High Arctic relocation

High Arctic relocation. The High Arctic relocation was a series of forced migrations orchestrated by the Government of Canada during the Cold War, which moved Inuit families from northern Quebec to the remote Queen Elizabeth Islands. Intended to assert Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic Archipelago and alleviate perceived welfare burdens, the project transplanted communities to establish permanent settlements at Resolute Bay on Cornwallis Island and Grise Fiord on Ellesmere Island. The relocated families endured extreme hardship, separation from their traditional territories, and decades of struggle before official apologies and compensation were eventually offered.

Background and context

In the early Cold War era, the Government of Canada grew increasingly concerned about asserting its sovereignty over the vast and sparsely populated Arctic Archipelago, particularly amid potential incursions from the Soviet Union or the United States. Concurrently, officials from the Department of Resources and Development and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police perceived communities in northern Quebec, such as Inukjuak, as becoming dependent on government support and Hudson's Bay Company posts. Precedents for such movements existed, including earlier relocations to the High Arctic like those to Craig Harbour and the establishment of the DEW Line. The policy was heavily influenced by figures like James Gladstone, the first Status Indian appointed to the Senate of Canada, and was framed as a way to return Inuit to a traditional hunting lifestyle while serving national interests.

Planning and execution

The planning was conducted primarily by the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, under ministers like Jean Lesage. In 1953 and 1955, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police oversaw the selection and transport of families from Inukjuak and a smaller number from Pond Inlet. They were transported aboard the C.D. Howe, a government supply ship, and the HMCS Labrador, an icebreaker, to their destinations. The families, including individuals like John Amagoalik, who later became a prominent Inuit leader and was dubbed the "Father of Nunavut," were given misleading assurances about the conditions and their ability to return. Upon arrival at Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, they were left with minimal supplies and faced immediate survival challenges in the unfamiliar, harsh environment of Cornwallis Island and Ellesmere Island.

Life in the new settlements

Life in the new settlements of Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord was marked by profound hardship and isolation. The relocated Inuit, accustomed to the subarctic environment of Hudson Bay, faced the extreme polar climate of the Queen Elizabeth Islands with inadequate shelter, unfamiliar wildlife, and extended periods of winter darkness. Hunting for species like ringed seal and muskox was difficult in the new terrain, leading to periods of hunger and malnutrition. The communities were also deliberately separated from the existing Royal Canadian Air Force base personnel at Resolute Bay, enforcing social isolation. Despite these conditions, the Inuit demonstrated remarkable resilience, gradually adapting their hunting skills and establishing permanent communities in these remote outposts, which later became part of the territory of Nunavut.

Aftermath and legacy

The aftermath of the relocations left a lasting legacy of trauma and cultural disruption for the affected families, often referred to as the "High Arctic Exiles." For decades, they were largely ignored by the federal government and struggled with the psychological and social impacts of their displacement. The issue gained national attention through the advocacy of organizations like the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and leaders such as John Amagoalik and Zebedee Nungak. Their testimonies before bodies like the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in the 1990s were instrumental in documenting the suffering and the broken promises, framing the events as a human rights issue. The struggle of these communities became a pivotal chapter in the broader narrative of Inuit self-determination, which culminated in the creation of Nunavut in 1999.

Government apologies and compensation

Following years of advocacy and the findings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Government of Canada formally acknowledged the harm caused. In 1996, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Ron Irwin, issued a statement of regret and established a $10 million compensation fund, known as the Arctic Exiles Memorial Trust. A more formal apology was delivered in 2010 by then-Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development John Duncan in Inukjuak, the community from which many were originally removed. The apology was part of a broader reconciliation agreement that included additional compensation for survivors and their descendants and the creation of educational memorials. These actions were aligned with the government's subsequent participation in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and its efforts to address historical wrongs against Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Category:History of Nunavut Category:Inuit history Category:20th century in Canada Category:Forced migrations