Day 1 of Leg 11 was a full day of activity! In the morning we visited Kugluktuk High school, where we met with local youth and community members. Some of our participants went berry picking and later attended an event hosted by the Kugluktuk Rangers at the Cultural Heritage Centre. We are so grateful that the Rangers organized a gathering for us, which included Arctic char, bannock, and other delicious treats. We also officially welcomed Their Excellencies, Governor General David Johnston and Sharon Johnston for their 3 day stay aboard the ship. Our other group partook in a 12 km hike along the Coppermine River at the Kugluktuk/Bloody Falls Territorial Park. For 8 hours, we trekked along a stunning landscape and observed local flora and fauna. The park is centered around the falls, where this majestic river turns into a narrow channel of intense rapids where some of us even went swimming! The campsite below the falls is referred to as Onoagahiovik by the Inuit, which means “the place where you stay all night”. After this day of exploration, we returned to the ship to have a special dinner cooked by our leg 11 chef Michele Genest. We were honoured to host Their Excellencies, as well as Nunavut Premier Peter Taputpna, Kugluktuk mayor Ryan Nivingalok, and local elders. We closed off the night with some incredible throat singing by our newest participant Hovak Johnston and her friend Inuksuk Mackay, followed by a performance by our leg 11 musician Hannah Georgas. Thank you to all of our guests for making one of our last days in Nunavut so memorable.
