Today we had an unforgettable day in Inuit Hamlet, Gjoa Haven. Gjoa Haven is a natural harbor located on the southeastern shores of King William Island. This is where legendary polar explorer, Roald Amundsen, spent two winters during his historic Northwest Passage crossing.
We, of course, were very excited to visit the place that played such a significant role in polar exploration history, but the real highlight of the day was visiting the community. Gjoa Haven community welcomed us to their homes in the best possible way we could have imagined. Local guides took us for an informative tour which ended in the community center where we enjoyed a wonderful drum dance performed by the elders of the community. After a short lunch break on board, we were back on shore. The local high school band played their best songs for us while we watched young kids square dancing. Cultural Specialist Lars proudly represented us in Inuit games, challenging extremely talented young athletes of the community. We all left with big smiles on our faces, feeling honored to have experienced the genuine hospitality they showed us.
