Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Taloyoak (Apr 22/02) - The Alookees have cracked rocks on their traditional campgrounds for generations. Now they just might have found something.

Prospectors Steve, left, and Anaoyoak Alookee found interesting samples on their traditional campgrounds near Taloyoak.- Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

Every summer the couple venture to a family hunting area called Thom Bay, near Taloyoak at the Boothia Peninsula.

"We both liked rocks when we were young," said Anaoyoak Alookee, referring to her husband Steve.

Three years ago they decided to take a prospecting course. The first time they sent samples to a lab to be scrutinized was in 1998. Since then they have found gold, silver, bronze, nickel and crystals.

"I never knew how to look for diamonds before. Now I know what to look for," said Anaoyoak.

At 10,000 staked acres, the Alookees have the largest claim holding of any Inuit in Nunavut.

They don't get too excited anymore because in the three years they have made so many finds. "The land is loaded," she said.

Anaoyoak is a crisis worker in Taloyoak and Steve is a hunter and prospector.

The Alookees make a vacation out of their rock hunts each summer. The whole family -- three sons and 24 grandchildren -- go out to Thom Bay.

They are already starting to prepare for this summer's trip. But there's a danger in moving things too soon.

"We have a big problem with polar bears. One time we left about $2,000 worth of groceries and the polar bears came," she said. Their annual supplies total about $8,000.

"All the grandchildren are prospectors and they know what to look for. If they see spots they take it to their grandfather," she said. Last year the youngest prospector was two years old.

The couple will move an all-terrain vehicle, three boats, a motor, tent frames, fuel and a generator to the site.

"We have to go over land and lakes to get to the ocean," said Anaoyoak. She said it will take about three trips to transport their equipment the 100 kilometres to the site.

Along with about 30 other prospectors the Alookees took advantage of a $5,000 prospector's subsidy from the Nunavut government's Department of Sustainable Development.

"We provide prospector's courses in the community," said Kitikmeot geologist Neil Willoughby. People learn how to identify rocks and minerals and basic features of mineral deposits, he said. The course is made up of six, three-hour sessions.

At the end of prospecting season the Alookees haul rocks out of camp and fly the interesting ones to a laboratory.

Willoughby helps sort through the Alookees' samples. "Steve is very good. He has an aptitude for it," said Willoughby.

Initially the area wasn't staked but that changed after taking the course. But in the long run there is always one problem. In order to hold the property the Alookees have to spend $2 per acre in the first claim year. In the second year $4 an acre has to be spent. That's $40,000. They managed year one but now have to take care of the second year. They are looking for investors.

"They can option it to a company and earn an interest," said Willoughby.