Coffee Treats for All

The tradition of a break during the workday has been raised a bar or two at 62 degrees north of the

March Birthdays celebrated with Cheesecake surprizes and homeade bread

 equator. While employed by the Government of Nunavut, the health centre workers enjoy a cameraderie that is seen in few other places. Being a small town, everyone knows everyone and their business to a large degree, but there is a big family atmosphere here.

I mentioned earlier how on the first or second friday of the month we celebrate staff birthdays for the month. For the month of March Colleen, our 'cook', surprised us with a wonderful cheesecake desserts. These small, melt in your mouth surprizes, are right up my alley as I've always had a sweet tooth. The only problem with a three o'clock official unveiling is that many times I don't make it there in time.

The chocolate dreams of February celebrations

Of course, the reason isn't tardiness by choice, but tardiness by patient. They always seem to arrive about 1445 on a Friday and by the time you complete the exam, finish the cleanup and grab your mug, the goodies have been revealed and many are history.

I remember arriving over four weeks ago, just in time for the 'celebration' in February. A little after three, the two trays of chocholate muffins, with drop dead sour cream icing (decorated in two colours), were already reduced to one. Before much longer, they had evaporated.

Hot off the grill.....The Cardiac Montiors were standing by...but not required.

The friday treats have continued and, yes, the latest was no disappointment. Fresh, still warm from the baking process, homemade doughnuts. Soft, moist with a dripping glaze that looked like it should be too sweet...but it wasn't. Just the right blend. This week, I wasn't late....but there were others that beat me. Success was achieved and as I licked my fingers and tasted the gooey presentation, I thought about how fortunate we were.

It had warmed up to -28C outside. There was cloud cover...not so much sunshine, but here on a friday afternoon we were enjoying each others company with jabs and stories. Everyone had plans...looking forward to:

a) the Bingo on Friday and Saturday

b) the 12 team hockey tournament that had started wednesday night

c) the flea market Saturday at one

d) sleeping in

Of course, the other big event on payday fridays, drawn at 4 p.m.....the 50/50 draw. Here's how this works...tickets are $2 or 3 for $5. Half the money pays for our coffees and this week the winner walked off with well over $120. Not a bad way to start your weekend. After two draws I have yet to win...but I'm still in the hunt for the next one.

So far, my descriptions of these breaks, is pretty mundane and quite usual for many. Some mornings,

MUKTUK frozen delight

you can see staff arrive in the morning with a Tim's in their hand but that's much the same throughout most of Canada. However, what I am about to describe you will only see here.

This past week, when I arrived to our staff lounge, an event occurred that was quite unique from my perspective. Many of the support staff were already present. On the table were several pieces of cardboard box, ripped to various sizes. There were several larger sharp knives, the kind you see of the workbench of a butcher...hard handles, heavy blades.

Why have a timbit when you can have MUKTUK?

On one of the cardboard, someone had shared their prize 'frozen' delaacy. There sitting quietly was a large white slab about three inches thick and roughly the size of 10x12 xray film. The inuits that were gathered were eager to explain and proceed. I had come for coffee. Instead, I was offered Muktuk. The knives were quickly engaged and the frozen mass became the focus. With determination it wasn't long until some was carved with precision into small 'bite size' pieces. I politely replied that it was a bit early for me...and tried repeatedly to repeat Muktuk with the correct inuktitut inflection.

A sharp knife is a start

For the next few minutes, we were privileged to find about more inuit traditions and part of the 'country' food chain. You see, the white mass, as it was being devoured, was beluga whale. Raw foods and meats are not unique to the Inuit, but as a nomadic people their traditions are oft misunderstood. There are no trees here. In fact,there are no trees for several hundreds of miles. So you couldn't just find some wood and start a fire if you wanted to out on 'the land'.

In the summer months, there are mosses and lichens that can burn and boil water. Many months though, the tundra is ice and snow covered, only the caribou and muskox dig through to find these morsels. So the raw foods are still savoured, and enjoyed by many. There was a gleam in the eyes of a couple of the older staff as they wielded their respective knife to achieve success. Obviously enjoying the tasty treat.

The week had started and coffee breaks would never be quite the same for me...Here I was in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut...only 70 kilometers from the actual Whale Cove hamlet, having MUKTUK as an option. I thought back for a moment, to my home in Niagara Falls...to the belugas at Whale Cove in Marineland. Food chain versus attraction...I had come a long way in four weeks.

Whale Cove at Marineland never looked like this!!