The past few months sure have been high profile ones for the Inuit Sled Dog. Many of the issues the ISDI has taken up as its causes célèbres and has addressed in one way or another have recently emerged in newspapers and periodicals, on paper and electronically: where to keep dog teams; whether or not the ISD is a pure breed; seeking to keep the focus of the breed as a working dog and not a show dog; signs of initiative on the part of someone, anyone in the arctic infrastructure to take up the cause of keeping the pure Inuit Sled Dog from slipping away; and especially the recognition of a lifestyle gone by - The Fan Hitch's "very own" British Antarctic Survey veteran David Matthews. You will find these stories and more in this issue of The Fan Hitch.

The ISDI has generated some news of its own. In this issue of The Fan Hitch you'll learn about our continuing association with DNA research work and about our first donation back to the Canadian North. There are still other projects in the works that we hope can be announced later this year.

Since our December issue was published, there has been a mélange of discouraging news, hopeful news and great news in connection with the Inuit Dog. I don't know if this amount of exposure is a trend or just a coincidence. Quite honestly, I would like to see publicity about the Inuit Sled Dog continue to the extent that it will vitalize concerns regarding the future of the breed in the heart and minds of those who can and will make a difference, and be a part of the movement to ensure that the Inuit Sled Dog will continue to be a living symbol of the North.

Wishing you smooth ice and narrow leads
                                             Sue