Kitikmeot Foods plans 400 muskox harvest
Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services
Cambridge Bay (Feb 26/01) - Hunters from the Kitikmeot community of Cambridge Bay are hoping to harvest several hundred muskox over the next few weeks, reports Gary Connors.
Connors is general manager of the processing company Kitikmeot Foods, owned by the Nunavut Development Corporation. This is Connors' first muskox harvest.
"We're going to start the hunt March 1. We hope to take a minimum of 400 animals," Connors said.
For the harvest, Kitikmeot Foods has built a temporary abattoir at the Ekalluk River, located about 80 kilometres from Cambridge Bay. Initial processing will take place at the abattoir with further processing at the Kitikmeot Foods plant in the community.
The hunt, supervised by George Angohiatok, will be federally inspected. That means the processed product can be sold outside of Nunavut.
Federal inspectors will be at the harvest site and at the plant.
Connors estimates 25 hunters from the community will be involved in the hunt. Processing at the plant is to begin Mar. 4.
"Everybody is pulling together. Everything for the hunt was purchased in Cambridge Bay," he said.
To assist with the processing, Kitikmeot Foods will bring in a butcher from Yellowknife-based Northern Fancy Meats.
"A lot of the meat will be sold in Nunavut, Yellowknife and Edmonton," Connors said.
Connors is confident the prime cuts, like tenderloins, french racks and steaks, will sell quickly. About eight per cent of the animal is prime cut and wholesales anywhere from $7 a kilogram to $35 a kilogram, depending on the cut.
"We've got restaurants and other customers calling," he said.
Muskox hides and horns will also be brought back to the community for sale. Muskox hides can be made into leather products like wallets and portfolios. The muskox's soft wool, known as qiviut, can be made into sweaters and other clothing.
Last March, Kitikmeot Foods processed 262 muskox that were harvested near the community.
On arctic char, Connors said sales have been good. About 90,000 pounds of char were caught during the summer of 2000. All but about 8,000 pounds of the char catch is sold or spoken for, Connors said.
Funding the hunt means a significant investment, up to $150,000, Connors adds. Planning began before Christmas.
