Erika Sherk
Northern News Services
Monday, July 9, 2007

POND INLET - The polar bear abandoned the French hunters it was charging and turned its wrath onto Namen Inurauak.

The young Pond Inlet man tipped his snowmobile in his haste to escape the giant animal's attack.

"I thought 'yep, I'm ready to die now'," the outfitter said, remembering.

The bear charged, hit the overturned sled, and kept going.

"He was getting distracted by the (sled) dogs," said Inuarak, "and for his own safety he just kept running."

It was a dramatic workday for Inuarak, but a workday nonetheless.

Inuarak started his outfitting business, Nanooq Expeditions, last January. Nanooq means polar bear in Inuktitut.

Beyond the polar bear attack in March, he's also facing the issues most young businesses face - attracting clients, working with contractors, getting his name known internationally.

"I'm still setting up," he said.

His may be a new business but 32-year-old Inuarak is not a newcomer to the outfitting world.

"My father grew up on the land," he said, "so as long as I can remember we were going out."

Inuarak grew up in the context of his parent's own business - Aupilatunguaq Outfitting.

After a lifetime on it, working on the land is as natural as breathing to him, he said.

"It's a big part of my life," he said, "it's very refreshing."

It feels free on the land, said Inuarak.

"Almost like a holiday," he said, "but you're still out there working - you have to take care of people."

So far he has taken the French hunters, another solitary sports hunter, and an American film crew out on the land, he said.

He leads the trips, hiring local guides to come with him. They sleep in tents. He's also the head chef, he said.

"I cook the food before we go," he said. "I try to bring out traditional foods such as caribou and fish."

The Iqaluit-born outfitter has lived and worked in Pond Inlet for 11 years, he said.

He plans to stay in the area, as the wildlife is "breathtaking" and he knows the landscape.

He takes clients between Pond Inlet and Clyde River and trip lengths vary - from half a day to a whole week.

"I usually do custom packages," he said. Whether it's polar bear hunting, park tours, day hikes, or wildlife watching, he creates a unique adventure for each person he takes out, said Inuarak.

Right now he is looking forward to establishing his business in the area, he said.

"Starting out, it's not easy. (People) who have jobs they have security, but starting your own business you don't have security," he said.

Watching his clients after their first polar bear kill makes it worthwhile though, he said.

"Just having seen them so happy, it touches you."