Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to tell the House, with pride, of an important occurrence which is happening in the Central Baffin region as we speak. Two Pangnirtung residents have mounted an expedition in which
they will travel by dog-team from Pangnirtung to Lake Harbour, following the traditional routes used by Inuit for many years. The two travellers are Rene Wissink and Alan Kilabuk, my cousin.
Honourable Members may recall that Mr. Wissink, who works for the park service, was earlier an organizer of the 1987 Qitluarsuaq expedition, which travelled by dog-team from Igloolik to Qanaaq, Greenland. Mr. Kilabuk lives in Pangnirtung and is well known for the work he has done in raising and training his dogs. He is the grandson of the late Jim Kilabuk, who worked for 45 years for the Hudson's Bay Company and was an early ambassador for Inuit in the national business community.
Alan and Rene will be travelling from Pangnirtung through Nettilling Lake and then through the Amadjuak Lake area en route to Lake Harbour. From Lake Harbour they will continue on to lqaluit and then back to Pangnirtung. They have combined their teams and are travelling with 19 dogs. They were reached by radio last night and reported that the dogs are strong and the weather has been good, although they encountered some soft snow yesterday that slowed their progress slightly. As of last night, they had travelled about 190 kilometres.
Mr. Speaker, this expedition is a significant accomplishment in itself, but I think it also symbolizes something personal that means much more to the Inuit of Pangnirtung.
Alan and Rene will be following a traditional route that was regularly used by Inuit throughout our history as people. I know that this was the same route used by my own great grandfather, Veevee, in travelling to Igloolik area from Pangnirtung. For many years Baffin people have been quietly fearful that our culture might pass away with the passage of time, that we might forget the knowledge and traditions that have sustained us as Inuit for centuries.
By travelling this route, Alan and Rene have kept a link with our past and have ensured that the landforms and guideposts of this traditional pathway to the west coast of Baffin Island will remain fresh in the mind of another generation.
I am very proud of their effort and trust that all honourable Members will join me in wishing them the best. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--- Applause