(I’ve joined 100 passengers on board a small cruise ship to explore the Eastern coast of Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. Join me as I see wildlife, phenomenal landscapes and meet friendly locals with Adventure Canada.)
Elder in Pond Inlet, Nunavut
Welcomed by an Inuit mother and her child, we disembarked at the community of Pond Inlet. Double the size of Clyde River, with 1,700 residents, it has a new visitor’s centre and an ice rink to spruce things up.
This town certainly had the most picturesque setting, with the snow-dipped mountains spanning the waterfront; the dramatic heights stood solidly as the sun showcased each contour.
The treat of the day, though, was a surprise invitation from a local elder to visit her reproduced traditional sod house built near the water. While the majority of the group went to the ice rink to play soccer with the locals (we lost, as is customary we were told!), a few of us were led by Aaju Peter to ask the elder questions and see how the Inuit used to survive.
Sitting on a caribou fur blanket, I sat in awe of this beautifully tranquil woman as she began her rich stories with, “I remember when…” as she re-lived her own history growing up in the north.
We finished the visit off with one of our Inuktitut songs; the elder gave us a hug and we all stepped back out to the town feeling high.
Lori Henry is a freelance Travel & Lifestyle writer based in Vancouver, Canada. She covers Solo Travel, Outdoor Adventures, Wellness & Spas, and Cultural Dance, and is often called "That Cultural Dance Gal."
