PAULATUK
Federal government representatives travelled to Paulatuk on March 15 and 16 as part of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's annual Inuit Arctic Tour, according to ITK.

Federal officials visited Paulatuk, shown here, as part of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's annual Inuit Arctic Tour. - photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

"We were actually one of the communities selected as part of the tour to give them an idea of some of the remote communities first-hand," said Paulatuk mayor Ray Ruben Sr.

Representatives with various government departments participated in the trip, including Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Veterans Affairs, Health Canada and Natural Resources Canada, said Ruben Sr.

The delegation visited the community's health centre and toured Angik School where they participated in a question and answer session with students.

They also met with the local Hunters and Trappers Committee and representatives with the Paulatuk Community Corporation and the hamlet.

There was also a meeting with Parks Canada officials to discuss the government's partnership with Paulatuk to manage Tuktut Nogait National Park.

"They really wanted to hear about our co-management group with the Tuktut Nogait park's board, how we work as co-management partners," Ruben Sr. said.

To help illustrate how much it costs to feed families in the North, the group was taken to the local Northern Store where they were tasked with trying to feed a family of four on $100.

"They were astonished at how people are able to live with the food costs," Ruben Sr. said.

In addition to meetings, the group was taken on a tour of the area, which included a trip out on the sea ice.

"We bought them up the road to give them a view of the community and the country around us," Ruben Sr. said.

The adventure even included giving a few officials a ride in the back of Ruben Sr.'s pickup truck.

"They really enjoyed it," he said.

A community feast was held in the Angik School gym the evening of March 15 and featured a drum dancing demonstration.

Delegates were taught a few moves and were given the opportunity to display their new-found skills, Ruben Sr. said.

"They were saying how it's going to be all over YouTube," he said.

In addition to Paulatuk, the group also visited Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, according to ITK.

Ruben Sr. said he believes the visit was beneficial to both Paulatuk residents and the government representatives.

"It went over really well," he said.