Sled Dog Watchdog - Sled Dog Country (First Nations)

Excerpt from 'Dogs, Inuit, and White Men in the Arctic' chapter of 'First Nations First Dogs,'
by Bryan D. Cummins - 2002 Detselig Enterprises Ltd. (used with kind permission of author)

As this is being written, dogs in a Labrador Inuit community have just killed a child. The authorities are
trying to determine how to deal with the dogs and the situation. The dogs, it seems, were sled dogs that
were staked out and received minimal contact with human beings. It is a tragic situation that serves to
remind us that it is clear that there is a cultural gap between Natives and non-Natives in terms of
perception of the dog.

It is fair to say, that in terms of non-Natives, particularly in the West, the dog is part of culture and,
indeed, part of the family. Such is not generally the case among First Nations. A brief example from a
recent newspaper suggests the view that Americans (and, we can assume, Canadians) hold of their
animals. In the year 2000, Americans spent more than 27 billion dollar (US) on their companion animals
(a figure larger than India's annual defense budget). Seventeen percent of Americans keep a photo of
their pet in their wallet or purse, and surveys indicate that more dogs sleep on their owner's bed than
their own (Globe and Mail, August 22, 2001). Clearly, such sentiments contrast dramatically with those of
most First Nations peoples where, for economic and other reasons, dogs do not merit such indulgence.

The town of Iqaluit, capital of Nunavut, which is more than 85% Inuit, has a population of about 5,000.
Recent articles in the town's newspaper hint at cultural differences in the perception and care of dogs.
One article, dated January 14, 2000, discussed the Iqaluit RCMP investigation of "what appears to be
another violent beating death of a dog in Iqaluit." The article provided statistics about dogs in the town:
In 1999, Iqaluit bylaw enforcers received 269 complaints, impounded 427 dogs, destroyed 407 dogs,
dealt with 21 incidents of dog bites, and dealt with 22 incidents where dogs were hit by vehicles. That
was considered a good year - in one year, over 700 dogs were destroyed, or two dogs a day in a town
with fewer than 5,000 people.

In a related article, the town council was debating how to deal with the problem of dogs after a
six-year-old child had been killed by a team of sled dogs in March, 1998. Pet owners, dog team owners
and parents with children held disparate views. One proposal suggested that all dogs within the town be
staked, penned and muzzled. Dogs kept between 500 meters and 1,000 meters should be staked and
muzzled, and those beyond 1,000 meters should be staked. Another suggested that dog teams be kept
600 meters from town. Dog team owners, on the other hand, recommended that dogs be kept close to
their owners in designated dog team areas so that they could be better socialized with people, thereby
lessening the chances of attack.

In the midst of this, non-Natives voiced their views. A writer to the editor articulated her concerns in a
letter that was captioned (presumably by the editor) "A Lecture on How to Look After Dogs." The writer is
[a resident of] Iqaluit. She fires from the hip. "Dogs are a responsibility. I would expect to have to say
this to a 10 year old who has just been given their first puppy, but alas, it seems also suited to some
adults in this town, some of whom are looked upon as community leaders. It seems ridiculous to have to
repeat this, but…"

She then goes on to make the following points. Capitalization and exclamation marks are as they
appeared in the original text. "DOGS NEED TO BE FED! EVERY DAY! DOGS NEED SHELTER! (with the
exception of the working Kimmiq). DOGS NEED WATER! If you are not interested in your dog after the
cute stage, DON'T GET ONE! If you are not willing to take care of your dog's puppies, GET THEM FIXED."
She then observed that while owners might not agree on the level of comfort dogs should receive the
dogs bare essentials must be met - "IT IS THE LAW!"

[The writer] concludes with "I live in Tundra Valley (presumably in Iqaluit) and I am angry with the
number of dogs I see in my neighbourhood, hungry, freezing and desperate for some sort of affection;
wandering the streets at all hours, searching for food or some warmth. I am appalled with their owners
who make this happen. SHAME ON YOU!"

[Editor's Note: I have travelled extensively in the North for over twenty years, and in addition to seeing
widespread neglect of sled dogs and northern dogs, I have also witnessed great compassion for dogs by
First Nations peoples. Social problems (Inuit youth, who constitute a major portion of the total Inuit
population in the North, have a horrific rate of suicide) and poverty may contribute to ill-treatment of
dogs, but so does the shameful lack of commitment by northern governments in providing humane
education, subsidized veterinary care (including vaccination and spaying and neutering programs), and
enforceable animal protection laws in their jurisdictions. On February 2, 2006, there was a wonderful
feature on Wayne Rostad's popular CBC Television program 'On the Road Again,' about three high school
girls in the isolated community of Nahanni Butte, Northwest Territories, who took it upon themselves to
start up an animal shelter. Two of the young ladies were members of their First Nation, and it was very
moving to see how they helped change their community's outlook towards dogs.]

'Raising Puppies' (excerpt) - from 1998 Yukon Quest advertising supplement, reprinted in
2005

The Van Bibbers were born and raised in the wilderness around Pelly Crossing long before it became the
community site for the Northern Tutchone Selkirk First Nation. Dogs were a way of life for the family. The
animals pulled sleds during the winters for the Van Bibber boys travelling their traplines. In the spring,
before their horse could be returned from where it was overwintered at Pelly Farm, the dogs were
harnessed to the plow to prepare the gardens. In the summers, they served as pack dogs. Linch Curry
and Kathleen Thorpe recall fondly their days as young Van Bibber girls growing up in the late 1920s and
'30s. The walls of Thorpe's Pelly Crossing home are an archive of her family history. Many of the photos
include dogs working in all seasons. Some are of the more affectionate nature, with the Van Bibber
children cuddling young pups. But Curry says the relationship between family members and dogs was
arm's-length. "They were not friendly dogs, they were work dogs," Curry says. "You wouldn't pet them or
anything. And every spring, we would raise new pups and kill the olders dogs off. That was just a way of
life; it did not bother us kids."
[Copyright Whitehorse Star]

First Nations mushers getting involved in long-distance dog mushing races in the North - a
disturbing trend

The November/December 2006 issue of Up Here Magazine featured an article about the Hudson Bay
Quest, a gruelling race from Churchill, Manitoba to Arviat, Nunavut, on the west coast of Hudson Bay.
There were some heartbreaking photos in the article (not available online) of sled dogs lying in the snow
with a thick crust of wind-blown snow covering their entire bodies. Without strong animal protection laws
for sled dogs, the public should be concerned about the health of the dogs in this race, and how they are
cared for when the race is over. The Hudson Bay Quest is an annual race which started in 2004.

The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation of Old Crow, Yukon is also getting involved in using dogs for
entertainment. In March of 2007, an inaugural race from Eagle Plains to Old Crow, and back, is being
staged. I am aware of Yukon First Nations elders views about 'catch-and-release' fishing being inhumane
and disrespectful towards animals (likened to 'playing with this traditional food source'). It is unfortunate
that this attitude does not hold true for sled dogs. [Update - the race, according to media reports,
had a very low number of competitors, as well as organizational/logistical problems, and
was not run in 2008]

Links:

Greenland dogs: Caution - disturbing images

Indian Country: Inuit sled dogs shot by RCMP?

'A Lost Heritage: Canada's Residential Schools (CBC)

CBC Video About Inuit Youth Suicide in Northern Quebec

'Being Innu' - a powerful documentary about modern-day problems affecting Innu in Labrador