Sisterhood of The Travelling Pants

-15 and overcast in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:05 and Sunset at 17:10.
18 more minutes than my last blog.  That's good since I have been doing a lot of walking!

Here is a map and website that describes the Gwich'in land claim.

The Mackenzie Sisters Evening Dinner

Ode to our fabulous orientation leader Stella!

Giant Inukshuk

We have walked back and forth in to town and back to the hotel at least once a day and often twice.  We have had supper together every night at The Mackenzie Hotel.  Tomorrow is the last day of orientation.  I have a 4:00 pm date with a United Taxi driver to go to Tsiigehtchic.  I have to jump up and down on my suitcases again because they have all been opened for various reasons.  Big grocery shopping trip before heading out!

Drin Gwiinzii

National Geographic

-12 with a few clouds in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:14 and Sunset at 17:01.
19 more minutes than my last blog.  My winter coat is too hot for this weather!

I have been up at 9:00 am and back to the hotel at 9:00 pm.
Too exhausted to make an intelligent blog!

See some of the sights.  The town, greenhouse, hospital and above ground pipes that run to and from the houses.
 
This week is orientation.  Some boring administrative stuff and other fantastic information on the northern culture.

Eskimo is the Chippewayan word for, "eaters of raw meat."
Inuit means, "all of the Eskimo people."
In the Inuvik area there are two main cultural groups.
Inuvialuit and Gwich'in.  I am learning to read and spell some difficult words!

Other Inivaluit regions include Nunatsiavut in Labrador, Nunavik in northern Quebec, and the territory of Nunavut.  The Inuvialuit live on the coastlines of the North and the Gwich'in live on the mainland.

The groups in the NWT have both made land claim settlements of their traditional hunting/fishing grounds.
It is an amazing story we heard yesterday form one of the leaders who assisted in the process.

Inuvik is a thriving town and there are opportunities for all sorts of recreational activities.  The high food prices and minimized selection are facts but they are not as bad as the reputation they earned preceding my visit.

Here is some amazing crafts that are sold at the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.  The centre overseas the management of the Land Claims Settlement through the preservation of natural resources and providing educational opportunites for people interested in pursuing those goals for themselves.  The craft store does not take any money from the artisans who make the items they sell.

I will be working with the Gwich'in people in Tsiigehtchic.  The Gwich'in Tribal Council is committed to the preservation of cuture and the management of their natural resources.

Drin Gwiinzii

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

-18 and partly cloudy in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:23 and Sunset at 16:51.
9 more minutes than my last blog.  The hotel curtain is staying open until 16:51!

Well the smallest plane I flew on was Bearskin out of Kitchener.

They put my carry-on in that little open cubby in the plane in front of the cockpit.

It had a capacity of 19 people but there were less than 10.

You could watch exactly what the pilots were doing "with their instruments." 

The planes were bigger from there.  Go figure!

Travels went smoothly but were tiring.  Lots of views of crazy winding snowy rivers.

I have arrived in Inuvik today!

I will be doing 4 days of orientation and heading to Tsiigehtchic on Friday.

I haven't seen much yet but will probably have a lot to report on tomorrow!

Drin Gwiinzii

16 Candles

-28 with clear skies in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:28 and Sunset at 16:47.
19 more minutes that yesterday.  I will be there to see it shortly!

It is two hours earlier in Tsiigehtchic than it is here.
Therefore this post is really Friday at 10:42 pm and not Saturday at 12:42 am.

Last supper was at Wild Wings with family. 
The Country Girl with Pineapple and Thai sauce.

I just got my full itinerary today.  Yes I am flying tomorrow...:)
I have ended up on this journey because I am an adventurous person.
Most people would be chewing their nails off waiting for the move and flight information.
It was unerving but generally I knew it would work itself out.

I stood on two suitcases a few minutes ago and beat them down so they will close.
One more left to go.  I have to get all the last minute stuff in there.

I have cleaned and shuffled things I meant to put away since we moved to our new house July 15, 2009.
Took care of a lot of odds and ends I have been meaning to get to since forever.
There were some people I didn't get around to see but I got a lot done.

 Jonathan and Joanna Dancing at the Wedding

I contacted my children in the middle of this process and received a letter from their adoptive mother today.  I was just 16 when Jonathan was born.  Jonathan is soon to be 22 and Joanna is soon to be 16.  Joanna is doing well and almost finished Grade 10.  A lovely girl who gives so much of herself to others.  Jonathan was married last year and has a son, Isaiah.  He is also step-father to a little girl, Danielle with whom he shares his love.   It is still sinking in that I am a grandma.  I think I need a cake to go with that.

Not everyone knows my story but it seems a good moment to share more about myself with others.

Drin Gwiinzii  

Elvis has Left the Building

-29 with a few clouds in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:37 and Sunset at 16:37.
9 more minutes than yesterday.  Keep it coming!

The movers came and went today.
There was a 2.5 hour delay but they came.

Rolled out the red carpet and have now left the building.
One guy was carrying boxes on his back.
$1500.00 for 1300.00 lbs at 0.65 cents a pound plus taxes and fuel and a red carpet. 

I will be interested to know the actual weigh in before they leave to go to Edmonton. 
I don't know the cost of the rest of the way.
Probably the same since its pretty close to the same distance.

Two days to go!

Waiting for Godot

-29 and partly cloudy in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:41 and Sunset at 16:32.
40 more minutes than my last blog.  Yahoo!

Waiting for pick up of all my boxes.  Waiting.
Roger that...still waiting.

Looks like my last supper will be with family.
My nephew has a basketball game in Newmarket Friday.
We will go out with him and his mom after.
My brother and soon to be sister in law will hopefully make it out as well.

I have sworn an oath to be back in town for the wedding this summer.

Have to make the wedding present from items that can only be found in nature.
So far I've only figured out snowshoes and ice fishing.
Maybe I will learn some other talents. 
I think carving walrus tusks is illegal.

Titanic and other Kitchener Highlights

-38 with light snow in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 12:00 and Sunset at 16:11.
9 more minutes than yesterday.  Tanning anyone?

Apple Fritters at the Farmers Market in St. Jacobs
and perhaps the Titanic exhibit today.

Movies at home with snacks from The Bulk Barn this evening.

Got to get thinking about what to eat for my last supper in Kitchener.
I will be flying out of the Kitchener airport for the first time ever!