Happy Canada Day!

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Happy Canada Day everyone! This day turned out to be yet another sunny day! yikes I can't believe how nice the weather has been here since I arrived. I watched the Canada Day parade which was mostly of emergency vehicles and about 3 or 4 floats. Lots and lots of people were out for the festivities which started with a pancake breakfast, then the opening ceremonies where some new residents were recognized for obtaining their Canadian citizenship. There were also artists from all over Nunavut selling their works of art (carvings, prints, traditional clothing, jewellery etc.) An afternoon barbeque with hotdogs and juice and chil con carne was provided to everybody that wanted to indulge. Unfortunately Michael was not here for the day but was flying back from Cape Dorset late that evening. Michael had some work to do over there and he was also bringing back our household effects we had stored there from living in that community during part of the past two years.

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Photos

Start of Canada Day Parade
our local RCMP in their red serge!

Local Fire Department vehicle
a lot of emergency vehicles in the parade

motorcycle and sidecar
very unusual for up here

traditional tent
made from sealskins

woman carver
this lady carved from the bones, skulls and skeletons of various animals

antler carving
probably from the antler of a caribou

carver
this fellow works with soapstone and marble

carvings
these carvings are most likely made from the vertebrate of some animal perhaps a caribou in this case

carving
this is made from soapstone and marble

entertainment at the arts and crafts sale
there was a singer/guitar player, bango player and another guitar player seen here.

fellow carving outside the sale
this fellow was from Baker Lake originally from Cape Dorset