The Kids of Cambridge Bay

The younger kids are bussed to school, the older students all walk.

No matter where you travel in the world, it's all about the kids. They make you smile, they make you laugh...and sometimes they make you cry. Nunavut Territory in Canada is the same.

While I've only been to two communities (so far) both have been similar but different. Apart from climate, a common element in both was the kids. You would think that in January, February and March, people would stay inside.

The extra knee protection for crawling in the snow

Especially, if the the temperatures were in the minus twenty Celsius range AND if there was only a few hours of daylight. That wasn't the case in Rankin Inlet last winter...and it's certainly not the case here in Cambridge Bay either. As my time here comes down to the last few days, it's been a time for me to reflect and summarize what I learned this trip.

Nunavut, the territory, is only 17 years old. It has grown up fast. The changing landscape includes the mining of natural resources, both open pit and deep shaft. The mining activities continue through the cold months, of which there are many at this latitude.

Kite boarding on the Bay

The Inuit are concerned about these changes as are many elsewhere. Careful management of these projects is ongoing. One can only hope that enough precautions are enforced to protect “this beautiful land” as one of my flag signers wrote.

Change is nothing new to the Inuit. Early exploration brought change...the internet continues the trend. After my xray examinations were complete, I had many opportunities to talk with my patients and their families while they awaited further medical treatment and attention.

Enjoying the sunny part of the day

The same question gave many results. “Have you lived in Cambridge bay all your life?” While many different communities were named, some stories are detailed here. The first involves CHIMO BAY...a hamlet in name only.

A friendly wave to the guy taking photos in town

Firstly, two stories about Chimo Bay. The location is 190 kilometers from here and a focus in the community was the Hudson Bay trading post which closed in the early 70's. Those living there simply moved to the two closest hamlets...one being Cambridge Bay. I can't imagine being a seven year old and starting fresh, let alone having the parents and friends bearing the brunt of the relocation.

I asked him have you ever been back? Not for about thirty years he sad....you could see a sadness in his eyes as he reflected and continued...some families have kept cabins there...I probed no further not wanting to bring further memories to the surface.

Clarence, the Inuit carver, signs his works CHIMO BAY as well as his name. I expect it's to honour his ancestors and his birthplace. I may see him in town this weekend to ask.

One of three playgrounds that I found in the hamlet

Another person I talked to was a “lifer” here, except for his years of high school. It's a time when all teenagers were sent went away from their home community to INUVIK or other “larger”centres and were raised in “residential schools”. We have heard the horror stories of some of those. During the discussions on the founding of this territory, for many years he had sat on the Nunavut Implementation Commission.

Walking to school, no crossing guards but we have a pedestrian X-walk

Another person affected by”going away” to high school was a young lady from Ulukhoktuk, Northwest Territories, who came to Cambridge Bay to attend high school. She's been here ever since. Originally, she left her home on the other side of Victoria Island and arrived here still on Victoria Island. While she was here, a new high school in Cambridge Bay came to life but she never attended as it opened the September after she had graduated a few months earlier.

Hockey and Basketball are 2 of the indoor sports

While in school, the Territory of Nunavut became a reality so she automatically became a Nunavut resident as the new border crossed our island. She has family still there, but has never been back. A common story of past present and future.

I went to the arena, last sunday night, climbed the steep steps up to the top row of seating to get a good view of the ice. I met Stephen and his daughter watching a cousin play... and was later introduced to his wife Lisa and 2 more children. That's a typical family, here in Cambay, for many. Three of more supported by his job as a carpenter buoyed by the housing growth.

A family leaving after the hockey game

Lisa and some of her "girls"

One saturday, I met Harlem playing in the snow climbing and sliding on the snow drifts...just having a ball like any almost three year old. Dressed in snow pants and mitts, boots, scarf with cheeks as red as Santa's suit. After talking to his parents, I climbed the hill and walked over a couple of streets. In a playground, I found kids climbing on the equipment and swinging on the swings....it was -28C that day. They were dressed and under the watchful eye of their mother, out walking the family dog.

And then another Saturday, I met a family out for breakfast at the Arctic Inn. I was just finishing up and the family at the next table drew my attention. Two women and two young boys were having a great time...the boys appetites almost as big as they were. The oldest boy (about 9) had just finished the same style breakfast I had completed.

Another playground...what does the future hold?

His younger acquaintance (brother, cousin, friend) had a stack of toast along with a plate of 10 pieces or more of bacon...he was relishing every mouthful. They call him the “baconator” she laughed. Knowing the number calories burned off in this climate and the level of physical activity that is achieved here, I hoped he wasn't headed to the video game console at home as the sunlight gave us about 4 hours now.

I'm heading to the rink again this morning to see the minor hockey leagues play. The rising sun is causing a bright orange glow along the landscape with a clear blue sky that escapes description.

The day is dawning bright and clear. Today's short term future is known.

But for The Kids of Cambridge Bay...the future of NUNAVUT...will they stay or will they go?