December 14, 2017
This is a photograph of a home in Iqaluit, Nunavut. I took this picture the day we arrived and I chose this photo for my final Chinook Project assignment because I feel it beautifully and wholly conveys what life looks like for many who live in the North.
The first thing I notice in this image, and the initial reason for me taking this photo, is the polar bear skin drying on the line – not your typical laundry line sighting if you’re from a small town in Southern Ontario, as I am. Such a sighting made me stop in my tracks and contemplate the beautiful beast. I thought about how for most people in these parts this is just an everyday scene in life and about how important these creatures must be to those living alongside them.
After the initial surprise of the polar bear pelt I began to notice other items surrounding the house. While none of these other items is particularly odd, the fact that you can see a boat, an All Terrain Vehicle, a sled, a propane tank, and a satellite dish all within the vicinity of one property makes it a perfect picture to show someone who has never been to the North. It demonstrates how self-sufficient and resourceful one needs to be when living in such a remote location – a way of life I would very much like to strive for in mine.
Anna Swick-Coryell, AVC 2018, traveled to Igloolik in 2017 as one of the student participants on the Chinook Project. As part of the experience, the students craft various pieces of reflective writing. This is one of Anna’s pieces.
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