Kitikmeot residents make their home in Iglulik
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iglulik (Feb 19/01) - Simon Kuliktana just couldn't pass up a great career opportunity last summer.
But accepting the position as the director of leisure and recreation for the government meant he and his spouse and their four children had to tear up their Kugluktuk roots and replant them on Iglulik soil.
Always ready for an adventure, the family of six moved last August.
Kuliktana said that geographically speaking the transition was easy enough between the two Nunavut hamlets.
"When you first move, the kids are affected no matter where you go. The younger ones adjusted, but the two older ones were really missing home," said Kuliktana, six months after the move.
That homesickness, combined with grandparents who required the help of the two oldest children, precipitated the move back west of Kuliktana's two oldest kids. He said he and his wife, Millie, missed them terribly, but were managing to get along relatively well without them.
"What we really miss is family," said Kuliktana. "But starting a new division keeps me busy. It's a very demanding job and like anything else, when you're starting a new division, there's a lot of preparation," he said.
Kuliktana added that even though he is busy, he has found time to take advantage of all that Iglulik has to offer.
"I've managed to go out a couple of times, fishing and sealing. One time we went out looking for whales," said Kuliktana.
He said he was looking forward to spring and the opportunity to go out camping.
"Spring is the best time of year in any community in the North. It's the best season of the year. Quite a few people here go out to Iglulik Point.
They set up camps. It's one of the traditional spots," he said.
