_edited.jpg)
The Chinook Project
Participating Communities
For information on each of the communities we’ve visited click on the name of the community, here:
Kimmirut, Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Makkovik, Hopedale, Postville, Nain, Natuashish, Rigolet, Sheshatshiu, Iqaluit, Igloolik. In these communities, as well as in Goose Bay, Halifax, St. John's, Ottawa and everywhere else we pass through on our journeys- we are helped by a myriad of people who billet, feed, drive, source supplies and locations....as well as completing a long list of other tasks. It is impossible to mention them all, but please know we appreciate you!
Click the donate now icon and choose Chinook Project from drop down menu
KIMMIRUT
The Hamlet of Kimmirut (which means “heel” in Inuktitut) is a community of approximately 400 people, nestled in the hills of southern Baffin Island. Kimmirut was the first community visited by The Chinook Project (2006)–and we are grateful for everything this community did to help make our pilot Project a success. We returned to this Hamlet in 2008 to help the dog population, which, at the time, numbered about 100. Special thanks go to Pascale Baillargeon, Loolie Padluq, Jeannie and Elijah Padluq, and Qaqqalik School. Our clinics were held at the school, where we provided vaccines, medical appointments and surgery. We also travelled out of town to treat sled dog groups and performed house calls. Scroll through our gallery below.
CAMBRIDGE BAY
The Hamlet of Cambridge Bay is a community of approximately 1800 people, located on the southern shore of Victoria Island. It is situated on the southern arm of the “North West Passage,” and was part of the D.E.W. line, established in the 1950s–now part of the North Warning System. We set up clinics in Cambridge Bay in 2007 and in 2009. We are grateful for the warm welcome from the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay, and, especially, for the contributions and support of the following: Diamonds in the Ruff, Dawn Soper and Brittany Stachura, Andy and Millie Traub, Nunavut Arctic College, Kiilinik School. Scroll through photosof the 2007 Project below.
KUGLUKTUK
The Hamlet of Kugluktuk is the most westerly community in Nunavut, located at the northern tip of the mainland. It has a population of approximately 1300 people. The Chinook Project visited Kugluktuk in 2009. We are grateful for the warm welcome from the community and, especially, for the contributions and support of the following: Kugluktuk Best Friends Society, Catherine Cornish, Melissa Joy, Gladys Joudrey, Larry and Helen Whittaker, Renewable Resources (Mathieu Dumond, Luigi Torretti, Dustin Fredlund). Scroll through this gallery below for images of our 2009 trip
NATUASHISH
Natuashish is a community of about 700 people, and was established in 2002 as a new home for the Mushuau Innu First Nation people of Davis Inlet–15 km away. The Chinook Project visited Natuashish in 2010, 2011 and again in 2015 and 2019. Each time we set up clinics in the fire hall (and the church basement!) and were hosted by the community. We are grateful to Ruben Pillay, Joann Breault, Rickie O’Gorman, Delrose Gordon and the Mushuau Innu Band Council. In 2015 and 2018 we were also helped by Elsie Greenwood, Kathleen Benuen, Anja Spears, Max Clements and Sandra Hancock as well as many other community members, such as everyone who helped at the Fire Hall, Medical Centre and with food and billeting. View photos from our 2010 and 2011 trips below. Plans to return in 2020 were thwarted by COVID-19.
MAKKOVIK
Makkovik is a vibrant community of approximately 400 people, on the coast of northern Labrador. We visited Makkovik in 2011, and are grateful to Denise Lane, April Martin, Jae Lightfoot, TJ Lightfoot, the Makkovik Council, and the wonderful community folk who provided yummy food, donations, and friendship. Our clinics was set up in the community centre, and we were billeted within the community. The Chinook Project returned to Makkovik in 2013, and we were happy to see so many of the animals doing well. Scroll to see photos from the 2011 and 2013 trips.
POSTVILLE
Postville is a Labrador town on Kaipokok Bay. The Village was known as 'The Post', because of the Hudson Bay Company trading posts in the area. The population (in 2016) was 177. The Chinook Project travelled to Postville )and Makkovik) in 2013. The team made their way from one community to the other by boat- a first! Thanks to Glen Sheppard and other community members.
NAIN
Nain is the northernmost community in Labrador with a population of 1125 (2016 census). We are very grateful to Paul Fenton and the Nain Animal Welfare Centre as well as Charmaine Raynor, Sarah Leo and many other community members for their support. Thanks also to the Atsanik Inn and the Fire Hall. The Chinook Project visited Nain in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Many animals were seen multiple times over the years, and we were able to provide veterinary care int the form of vaccination, but also more complicated surgeries such as dentistries, mass removals and enucleation. See the gallery below for photos from the 2012, 2014 and 2016 trips.
SHESHATSHIU
Sheshatshiu is one of two Innu First Nation communities in Labrador, located 45 minutes from Happy Valley Goose Bay. Th Chinook Project held clinics there in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Further plans to return were thwarted by COVID-19. On our first visit, clinics were held in the fire hall, where community members had constructed walls from lumber and plastic sheeting! Subsequent clinics were held at the local rink, where we found the dressing rooms to be a superb site for surgeries and exams. Thank you to Greg Pastitchi (Band Manager) and Dawna Lee for setting up the clinics and accomodations. Ruben Pillay was irreplaceable in arranging meals. Scroll through photos from 2014 and 2016 here.
RIGOLET
Rigolet (Inuttitut: Tikigâksuagusik) is the southern most Inuit community in the world, population 310 from 2016 census. The community is on Hamilton bay and boasts the longest boardwalk in the world. We set up clinics here in 2014 at the 'old' community centre. The hospitality of the town was amazing and we were treated to home cooked meals, including fresh salmon from traditional traps. The team was also taken on a boat ride to see the surrounding area. Thank you to Carly Blake and other community members for all their help. See photos from 2014 by scrolling below.
IQALUIT
In 2016 we were offered an amazing opportunity to partner with the Iqaluit Humane Society who hosted a clinic at the Abe Okpik Hall in Apex (an area outside Iqaluit). Janelle Kennedy and Heather Crowley were instrumental in organizing the clinic and securing donations from First Air and other sources. Thanks also to Courtney, Nichole, Jae and TJ and other volunteers for feeding, housing and helping with the project. 2016 was a banner year for the Chinook Project- with two complete teams running clinics in three communities. Scrooll through photos of the 2016 clinics in Iqaluit below.
IGLOOLIK
Continuing a partnership with the Iqaluit Humane Society we travelled to Igloolik in 2017. The team set up at the Community Centre with help from Heather Crowley, Ashley Gregory and Kylene Kanerva. Unfortunately weather delays affected the project, as well as last minute personnel changes. The clinic was held in the community centre. See photos below from the 2017 trip.
