Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 14/00) - While Arctic Millennium Project participants pack up for a 7,000-kilometre trek across the arctic tundra, Gjoa Haven's Paul Iquallaq is ready to guide the six-member team through the adventure.

Iquallaq is an Inuit hunter and guide who feels most at home when he's out on the land. His traditional skills will be relied on heavily during the trip, but he's ready for the challenge.

"My main goal is to watch the ice. I have a harpoon that I use to check it because in some areas over the ocean, the underlying current thins the ice so there's just snow cover," said Iquallaq.

"On land I have to watch out for high banks of creeks and rivers. Some of them have a steep bank and I don't want anyone getting wet."

Iquallaq said he will watch the sky and western horizon closely each day to determine the weather conditions they will face during the 100-day expedition. To determine direction, he will keep an eye on the stars and snowdrifts.

He said the highest side of a snowdrift points towards the north so he will check snow patterns regularly.

Although they will be travelling from Tuktoyaktuk to Iqaluit, he is looking forward to one section he's traversed many times before.

"I'll recognize everything from Cambridge Bay to Pelly Bay because I've travelled that part four or five times -- and I hardly ever forget what I see," said Iquallaq.

He added that they may encounter wildlife such as polar bears, wolverines and wolves, but he's confident they won't cause the team a problem.

"I don't really have any concerns about wildlife. The animals have their own way of telling if they're going to attack or not and I'm always prepared for that," said Iquallaq.

With the departure date set for Feb. 20, he had just one thing to say.

"It's going to be a great adventure, and I'd like to send greetings to my friends and family in Gjoa Haven -- I'll be seeing them soon."