The Place to Live Well: Carly’s View

August 25, 2025

Katerina Dimitroulas, AVC 2026, travelled to Hopedale and Sheshatshiu in 2025 as one of the student participants on the Chinook Project. As part of the experience, the students craft various pieces of reflective writing.

I had never been to a remote community before, so I didn’t know quite what to expect. But from the moment The Chinook Project 2025 team arrived in Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, we were welcomed with open arms. I have never felt so at home in such a faraway place, among people I had never met before. There was a warmth in the community that wrapped around us like a familiar blanket—genuine, generous, and deeply rooted in place.

It wasn’t long before I understood why Vanessa Flowers and her Inotsiavik team chose that name for their not for-profit. Inotsiavik translates to “the place to live well” in the Inuttitut language, and nothing could describe Hopedale more accurately. The landscape is serene and humbling, the people are awe-inspiring in their resilience and kindness, the food was to-die-for, and the feeling you get when experiencing it all… There are no words that quite do it justice.

One evening, we set out on a late-night hike to learn about the history of Hopedale and take in the view of the community. That’s when I met Carly, a 13-year-old female spayed husky, dignified and steady, leading the way with her younger brother Gunner. Carly belongs to Mr. Curtis Oliver, an 18-year resident and teacher of Hopedale, and as she paused at the ridge to look over the town, I could almost hear the quiet wisdom in her breath. She wasn’t just looking at a view; she was watching over her home.

13-year-old husky, Carly, looking over her home and community of Hopedale, during a sunset hike

The Chinook Project team stood beside members of Inotsiavik, Vanessa and Nicholas Flowers, as we took in the sweeping horizon. The sun dipped low but never truly set, casting a pink and purple glow over the land and water. The town below, with its colourful homes and winding paths, seemed to nestle perfectly into the rocky coast. It was a view I’ll never forget, not just for its beauty, but for what it represented.

Hopedale is more than a remote community. It is a place of deep connection. To the land. To the animals. To each other. And Carly, standing quietly with the wind in her fur, seemed to embody all of that. She is not just a dog; she is a witness to the story of her people and her place.

That moment, when the wind stilled, the sky glowed, and Carly stood watching over Hopedale, changed something in me. It reminded me that belonging doesn’t always come from familiarity. Sometimes, it finds you in a place far from home, where the air smells different and the ground feels ancient beneath your feet.

I came here thinking I would learn something about veterinary work in the North. And I did. But I also learned something bigger: that living well is not about luxury. It’s about community, history, and feeling connected to the land you walk on. In Hopedale, I felt all of that.

To the people of Hopedale, and to Inotsiavik: thank you. Thank you for letting us walk beside you, even briefly. Thank you for showing us what it means to care for one another, to honour the land, and to live well. —Katerina Dimitroulas, AVC 2026

Follow and Support Inotsiavik: To learn more about the amazing work being done by Inotsiavik and how you can support their mission, visit www.inotsiavik.com or follow them on Instagram @inotsiavik.