LeBleu Pack: Sadness in the Bay

Since my last posting Cambridge Bay has lost two of their finest. First was Doug Crossley, a great guy who was a member of the board of directors of Kitikmeot Foods Ltd. Doug was great to work with and always had a listening ear, knowledgeable of the business and of the land and solutions to many problems. He will be greatly missed by everyone. Gwen Tikhak was a wonderful and talented crafter/sewer who lost her life earlier this week. Her attention to detail was amazing and I fell in love with her tiny dolls.

These are the dolls that Gwen made me less than a week ago

For the past 5 winters I have been wanting a pair of kamiks (boots) and I could never find a pair that fit me...except this past week. I received an early Valentine's present from my sweetie. I love them so much and they are so comfortable, they are like wearing slippers.

My new kamiks

Here's this year's Valentine's picture of the dogs

Last week was the Kitikmeot Trade Show and it was a week of busy and meeting new and old friends. Our head office Nunavut Development Corporation was there with a table full of arts and crafts. Donna (one of our employees) and I had a blast at our table giving out samples of our Arctic char candy and jerky. Leona Aglukkaq was in CamBay for the trade show and as always visited us at the plant. This time was more than just a plant visit but it was also a meeting discussing food security in Nunavut. All in all a great meeting with her and another successful trade show.

Kitikmeot Foods staff & employees from NDC with Leona Aklukkaq

Mona from Talaq Designs with some amazing arts and crafts

My friends Kim & Marg from KCFI

David Amegainek, an elder and friend enjoying some entertainment

Amy visiting our table

Elders Mary Kaniak and Annie Anavilok share a laugh during the trade show

Eva with her grandson Eric

Elisapie Isaac performed

One of our lead fishers, Jack makes traditional ulu and here is my collection from him. I just purchased the two tiny ones recently the ulu is a ladies knife and used for cleaning an animal to cutting thread while sewing.

In my photography world I have been busy doing more freelancing for Nunatsiaq News and also worked on the new airport sign for Kitikmeot Foods Ltd. So if you ever visit me, look for this sign at the airport.

Cambridge Bay has a new restaurant in town, called Saxifrage Restro. Saxifrage is one of the first flowers that bloom up here in the summer. Here's one of the pics I did for the newspaper article for them.

We have been trying to get out for walks but some days it takes us longer to get ourselves and the dogs ready then the time spent outside. Blitz can handle the cold much better than the Princess but with wind chills hitting over -50'c we all have to be careful. Craig actually got some frostbite this past week, I guess he had his neck exposed at one point while he was out on the land. He will be fine it just takes some time to heal.