Events on this page:
A cultural exchange: Mr. Trask and Kublu.
Welcome!
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Arrival on First Air
The plane arrived right on time! We were all excited that day and couldn't wait to meet our partners again. The day was beautiful and sunny but the temperature was a cool -25 degrees Celcius. We stopped a few times along the way in the other small communities. It was interesting to see the different landscapes. We were really tired because we had travelled straight through the night starting at 1:00 AM from Invermere on bus to Calgary and then by plane connecting all the way to Taloyoak. It's a long way from from home!
Arrival Dinner
By Brady
On the night we arrived in Taloyoak we all met at the school to indulged into a delicious pot luck feast. Having not eaten a proper meal since the night before at home, I was starving and the meal definitely hit the spot. After the meal we all sat back and watched a excellent slid show of when Taloyoak students came south to Invermere. Shortly after the slid show we were able to watch and experience drum dancing by Matthew Ottaq and throat singing by Berndette and Mary. Thanks for the great food and show!
Brady, Scott and Courtney lead the way off First Air.
Welcome to Taloyoak!
Two elders, Mary Etunga and Berndette Uttaq, throat sang for the group. Throat singing is something very unique to the Inuit people. These two elders have travelled all over the country to perform.
Potluck Dinner, Slide Show, Throat Singing, Drum Dance, Lighting of the Kulliq
by Margery
I think the neatest thing about the throat singing was the way they stood close to each other and stared so intently into each other's faces. While they were singing it seemed like they were communicating on some other level, like they were reading each other's minds! It was really neat to watch.
Watching the drum dance sent shivers up my spine! It was so intense. The second time he did it I think his beats were speeding up but the singing kept going at the same tempo and the contrast was .... arg, I can't think of adjectives adequate to describe it!
Mark said he missed the cold when we were waiting for the bus at DTSS. I thought, ok, that makes sense, he misses the cold..... While we were fishing Trevor asked me how I liked the land. I said it was beautiful and asked him if he was having a good time. He said he was but he liked to be farther out, like 200 miles. I thought, ok.... sure...... whatever.... I'm changing now though. After camping and being on the land, even if it wasn't as far out as Trevor likes to be, I think I understand them a little bit more. I mean, the desire to be out and on the land. It makes sense to me now. I can't wait to go back!
We watched the traditional Inuit lamp, called the kulliq, being lit as part of the opening ceremony. It uses a stone base and seal oil to make heat and light in an igloo. This kulliq was handed down to Sarah Takolik (Isabelle's mother) from her mother.
Matthew Uttaq uses a caribou skin drum to drum dance while his wife and Mary Etunga sing. The drum was made in the traditional fashion.
Catherine gives drum dancing a try using the woman's technique.
Matt drum dances for the group.
Rebecca drum dances with a smile.