July 19, 2009

• Some Kimmirut history & Parks Day

  Because my work hours are the same as those if the Park's office i.e. closed from 12-1 PM, I have not had a change to learn much of the local history or view some of the artifacts, so have decided to devote this entry to some of that information. 
  
  K i m m i r u t ,   N u n a v u t
   F r o m   W i k i p e d i a , 
   
  C o o r d i n a t e s:  6 2 .5  N    6 9 . 5 2 W
   A r e a:   2 . 2 7   k m 2   ( 0 . 9   s q   m i )
   E l e v a t i o n :  5 3   m   ( 1 7 4   f t ) 
   T e r r i t o r y:         N u n a v u t
   R e g i o n:        Q i k i q t a a l u k   R e g i o n
   E l e c t o r a l   d i s t r i c t :       S o u t h   B a f f i n
   A n g l i c a n   m i s s i o n:        1 9 0 9
  G o v e r n m e n t : M a y o r   &   M L A        
   T i m e   z o n e :  E S T     -   S u m m e r   E D T   
   P o s t a l   c o d e        X 0 A   0 N 0
   W e b s i t e        w w w . k i m m i r u t . c a
   
   K i m m i r u t  k n o w n   a s   L a k e   H a r b o u r   u n t i l   
  J a n u a r y  1,  1 9 9 6 ,   i s   l o c a t e d   o n   t h e   s h o r e   o f   H u d s o n   S t r a i t   o n   B a f f i n  
  I s l a n d ,  

  Q i k i q t a a l u k   R e g i o n ,   i n   N u n a v u t ,   C a n a d a .  
  K i m m i r u t   m e a n s   " h e e l " ,   a n d   r e f e r s   t o   a   r o c k y   o u t c r o p   i n   t h e   i n l e t .
   
  I t   w a s   a t   o n e   t i m e   a  
  H u d s o n ' s   B a y   C o m p a n y   t r a d i n g   p o s t ,   a n d   a 
   R o y a l   C a n a d i a n   M o u n t e d   P o l i c e   p o s t .   

  T h e   C a n a d i a n   e x p l o r e r   J .   D e w e y   S o p e r   u s e d   t h e s e   p o s t s   a s   h e a d q u a r t e r s   d u r i n g   h i s   e x p l o r a t i o n s   i n   t h e  
  1 9 2 0 s   a n d   1 9 3 0 s .
   
  T h e   c o m m u n i t y   i s  
  s e r v e d   b y   K i m m i r u t   A i r p o r t   a n d   b y   a n n u a l   s u p p l y  
  s e a l i f t .   A   p r o p o s a l   i n  
  2 0 0 5   f o r   a   r o a d   t o   I q a l u i t   w a s   s h o w n   t o   b e 
   i m p r a c t i c a l   o w i n g   t o 
   r o u n d a b o u t   r o u t i n g   o v e r  
  t h e   m o u n t a i n s .
   
   A s   o f   t h e   2 0 0 6   c e n s u s   t h e   p o p u l a t i o n   w a s   4 1 1
  
  Sign outside of Parks office with some history of Kimmirut
  
  Walking to work the other afternoon encountered a group of German pack packers sitting outside the parks office …newcomers stick out like a sore thumb when first arriving as I well know…. and as they went into register for their trip and watch the mandatory polar bear film I wandered through some of the displays. Ulus and other traditional knives. Not many foxes around here but when in Arctic Bay I did see some of these stone traps on the road to Nanasivik.. Meat is placed in the bottom of the cone shaped structure and once in they cannot escape.
  
  The local territorial park is near the airport and these are some shots I took while walking the other evening..Like the pathways lined with white quartz rock.

  Saturday, July 18th celebration of 20th anniversary of Nunavut Parks. So yesterday, “ Parks Day “ from 1- 4 PM was an excellent outing of BBQ, games and prizes.

  I arrived just before 1 PM…I know readers that is not typical for Bonnie but I hitched a ride. Consequently I got involved in set up of food and prizes on the table and starting the water for seal meat soup including putting the cut up meat in piece by piece. Teens congregated on top of rocks Inuit girl getting ready for boat race with hers that she called “Blue Jet" Cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. In this helping out and setting up... ended up using a plastic jar as cup. In line for hamburgers

  This is an accidental shot but beautiful clear day!
  Men's boat race Girl's boat race An elder and pre-schooler setting off a boat and they are off... a breeze swept them fairly quickly and also helped keep away mosquitoes.

    I participated in Ladies walking race in teams down the path and around the marker.
   Closely matched but alas the other team won!

    Boiling heather to heat water for tea… Good strong flavour!
  
  
  
  
  

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