Outside Adventure Grant journal entries

Tristan
This morning I called the principal of the Attagoyuk school in Pangnirtung. Although we had not yet contacted this school, they had heard of us from the superintendent of Baffin, Don Morrison. Our reason for trying to reach this school is to enlist their aid in our search for Inuit students who would like to join us on our hike. We are allowed to take two, so we want to make certain that the ones coming are as excited about going as we are. The principal, Seamus Quigg, had one possibility — a boy in the high school. His credits are as follows: he acted in a movie about growing up as an Inuit, he speaks fluent English, and has relatives in Broughton (who we might stay with on that end of the hike). Just a possibility, but definitely worth looking into.

Hope
Today Channel Eight (ABC in Portland) came to interview us on Green's Island. The two reporters, Steve and Kevin, came on the ten o'clock ferry boat to Vinalhaven, and from there we took our boat Rosebud to Green's Island. We started by giving a tour of our land, the gardens, our new house site, the well, and any other places of interest. Then we walked around talking, showing Steve how we carry our water from the well, haul stone out of the quarry, etc., while Kevin followed with the video camera. We took a lunch break and then went down to the dock to talk about the grant we have won. For the first time on television, I think we did pretty well. A local newspaper also called about interviewing us; we are just getting used to talking to people about where we are going. It's funny that out of two hours of filming they cut it down to a two-and-a-half minute spot on the six o'clock news.

Dylan
I was nervous about a TV station coming out to our home on Green's Island. One of the things I love about the island is the wonderful privacy we have there, not that we're hermits or anything, but I wasn't sure how I felt about our home being broadcast to midcoast Maine on the 6 o'clock news. In the morning, before the camera crew came out, Tristan, Hope, and I had a quick talk to try and figure out what it was we were going to say to them. The meeting dissolved into us warning each other not to say anything too stupid. I think we did okay, though as we were doing the "teaser" shot (the preview to the show), in which we rowed along looking graceful, I slammed the boat into the dock ... fortunately, that bit was one of the things they cut.

April 30

Tristan
This morning I called John Alderman to check on how the supplying of supplies is going. In the mail or soon to be is: a shipment from Cascade, an outdoor equipment company that is sending water purifiers, dried food to sample, cooking utensils, etc. Stoves that burn many various fuels are on their way from Outside for us to get used to and pick our favorite. Shoes and packs are still in the works. Maps will arrive any day now.

May 1

Tristan
Today we received the long awaited maps of the park from John. Detailed route planning begins ... also came in: a fax and phone call from expedition guide Del Smith. The fax included web sites to look up, books to buy, and a preparations itinerary. Over the phone we caught up on what had passed over the week, exchanged notes, and decided when and how to call next; we move off the "big island" of Vinalhaven and back to Green's next week, in other words a less dependable phone at home.

May 10

Karen Jackson
This being Mother's Day, I thought perhaps I could get away with writing the kids' weekly journal entry ... it has been a quieter week than the few previous, and I must admit it's been nice. For the first few weeks after Dylan, Tristan, and Hope were chosen for their expedition, we jumped with both feet into a world of fax machines and the internet, TV and newspaper interviews. Quite a sudden change from an uneventful winter, our life on the islands has been pretty much out of the public eye, until now ... it certainly added some spice to our usual routine.

While it won't slow things down, this week we have been packing up to go home to the little island. I can't wait! At least we won't have to deal with cars so much anymore, and our own home is always welcoming. Having the television crew come out to see our home was a great impetus for spiffing the place up, so we are returning to a warm, welcoming environment. The peas are already up, and flowers are in bloom everywhere!

The kids' routine this spring consists mainly of play practice on North Haven for the Memorial Day weekend premier of Red Eye of Love, and math classes for Dylan and Tristan on Vinalhaven; both require a considerable commute now that we're moving back to Green's. And, of course, keeping up with their reading on Baffin Island. They have acquired a great selection of reading material, which the entire family has been enjoying.

The nicest thing about all of this so far is how excited and supportive all our friends, family and community have been for the kids. One friend has set up an interesting meeting as an addition to the kids' preparation: in early June, they will be visiting Mr. Sewell, an elder of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. Mr. Sewell, who lives on the Passamaquoddy Reservation in Calais, Maine, grew up as a native with an alcohol addiction. He is now a Indian Studies instructor at the school in Old Town, and he has invited Dylan, Tristan, and Hope to come camp and talk with him, in order to share his knowledge and experiences growing up.

So you see, everywhere we turn lately the Nunavut Expedition is allowing us a great deal of insight and expansion of our horizons.

Thanks for letting me speak for the kids, they will be reporting in again soon.

May 12

Hope
Today we called the superintendent of Baffin Island schools, Don Morrison. he is going to call us back later today with an answer as to whether two kids from the area will go with us, one from Broughton and one from Pangnirtung.

I am calling Del again tomorrow. We are working up our day-to-day itinerary and will be going over it with her.