In This Issue....From the Editor:
Unfinished Business
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From the
Editor.... "
The woods are lovely, dark and
deep,
Okay.
I guess as the editor, I'm supposed to use this space in
this issue to
make mention of some special dates in history. The Inuit
Sled Dog
International is ten years old this month and Volume 9,
Number 4 of The Fan Hitch
marks the completion of nine years in publication. But all
my life, my
glass has been half empty and not half full. That's just the
way I am.
So instead of reflecting upon the ISDI's and its journal's
"accomplishments", I cannot help but think how much more can
be done
specifically for the Inuit Sled Dog, because I believe what
we are
trying to do, what we have done, is not about the ISDI or The Fan Hitch
or me personally, but it is all about the breed. And when I
think about
things that can be done, I do so with the belief that it is
not, nor
should it be the Inuit Sled Dog International or The Fan Hitch
that will affect the outcome we would like to see for the
breed a
living, thriving part of Inuit culture in the Arctic. We
cannot make
that happen. It is not for the ISDI or The Fan Hitch
to make that happen. It is for people living across the
Arctic to make
it so. What is our place in this process? Where can we best
make
ourselves useful? I think we're still trying to figure that
out. I
think the ISDI and The
Fan Hitch
have, as the journal's double meaning name indicates,
brought people
from all over the globe (and not just the northern
hemisphere either!)
to a gathering place where strangers become friends,
experiences are
shared and ideas are exchanged. With every email I receive I
am
constantly amazed at the variety of folks who find their way
to us,
even if their reasons are remote to the breed itself.
I see
our
role as that of information source, facilitator and
cheerleader. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." From Stopping by Woods on a
Snowy
Evening
Robert Frost, American Poet, 1874-1963 Unfinished Business
At times I confess to being more than a little frustrated at the pace of "progress", or what I'd like to think would be progress toward a secure future for the ISD. I try to remember my place and not be a hypocrite and act in a manner intrusive upon Inuit culture. (I am certainly no fan of Greenpeace and their kind who try to dictate and impose their agenda upon others.) When I think I may be getting "those feelings", I go back and re-read The Inuit Way. But right now I am almost to the boiling point. I am massively disappointed, angry, bewildered and impatient. I want answers. I want lines of communication opened and at least a dialogue initiated, and I want it to happen yesterday! So please bear with me for I am in one of those "qallunait ways":
This call for veterinary service in the north is nothing new. It is something the ISDI has made inquiries about in the past. And, as you will read in this issue of The Fan Hitch, we are certainly not the only ones who understand the need. This is not something only organizations have recognized. On our many trips up north, including this most recent one to Nunavik, Mark and I witnessed first hand not only a crushing need, but also heard from dog owners themselves who wanted reasonable access to veterinary care. Perhaps what is not readily apparent to them are the ways veterinary professionals would also be of value to the health and welfare of the human population, but I am certain that with a little public education, the multifaceted benefits of establishing a resident system of animal care and human health surveillance throughout the Canadian Arctic would be welcome. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I generally treat birthdays and anniversaries like just any another day. But this month I, too, am "celebrating" a significant date - passing into a new decade. And the term "mortality" seems to be taking on a much more significant meaning for me, as does the last stanza from Robert Frost's poem, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Regardless of what role ISDI, The Fan Hitch or, on a personal level, I can or should play to the benefit of the Inuit Sled Dog, I feel I, too, have "miles to go before I sleep." * * *
While
this editorial may have reached its logical conclusion in
the previous
paragraph, I cannot sign off without taking this opportunity
to express
my gratitude to all the ISDI friends who, with or without
ISD
ownership, have believed in us and our goals and who have in
so many
ways been supportive of the Inuit Sled Dog. And thanks also
to the many
The Fan Hitch
readers who have
sent their kind letters, and thanks even to those few who
took the time
to write their letters of criticism. Production of the
electronic and
print versions of The
Fan Hitch
is a multi-step process and I want to give credit to "the
staff"
especially my husband, Mark - who contribute so much to make
this
publication a reality. And of course, my profound thanks and
appreciation goes out to all of you who have made the effort
and taken
the time to write articles for The
Fan Hitch.
By unselfishly sharing your expertise, experiences, research
and
photography, you have surely benefited the Inuit Sled Dog!
Without you
this journal could not have existed all these years as a
resource
sought out and accessed by readers worldwide, from all walks
of life.
While it may seem logical to express my gratitude on
occasions such as
this anniversary/birthday month, please know that day after
day I feel
indebted - enormously relieved even - for all your fantastic
support!
You have lifted my spirits, helped to lighten the load of
this job and
have given me the strength to mush on. Wishing you smooth ice and narrow leads, Sue |