Blog Post from August 14

Today we woke up for our last full day at the CNSC; however, this could easily change depending on the arrival of the unpredictable train tomorrow night. Following a delicious breakfast around half the ISAMR students left for the final day out on the tundra while the remaining students stayed back at the CNSC to clean up and organize supplies.  I left around 9:00 AM in the white CNSC van carrying tape measurers and flags. Even with annoying mosquitos and blackflies we pushed through two transects. After we finished our transects, we rode around in the van searching for Canada Geese and Snow Geese the Junior Canadian Rangers could hunt for tomorrow night’s diner. Although we were unable to catch any we enjoyed the peaceful drive. 

The group that stayed back got a later start to the day as we were able to sleep in. once we woke up it was straight to work, entering data, organizing and getting all of our things together. It was nice being able to chose if we wanted to go into the field or stay back and enter data. Staying back was relaxing, but we missed out on some of the action.

ISAMR  met up at the Ithaca, a old shipwreck in the Hudson Bay. During low tide we walked from the rocks to the boat, along the way collecting mussels to eat later on. We talked and snapped photos before returning to the CNSC for a fantastic diner of burritos. After dinner we listened to Caroline Bjorklune talk about her journey of rediscovering her culture and her appreciation for her people, the Sayisi Dene First Nations Aboriginal Peoples. The presentation was moving, encouraging us to be proud of who we are and where we are from. She explained the Dene people’s respect of nature and how they efficiently use every part of the animals they hunt. Reading the book she contributed to, Night Spirits, and her presentation have taught us about native culture and history. We have started to understand the need for a way to combine both western science and aboriginal knowledge to protect and monitor the north. Now we go to bed in an effort to get enough sleep for a full day in town tomorrow.

Cecilia Charney Poly Grade 10

Leah Hicks Kelvin Grade 11