in two people perishing after driving off the floe edge in very poor visibility (and due to rapidly changed ice conditions).  The whole town felt the impact of this accident, and it turns out that one of the people involved was the uncle of the woman I normally stay with...so alternative accommodations were arranged to provide her and her family the necessary time and space to grieve. 

With continuously poor weather conditions, and the shut-down of the Iqaluit airport for four days while I was in Cape Dorset, it left me lots of time to work with the interpreter I normally work with (since he had been working at the local airport).  As in Pangnirtung, it was a long process to revise transcripts and fill in the inaudible/unclear parts, but a very valuable one.  We also began drafting a sequence of sea ice terminology according to the seasonal chronology of freeze-up and break-up processes. 

In the second week we continued the transcript revisions and managed an update meeting with the Hunters and Trappers Association.  After the experience in Pangnirtung, I suppose that I wasn’t surprised that it was a challenge to revise the order of sea ice terminology, and come to a consensus on the appropriate words to use.  I held a drop-in session for previously interviewed individuals to review the maps they had drawn, as well as the sea ice terminology links we were drafting.  This also turned into a semi-focus group, where people stayed for half the day and discussed the appropriate course of action to actually develop the sea ice chronology.  It was concluded that the accuracy of this exercise is to be taken very seriously, that a lot more time needed to be devoted to it.  Also, they seemed to be willing to work on it themselves if we could find adequate funding to support these efforts.  So this became a new task for me...to look for funds that could support these kinds of detailed – and necessary – revisions. 

On the long weekend I was fortunate to arrange a three-day sea ice and land trip with Huit Huit Tours, where I got to travel with them to their cabin (three hours by skidoo!!!) and experience fishing and geese hunting.  The trip there was not so fun, with rain (yes rain!!) soaking us right through, and spraying lots of ice back at me in the kamotik from the skidoo skiis.  But, the next day the weather cleared to beautiful sunshine, lots of warmth, and the best string of weather I’ve had probably since my time in Igloolik in October '04.  They had a very cozy and comfortable cabin, so it was a great introduction to overnight trips.  Every moment was very enjoyable, and full of learning.  We fished all day on the Saturday, and part of Sunday.  I wasn’t successful with the fishing this time, but they caught about 8, so we ate arctic char a few different ways over the weekend.  They were also successful at getting a few geese as they flew over, and I got to experience the entire preparation process to get the bird(s) ready to boil.  It was personal challenge, but a unique and fascinating experience!  We had an enjoyable trip home (plus I got to be a passenger, and not ride in the kamotik), and it seemed like a whole different route with clear skies and good visibility.  And the weather even held for my flight out the next day, so it was a smooth trip back to Toronto.