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KIMMIRUT/LAKE HARBOUR - After spending more than five days on the land around Kimmirut with the Canadian Rangers, soldiers from units of the 33 Canadian Brigade Group had many humbling tales to tell and high praise for the group.

Canadian Ranger Louie Qimirpik shows Canadian land troops how to gut and fillet a cod, just past the falls of Soper Lake. Canadian Rangers trained troops how to survive off the land while on patrols as part of Operation Nanook, a Canadian sovereignty exercise held on Baffin Island from Aug. 19 to 26. - Herb Mathisen/NNSL photo

One of the most-talked-about stories was of a Canadian Ranger leading soldiers on patrol over hilly terrain.

The troops struggled to keep up with him and as they crested a hill, they expected to see him making his way down the other side, or just starting up the next hill.

They were shocked when they saw him sitting atop the next hill, off in the distance, smoking a cigarette while he waited for them to catch up.

"The troops called him 'Superman,'" said platoon commander Capt. Brian Lypps.

Superman, also known as Ranger Lysa Pitseolak, was modest about the tale.

"I was wearing shoes and they had on their boots," he said, adding the troops were also carrying their day gear.

"They were all sweaty," he laughed.

In total, 31 soldiers were in Kimmirut with others deployed around Pangnirtung for presence and point patrols as part of Operation Nanook - a Canadian Forces sovereignty exercise.

For nearly six days, Canadian Rangers trained the soldiers to survive off the land.

"They have to know how to survive in the cold weather and good weather like this," said Canadian Ranger Louie Qimirpik on a sunny Saturday morning.

Rangers showed soldiers where to set up camps, how to hunt small and big game and prepare their catch and what water was safe to drink.

They brought soldiers out to fishing spots to gather mussels and pick berries.

Sgt. James Vogl, who recently completed a tour of Afghanistan, was grateful for the experience with the Rangers, who familiarized them in an environment where Vogl admitted troops were "out of their element."

"The Rangers have been helpful, showing us how to survive off the land above the treeline," said Vogl.

Asked whether he thought there would be an increased military presence in the Arctic in the future, Vogl responded: "There is always a presence here with the Rangers."

Vogl has trained with the Rangers once before, in the winter, in Resolute.

"They took care of us up there like they did here," he said.

Lypps said Rangers were the only ones on patrol with ammunition, providing protection to troops from polar bears.

Vogl said the Rangers also helped soldiers understand Inuit culture.

Soldiers and Rangers pulled plenty of cod out of the falls by Soper Lake on Saturday.

Qimirpik and Appa Josephie demonstrated how to gut and fillet the cod, which was then shared with members of the community.

"Once we get food, we pass it on to the community for people who don't have hunting equipment," said Qimirpik. "That's pretty much the tradition for our community, Kimmirut, and we don't want to lose it."

Rangers initiated the troops by getting them to taste the cod's raw liver.

Aside from a few rolled ankles and the inevitable blisters, soldiers made it through the training intact with a strong camaraderie built between the two groups.

Canadian Ranger Sgt. Jamesie Kootoo said he hoped there would be more winter training.

"We like to do that in the winter time," said Kootoo, adding that winter conditions provided more survival training exercise than the summer, including iglu and snow cave building and ice-fishing.

"It's harder," said Kootoo.

Kootoo is also concerned with the significant drop in the number of Canadian Rangers in Kimmirut.

"There are 12," he said. "I used to have more than 30."

Qimirpik said government red tape has been an issue.

Rangers in Kimmirut sometimes have to wait two months for paycheques, which travel from Ottawa to Yellowknife to Iqaluit before making it into the community.

"Sometimes Rangers don't like to wait a couple months to get paid," said Qimirpik.

Defence minister Peter MacKay recently announced $3.6 million for the Junior Rangers over five years.

Kootoo said he is encouraged by the increase in the number of Junior Rangers in the community, saying it's more than 20 now.

He added any new money was good news for the program.

Qimirpik's son is involved with the Junior Rangers. He said he believes the program is valuable not only in keeping the Canadian Rangers strong, but also to preserve traditional knowledge on the land.

"That's a good thing to pass on knowledge to our Junior Rangers, because they're our future," said Qimirpik.

Lypps said he was proud of all the tasks accomplished by the group, while they were able to build strong friendships.

"I think we've developed a mutual respect for one another and the skills we have," he said. "We're all Canadians in the end."