Building a south-Baffin qajaq
Qajaqtuaq Project makes 15-year dream come true
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, December 19, 2016
NUNAVUT
Moosa Akavak, long fascinated by the south Baffin qajaq, is a happy man.
Thanks to Iqaluit-based Nunavut Youth LEAP Society, an organization that offers land-based educational adventure and supports Inuit-led programming, Akavak and Eemeelayou Arnaquq are passing on what they know.
The Qajaqtuaq Project is a five-week, three-phase cultural revitalization program.
"I'm happy for this. I have been working on this, gathering information, for 15 years. It was always my interest because when I was young, 10 years old, my father had a qajaq, a traditional qajaq, which was given to him by a friend," said Akavak.
"It was used until the early '60s for hunting."
Akavak remembers being 11 or 12 and seeing his father's cousin hunting seal with that qajaq.
"This qajaq frame is still in Kimmirut - not the whole structure, but the frame," he says of the driftwood construction.
Akavak's dream was to have a sailboat "but it's not going to happen."
"A qajaq will be much easier for me to do."
Nunavut LEAP's Maxine Carroll recalls a message Akavak left on her Facebook page a couple years ago.
"He asked if I was still involved (with) youth programs in Iqaluit and told me he had an idea he wanted help with," she said.
Caroll first worked with Akavak 10 years ago, during the Active Youth Ski Expeditions between Iqaluit and Kimmirut.
"As do many, I have immense respect for him and the work he has been involved in for decades, offering Inuit counseling in federal penitentiaries, running land programs through corrections, working with Ilisaqsivik," she said. "To be called on by him for help to bring this to life is an honour."
After many conversations and a clear understanding of what Akavak wanted to offer, Carroll handled the funding partnerships with Nunavut Arctic College through Piqqusilirivvik, the Nunavut Research Institute and the Environmental Technology Program. Primary funding came from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, with research funding in the early days from a few government departments.
"So many organizations supported this program," adds Carroll, saying the qajaq is just one remarkable example of Inuit ingenuity and technological contribution to the world.
Akavak says this is a good time to run Qajaqtuaq.
"I wanted to invite an elder who had knowledge about the traditional qajaq," he said. "We brought an elder from Northern Quebec, Ejetsiak Simiga. who used to live between Kimmirut and Dorset years ago. He moved away in 1965. He's very helpful. I'm grateful he agreed to be our elder advisor."
Participating elder Atsiaq Alasuaq of Kinngait also joined the team and shared his knowledge.
The project is specifically focused on the south Baffin-style qajaq and. Based on the frame in Kimmirut, interviews with elders and some reading, Akavak made a series of sketches to guide construction. He says south Baffin style is bigger, while Greenland style is smaller, as are those in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot.
"Maybe because the sea - Hudson Strait, Davis Strait have the biggest waves, the bigger qajaq made it safer," said Akavak.
The first phase of Qajaqtuaq, with some classroom time for history and then actual qajaq-building, took place from Nov. 21 to Dec. 4. The next phase - water safety technique - is scheduled for March, though dates have not been finalized will take place in the new swimming pool in Iqaluit.
"We'll also be covering the qajaq. That's the plan."
Phase 3 is scheduled for the summer.
"We're hoping to do it in the early summer, after breakup. Or into September, we're not sure yet," said Akavak, adding that after more water safety, the plan is for an on-the-land trip.
"That's our dream."
Nine people between the ages of 21 and 78 are taking part in the months-long project. Two are from Kimmirut, three from Dorset and four from Iqaluit.
"They share their knowledge and expertise. Even the young people have done work in the past. That's a big help," said Akavak.
"We don't want to forget the south Baffin style qajaq. It was almost faded away - we want to keep it alive.
"For some participants it will be really helpful when they go back to their communities to continue with the qajaq. That's part of the deal."
The partially-completed wood frames range from 20 to 28 feet long and 25 inches wide, and weigh between 80 and 115 pounds. Completion will continue through the winter.
