1. Late spring 2. Gerald on sea ice. 3. Mary Nangmalik in amauti

The purpose of this visit was to deliver the 7 portraits I had drawn of Whale Cove residents to the Hamlet. A community hall is in the works for the future where they will hang permainently. I stayed with Clayton and Bernice Croucher; Clayton has been the Senior Administrative Officer in the community for 9 years. Also this was the the most exciting weekend in Whale Cove, the Fishing Derby would begin Friday and end midnight Monday (Victoria Day). Unfortunately it meant that virtually the entire town was out either on the lakes jigging for trout or on Hudson Bay catching cod. It was an enjoyable weekend regardless. Whale Cove was experiencing a late spring due to heavy snow fall the last 2 weeks.

May 17/Thurs.
I landed in Whale Cove early afternoon. Took taxi into town and at the Hamlet office Clayton and I sorted out the portraits from the art crate I had shipped up weeks earlier. I met Percy Kabloona, the new mayor.
Later I walked over to the Health Center where I met Bob Wiscombe, a male nurse from Newfoundland. We had met weeks earlier in Churchill. He introduced me to Rose Docet who has nursed in many communities in Nunavut.
Tried to meet with several of the elders in town but they were all preparing for the fishing derby. There is approximately $25,000 in prize money for the largest trout and cod. First prize is $4500 plus 2 Calm Air tickets. People have come from other communities to participate. My timing for further photographs was not good.

May 18/Fri.
I visited Mary Nangmalik who was born in Repulse Bay. I photographed her in beautifull amauti she had sewn. Mary still hunts, fishes and traps often by herself on snowmobile or ATV.
I briefly interviewed Cecile Ekwalak, a friendly woman with an engaging smile.
Walking through town I met Phillip Sheetoga stocking up with supplies at the local Co-op. He allowed some photographs which I hope to translate into a drawing in the future.

4. Musk ox 5. Family packing for derby 6. Cecile Ekwalak

May 19/Sat.
Had a walk around town for a few hours then headed to the Co-op at 1:000pm because I knew some stragglers would be there buying supplies before they headed out.
Bob Wiscombe invited me to the Health Center for supper along with Rose.
Later in the evening Bob and I snow mobiled on the Hudson Bay ice in the hope of finding any jiggers. Had no luck as we discovered they were many miles across the ice. Back in town we found John Ussak working on his ice auger.
We returned to the Health Center and warmed up with tea and pie. It was the end of a great evening!

7. Boat & motor left till spring 8. Two intrepid fishermen

May 20/Sun.
I was awakened again by sunshine blasting thru my bedroom window. The ice fog, present earlier in the morning, had been burned off. Clayton and I drove to the airport where we saw evidence of spring: sik-siks (squirrels) popping out of their holes then keeping a wary eye for predators. A good thing because a hawk sailed by us as we headed back to town.
My afternoon walk was very uneventful as the town was empty, only the septic truck was busy making its rounds.
Supper was a treat as Clayton cooked some musk ox ribs. It was my first experience and they were excellent, very similar to beef.

May 21/Mon.
Had a walk around town with Rose and Bob. They were a fun pair and I was glad to have met them. We saw Norman Voisey getting on his ATV so hurried over for some photographs. Norman had shaved off his beard since the last time I saw him. Now I had photos I thought I could employ for a drawing.
Clayton drove me to airport late in the afternoon and after stops in Churchill and Thompson arrived in Winnipeg late at night.
It was an enjoyable trip. I had met a few more friendly people in Nunavut many of whom from the Atlantic provinces.
Thanks to Calm Air for flying up my art crate and me to this beautiful community.

9. Bob & Rose (Nurses of the North) 10. Trail to sea ice