Puvirnituq Snow Fest | winter is inuit

(Puvirnituq) Dozens of dogs hitched to their sled yelp and trample the frozen surface of Hudson Bay. Behind their sleds, mushers firmly hold the reins and hold back the beasts while waiting for the starting signal for the race.

Ariane Lacoursiere
The Press

At 10 a.m. sharp, the Inukpak organizer Ittukallak let out a loud cry, launching the start of a dog sled race of approximately 22 km which is being held as part of the Puvirnituq Snow Fest. For the first time since 2019, this week-long event celebrating Inuit culture took place in mid-March. The Press attended it.

The festival is normally held every odd year. It had to be postponed last year because of the pandemic. And this year, the virus infected many people in the region at the start of the year, once again threatening its outfit.

Normally, residents of the other six villages on the Hudson Bay coast are invited to participate in the event. But this year, only residents of Puvirnituq were invited to limit the spread of the virus.

Even if the participants were less numerous, the atmosphere was festive in the village. The week of festivities was launched on March 20 with a “feast”, a sort of grand banquet where large tablecloths of brown paper are spread out on the floor in the village gymnasium. Traditional food was served in large quantities, such as caribou, seal and arctic char. In the room, Mayor Angyou strolled laughing through the children running around.

Igloos and snow sculptures

Meanwhile, on the ice floe, the Jacusi brothers and Inukpak Ittukallak were sculpting an imposing cube of snow. Armed with a knife and a shovel, they patiently fashioned a man carrying two buckets of water on a “kakautiit”. Snow Fest theme word, it’s a piece of wood that you can put on your shoulders to carry water.

Very talented, the Ittukallak brothers did not participate in the snow sculpture competition: they were the judges. For three days, participants came to shape their blocks of snow. Like Lisi Sivarapik, an elderly lady very focused on her work.

Inukpak Ittukallak explains that in Inuit culture, children are taught very early to shape snow and ice. In his family, the tradition is well anchored. The Ittukallak brothers have participated in several competitions around the world.

The lady notes that the popularity of the competitions of the event, such as the construction of igloos or the dog sled races, has been decreasing for a few years, even when the COVID-19 does not play the spoilsport. “Traditions are being lost a bit. It’s a shame,” she said.

Despite a decline in popularity of its competitions, the Snow Fest remains central to the lives of the inhabitants of Puvirnituq. To the point where the two schools in the village make their spring break coincide with the event, at the risk of seeing their classes deserted.

Every evening, the gymnasium was crowded with citizens who came to hear the various music concerts or take part in the dance competitions. On leaving, some lucky people were able to see the impressive aurora borealis. The igloo building competition also attracted many curious people.

At the starting line of the dog sled race, on March 24, the inhabitants were also numerous to show their enthusiasm or to take part in the various activities. Like a snowball throwing contest. Or a race “on the buttocks”. All this in a good-natured atmosphere, where each participant, well wrapped up in warm clothes, was happy to celebrate winter and Inuit culture.