Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (May 20/98) - Sam Kowmuk enjoys the peacefulness of driving across the tundra.

As one of three drivers for Kowmuk's Taxi, Kowmuk supplies the WMC mining camp at Meliadine Lake with food and equipment, as well as transporting worker's between the exploration site and Rankin Inlet.

"I love it out on the land," he said. "Driving is getting out on the land."

Travelling less than 25 km/h with a full load, the Bombardier makes the trip to the mining camp in about an hour, crossing tundra, lakes, and sea ice to reach the site, located north of Rankin Inlet.

After two years, Kowmuk said he still looks forward to making every trip.

And it's a good thing. He transports Rankin Inlet workers after every 12-hour shift and is on call 24 hours a day for WMC.

"I don't mind," he said. "I don't mind driving. I'm on call 24 hours a day in case something happens -- whatever they need."

When he's travelling alone, Kowmuk, 24, listens to his walkman and watches out for wildlife. He regularly sees hawks and snow buntings. It's relaxing, he maintains.

He does, however, have to be careful not to get the machine, built in 1974, stuck in the snow or on the tundra, which is already bare in spots. The sturdy machines don't get stuck easily, he said, but it would have been difficult to dig out by himself.

He's also had to learn to fix the machines, a task, he remembers as being a little difficult.

"It was hard at first," he said.

Kowmuk's father, Simon, who started the company nearly 30 years ago to transport passengers between Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Arviat, said he enjoys working with his son, but jokes that it can be difficult for them to spend so much time together. Sandy Sateanna also works with the Kowmuks.

"It's good though -- I like working with him," he said.

Kowmuk made his last trip to the camp last Monday after driving conditions became too wet for the bombardier. He plans to supply WMC by bombardier next winter. Helicopters will supply the camp until then.