Within days, all of these people received the same startling news: life in the Perry River district was about to change forever – the trading post at Perry River had closed and James Chapman, the last manager, had left. “While we were at Putulik, Apiana came to us from Perry River and said that the store was closed,” recalls Siksik. Apiana remembers his brother-in-law arriving in camp at Ellice River, en route to Cambridge Bay, bearing news that the post had closed. Several families headed for Cambridge Bay, and in many cases they and their descendants live there still. Apiana considered that option but, in his mind, he “had to follow” his in-laws. Sarah Ullikattaq, for her part, remembers arriving back from Gjoa Haven with her husband by dog team, to find the Perry River post abandoned.
