From the Editor: Working Dogs –
Reasoned Perception or Illogical Vision
Fan Mail
In the News
Evolutionary Changes in Domesticated Dogs:
the Broken Covenant of the Wild, Part I
The Gentrification of Working Breeds
Qimmiit Utirtut is Four Years-Old!
Sledge Dog Memorial Fund Update
Behavior Notebook: Curious Naturalist
Remembering a Stunning Achievement
Book Review: The Polar World: the Unique Vision of Sir Wally Herbert
IMHO: You, a Reader of The Fan Hitch
Links
The Fan Hitch Home Page
The Inuit Sled Dog International (ISDI) is a consortium of enthusiasts whose goal is the preservation of this ancient arctic breed in its purest form as a working dog. The ISDI's efforts are concentrated on restoring the pure Inuit Dog to its native habitat. The ISDI's coordinators welcome to your comments and questions.
ISDI Coordinator Canada:
Geneviève Montcombroux, Box 206, Inwood, MB R0C 1P0; toadhall@mts.net
ISDI Coordinator USA:
Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Road, Harwinton, CT 06791, qimmiq@snet.net
Editor's/Publisher's Statement
Editor-in-Chief: Sue HamiltonThe Fan Hitch, journal of the Inuit Sled Dog International, is published four times a year. It is available at no cost online at: http://homepage.mac.com/puggiq. Print subscription: in Canada $18.00 CAD, in USA $16.00 USD, elsewhere $22.00 CAD per year, postage included. Send checks payable to "ISDI-Geneviève Montcombroux", to Geneviève Montcombroux, Box 206, Inwood, MB R0C 1P0. Back issues are also available.Webmaster: Mark Hamilton
Print Edition: Imaged and distributed by the IPL students of the Ulluriaq School, Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik
The Fan Hitch welcomes your letters, stories, comments and suggestions. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions used for publication.
Contents of The Fan Hitch are protected by international copyright laws. No photo, drawing or text may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Webmasters please note: written consent is necessary before linking this site to yours! Please forward requests to Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Rd., Harwinton, Connecticut 06791, USA or qimmiq@snet.net
Setting out from Point Barrow; watercolour; 1990
Sir Wally Herbert, courtesy of Kari Herbert, Polarworld
Remembering a Stunning Achievement
As we Inuit Dog enthusiasts follow the progress of the British Antarctic Husky Memorial project in the waning months of its successful conclusion, an unparalleled feat of a former FIDS/BAS doggy man, his companions and their Inuit Dogs is being celebrated on the 40th anniversary of its achievement. On 6 April 1969, four men: Sir Wally Herbert, Dr. Fitzroy 'Fritz' Koerner, Allan Gill, Dr. Ken Hedges and forty Inuit Sled Dogs reached the North Pole while on an expedition that would be hailed as the 'last great journey on Earth' - the first crossing of the Arctic Ocean along its longest axis, and the first undisputed expedition to reach the North Pole on foot. The pioneering British Trans-Arctic Expedition (BTAE), conceived and led by Sir Wally Herbert, involved a 16-month journey across 3,620 miles (5826 km) of sea ice from Alaska to Svalbard via the Pole of Inaccessibility and the North Pole. (See the review of Sir Wally Herbert's Across the Top of the World – The Last Great Journey on Earth in the September 2007 issue of The Fan Hitch.)
North Pole and Beyond: A Celebration of Polar Science and Endeavour will be held at the Royal Geographical Society in London, England on Tuesday 7th April 2009 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the British Trans-Arctic Expedition. Admission is free.
To celebrate the anniversary of the British Trans-Arctic Expedition, Polarworld is offering a beautifully presented hardback edition of The Polar World: The Unique Vision of Sir Wally Herbert, Sir Wally's last book, at a very special half price of £17.50 plus shipping.
For further information about the event or to purchase a copy of The Polar World: The Unique Vision of Sir Wally Herbert, please visit Polarworld, contact Kari Herbert, or Polarworld, 5 Hurrell's Row, Harston, Cambridge CB22 7NW, UK.