Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

IKPIARJUK/ARCTIC BAY
At high tide by Victor Bay, hunter Teman Avingaq sits on rocks by the water, playing square dance music, even gospel at times, on his accordion to attract seals.

Teman Avingaq plays square dance music on his accordion around midnight by Victor Bay near Arctic Bay to attract seals. - photo courtesy of Thomas Levi

The animals are attracted by the sound and their own curiosity, Avingaq said.

"We start playing the music and the seals like the song. I play the accordion so I just tried it," he said. "When they get close enough, we shoot them."

If he plays a different song, "they come to check," he said, adding, "Curiosity kills the seal."

Since he's been attracting seals with his accordion music, Avingaq said he has shot a few. So far this summer, he has shot at one seal but missed.

Avingaq, 40, is a carpenter originally from Iglulik but has lived in Arctic Bay for the past five years. He said he tried playing accordion for the seals a little bit when he lived in Iglulik but not often, so he can't compare the effectiveness of the ploy on Arctic Bay versus Iglulik-area seals.

He has been playing the accordion for 27 years, and plays at the shore when he has the chance during the spring and summer. His grandmother also played the accordion.

He has yet to play for a square dance event, he added, but practises his music on the seals in the meantime.

He said he began playing music to attract seals after he heard of elders doing it, but added it doesn't always work. Whistling and music from a stereo will also work, he added.

"The seals seem to like the music," he said, adding he hopes fellow hunters like it too.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.