John Curran
Northern News Services

Repulse Bay (Jan 04/06) - Nunavut sealskins sold for record prices at a Dec. 17 Fur Harvesters Auction, and that has hunters like Repulse Bay's David Nuluk very happy.

Ed Ferguson grades sealskins prior to the Fur Harvesters Auction in North Bay, Ont., where more than 6,500 pelts fetched a record average price of $72.65. - photo courtesy of Jim Gibb

The average price for Nunavut ring seal was $72.65, with the top pelt fetching a whopping $142.50.

"A price like that is very good," said Nuluk.

He said he catches about 70 or more seals each year, although he only sells about half of the pelts to wildlife officers for auction.

"My wife, Susan, uses the rest to make mittens, parkas and other things we can sell for more money."

Susan Nuluk also teaches others in her community traditional tanning and sewing techniques.

This year's record prices built on last year's average auction rate of $67.02 and just $44.64 in 2003.

The steady increase means greater independence for Inuit, said Theresie Tungilik, the Rankin Inlet-based advisor for arts and the traditional economy with Nunavut's Department of Economic Development and Transportation.

"This makes me very happy because seal hunting is an important part of our traditional economy," said Tungilik.

"Strong prices not only mean hunters can feed their families, they can also afford to buy other things from the store like new shoes for their children."

At the auction house in North Bay, Ont., company spokesperson Jim Gibb said he expects the strong prices on seal and other Northern furs will continue.

Gibb said world demand is up, and so is the supply from Nunavut.

"We had 7,770 sealskins this year compared to about 6,000 last year."

Roughly 84 per cent of this year's catch was sold, with buyers from Germany and Denmark taking about 80 per cent of the stock.

"Most of those will eventually end up in Russia and China where it has been very cold already this year and the demand for seal is highest."

The next auction is set for Feb. 23, with the last receiving date pegged for Jan. 15.

For Nuluk, the seal hunt hasn't changed much during the years.

"I grew up with dogs, so I still use a dog team today. We eat a lot of the meat, but what we don't helps me feed my dogs.

"Nothing gets wasted."

Nuluk said he hunts mainly around the floe edge this time of year.

"I shoot them and then go get the seals in a small boat. In winter, seals float when you shoot them."