On blizzards, parks, and wonderful people

Four days of blizzard conditions is a very good test of the character of people. Two weeks ago I was in Arviat for a week of planned meetings and training sessions, but shortly after arriving, the weather turned and blizzard conditions threatened to turn the best laid plans upside down.

The purpose of the trip was for Aarluk to begin work with the community of Arviat and the Nunavut Parks and Special Places division of the Government of Nunavut's Department of Environment on starting up the Arviat Protected Area Background Study. The project will identify areas within a 100 km radius of the community that offer potential for the future establishment of a protected area that will celebrate the natural, cultural and recreational resources of Arviat. Working with Lesli Rynyk of Nunavut Parks, the tasks for the week included establishing and training a Park Advisory Committee, interviewing local organizations and experts about the resources in the study area, and informing the community about the project.

Photo of the Arviat Park Advisory Committee (left to right): Andrew Panigoniak, Judy Issakiark, Jerry Panigoniak, Luke Suluk, Mary Thompson, Olivia Tagalik, Lesli Rynyk, Bobby Suluk (interpreter).

The blizzard got going on Tuesday, but not enough to keep our committee members at home. The Park Advisory Committee is made up of Mary Thompson (Chairperson), Olivia Tagalik, Judy Issakiak, Andrew Panigoniak, Luke Suluk, Elizabeth Copland, Dorothy Aglukark, and Jerry Panigoniak. Bobby Suluk provided interpretation. The committee is still hoping to recruit elder and youth reprentatives for future meetings. By the end of the training session, the doorways were starting to fill up with snow, and the forecast was looking like Wednesday would bring further high winds before a return to sunny conditions. However, each day afterwards the blizzard warnings continued to be extended, and by Friday it was clear we weren't going to be leaving Arviat as scheduled.

In southern communities a four-day blizzard would be a calamity, but in Arviat everyone is used to the related annoyances and they don't let it stop them from keeping up with their business. Meetings and interviews were re-arranged and relocated as needed, the radio show went ahead despite the near zero visibility for those of us walking to the radio station, food was shared with those running low on supplies, and meeting up with people involved a shared laugh about climbing through doorways that had been reduced to snowhouse sized entrances (as pictured left).

The community of Arviat demonstrated during my week long visit that they will be exceptional hosts for a territorial park should one be established near the community in the future. As a visitor, I can say that the community has a lot to offer through its culture and nature (even its more extreme weather conditions), and I look forward to supporting their project and visiting again soon.