Harry Flaherty, right, CEO of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, gifts Glenn Cowan, left, founder of ONE9, a traditional Inuit drum cover as a symbol of partnership marking the creation of Sapujjijiit, ‘defender of the Arctic,’ Canada’s first Inuit-owned defence company, on Oct. 17 at the headquarters of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation in Iqaluit, Nunavut.Supplied
Inuit business leaders are steering a new Canadian defence company that aims to connect emerging technologies designed for Arctic security with major new infrastructure work in the North.
Sapujjijiit Inc. is majority-owned by Panarctic Communications Inc., a subsidiary of the Iqaluit-based Qikiqtaaluk Corp., and was launched on Tuesday in partnership with Ottawa-based venture capital firm ONE9. By combining their expertise in northern development and emerging technologies, Qikiqtaaluk and ONE9 are working to establish a conduit between Canada’s burgeoning defence tech sector and businesses working on major projects in the North.
“I believe that under Sapujjijiit, they could get that link, connections that haven’t really been there, and we can also provide our expertise to potential users, or the people or groups who want to explore the Arctic in the word of sovereignty and security,” said Harry Flaherty, president of Qikiqtaaluk.
As the for-profit development arm of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, the more than 40-year-old Qikiqtaaluk is already well-established in the North through several subsidiaries and joint ventures that span sectors such as energy, mining, fisheries and telecommunications.
In Photos: For Canadian Rangers in the Arctic, help is far away
The corporation has been looking to become more involved with defence, Mr. Flaherty said, especially as so much of the discussion around the topic lately has been focused on the Arctic.
“We’ve been engaged in what’s going on in the Arctic through our lifetime, so we always knew that there’s a missing link when the federal government talks about the Arctic. They may have a conversation with political leaders, regional leaders, but there has never really been a communication link between the business sector and local individuals,” he said.
Vice versa. ONE9 hopes this new partnership fills a gap it’s missed when it comes to its work with Canadian defence startups. Namely, connections with people who are on the ground in the Arctic and have the knowledge companies need to be successful.
“I can’t sit here in Ottawa and tell you what’s needed in the Arctic,” said Glenn Cowan, founder of ONE9, adding that it’s comical to think companies could be building for the North having never been there or spoken with people who live there.
Arctic Training Centre gives companies a chance to trial defence tech in northern climate
As Sapujjijiit grows, Mr. Cowan said the company will also be able to offer its own defence products to help build capacity in the Arctic.
Much of the work Qikiqtaaluk engages in is related to major projects, such as deep-sea ports, hospitals and housing. Mr. Cowan said through Sapujjijiit, ONE9 will introduce technology companies into new major northern infrastructure projects, connecting them to opportunities and ensuring Arctic capabilities are using the latest technologies.
“That, I’d say, is the core. The finding, funding and delivery of capability and support of major Arctic challenges,” Mr. Cowan said.
For example, the building of Northern Operational Support Hubs, announced by the Department of National Defence in March, could be an opportunity for Sapujjijiit to step in and connect key partners, Mr. Cowan said. The military stations, to be located in Iqaluit, Inuvik and Yellowknife, are supposed to house airstrips, logistics facilities and equipment to help the Canadian Armed Forces increase their Arctic presence.
There are hundreds of small- to medium-sized companies across Canada with technologies that could be useful for defence, according to a recent survey. But not all of them know who to talk to or where to look when trying to break into the market, especially for Arctic applications, Mr. Cowan said. That’s why ONE9 and Qikiqtaaluk created Sapujjijiit.
“We can’t do what we want to do in the Arctic without them, and they can’t solve the problems in the Arctic, technologically without us. So, it’s a really powerful marriage,” he said.