Yellowknife (Jan 17/05) - Noah Kilabuk sometimes visits offices to sell jewelry he makes.

With a warm smile, he seems open to chatting with potential customers.

Refusal is greeted by a gentle second effort, just in case you were not sure the first time. Today's offerings are polar bears made out of brass for $40 a pair.

Through sales of his work to tourists, he estimates that his work is on display in homes and galleries in Los Angeles, Tokyo, France, and London.

He likes to use a variety of materials for his creations. But lately the 32-year-old is finding it more difficult to get supplies such as ivory and baleen.

"If I could get a lot more ivory, I could do a lot more different work," he says.

Ivory used to be available from the Toonoonik co-op -- which is now closed -- for $45 per pound.

Now if he wants to get it he either has to pay up to $80 per pound from people who sell it privately, wait to get it from the Hall Beach/Iglulik area, or hop in a boat and travel nearly 300 kilometres down Frobisher Bay.

"That's a long trip, just to have some ivory," he says.

Because of the obstacles, he works mainly in metals which can be found easily in Iqaluit.

Born in Nunavut's capital, he has watched his hometown undergo many changes.

He grew up in a house located where the legislative assembly now stands with his parents, four brothers and four sisters.

"It was great," he says of his childhood. "Lots of friends, lots of family. I knew everybody and now I hardly know any of the people here in town."

With people emigrating to Iqaluit from all over Nunavut, as well as southern Canada, the city has recently experienced rapid growth.

Noah said the town started to change when its name changed to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay.

While he recognizes that more people means more customers, he does not hesitate in saying what he would change about Iqaluit.

"I would change time, and go back to those old days."