Inuit need a greater say in mapping, ship routing, development and emergency preparedness as the Arctic prepares for an increase in traffic in the coming years, conference attendees in Iqaluit heard Wednesday.
At the Ingiulik Nunavut Shipping Symposium, a panel titled Shipping, Sovereignty and Security brought together officials from Nunavut and Greenland to share their concerns and discuss opportunities.
“The ship groundings that we saw this summer were definitely impactful to Inuit and will continue to be without participation and oversight,” said Hilu Tagoona, vice-president of engagement and partnerships with Oceans North, a marine conservation organization.
In September, the Thamesborg — a 172-metre Dutch cargo ship — ran aground while traversing the Northwest Passage. It resumed its trip in October following a re-floating operation.
“We’ve also seen and we’ve heard from communities over the last two days talking about how increased shipping has impacted marine wildlife and their movements,” Tagoona said.
Jørgen Wæver Johansen, a former Greenlandic cabinet minister, agreed Inuit in Nunavut should have more control of local shipping routes for the reasons Tagoona highlighted.
“Imagine if shipping routes in Newfoundland were to be decided by people living in Saskatchewan. Nobody in Newfoundland would accept that,” Johansen said.
“So why should we accept that the rules and shipping routes and regulations in Nunavut waters are decided by people living elsewhere?”
The panelists, and some audience members who asked questions and offered comments, raised other concerns including how hunters and trappers organizations and search-and-rescuers are often ill-equipped to respond to emergencies.
“We need to ensure that we are resourcing communities as quickly as we are seeing ship traffic increasing,” Tagoona said.
The panel also discussed how development presents an opportunity to advance Inuit needs.
Christy Sinclair, an infrastructure policy analyst with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., said the federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney is looking to move forward with approving major projects.
NTI and the Government of Nunavut share a wish list of four major proposed projects which she said would benefit communities.
Two of those are marine infrastructure projects: the Gray’s Bay road and port, and the Qikiqtarjuaq port.
“Those projects bring us forward,” Sinclair said.
“Sure, they bring us to modern day in terms of being able to respond. But they bring … that Inuit definition of sovereignty and security for us. It makes life better at home and puts us on equal par with the rest of our country.”
The four-day symposium, which ends Thursday at the Aqsarniit hotel, is led by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.