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HHW Training in Nunavut

By James Lapp posted 02-27-2012 09:03 PM

  


We left Edmonton today to make our way to Rankin Inlet.  The flight went from Edmonton to Yellowknife, where we switched from First Air to Canadian North airlines.  The only eventful experience was the fellow sitting behind us who was so excited to see the trees as we made the approach into the Yellowknife airport.  We suspected that was because he came from somewhere further north where there are no trees.  

Once we got to Rankin Inlet, it seemed to take forever to get our bags.  We were told they didn't have any ground crew so the flight crew had to do the baggage handling too.  Good news is that my bags all showed up, unlike last years trip to Iqaluit.  I brought a guitar with me this time.  The airline put fragile labels on it, but by the look of the plastic wrap on it. I think the label was an excuse to rough it up.  I haven't opened the guitar yet, so I cross my fingers it made it OK.  But, this is the reason I don't bring my good guitars on airplanes. 

We were picked up at the airport by Arnie, who took us to our hotel and helped set up the training room for tomorrow.  The training room is in the Town Fire Hall, which is just a short walk from the hotel.  That's a good thing because the temperature today was -40 C (same temperature in F )

Arnie then gave us a tour around town.  I think he pretty much showed us every street and building there was to see.  First stop was the town landfill.  Not a pretty sight.  The story is that the town spent 3 million dollars on a new site, but the council then decided they wouldn't use it.  So they still use the old site.  First thing I noticed was the fence posts but no fence on them.  Arnie said that when they built the new, now unused site, residents figured they'd just help themselves to the chain link fencing.   There is no gate and no on-site employees, so the site is very much uncontrolled.  What we also noticed, and as typical at Nunavut landfills, is the large piles of metal that is apparently too expensive to crush and ship out. 

On the tour around town, we passed by a couple of compounds with sled dogs, numerous sleds around town, and the ubiquitous snowmobiles that scooted around town.  We passed by a home where there were two polar bear skins, white fox skins, and caribou skins hanging on racks.   I had to stop and get some photos.   We were told this was a community elder who uses traditional Inuit hunting methods. 

We took a trip down to the shore of Hudson Bay where the barges and ships unload the goods that are brought in during summer months.  Oil and fuel for the year is brough in by tanker ships, and a temporary pipeline from the ship is set up so the fuel and oil can be pumped to tanks on shore.  All the heating oil and fuel has to come in summer to last out until the next ice break up.   The town's electrical power comes from a generating plant that burns fuel oil to run the turbines. 

After we got back to the hotel, Duane and myself went on a walking tour.  Colleen was already too cold, so she stayed in the Hotel.  The most dominating landmark in town is an oversized Inuksuk just a block from the hotel.  We made our way to the main store in town.   I saw a mother carrying her young child in the hood of her Inuit coat, so I had to get a photograph.  Inside the store, we checked out the food prices, and they are pricey. $9 for a 2 Litre Coke.   Next to the drygoods, is a display of skidoos.  Only place I've ever seen where you can by a loaf of bread, milk, butter, and a skidoo. 

So our look around town is done and I've settled down for the night.  Since I left my house at 5 am, it has been a long day, and I'm am tired.   Tomorrow is the first day of training.   We met some of the students who were on the same plane as us, so we'll feel more welcome in the morning.   Hopefully, this years training will be as rewarding as last year.  It looks promising, because there are a few of the folks from last year who have sent their staff to this years course.  That is always a sign that we must have done something right. 
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