The kicks off with an opening ceremony April 11, with the naming of the 2019 Toonik, as well as the Honorary Toonik.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen Toonik Tyme started we used to have a toonik come over from a hill. This toonik would be in caribou-skin clothing, and his face would be covered until the games start. They would finally show his face,SA国际影视传媒� explained Pitseolak Alainga, one of the festival organizers.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut before that, the Inuit used to guess who the toonik could be. They had a hard time guessing who it was. But today we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have that luxury anymore of having caribou-skin clothing and kamiks. We just get an honaroray toonik and a toonik from town that was practically born and raised here.SA国际影视传媒�

Sometimes distinguished guests are named Honorary Toonik, such as the very first: former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

A toonik is a person of the Tuniit people.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey were bigger than Inuit today, and they were stronger. They would walk with one dog and a very little bit of equipment and food, and come to a village. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 where the competitions and food would be,SA国际影视传媒� said Alainga, who adds a committee of elders and not-so-young adults discussed creating what would become Toonik Tyme in 1964.

While Toonik Tyme, which launched in 1965, makes it onto top winter-festival lists, the fact is the Iqaluit festival has always been to celebrate the arrival of warmer weather, explained Alainga, himself the honorary Toonik in 2016.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was to celebrate the people who were travelling. They would play games in a village back then. We would welcome everybody,SA国际影视传媒� said Alainga.

SA国际影视传媒淚n Iglulik or Arctic Bay, where it is above the Arctic Circle, they have 24 hours of no sunlight. When the sun finally comes up, they celebrate the arrival of the sunshine. Down here we celebrate the arrival of spring and warm weather, for the hunters and families to celebrate.SA国际影视传媒�

Alainga says there were always Ski-Doo races, organized by another group this year, and seal-hunting contests.

Seal hunting is out this year.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of the bad ice and for us to have a seal-hunting contest we would have to have big insurance. If there was to be another accident and we lose another hunter, weSA国际影视传媒檇 be liable. So weSA国际影视传媒檙e taking that off this year,SA国际影视传媒� said Alainga.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the past, when they did the seal-hunting contest, we could read the ice better than we can do today.SA国际影视传媒�

The community mourned the loss of hunter Sandy Oolayou during Toonik Tyme in 2015.

Alainga is looking forward to Toonik Tyme 2019.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a family thing. We try and get all ages involved. From babies to the oldest person in town. And everything is free to enter,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e looking to keep the people of Iqaluit happy. And itSA国际影视传媒檚 not just for Inuit. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 for everybody. In the past when my father used to run Toonik Tyme, he would always say itSA国际影视传媒檚 not just for Inuit, but everybody SA国际影视传媒� all kinds of people.SA国际影视传媒�

Alainga says will be mostly the same as last yearSA国际影视传媒檚. Toonik Tyme 2018 was the first year the new group SA国际影视传媒� 123 GO! SA国际影视传媒� has organized the popular spring festival. The group is made up of life-long friends: Alainga, Gideonie Joamie, Adamee Itorcheak, Jimmy Noble and Matthew Alainga.

Alainga said, as of April 4, the group, which has had the goal to resurrect the old-time outdoor activities from the SA国际影视传媒�70s and SA国际影视传媒�80s, is still finalizing the schedule, with the wild card being the weather.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l play it by ear, see if the weather is going to cooperate. If it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛, weSA国际影视传媒檒l have to go indoors,SA国际影视传媒� said Alainga.

When the festival took place at the end of April, outdoor games included Inuktitut wrestling and Inuktitut baseball, with a sealskin ball.

SA国际影视传媒淲e would have teams that were named after birds. For instance ptarmigan SA国际影视传媒� aqiggiq SA国际影视传媒� would be for people born in the fall to winter and for people born in the spring to summer they were named aggiq SA国际影视传媒� TheySA国际影视传媒檙e ducks but smaller than the eider duck,SA国际影视传媒� said Alainga.

Those team names were also used for other outdoor games, such as tug of war.

This yearSA国际影视传媒檚 outdoor games take place Friday the 12th, which the City of Iqaluit has declared the official Toonik Tyme civic holiday, as per its bylaws, so families can enjoy the activities together.

Alainga says Nunavut and Nunavik musicians will perform this year.

SA国际影视传媒淲e might even do some late night music for people who like to stay out after hours, probably 10 until 12, and there will be no children,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Other activities include a whipping contest, and a tea and bannock-baking contest.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e really trying to bring back the old Toonik Tyme,SA国际影视传媒� said Alainga.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a fishing derby, a giant bingo. All week our group and the city is doing activities.SA国际影视传媒�