A different kind of harvest
Brendan Kanayok learns tricks of the reindeer hunt
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Monday, February 1, 2016
ULUKHAKTOK/HOLMAN
Brendan Kanayok says he's excited to travel to Inuvik to learn how to harvest reindeer.
The Reindeer Harvesting Training Program is being administered through the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and aims to teach participants about harvesting reindeer, as well as to promote survival skills and learn about food security, according to the corporation.
It is scheduled to take place from Feb. 1 to 12.
The program, which began last year with participants from Aklavik, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, has been expanded to include Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour.
Participants will travel to Jimmy Lake outside of Inuvik where they will take part in a reindeer harvest.
Kanayok, 20, is an experienced hunter.
"I've been helped with a few sports hunts here and there," said the Ulukhaktok resident.
He said he's looking forward to learning about the differences and similarities between caribou hunting and hunting reindeer.
"I'm hoping to see how they harvest reindeer," he said.
"It should be similar to caribou though, I'm pretty sure."
Kanayok is one of two youth participants from Ulukhaktok who have been selected for this year's program. Each community will send two youth and one adult participant.
"It is our long-term goal to ensure that our beneficiaries are familiar with all modes of food harvesting in the region including reindeer, as this species has received little attention among food insecurity issues in the ISR mainly because caribou is the preferred animal to harvest in the region," information from IRC stated.
Meat harvested during the program will be distributed to all Inuvialuit communities.
The NWT Anti-Poverty fund sponsors the project.
Kanayok said he was thrilled to learn that he was selected to participate.
"I'm looking forward to it," he said.
"I can't wait."
