Published 10:35 am Friday, December 12, 2025 UPLUKKUT INUIN. IKALUKTUTIAMI INUIN NAMAINNAKTUT. TAAKHILIKMAN HIKINIK QULVALAITTUK UKIUK NUTAAMI KIHIMIGUUK. IPAKHANI ANURI HAKUGIKPIAKHUNI. NUNAKPUT APINMIYUK PINNIKHIVAKTUK NUNA APIGAGAT. INUIN HUMANGITTUT. QUVIAHUGVIK TIKILIKMAN QULLIIT TAKUKHAULIKTUT PINNITAK. INUIN AUDLATTIIVAKTUT TAUNANI UUGAKHIUKHUTIK KUVYAKHUTIKLU INUIN. TUKTUIT TAKUHAUVAKTUT AMIGAILIKMIYUT QUANA. ILLA HALUUKKUGUT IKALUKTUTIAMIT. NAMAKPAKLUHI. Welcome to beautiful Cambridge Bay. The weather has been getting very cold up here, and we now have no more sun till January 2026. The little daylight does not get very bright, so we have darker days for the next few weeks. It has been extremely cold, with temperatures reaching into the -40s C. The snow settled in late. However, there’s still some open water on the Arctic Ocean, which I saw while flying from the mainland to Victoria Island, but with the fresh snowfall, you are able to tell the land from the sea. It has become a different way of life for our hunters and fishers. With changes in weather, those who go harvest for their families and communities have seen changes in the migration of wildlife. Hunters and people travelling out on the land mainly use snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles nowadays, rather than travelling on the sea ice. It is safer to travel by land along the shore to keep away from open water and thin ice. Ice fishing close by on the bay is perfect for cod, trout and setting fishnets. Today, we have the internet and computers, and I see photographs of ice fishing among other Indigenous cultures around the circumpolar regions. It is such a good way of life, and I hope it continues for thousands of years and for our generations to follow. We live in such a beautiful part of the world, and keeping the culture and tradition alive is what we must do. Our beautiful community looks pretty this time of year with Christmas lights and street lights shining through the ice fog and twilight when it barely gets any brighter during the days without the sun. It is even more beautiful with the fresh snowfall. With warmer temperatures, the snow would melt and create icy conditions, especially on the public roads in town, so watch for hidden icy roads when walking or driving. When the winter officially arrives, the Mothers, Grandmothers, Daughters, Aunts and Sisters start their sewing projects to make sure handmade gifts will be ready for the Christmas season. Back in the old days, everyone would be coming out onto the ice to join in greeting each other with brand new pairs of kamiks, new parkas, mitts, etc. Most of the games were celebrated outdoors during the Christmas season while feasts and drum dancing would be held indoors in the iglu. Having no local stores, gifts and money were not given, but having warm clothing hand-sewn by your mother or grandmother or aunt or sister would be the best gifts of all, as well as being together as family and neighbours. Many of our ancestors would walk from their camps and join other Inuit at their new homes and camps. Inuit did not own much — as long as they had a dog team, family and some tools, food and skins. By tools, I mean spears, knives, bow and arrow to hunt and fish to harvest food for their families. Moving closer to where the Hudson’s Bay Company would set up their posts and stores made it easier for families with children. It was a popular place across from the old stone church, and the LORAN tower was there too. The LORAN Tower had a light at the top that blinked. It was used by travellers as a guide as they joined their relatives and families to set up a new camp. Those were the good old days. God Be With You Son. Your Son and Granddaughter are a wonderful beautiful family.
Cambridge Bay Tea Talk: Memories of the Christmas season
