Her first polar bear
Arctic Bay woman describes hunt as 'surreal' experience
Myles Dolphin
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 2, 2013
IKPIARJUK/ARCTIC BAY
An Arctic Bay woman had one of the most surreal experiences of her life on Nov. 24 when she harvested her first polar bear just outside of the community.
Arctic Bay resident Darlene Willie, 33, shot her first polar bear on Nov. 24. She described the experience as "surreal" and hopes her son can one day take part in the unique opportunity, too. - photo courtesy of Darlene Willie |
Darlene Willie, whose name had previously been drawn for a polar bear tag, had three days to find one before the opportunity would go to someone else.
On Nov. 23, she set out with her husband, father and 13-year-old son on snowmobiles to take full advantage of the unique occasion.
"My father is a knowledgeable hunter, and I trusted him to catch one with us," the 33-year-old said.
"We dressed up warmly because it was really cold that day, -30 C. We went out to where he grew up, and that took about two hours."
When they arrived at the location, they spotted old polar bear tracks but there was nothing in sight.
Willie was reluctant to go on - despite her father's desire to do so - because it was so cold.
They drove to another spot - spotting foxes and ravens along the way - but still no polar bears.
Nature's harsh elements began taking their toll on Willie and her son.
"The wind was so strong, I was secretly hoping for a helicopter to take us back," she said.
"I craved a cigarette, even though I don't smoke anymore. We only turned back because, had we gone on, we wouldn't have had enough gas to return to Arctic Bay."
With only two days to find a bear, Willie received a fortuitous phone call on Nov. 24.
One of her neighbours, an elder, called and told her someone had spotted a polar bear by a cabin located roughly 30 minutes from the community.
The animal was feasting on seal meat belonging to the cabin's owner.
Willie quickly called her father, even though hunting is normally prohibited on Sundays.
"He said we should check it out, so I called the director of the Hunters and Trappers Organization for permission," she said.
"He said, technically, we weren't allowed to. But when I told him the bear was eating seal meat that belonged to someone, he gave us permission."
Willie explained the particular custom is a remnant from the missionaries' presence in the Arctic.
Armed with a single rifle, Willie, her son and her husband jumped on a snowmobile and drove out to the cabin.
When they arrived and found the bear, it started running away.
"It looked mighty strong," she said of the seven-foot animal.
"They're not cuddly or soft. I was scared, even though we were on the snowmobile and we had a weapon."
She took aim, stared down the barrel of the gun and squeezed the trigger.
She aimed for the spot above its shoulder - where the heart is located - but narrowly missed.
"I gave the rifle back to my husband, but we had to be careful not to shoot it in its stomach, because otherwise the bile can ruin the meat," she said,
After the female bear was dead, Willie's father was called to help bring it back to Arctic Bay, where it was shared among the community.
"I'm happy that I was able to catch something and share it with the community," she said.
"My mother was ecstatic - she called all my relatives. I'm thankful for my father's help, and I hope that my son and the next generation will be able to have this experience."
Willie celebrated her birthday just a few days later, on Nov. 26.
