English

 It’s almost time for Ice Watch 2025! All posts made this ice season will be reviewed by a panel of Inuit ice experts and considered for grand prizes, including a brand new snowmobile!
The challenge officially begins in March and prizes will be announced each week.
In the meantime, all qualifying SIKU Ice Posts made from October to June are eligible for Grand Prizes.… Read more

Tracking Polar Bears Outside Iqaluit!

Polar bears are elusive, even in open tundra landscapes. This video follows Solomon Awa and Jack Allakariallak from Iqaluit as they go out looking and tracking polar bears. They finds lots of tracks, and share their knowledge of what can be learned from these tracks and the environment around them.

Tracking Polar Bears Outside Makkovik

Inuit receiving one of the two polar bear licenses in Makkovik, Nunatsiavut, have seven days to hunt a polar bear before the license is passed to another hunter. This video shares an experience of tracking polar bears outside of Makkovik.

How did this woman survive a polar bear attack?

Nippaq - The Seal Hole

The millennia-old relationship between Inuit and polar bears is cinematically explored through a shared source of food: seals. Bear and human hunters both wait patiently by the tiny breathing holes seals have carved into the frozen icescape. Through bears, Inuit have learned to be still, waiting for the rare moment to strike to eat and survive.

What Hunting Polar Bears Mean For This Woman

This narrative shares the experience of Melva and her family's experience trying to hunt a polar bear outside of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut. As a female hunter, Melva shares the cultural value of the hunt, and how the fur is now used as an educational resource for youth so that their connection to polar bears can be sustained.

Observations of Polar Bears Around Makkovik

What do the changing ice conditions mean for polar bears? Knowledge holders in Makkovik share their views, and their experiences with changing bear behaviour. They also reflect on the importance of hunter education and connection to culture for sustained relationships with bears.

The Making of Nanuk Narratives

The co-creation process of Nanuk Narratives involved a collaborative effort between Inuit communities, wildlife co-management boards, local filmmakers, and interdisciplinary experts. This video celebrates some of the many people who were behind this work.

How Inuit Co-Exist With Wildlife

What do polar bears mean for Inuit?

Ikimaliq Pikilak, an artist, filmmaker, and cultural knowledge holder based in Nuuk, Greenland, shares a unique perspective on the deep emotional connections between Inuit and polar bears. She describes a reciprocal connection, and how hunters have learnt much from bears over many generations.

The Dangers Of Living In Polar Bear Country

A polar bear broke into his cabin!

In 2021, a bear broke into Tony Andersen's cabin outside of Makkovik, Nunatsiavut. Many people within Makkovik and other communities across the Davis Strait range have experienced similar issues, with bears causing damage to property.

Growing Up in Polar Bear Country!… Read more

How to be safe around polar bears
Derrick Pottle is a respected bear guard from Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, who protects and trains other Inuit in safely managing human-bear encounters, a skill increasingly needed given more bears are spending time on land. This video provides practical lessons and tips for mitigating a dangerous interaction with a polar bear.

Are Polar Bears Adapting to Climate Change?
Knowledge holders from various regions discuss shifts in bear behavior, including observed changes in feeding habits and interactions with humans. These insights highlight how polar bears may be adapting to environmental changes, providing a valuable perspective on their survival strategies in an increasingly unpredictable landscape.