IN THE FIELD: Day One: Introduction to Paulatuk

WWF

And life sure is different in the summer!

Paulatuk © Dan Slavik, WWF-Canada

With 24 hour sunlight, people are lively at all times of day and night. The Arctic Ocean is unfrozen and transformed from an ice highway for skidoos into a marine network for boats. The tundra is alive with the green and purple colors of fireweed, lichen, and berries, and occasional bleached white caribou antlers. The continual buzzing of mosquitoes, revving four-wheelers, and barking of sled dogs interrupts the sounds of the wind blowing across the coast.
This week, I have returned to the community of Paulatuk.  The community is situated on Darnley Bay, along the waters of the Amundsen Gulf. I last visited here in December, and had a great time meeting with the local Hunters and Trappers Committee and visiting with young people at the school.

© Dan Slavik, WWF-Canada

Around 340 people live in Paulatuk, almost entirely Inuvialuit, except for a collection of teachers, nurses, and RCMP officers from the south who will spend a couple years living in town. Inuvialuit first settled in this area in the early 1920’s, and the settlement was named Paulatuuq, meaning “place of coal” in their native language of siglitun. Today, seams of coal in “the Smoking Hills” west of town continue to smolder.
As in many communities throughout the Arctic, Paulatuk is known for it’s history of trapping furbearing animals. The community is still known for being very traditional and active harvesting on the land and water.  For this reason, the community is very involved in conservation of the lands, oceans, and wildlife.  Located to the east of the community is Tuktut Nogait National Park.  Currently the community is engaged in discussions to develop a Marine Protected Area north-west of town.
While in town, I am staying with Zoe Todd – a good ’ole friend from Edmonton, who is in the community for 10 months for her PhD research on “Mining, Women’s Subsistence Fishing and Environmental Change”. I am looking forward to the experiences and conversations I will get to have this week, both in the community and out on the land, and I invite you to follow my blog and ask any questions in the comments below.

Dan Slavik (WWF-Canada Arctic Program) on shore of Hornaday River, NWT. © Dan Slavik, WWF-Canada