C- day15 Gjoa Haven

 Today we visited Gjoa Haven another large Inuit community formed at the site where the Franklin expedition overwintered in the 1840s. A number of Inuit came while the vessel was there and stayed on.

We had a presentation on the community before arriving. Still very much a hunting and fishing community, though there is a store and once a year “sea lift” of supplies. Completely iced in during winter as below. 

We were also taught some Inuit words - tongue twisters all

Our landing wasn’t til the middle of the day so time for some on board shopping (unfortunately the jumper is “Arctic weight” so impractical for even Australian winters)

We landed after lunch in 40 knot winds and 2 degrees temperature (without wind chill)

A guide met us for a walk around the community

General street view

The Heritage Centre

Heritage centre displays - Franklin expedition recreation

Local family and igloo

Amundsen’s bust in the Municipal Centre one of the 5 of these in the world - one being in Hobart

Early interactions

Around the boat harbour

Amundsen monument overlooking the community

The Protestant church

Some unlucky caribou…

…and seal

Canada geese

Cultural performance at the community centre - the singers

More drum dancing

The locals enjoying things as much as us visitors

Throat singing

Some amazing square dancing by the local kids

A nice birthday gift from the ship on our return

An excellent birthday dinner and cake

And then another Happy Birthday from our piano player Derrick and the passengers in the bar