Nunavut to Kalaallit Nunaat Expedition 2025 – Youth Blog Collection 1
August 5, 2025
Chelsea Paspalau
As someone with a diverse culture and over 800+ languages, I am in culture shock every day
Aug 7, 2025
Melissa Denniston
Today we went on a zodiac cruise around the shores of Qikiqtarjuaq Island. We saw the beautiful mountains and also saw some seabirds. It reminded me a lot of the Torngat Mountains back home, which was really grounding for me.
Tiki Stefure
Today, during our free time, we were able to join workshops being offered on the ship. I joined Myna’s Inuktitut workshop, learning some of the language. “Tunngasugit uvanga Tiki – Welcome I am Tiki.” This was a very interesting learning experience as my people speak Siglitun or Sallirmiutun, which means “Coastal People” and is spoken in Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk, and Sachs Harbour. The tiny differences between our dialects is very interesting and amazing to learn. I hope to one day speak fluently in Sallirmiutun! Afterwards, we hopped in a Zodiac and went for a cruise in a small inlet. Some boats saw a ringed seal, and my boat saw some polar bear tracks. Although it wasn’t too long, it was amazing to see the landscape up close and all the icebergs. Cannot wait to see more along the way!
David Aglukark
Today we took a Zodiac around the Southern tip of Qikiqtarjuaq, coasting close to the shore, we were able to see the cliffs that surrounded the island, with birds skimming the water and icebergs floating close to shore.
Passing by a massive snow patch on the side of a cliff, we were able to see some Nanuq (Polar Bear) tracks, as well heard of passengers seeing them from the boat.
Now we are off back to sea!
Byron Rudolph
Today, the morning started off with a short listening from James Raffen talking to us about his experiences of ship life, his personal struggles and his solutions, and some stories of his travels. Listening to his stories and everything he said has opened up my mind to the various way to attack personal problems. From my time in studying engineering, I have been taught that most problems have one way of being solved, which my brain has been honed to. So listening to JR was much needed for me, I’m very grateful for that.
I then joined an Inuktitut learning workshop, where an Inuk educator was teaching a group of people. I was familiar with what was being taught, so I offered to help other people who needed help.
We went out with the Zodiac to see the Qiqiktaqjuaq Mountains, southeast Baffin Mountains. We also got to see some birds and icebergs. As someone who is from western Nunavut, seeing the mountains here in the east is very mesmerizing.
Aug 8, 2025
Ijeoma Nwafor
Today has been a wonderful, relaxing day at sea filled with education! I’ve been learning Inuktitut with Myna. Uvanga Ijeoma! Ottawa-miutaujunga. This experience has been so wonderful so far, I’ve also been learning Malaysian, Indonesian, Serbian, and practicing my French with the staff and other members on the boat! Additionally, I have been enthralled to learn from my fellow SOI ambassadors about their home and participate in cultural exchanges. It’s been amazing to learn about their various Inuit communities around Northern Canada and hear stories directly from the youth about their traditions, family dynamics and perspectives on our changing climate.