Iqaluit (May 02/05) - Nunavut is divided when it comes to snowmachines.

In Iqaluit, people wear their brand on their jackets so you know where they stand.

Around the North, an entire community could be labelled a Polaris or Arctic Cat community simply by virtue of the brand preferred by most residents.

Sometimes brand popularity depends on which dealership is in town, or which dealership got there first.

But others hold dear to their hearts, with an almost religious vigour, the brand that works best for them in cold weather.

Nunavut News/North decided to call people who use snowmachines in different regions of Nunavut to find out who is into which brand and why.

Cape Dorset likes to walk on the wild side, driving mainly Yamaha and Ski-Doo.

"The Co-op is a big Yamaha dealer," explained Cheryl Constantineau at the hamlet office.

"We do have Ski-Doos here, but Yamaha is bigger."

Kimmirut is a Polaris community mainly, said Tommy Akavak at the visitors centre.

And hamlet officials confirm Panniqtuuq is also a Polaris community.

In the Kivalliq, Baker Lake is a Polaris community, said Leo Lareau.

"Polaris works well in the cold," he said.

In the Kitikmeot, Cambridge Bay is a proud Polaris community.

"It tends to be a community thing," said Jimmy Mackenzie, a mechanic in Cambridge.

"Five years ago it was only Polaris. Every brand is becoming equally popular now, but there are definitely more Polarises here than anything else."

When it comes to his own riding, though, Mackenzie doesn't sway to popular opinion. He is a proud owner of an Arctic Cat.

"Just to be different," he said. "Arctic Cat suits my riding style. It's more of a laid back cruising machine.

"As far as travelling on the land, people are using Polaris, he said. "Ski-Doo has really nice touring models now, too."