Competing for the "Heartiest Winnipegers"? - U of M Igloos 2013

Twenty-one participants from Hong Kong to Flin Flon slept overnight in igloos they built, while overnight temperatures dropped to -25C with the windchill! In addition to building traditional Inuit igloos and sleeping in them, some highlights included:

• Skijoring with Ashley Presengia and Kevin Roberts; Susie Strachan and Lorne Volk see www.snowmotion.ca 
• Learning about Trapping from professional Trapper Richard, see www.manitobatrappers.com/
• Signalling aircraft conducting a mock search and rescue "looking for a lost group in winter" with Chuck Wilson (Pilot), Al Northam (Ground) + 2 Spotters aboard with CASARA, see www.casara.ca
• Exploring Inuit, Dene. Cree and Metis tips for cold weather clothing.
• Learning Inuit, Dene, Cree and Metis games 
• First time in the world, that we know of, that pizza was delivered to an igloo!   video is posted at the following site on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OIH9lQaR9I

THANK YOU to Kevin, Ashley, Susie, Lorne, Richard, Chuck, Al and their associations, Snowmotion, MB Trappers, CASARA, co-instructors D'Arcy, Brock, Sarah, Ameena and George, instructors Rick and Jill, and the terrific group of participants!

The Clipper Newspaper article by Angela Temple captured the spirit of the weekends camping in traditional Inuit-style igloos.

January 26-27th - 43 attended and 21 slept overnight!
February 2-3rd - 21 attended and 12 slept overnight!
Participants came from all over the world - Iran, Spain, Hong Kong, Nunavut, Swan River, Flin Flon, Dugald and Oak Bank - to name a few; and all ages!

Also, interested in flying for FREE = March 9th at St Andrews Airport, plus tower tours, "Theory of Flight", and careers from nursing to wildlife...in the field of aviation!...Guys are welcome to attend all ground events, women and girls fly free, it's Women of Aviation International day! Go to
http://www.womenofaviationweek.org/rsvpmaker/winnipeg/ and scroll down past the logos to register for your Free Flight! 

Karlyn brought her sister Devin to sleep with her Monday night, we'll post a photo they take from their cell phone shortly!

Kevin and Ashley Skijoring!

Getting ready to signal to aircraft doing a CASARA "search" overhead.

Enthusiastic participant from Hong Kong!

Trapper Richard explaining conservation aspects of trapping.

Cooking up beaver meat - "deliscious" was Karlyn's feedback.

Furs to Fashion: Northern Clothing- survival or fashion?

Team of igloo builders!

Northern Games.

Checking out how to 'bed down' in an igloo before heading out to sleep in the igloo.

Trying out the bedding before heading out to the igloo for the night.
January temperatures dropped to -25C
February temperatures dropped to -28C

Building igloos

Ordering a pizza, delivered to one of the igloos!

Claustophobic...one person slept outside in a rough wind breaker.

Build or just overnight in an igloo! 2013

Winter Survival/Inuit Lifestyles Igloo Building Workshop

 Two couples from Argentina!

Getting ready to go to sleep in an igloo.

Ranked as CAA's #1 Manitoba Winter get-away, spend a weekend building and sleeping in an Inuit-style igloo! This winter thrival (rather than survival) course is offered January 25-26 and February 1-2 (postponed a week or two if we don't have snow!!). Participants of all ages are welcome; the eldest was 85 years old and the youngest was a toddler, and a few years ago we figured an 8 1/2 month pregnant medical doctor who took the course was about to produce the youngest ever!

Participants build an igloo, learning how to identify igloo snow, cut snow blocks, fit and set snow blocks, and prepare the igloo for sleeping. You have an opportunity to sleep in the igloo on caribou skins provided by the instructors. You also learn how to use signal mirrors with search and rescue planes overhead giving you feedback on how you're doing. Other survival techniques are practised, turning winter camping into something to look forward to - no mosquitoes!

The instructors: Drs Rick Riewe and Jill Oakes have travelled with Inuit on the land in winter, throughout the circumpolar region since 1970 and 1982, respectively. Lessons learned from the Inuit are shared throughout the weekend.

Equipment to Bring:

• Sleeping bag or comforters
• sleeping mat or skins
• tarp
• snow shovel
• camera
• flashlight, Sorry - no candles as the caribou skins are extremely flammable
• layers of warm and wind resistant clothing plus a dry change of clothing
• 'pot luck' food for breakfast, lunch and supper (coffee, tea, drinkable tap water, condiments, utensils, kitchen equipment provided)
• Sunscreen and Sunglasses

Contact <jill.oakes@ad.umanitoba.ca>