Arviat Nunavut’s “Survivorman” - Ernie Eetak
Ernie (Survivorman) Eetak and his wife Angeline with a recently harvested caribou.
Ernie Eetak, of Arviat, Nunavut, successfully hunted a beautiful Caribou recently without assistance from either of his hands, which were lost to frostbite in a blizzard two years ago.
With assistance from his snow machine, his two metal prosthetic hands, and really good aim, Ernie Eetak, dubbed "Survivorman" by his wife, Angeline, Ernie was able to harvest a caribou, but this story is not just about a man with incredible aim.
In November 2021, Ernie Eetak of Arviat, Nunavut, set out to go hunting on what was expected to be a typical day. He kissed his wife Angeline goodbye, said he would return that night, hopped on his snow machine, and headed into the tundra to hunt.
On the second day of the trip, Ernie’s machine broke down, and a blizzard set in. Ernie knew he might be in trouble, so he quickly started trying to make an igloo. As Ernie battled fierce Arctic winds and attempted to build an igloo, the mittens handcrafted by his mother, made of Caribou skin, were torn from his hands and swept across the snowy landscape.
Without mittens to protect his hands, Ernie's only option was to use his snowmachine and tarp as makeshift cover and hope for help as frostbite almost immediately set into both hands. Ernie sat alone on the tundra for five days, praying he would survive to be with Angeline and his two children again.
According to CBC, on the fifth day, Ernie woke up and began walking back to town but both eyes were nearly frozen shut. He said, “I walked for about an hour and search and rescue found me. I was so happy." Soon the sounds of a helicopter whooshed as a medivac took Ernie's nearly frozen body to Vancouver Hospital, where they immediately removed both his hands. Soon his wife was reunited with her husband, and each had a new appreciation for life.
Angeline and Ernie’s reunion at the hospital
Ernie's life is now slowly returning to normal, he and Angeline now have four children, and he's preparing for additional surgeries this Summer. If you would like to donate to help with Ernie's medical expenses, please get in touch with us, and we will provide you with Angeline's email address.
Ernie's story is an excellent reminder of what we can do if we keep pushing forward in life, even during the most challenging times. If you're struggling today and need help, don't keep it to yourself; talk to a friend, loved one, or elder. You don't need to struggle alone.
Special Note: This article was written with permission and much help from Ernie's wife, Angeline Eetak. Thank you so much for your help and willingness to share Ernie's inspiring story.
