Sylvia Grinnell & Qaummaarviit Territorial Park Hikes, Nunavut Fluffy white Arctic cotton and yellowmountain avens flowers highlighted our summer walk in Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park, even though it was cool enough to wear coats. The vast tundra meadow allowed plenty of space for social distancing. We didn’t see any of the caribou that inhabit the park, but we did discover the remnants of a skeleton. Qaummaarviit (pronouncedcow-mar-veet) is also located near Nunavut’s capital, Iqaluit. The historic park preserves the site occupied by Thule ancestors of the Inuit, who lived here periodically from AD 1000 to 1800. Interpretive plaques along the one-kilometre self-guided boardwalk trail described our discoveries, including kayak racks and the remnants of 11 semi-subterranean winter houses, built with rocks and whalebone rafters. Cawing raven cries drew our attention to a bluff, where the black birds were devouring a caribou carcass. A rough-legged hawk soared overhead. The birdwatching was as fascinating as the archaeological artifacts. CSANews | SUMMER 2021 | 21 Travel
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