Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Coppermine (Mar 25/02) - Kugluktuk is getting into the polar bear hunting game.

Low bear numbers in the traditional hunting areas around Gjoa Haven and Cape Dorset are opening the door for Kugluktuk to get into the lucrative business.

The hamlet recently sunk $32,000 into a two-year project to start guiding big-game hunters looking for polar bears, according to Alex Buchan, economic development officer with the hamlet.

Kugluktuk has a six-bear quota. Project organizers expect each hunt could bring in close to $14,000 in revenue to the community.

The hamlet bought seven sled dogs from Gjoa Haven and hired an experienced guide to train Jonathan Niptanatiak, 21, who will be the community's first polar bear hunting guide.

"I've always wanted to see a polar bear," Niptanatiak said last week.

He will soon get his chance. Along with a wildlife officer, he is scheduled to guide his first customer in the Amundsen Gulf, near the border with the NWT, on March 30.

The community is working with Fred Webber and Sons, an outfitting company out of British Columbia with an office in Cambridge Bay. The company funnels customers to the region and is currently organizing the annual muskox hunt.

The community bought seven dogs in early February and contracted a hunter to teach Niptanatiak how to handle the team and track the bears.

"We knew the hunting industry over there was in trouble," said Buchan, referring to the M'Clintock Channel communities.

"We knew we could use their dogs and expertise."

Niptanatiak has already named the dogs Bear, Tundra, Gipsy, Brownie, Comet, Blackie and Boots.

"Gipsy and Comet are the lead dogs," said Niptanatiak.

Nunavut wildlife officer Alan Niptanatiak is proud of his ambitious son.

"The funny thing is I didn't know he was working on this project until they brought it to the (Hunters and Trappers Organization) meeting. I was extremely surprised and happy he was doing this."

While he doesn't know if he will be one of the wildlife officers going out on the hunt, Naptanatiak said his son's training is going well.

Jonathan Naptanatiak is also a father -- a new one. He has a two-month-old daughter named Deniya Jade.

Already a muskox hunting guide, he said he sees the polar bear hunt as another step up.

"I'll do this for four or five years and try something else with the dogs," said Naptanatiak.

"I love being out on the land with the peace and quiet."