Cambridge Bay (Mar 06/06) - After a five-year break, the commercial muskox hunt here is back on and it's creating jobs for hunters and trappers.

The muskox processed into burgers by Kitikmeot Foods will be sold under the newly created Tundra Brand label. Dale Smith, the plant's general manager, shows off what the packaging will look like. - John Curran/NNSL photo

"There's 30-35 jobs created from this harvest," said Dale Smith, general manager of Kitikmeot Foods.

The plant, which generally processes about 50,000 pounds of Arctic char annually, has been converted into a makeshift slaughterhouse and tags have been issued allowing for the harvest of up to 300 animals.

"We want to get the harvest going on a yearly basis," said Smith.

Reaction to the hunt has been positive around Cambridge Bay, said community elder and outfitter Allen Kitigon.

"People have been working very hard during the harvest and it looks as if its creating jobs," said Kitigon.

About 20 to 25 workers cleaning the muskox and processing it with Canadian Food Inspection Agency representatives present to ensure the meat, and the way it's handled, is in line with all health standards, said Smith.

Three hunters and seven haulers have been shuttling animals from the land to the plant since work began on Feb. 22, with the harvest expected to last for up to two more weeks.

"We are trying to use all of the by-products from the muskox," said Jacques Larabie, manager of the Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization.

The HTO has a partnership with Kitikmeot Foods where it retains the valuable qiviuq - the animals' soft under-wool, which is used to make clothing - as well as the horns. Knitted qiviuq mittens sold in Yellowknife fetch between $100-$250 a pair, while sweaters go for several hundred dollars more.

This year the muskox are being shot out on the tundra, but Larabie said if the harvest continues each year, the ideal situation would be to get large pens and herd the animals into them.

"It would be more cost effective," he said.

Funding from the territorial and federal governments helped to create the muskox group partnership, said Chris King, community economic development officer.

"We want to develop employment that creates wealth and employment within the community rather than distribute it to other places,"said King, adding the economic affect of the hunt could be as much as $150,000 for the local economy.

Once processed, the muskox will be sold throughout the North, as well as in locations in southern Canada and the U.S.