IQALUIT - At the conclusion of the G7 finance ministers' summit last weekend in Iqaluit, the community was invited to a feast at Inuksuk High School, where seal meat, beluga whale, char, caribou meat and stew as well as bannock was served.

Mika Kunnuk enjoys whale, bannock and caribou meat at the G7 community feast held Feb. 6 at the Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit. - Jeanne Gagnon/NNSL photo

More than 620 people came, including Okalik Eegeesiak, who ate seal meat, bannock and caribou at the feast.

"It's everyday food for us. I think it's part of a conference expectation that the community hosts a feast to welcome the community," she said.

As to what she took from the G7 summit, she said: "One of the things that I found interesting and cool to see was a security guard on a Ski-Doo with a semi-automatic rifle on his back."

Earlier in the day, the finance ministers held a press conference at the conclusion of the two-day summit.

"I was deeply impressed by this richness, by this city, by its hospitality," said German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble. "Of course, it has changed my view of this part of the North."

"Coming to the cold and to this beautiful city made the whole thing a lot warmer," said Christine Lagarde, the finance minister for France.

"It is a privilege to be in a part of the world that we might not have otherwise come to," said the British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.

None of the three answered when asked by a reporter whether their trip to Nunavut had changed their view of the seal hunt.

"The European Union makes a specific exception with respect to the Inuit people who, for thousands of years have relied on the seal," said Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty after it became apparent the European ministers would not answer the question. "That is part of their survival. That is the view of the European Union and it is certainly our view in Canada."

During the summit an "Inuit Village" was set up outside the Nunavut legislative assembly building consisting of two iglus, sealskins and a tent where women were cleaning sealskins.

Elisapi Aningmiuq, one of the village's co-ordinators, said Flaherty had been inside the iglu with them. She added visitors had asked her how long it takes to make a snow house (a half hour to 45 minutes) and what animals the skins came from (seal and caribou).

Aningmiuq said the village highlighted many aspects of Inuit culture.

"It's been very popular and the people have been impressed and they really like the culture," she said. "It's a great way to show the culture. We've had people all day. They've just been saying 'what a good idea.'"