John Curran
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 3, 2007

SACHS HARBOUR - Three years after a permanent settlement was established in 1929 here on the shores of Banks Island, Andy Carpenter was born.

"I've lived here all my life," said the 75-year-old elder. "People here are very friendly."

Andy Carpenter, right, enjoys a cup of smoke tea with his son-in-law Bob Eldridge at the hamlet office in Sachs Harbour. - John Curran/NNSL photo

In his earlier days, Carpenter was a trapper.

"This used to be the white fox capital of the world," he said. "People would come here to trap in the winter."

He later worked on the Inuvialuit Land Claim and eventually was elected as Sachs' mayor - a post he held for six years. His health isn't what it used to be, but he's still involved in politics now in an advisory capacity.

Carpenter's son-in-law, Bob Eldridge, is now following in his footsteps and when he's not working for the Power Corp. he's the current mayor of Sachs Harbour.

"I call him up to talk about the issues from time to time," said Eldridge. "We also like to get out for the spring goose hunt together near the end of May or start of June."

For the most part, however, Carpenter prefers simply visiting with his many relatives.

"I have eight kids, 20 grandchildren and I'm a great-grandfather more than 20 times over," he said beaming from ear to ear. "They're good at coming to see me - I've got one of my sons and grandsons staying with me now."

Having spent 75 years in the hamlet, Carpenter said he's seen changes in the natural world that he finds troublesome.

"It's changed so much from my early days," he said. "It's a lot warmer weather than it used to be."

Even during the summer months there used to be ice in the ocean around the community, he said, adding this allowed people to go out hunting and fishing farther from Banks Island.

"Now the swells are too big when the wind picks up, because there's nothing to slow it down," he said.

He's also seen changes in the wildlife on Banks Island.

"There used to be a lot of caribou here, but now we've just got lots of muskox," he said. "It doesn't really matter though, because most people here now eat store bought food rather than getting it from the land."