Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

QAUSUITTUQ/RESOLUTE
Cassandra McDonald is about to graduate high school and head to university with two successful polar bear hunts under her belt.

Cassandra McDonald caught her second polar bear on April 14 on the sea ice outside Resolute. - photo courtesy of Cassandra McDonald

In doing so, the 17-year-old Grade 12 student at Qarmartalik School said she learned how to skin the animal, where to find bears and the steps to hunt.

McDonald headed out of Resolute with her aunt and uncle at about 10:30 a.m. on April 14 to hunt polar bears, spotting the animal at about 4 p.m. on the sea ice.

"I had to shoot it once and then it tried to walk away from us so we had to Ski-doo to a better position that I can get in," she said, adding she then shot the bear a second time. "I was excited and nervous at the same time because it was so big. I have no idea what it weighed but it was really heavy and fat."

She said the bear, a male, was 9.5 feet (about three metres) long. They skinned the bear on the ice and brought back the fur and meat.

"I have a lot of confidence now," she said.

Born in Edmonton, McDonald moved to Resolute at age 2 and was one of the winners of the Nunavut at 10 essay contest which took place as the territory celebrated 10 years of existence. She will graduate high school this spring, and said she is excited and happy to do so. She plans to attend university in Ottawa to study either forensic science or biology, which are both fields she said she finds interesting.

Jennifer Borden, principal at Qarmartalik School, said McDonald is a good role model for the students because she is dedicated, works hard and attends school regularly.

"She knows what she wants and she's got her future sort of set in stone and she's going to go far," said Borden.

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