TALOYOAK/SPENCE BAY
By morning bell, two elders, 20 students and a high-school teacher gathered with their quads, rifles and lunch at school in Taloyoak.

Tammy Pauloosie skins her first caribou near Taloyoak. - photo courtesy of Alison Corbett

The students, in Grades 10, 11 and 12, were off on a caribou hunt. Elders Nauyuk Ugyuk and Simon Oleekatalik each led a group of 10. They headed off to the area around Netsilik Lake. And it was definitely a day of teaching the teacher because this is the first time Allison Corbett had been caribou hunting.

"The kids obviously had to have their own equipment organized - their own ATVs, helmets, guns and ammunition," said Corbett. "It was funny ... I just started teaching up here and I had to encourage kids to bring their own gun which, at home, that would never happen. I don't have a firearms licence so I was just kind of going along for the ride."

It was a great day for it and the weather co-operated, said Corbett.

Every year, Netsilik Ilihakvik sends its students caribou hunting. Each home room, beginning with Grade 4, has their own day set aside.

"We set up at a little caribou blind. We were waiting to see if the caribou were running through that area. That's the fun part," Corbett said.

The students played traditional games, had a fire, ate lunch and had some tea.

"We waited for a while and the guides decided we'd probably missed the caribou. So we went for another little drive and just as we were about to give up we saw a herd. It was incredible."

The 25 or so caribou arrived just on time.

Corbett wasn't the only one having a day of firsts. Two of the students, Darrien Porter and Anna Wolki, shot their first caribou, while Tammy Pauloosie skinned her first caribou.

The group Corbett tagged along with caught five caribou.

"One of the great things about it is the kids get to go on their own without their families. They get to step up and do everything on their own, like skinning."

Corbett says the students were all concerned that they kill the animal quickly and pack it up quickly. They also pointed the heads in the direction of home, for a safe trip back.

Two of the students packed the caribou in their skins and two had tarps, and used those.

"And I actually helped one student do a meat cache. We buried the whole caribou in rock and he went back the week after because we didn't have enough room to bring it."

The caribou meat was shared with elders, as well as amongst the young hunters' families.

Now that Corbett has been out with her students, she hopes to get back out with them in the spring - for seal hunting.

"It was a great learning opportunity for me. I was definitely nervous taking out a group of kids with guns. I've never done that. But the kids all know so much about it. They're raised in a way that they're safe with guns. And they had a mission for the day."

For next year's caribou hunt, Corbett hopes to have her firearms licence.

"So I can actually participate."

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