Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (Jan 16/06) - Doing what their families have done for centuries has brought a measure of fame to Willie Nakashook and Kevin Evetalegak of Cambridge Bay.

The hunters make a living by guiding people - mainly Americans - through the tundra in search of polar bears, caribou and muskox.

The two were showcased on ESPN2 in December, leading Tom Miranda, host of Advantage Adventure, and his camera crew through the frozen landscape and -45C weather in search of muskox.

The five-day hunt, headquartered at the Arctic Islands Lodge in Cambridge Bay, was filmed last April.

"There was a lot of acting involved," said Nakashook. "We had to do things in front of the camera that we didn't actually do during the hunt."

Beefing up the ratings is part of the game, so Nakashook and Evetalegak found themselves riding on a dog-sled and building an iglu, even though they usually hunt with a snowmobile and didn't sleep in the iglu.

Regardless, those were the aspects that made this hunting trip the most memorable to Nakashook.

"It was the most interesting and different," he said.

For Evetalegak, hunting with a crossbow was a the highlight of the trip.

"We never used crossbows, only long bows," he said. "That's all they used long ago."

Most of the duo's clients are experienced, big game hunters, who bring their own tricks to the field, much like Miranda did.

In addition to the crossbow, Miranda sported a white suit that camouflaged him into the snow covered landscape.

This very suit almost got him killed, or seriously injured at least.

"It was kind of scary when the guy got charged by the muskox," said Nakashook.

Miranda snuck up on a group of the large animals. They were spooked and charged the man.

"They did some defensive moves and ran after him, but they just bluffed the charge, and (Miranda) ended up getting a broadside shot and hit one," said Nakashook.

Nakashook has been an independent hunting guide for 12 years, while Evetalegak has been guiding with the Hunters and Trappers Organization for two years. But like many Inuit, they have hunted most their lives, learning skills passed on from their parents.

Neither has seen the ESPN2 program, but look forward to getting a copy in April or sooner.