Temperature: 10 °F/ -12 °C
Wind: 9 MPH/ 15 KPH
Cloud Cover: Clear blue skies
Sunrise: 2:46 a.m.
Sunset: 12:08 a.m.

 

The schools in Iglulik, Nunavut are full of life and energy. The walls are decorated with student artwork, bright posters, and historic photos from the community. Sprinkled throughout both schools are handmade signs welcoming the Global Warming 101 Expedition Team back home. While Iglulik isn't home for all of us, the warm welcome we continue to experience makes it feel like it could be. Students greet us with smiles and waves at every turn.

Temperature: 7 °F/ -14 °C
Wind: 8 MPH/ 13 KPH
Cloud Cover: Cloudy all day clearing in the evening
Sunrise: 2:54 a.m.
Sunset: 11:59 p.m.

Iglulik is located on a small island on the northeastern corner of Melville Peninsula, 50 miles north of Hall Beach and about 1,000 miles north, east and south if you take the Global Warming 101 Expedition route from Iqaluit. The name "Iglulik" means "there is an igloo here" in Inuktitut and its 1600 residents are known as Iglulingmiut ("people of the igloo"). Iglulik is considered the cultural capital of Nunavut by many because of the cultural continuity that has been preserved in tradition and language. It is one of the most traditional Inuit Communities in Nunavut and one of the oldest in the north with over 4,000 years of history in one place. Through an active elders group (Inullariit Society), the elders teach valuable land skills and traditional sewing techniques to the community. The Igloolik Research Center has spearheaded an oral history project aimed at preserving the elders' traditional knowledge. Iglulik is also the home of well-known stone, antler and ivory carvers as well as two video production companies, Isuma Productions, which specializes in cultural programming, and a local office of the Nunavut-wide Inuit Broadcasting Corporation.

Temperature: 12 °F/ -11 °C
Wind: 20 MPH/ 32 KPH
Cloud Cover: High clouds, partly sunny
Sunrise: 4:33 a.m.
Sunset: 10:34 p.m.

The Student's at Quluaq School in Clyde River have something to say to the world: "We love our land!". This was evident in the artwork made by 2nd and 4th grade students, who drew pictures of their homeland and native traditions during our visit to the school today. Included in the drawings were pictures of igloos, dogsleds, kayaks, tents and inuksuks, as well as images from the Arctic landscape. We spent the morning at the school, sharing more stories from the expedition and discussing global warming. When asked to make a statement about global warming and their Arctic home, the students responded with enthusiasm. We plan to deliver several of their drawings to the U.S. Senate during our presentation in July.

Temperature: 10 °F / -12 °C 
Wind: 16 MPH / 26 KPH
Cloud Cover: Partly sunny
Sunrise: 4:39 a.m.
Sunset: 10:28 p.m.

The scene was bumpin' at the community hall last night as the Clyde River Hip Hop Dancers brought down the house. The group of twenty or so, most between the ages of 6 and 20, spun, flipped, kicked, and popped to the driving beat. A crowd of 150 people looked on, cheering, smilling, nodding to the rhythm and gasping at some of the more acrobatic feats.

Temperature: 10 °F/ -12 °C
Wind: 16 MPH/ 26 KPH
Cloud Cover: Low clouds
Sunrise: 4:45 a.m.
Sunset: 10:23 p.m.

Rich in traditional culture, Clyde River was recently selected to host Nunavut’s Piqqusilirivvik cultural school, with satellite campuses located in Baker Lake and Iglulik. The selection is an honor for the community which was selected from a strong pool of applications from villages across the new territory. The Government of Nunavut is committing $10 million to Piqqusilirivvik. $710,000 will be spent on design work in 2007. We were lucky enough to hear from several elders in the Clyde River community who are active participants in the planning process for the new school.