Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Clyde River (Oct 17/05) - If you're in a race with Apak Qaqqasiq, beware. Even at the ripe age of 71, he's sharp, fit and competitive.

Just last month Apak strapped on his walking shoes and hiked alongside the young for the Terry Fox fundraising event for cancer research.

He clocked many miles that day.

"He was walking from the school to the end of town to the RCMP office and then two miles out of town to the airport," said Qaqqasiq's translator Peter Iqalukjuak.

His biggest motivation for this jaunt, said Apak, was pride in his younger community members' efforts to raise money.

"He was really proud of the Terry Fox Run and what they could do," said Iqalukjuak.

The month before, at an elder's picnic, he beat out his elder counterparts in a barefoot cross-river race.

Before even removing his socks, he knew he was going to be the fastest.

"He knew he would win."

And he did.

"He ran across the river, through the water, and the stones at the bottom of it, without shoes because they wanted to make it more difficult, and then back again," explained Iqalukjuak.

On the same occasion, not waiting a beat, he cut a rug, shook a leg, and took first prize in the dancing contest too!

As a boy, Qaqqasiq was always told to get outside and keep active, and he listened.

"He used to go hunting a lot, not in the middle of winter when it was the coldest season, but a lot anyway."

Qaqqasiq says kids these days don't get nearly enough exercise and spend way too much time inside.

Qaqqasiq's diet consists mostly of country foods, like caribou and muktuk. In fact, while talking to his translator he was in the middle of eating a lunch of cooked seal meat.

And he drinks a lot of water. He always has. Wherever he goes he makes sure he has water alongside.

Surprisingly, Qaqqasiq smoked cigarettes for most of his life, but has been smoke-free for the last three or four years.

Despite the fun he had walking in the Terry Fox Run, he thinks it will be his last because he says he should spend more time at home, where it's warm and relaxing.