Thanks to the talents of Janice Dougherty, the Inuit Sled Dog International’s newsletter, the Fan Hitch, is now “running with the big dawgs” in the world of canine literature.  The Dog Writers’ Association of America (DWAA) held its 1999 Awards dinner in New York City on Sunday February 13, 2000.  On hand for the occasion, Janice, one of only three finalists, accepted a Certificate of Nomination for her poem, “Standing Invitation”, which appeared in the Volume 1, Number 4, July 1999 issue of our publication.  Congratulations, Janice, for having your literary talents recognized by this prestigious organization and thanks for bravely representing the interests of the Inuit Sled Dog amongst the pet/show/”cookie-clicker” training attendees! 

The Nunavut Quest 2000

This is how the magazine Above & Beyond characterized the second running of the race. As of mid January when I spoke to Joeli Qamanirq one of the organizers in Arctic Bay, the event was still a go.  The race will start on March 27th from Pond Inlet.  Each team must have at least 12 dogs pulling a kamotiq in the traditional fan hitch. The teams will not actually go into Iglulik before turning north to end in Arctic Bay.  They will head south, traveling mostly overland, intersecting with the trail that runs between Iglulik and Arctic Bay at which point they will then turn north.  So the approximately 400 mile trail is basically “U” shaped, with the bottom of the “U” still on Baffin Island. The teams are expected to finish the race between April 2nd and 4th at which time there will be a Music Festival in the community with musicians invited from all over Nunavut and Nunavik.  It is not known at this time what events Pond Inlet may be planning for the beginning of the race.  For more information about this event, contact Joeli Qamanirq or Niore Iqalukjuak in Arctic Bay at 867-439-9919. 

The ISDVMA Annual Meeting

It is still too early for details of the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association’s Green Bay meeting in October 19-22, 2000. Many of the organizers are literally out on the trail providing veterinary oversight at races. The (ISD personality) banquet speaker  suggestions  have recently been submitted for consideration to the ISDVMA Board. It will be another month before that is decided.  The meeting is to be held in the Regency Hotel. Expect more details in the next issue of the Fan Hitch.  In the mean time as information becomes available, it will be mounted at the ISDI web site.  You may also visit the ISDVMA web site at <http://www.isdvma.org/> 

The veterinarians involved in the local planning stated, “it would be great to get this working breed group [the ISDI] involved.”  This is a significant opportunity to 1) introduce the ISDVMA to the world of the freighting dog in general and ISD in particular,  2) acquaint ISD enthusiast with the ISDVMA and their talents and, most importantly 3) discuss issues critical to the present and future of the Inuit Sled Dog. 

I am already maintaining a list of those of you who have expressed an interest in going to Green Bay. For those of you who have not already done so, please feel free to contact me, Sue Hamilton, by phone: 860-485-9088, fax 860-404-0418 or e-mail <qimmiq@snet.net>.