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Ivakkak Cup race set to start Feb. 4 in Kuujjuaq

Eleven teams to compete for prizes

JANE GEORGE

KUUJJUAQ — More than 100 barking, eager dogs will be out on Stewart Lake just outside Kuujjuaq on Monday morning, lined up for the start of the 2002 Ivakkak Cup dog team race.

This year, 11 dog teams will travel from Kuujjuaq to Quaqtaq, a distance of about 400 km, and will travel about 50 kilometres per day. They’ll pass through Tasiujaq, Aupaluk and Kangirsuk.

Makivik Corporation sponsored the first Ivakkak race last April, when dog teams travelled from Umiujaq to Puvirnituq.

This year’s race was scheduled a bit earlier, for February, so the participants would have colder weather.

"Makivik organizes this race to preserve the pure-bred Inuit husky dog and the traditions which were always part of the activity," said Isabelle Dubois, who has been organizing the Ivakkak race for Makivik.

Only Inuit beneficiaries of Nunavik may participate in the race, and their dogs must be purebred Inuit husky dogs. Each team must have between six and 12 dogs, set up in the traditional fan style and each pulling a qamutik.

Every morning, the teams will leave the same spot on the trail at one-minute intervals. In the evening, the teams plan to camp together and go over the next day’s course.

Their daily progress will be charted for the public on a Web site at www.ivakkak.com

The teams are vying for a variety of prizes, including cash prizes from Makivik, a Skidoo donated by the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec, a power inverter and battery from Pat’s Parts, camping equipment from the local Northern store and the New’viqvi store as well as airline tickets from First Air and Air Inuit.

Air Inuit brought all the dogs to Kuujjuaq. After the race ends in Quaqtaq, Air Inuit will fly them back home.

This year’s participants include Charlie Watt Jr. of Kuujjuaq, Junior May and George Edward Annanack of Kangirsuk, Massiu Nassak of Quaqtaq, Harry Okpik and Willy Kulula of Puvirnituq, Taamusi Sivuaraapik and Bobby Novalinga, Simeonie Elijassiapik, Charlie Inukpuk and Adamie Inukpuk all of Inukjuak.

Four teams from Akulivik had to withdraw from the race at the last minute due to an outbreak of canine distemper in the community.

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