Inuit Nunangat Stories

The students asked Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield 12 questions in the 10-and-a-half minutes the station was in range.

The educational program was delivered by volunteers with the amateur radio on the International Space Station (ARISS).

The organization ARISS Canada aims to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math through amateur radio communications opportunities.

ARISS is an international working group of delegations from nine countries, including Canada, Japan, Russia, the U.S. and several European countries.

The organization is run by volunteers from national amateur radio organizations and the Radio Amateur Satellite Corp. from each country.

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As the days lengthen with the approach of spring, the northernmost reaches of Scandinavia are about to witness the annual migration of huge herds of reindeer.

After spending the winter inland in Finnmark, Europe's last great wilderness, the animals are moved to pastures near the coast for the summer.

The reindeer play a central role in the livelihoods and culture of the indigenous people of the region, the Sami, but this way of life is under pressure, as I saw on a journey in northern Norway earlier this month.

Look at a map of the region and you'll see very few roads and only a handful of towns. Our expedition of nine people, each towed by a team of huskies, hardly encountered another soul.

Led by our guide, Tom Frode Johansen, we passed through valleys and over hills, along the border between Norway and Finland, and then across frozen lakes and uplands of unblemished white.

Leo Kaludjak took top spot in the Senior Division, while Ross Tatty took the Master's (40 and older) Division and Tristen Dias captured the Junior flag.

Tatty, who also helps co-ordinate the event, said the number of racers was about the same as in 2012.

He said the races are often close in each division, which makes the event fun for racers and fans alike.

"You get the odd race, for a number of reasons, that may not be that close, but, overall, most of them are pretty close," said Tatty.

"The racers take this event very seriously.

"Some go all out with brand-new machines, while others, basically, make a snowmobile out of scraps just to be able to enter the races."

The races follow international snowmobile rules.

Nothing larger than 600 cc is allowed, and every machine's tether cord must be operational.

The Arviat students took home medals in the categories of TV/video production (Innosar Issakiark and Shelton Nipisar coached by Gord Billard), baking (Vayda Kaviok and AnneRenee Angalik coached by Susie Johnson), cooking (Ramon Kaviok and Jonathan Kigusiutnak coached by Mike Johnson), hairdressing (Gwen Ishalook and Gabai Kaludjak coached by Celeste White and Kimberley Dymond), esthetics (Sherilyn Sewoee and April Kablutsiak coached by Annette Atkinson) and photography (Avis Mukyungnik and Amanda Pingushat coached by Steve Penney).

Issakiark and Nipisar were invited to the national in TV/video production, while Vayda was invited for baking.

Billard said the number of participants at this year's Nunavut event was lower than usual.

He said there were only 41 competitors in 10 categories, both down significantly from past years.

"There was only one team in four different categories, so, by default, they received a gold medal," said Billard.

"Our TV/video production entry was one of those, but our little team produced a video good enough to qualify for the national, so I'm tickled pink.

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After two years, nearly 100 witnesses and dozens of airport tours, a Senate committee released its report on establishing a National Air Travel Strategy last week. The report calls for significant federal funding in the North and highlights the unique challenges of Northern air travel.

"The bottom line of the report basically says that the Government of Canada should invest more in air travel in Canada," committee chair Senator Dennis Dawson told Nunavut News/North. "They shouldn't see air travel as a source of revenue; they should see it as a source of investment."

Dawson said the report, titled One Size Doesn't Fit All, makes recommendations that revolve around the Canadian government recognizing the particularities of the North.

Among the litany of examples the report lists is the nature of air travel in the North where it isn't just a necessity for cargo shipping but the only mode of personal transportation.