No Vision and you perish; No Ideal, and you're lost; Your heart must ever cherish Some faith at any cost. Some hope, some dream to cling to, Some rainbow in the sky, Some melody to sing to, Some service that is high.
                                                                                                   Harriet du Autermont, author

A whole lot of Inuit Dog stuff has been happening since the last issue of The Fan Hitch.

Four documentary-style videos have been brought to our attention. One has precious historical footage from Antarctica. Two have been shown on the public airways in February, and one is to be broadcast this coming April. This last one, Dogs That Changed the World, recognizes six breeds, one of them the Inuit Sled Dog, as having had a fundamental impact on early human culture. 

The British Antarctic Survey Sledge Dog Memorial Fund is forging ahead. Donations continue to arrive towards the goal of having a bronze statue of a "strong shouldered" British Husky cast in honor of the Inuit Sled Dogs who served their masters at the bottom of the world. And now there are drawings and models available for viewing and comment. 

There's been some very exciting news from up north. Qimmiit Utirtut's first pure litter of Inuit Sled Dogs was born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, making their historic appearance two days before Christmas, 2006. 

The ISDI is thrilled to announce a new partnership. Beginning with this issue, The Fan Hitch's magazine-format, hard copy version for paid subscribers will now be printed and distributed by the industrious IPL (Individual Paths of Learning) students of the Ulluriaq School in Kangiqsualujjuaq! Those of you who prefer to read text on paper instead of electronically are encouraged to subscribe. You will also be supporting "Qimmiit Utirtut" as the ISDI is donating all subscription fees to this worthwhile program.

As this is being written, a group of big-hearted folks from Canada's smallest province, Prince Edward Island, are busily planning their second mission to the arctic.  Veterinarians and vet students from the Atlantic Veterinary College, participating in the "Chinook Project", will be heading north, this time to Cambridge Bay, to tend to the needs of dog owners in the community who request their services. After Cam Bay, new grant or other source of funding is being sought to keep the Project up and running. 

We would like to see that northern residents - political and non-political movers and shakers - are taking note of all this attention and recognition the Inuit Sled Dog is receiving, particularly from outsiders. If people in non-polar regions are showing this great amount of interest in the ISD, shouldn't those for whom the breed is so much a part of their cultural heritage and who are in a position to help secure the breed's future care even more and take action? 

We can hope.

Wishing you smooth ice and narrow leads,

      Sue