Musicians, artists, Inuit leaders, dignitaries, adults, children and elders sang, laughed, cried and feasted together, celebrating this historic day under warm, sunny skies. In Kugluktuk, the activities of both people and wildlife are seasonal. With spring comes the return of geese and snow buntings, and the scurry of the squirrel. In summer, the glimmering tundra and the waters around the community come to life. The tundra, close to the tree line here, is home to a wide variety of wildlife , including moose, wolverines, wolves, foxes, muskoxen, barren-ground grizzlies, and caribou.
All species bring an abundance of food and fur to the hunters and trappers of the community.
The Coppermine Hunters and Trappers Organization, working in conjunction with outfitter Fred Webb, can also arrange sport hunts and fishing trips for visitors. Hunts zero in on muskoxen, caribou, grizzly bears, and wolf trophy sport hunting. The animals can be nuisances, too, especially grizzlies, which tend to wreck cabins and tent frames, shredding the canvas tarps used for roofs. An interesting Inuit belief is that a foggy morning in the spring is a sign of a grizzly that's bellowed a blast of warm air into the cool morning air after waking from its long winter hibernation. The rare visit of beluga whales excites local hunters.