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KANGIQTUGAAPIK/CLYDE RIVER
Born and raised in Clyde River, Leslie Ashevak was concerned young people weren't learning how to hunt, so he decided to help.

Leslie Ashevak, left, and Leeno Apak were among the hunters helping young people learn how to hunt and fish as part of a mentoring 'father and son' trip in late January. - photo courtesy of Jordan Apak, Ilisaqsivik Society

Ashevak, 38, was one of nine men who signed up to help nine teenagers learn how to hunt and fish as part of ataata amalu irniq nunami - Ilisaqsivik Society's "father and son on the land" program. The pairs - typically not fathers and sons - spent a few days at the end of January hunting for caribou and fishing for Arctic char.

"There are teenagers in town who don't go hunting any more," he said. "Eventually they have to learn how to do it so they won't forget when we're gone. This is about passing it down to the next generation. They have to know these skills of butchering caribou and seals."

The program is similar to Big Brothers, and a hunting and fishing trip happens each winter. The adults teach about land skills, harvesting, winter travel and survival, executive director Jakob Gearheard said.

"They act like mentors, older brothers, father figures, and teach them about being on the land and being safe," Gearheard said. "Hopefully, when they come back to the community, they have this friendship that has been established during this sometimes really cold and tiring hunting trip they went on."

Upon returning from the trip, the group shares its caribou and Arctic char with the community.

"Sometimes they don't get much, but they get to share what they got with the community and feel proud of sharing," he said.

Ashevak said sharing the haul was a big part of why he signed on.

"There's a lot of people, especially ladies who don't have a husband, who can't support the family with caribou, and that's the reason I took it," Ashevak said.

Fellow hunter Leeno Apak, 30, was one of the men who went with the caribou hunting group.

"To help other people, to give away caribou meat, and to learn more hunting," he said of his motivation for getting involved. "People were grateful and I'm sure they enjoyed the food."

Ashevak, who spent some time hunting with his father when he was growing up, said that for the most part, he taught himself how to hunt. Since then, he's grown to rely on the same food sources as his ancestors, and enjoys sharing that part of his culture.

"The older people prefer country food, and so do I," he said. "(Youth) have to know about these things. They have to keep it alive. Country food is really important to us."

Caribou from the hunt was distributed to homes Jan. 30, while Arctic char was distributed to elders and at different pick-up points in the community to prevent deliveries to homes where people are allergic to fish, Gearheard said.

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