The High Arctic Relocations
During the 1950s, the Canadian government relocated 87 Inuit to some of the most remote regions of the country. The first set occurred in 1953, when 8 families from Inukjuak, Quebec, along with 3 families from Pond Inlet, which at the time was part of the North West Territories, were displaced to Resolute and Grise Fiord, which are some of the furthest north locations in present day Nunavut. These resettlement have become a source of controversy when the specifics and motives of the operation came to light.
Above is a map showing the location of resolute bay relative to the rest of Canada. Grise Fiord is even farther north, situated at the southern tip of Ellesmere Island. This region is subject to extreme climate, with temperatures plummeting to almost -40°C (avg.) and having little to no hours of daylight during winter months. These are some of the harshest living conditions experienced by humans.
Pictured above is the Inuit settlement of Resolute in 1953. The families, which were on welfare at the time, were enticed by the government to make the move to the high arctic based upon claims of better hunting grounds than their homes in Inukjuak, which was supposedley becoming overpopulated, thus diminishing the once abundant resources needed for survival. The operation was described as one of humanitarian aid, and the Inuit were promised stable hunting opportunities, shelter, eventual self-sufficiency, a climate not so different from that of their home, support, and the opportunity to return home after 1 year of settlement. Unfortunately, when the families arrived to their new place of residence, they were met with broken promises and barely fulfilled agreements, which proved to be inadequate. They were forced to abandon their cultural ways, as a nomadic people, in order to attempt to adapt to some of the most severe living conditions humans have ever been subjected to. In addition, the guarantee of the option return to Quebec after one year was withdrawn, leaving the families completely stranded. The above picture shows the shelters the families had to settle in, which were sub-standard even for some of the most mild conditions. The standard of living that these persons had to endure are far below what could ever be considered humane. Especially within the first year, there were statements of how they were brought to the point of desperation where they were forced to eat bird feathers and make broth from snow boots.
The ulterior motives of the operation became evident, especially in the 1980s. It became clear that the primary purpose of the relocations was to assert Canadian sovereignty in the north during the Cold War; to eliminate any possibilities of land disputes by using the Inuit persons as what has been described as "human flagpoles." In 1987, the families were finally offered the opportunity to return to their homes after the story became much more prevalent in the public eye. 40 persons chose to return home. Later, in 1996, the government created a $10 million trust fund for the relocated individuals and families, but refused any immoral motives of the original relocation, and claimed it to be a situation of solely good intentions. For the many Inuit who suffered through these harsh conditions, away from their homes, striped from their cultural ways, for a large portion of their lives, this was a heartbreaking statement. Finally, in 2010, did the Canadian government admit to the unethical purpose and treatment of the relocated Inuit people of Resolute and Grise Fiord, and acknowledged their incredible perseverance and unfathomable hardships. The events of the high arctic relocations will remain an as a dark period in Canadian history with the unethical treatment of Inuit peoples at the hands of the Canadian government only about 6 decades ago. It will continue to be an incredible story of unfathomable hardships and unbelievable tenacity of Inuit persons, and should be a part of our nations history that is never forgotten.
The ulterior motives of the operation became evident, especially in the 1980s. It became clear that the primary purpose of the relocations was to assert Canadian sovereignty in the north during the Cold War; to eliminate any possibilities of land disputes by using the Inuit persons as what has been described as "human flagpoles." In 1987, the families were finally offered the opportunity to return to their homes after the story became much more prevalent in the public eye. 40 persons chose to return home. Later, in 1996, the government created a $10 million trust fund for the relocated individuals and families, but refused any immoral motives of the original relocation, and claimed it to be a situation of solely good intentions. For the many Inuit who suffered through these harsh conditions, away from their homes, striped from their cultural ways, for a large portion of their lives, this was a heartbreaking statement. Finally, in 2010, did the Canadian government admit to the unethical purpose and treatment of the relocated Inuit people of Resolute and Grise Fiord, and acknowledged their incredible perseverance and unfathomable hardships. The events of the high arctic relocations will remain an as a dark period in Canadian history with the unethical treatment of Inuit peoples at the hands of the Canadian government only about 6 decades ago. It will continue to be an incredible story of unfathomable hardships and unbelievable tenacity of Inuit persons, and should be a part of our nations history that is never forgotten.