AWG Profile Leetia

Leetia

Dog sledding
Nunavut

A connection to culture

Leave it to Leetia to come up with a creative solution to a unique problem.
To get her dogs, who are used to running on barren tundra, ready to run through the treed course at the Arctic Winter Games, the 14-year-old did something a little different.

“I took a lot of old Christmas trees, and I started getting the dogs used to going around the tree and sniffing it. I want to set the trees up, maybe when my teammate comes to Iqaluit, we can set the trees up and get the dogs to go around [them].”

Leetia is heading to the Arctic Winter Games for the experience, and to test her limits. 

“Our dogs are not as fast as the dogs that they have in the west. We have dogs that pull for long distances and heavy weight. But I think if I run a lot, I’ll have a better chance at catching up with the other teams. I know we may not win, but it’s going to be fun anyway.”

At home, she’s already a winner. Leetia and her coach Jovan Simic, along with Brittany Masson and Aasta Idlout, just got back from the Arctic Inspiration Prize award ceremony in Ottawa. Their project to take youth on a 14-day dog sled adventure won $100,000 in the youth category.

“We’re going to dog sled from here to Kimmirut and back,” she said. “The $100,000 we won is a big help so we can take youth and teach them how to dog sled and have a fun trip.”

For Leetia, travelling by dog team is not only a sport, it’s a connection to her Inuit culture.

“Not many youth do it, not many have the opportunity to dog mush. I think it’s unfortunate because it’s how our ancestors travelled all around the North, by dog team.”

Leetia’s 120km trip to Kimmirut is set for the Easter break, only weeks after she returns from the Arctic Winter Games. Until then, the focus is on crossing the finish line – and keeping her dogs away from the trees.