A piece of history that has lain long forgotten in an Edmonton basement is on its way home to Nunavut.
The traditional Inuit kayak was stored away for more than 50 years in the home belonging to Stella and Walter Baydala. It was safely removed with the help of Brendan Griebel, who is a researcher with the Kitikmeot Heritage Society based in Cambridge Bay.
It was carefully wrapped up and then gently carried through one of the basement windows and placed into a shipping carte for transport to its new resting place in Kugluktuk in Nunavut. Once there, brochure printers will be able to include photos of it in any pamphlets they produce for the heritage society.
The watercraft was in a wooden paneled room in the home’s lower level when the Baydala’s purchased the house in 1967. Planning to sell the building, Ms. Baydala felt that the kayak should go to a museum where it can be seen and appreciated by the public.
They were able to track down the history of the piece, and found that it had originally hung in the Hudson Bay Company location in Edmonton, and had been purchased by the home’s original owner, who collected Inuit art. They were also able to make contact with Mr. Griebel, who noted that it’s likely from the 1950s, and that the elders in the area may be able to identify the builder. After that, it will be displayed in the Kugluktuk heritage and visitors' center.
