Next up was a tour of Kitikmeot Foods where we got to see where the muskox and Arctic Char are processed. Unfortunately there was not an ounce of muskox meat to be found; Kitikmeot Foods is all sold out and the next hunt isn’t until February. I hope I’ll be able to get more then because there’s hardly a tastier meat than muskox, especially the chops and tenderloin. We did get to sample some hot smoked Char though, and some Char jerky. Both were delicious.
This place is so clean it reminded me of an operating room. Everyone had to get gowned up before the tour.
It was only -12 Celsius so we took the opportunity to go for a stroll. The sun was shining and all you could hear was the soft crunch of snow beneath our boots. A beautiful day in Cambridge Bay and the light, of course, is spectacular here.
Later on we went to the visitor’s Centre which is small but so well done. They have great carvings, wall hangings and beautiful handmade dolls there to show people the type of artwork and crafts that come from the North.
After supper we were shown some of the sports and athletic games that Nunavut is famous for like high kick, mouth pull and leg wrestling.
The students were invited to participate and a few like Barry, Robbie and Devon tried their hand (or leg) at some of the games.
I think Devon was born in the wrong province. He kicked 7’3” in the high kick. Pretty impressive for a boy from the South who has never seen this sport before.
I’m proud of the kids from Stratford for participating. It took a lot of guts and when they look back on this trip, they are going to be so thankful that they stood up and said yes to embracing new experiences in a culture that most people will never have a chance to know.