Eye on the Arctic / Regard sur l'Arctique

07/23/2024

I got to spend some time with the Land Guardians in Nunavut on my last trip to the Arctic. Here's the profile I did on the team in the community of Taloyoak. Access to the story in English and French is in the comments below.

06/21/2024

How did the Taluqruak Band, based in the northernmost community on Canada's mainland, manage to bring Nickelback producer Dale Penner to the Arctic community of Taloyoak to set up a regional recording hub?

When I accidently stumbled across this story while on a recent reporting trip to Nunavut, I was wondering exactly the same thing. Even if you're not particularly interested in music or the music scene, I think the story's worth a read because it shows that even in the most remote places creativity and determination can bring about incredible opportunities.

Facebook still blocks sharing news links in Canada so I'll put where to find the story (in English and en français) in the comment section below! Let me know what you think.

06/19/2024

Ottawa pourrait intervenir à nouveau afin de « restreindre les investissements chinois dans le secteur minier canadien », affirme une source gouvernementale. (via France-Presse -Canada Information )

Ottawa a pour la première fois bloqué une vente de terres rares provenant du Grand Nord canadien à une entreprise basée en Chine, leader du secteur, a déclaré une source gouvernementale. Le gouvernement fédéral n'exclut pas d'intervenir à nouveau afin de « restreindre les investissements c...

06/18/2024

« Les communautés rurales doivent avoir une voix et une voix qui a du poids. » (via -Canada Information )

La population du Yukon augmente rapidement, notamment à Whitehorse, où vivent la majorité des Yukonais. C’est pourquoi une commission propose de redessiner la carte électorale afin d’améliorer la représentativité de certains secteurs, mais sa proposition est loin de faire l’unanimité. ...

06/17/2024

“The ship is bearing the Norwegian flag but this is a global project."

The Norwegian Tall Ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl will visit the Arctic during its 2025 expedition to raise awareness and encourage cooperation in protecting the world's oceans. Besides visiting Nuuk in Greenland, the One Ocean Expedition 2025-2026, will also navigate through the Northwest Passage with

06/17/2024

“The idea of creating an international centre is actively discussed, it has not been removed from the agenda,” says Natalia Golubeva with Russia’s Ministry of Education and Science. (via The Barents Observer )

"The idea of creating an international centre is actively discussed, it has not been removed from the agenda,” says Natalia Golubeva with Russia’s Ministry of Education and Science. The statement from Moscow comes two weeks after the Norwegian Government presented its White Paper on Svalbard pol...

06/17/2024

The meeting in Bodø will discuss deepening NATO cooperation between Finland, Sweden, and Norway, and to address regional security and the Baltic-Arctic connection. (via The Barents Observer )

By Hannah Thule Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will meet with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on June 19-20, 2024. The topic of the meeting on June 19-20 in Bodø is the deepening cooperation between Finland, Sweden, and Norway as membe

06/17/2024

Two subpopulations of polar bear in Hudson Bay will disappear in the next few decades if the world isn’t able to cap global warming at 2 C, according to a new multi-disciplinary study. (via CBC News )

N.W.T. hunter says local bear population doing well, but has noticed reasons for worry Two subpopulations of polar bear in Hudson Bay will disappear in the next few decades if the world isn't able to cap global warming at 2 C, according to a new multi-disciplinary study. The report, published

06/14/2024

Friday’s illegal crossing is not the first time a tourist makes it into Russia by a few meters. But unlike previous years, fines make a much deeper impact on the travel budgets nowadays. (via Barents Observer )

Police in Finnmark on Friday fined a tourist for taking a short walk across the border. The tourist, a European man in his 50s, was soon back in Norway, the Police says in a statement. Friday’s illegal crossing is not the first time a tourist makes it into Russia by a few meters. But unlike pr

06/14/2024

Selon les auteurs, «le gouvernement fédéral doit accélérer le pas pour créer une stratégie globale afin de protéger les espèces et les écosystèmes marins».

Les outils juridiques dont dispose le Canada pour limiter le bruit sous-marin ne sont pas efficaces. Il s’agit de la conclusion d’un rapport préparé pour le Fonds mondial pour la nature (WWF-Canada) par deux firmes environnementales canadiennes. Selon les firmes East Coast Environmental Law et...

06/14/2024

On Friday, Nunavut’s health department launched the first iteration of its publicly accessible inspection database. Until now, the territory was the only jurisdiction in Canada that didn’t have health inspections readily available for the public to view. (via News )

Nunavut was last jurisdiction in Canada to make reports publicly accessible People in Nunavut can now access health inspection reports on demand. On Friday, Nunavut's health department launched the first iteration of its publicly accessible inspection database. Until now, the territory was the o

06/14/2024

Energy projects in the Russian Arctic are among the main targets of the new sanctions announced by British and U.S authorities. (via Barents Observer )

Energy projects in the Russian Arctic are among the main targets of the new sanctions announced by British and U.S authorities. «Russia has transformed into a war economy in which companies across the spectrum of Russian industry contribute to Russia’s war effort,» the U.S Treasury writes in its

06/14/2024

La ministre propose de conserver dans le budget, qui n’est toujours pas adopté, le budget alloué au centre correctionnel et la somme de 331 000 $ pour le financement de deux postes de sage-femme à Yellowknife.

Via Radio-Canada Information

La ministre des Finances des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, Caroline Wawzonek, fait marche arrière et annule sa proposition de fermer le centre correctionnel pour hommes de Fort Smith et de réduire le budget du programme de sage-femme. La ministre en a fait l’annonce à l’Assemblée législative m...

06/14/2024

«La normalité pour le Yukon serait un peu plus d’une centaine de feux de forêt dans une saison», explique le météorologue en chef du Service de gestion des feux de forêt du Yukon, Michael Smith.

Via Radio-Canada Information

À moins d’un revirement de situation, le Yukon devrait avoir une saison des feux de forêt plus près des normales saisonnières, indiquent les autorités qui recommandent tout de même à la population de se préparer en cas d'un départ en raison d'un incendie. «La normalité pour le Yukon ser...

06/14/2024

L’augmentation des périodes sans glace en mer est directement liée à ce pronostic sombre pour l’ours polaire de la baie d’Hudson.

Via Radio-Canada Information

Si rien n'est fait pour limiter le réchauffement du climat à 2 °C par rapport à l’époque préindustrielle, les ours polaires de la baie d’Hudson disparaîtront entre 2030 et 2060, conclut une nouvelle étude parue jeudi dans la r***e Nature Communications. L'augmentation des périodes sans ...

06/14/2024

People in Fort Smith, N.W.T., say they’re feeling a mix of relief and worry after the territory’s finance minister reversed her decision to close the men’s unit at the community’s correctional facility. (via News )

'This is a huge win, but I think that now, everyone knows where the axe is,' resident says People in Fort Smith, N.W.T., say they're feeling a mix of relief and worry after the territory's finance minister reversed her decision to close the men's unit at the community's correctional facility. Mi

06/13/2024

Ces données sont tirées d’un sondage mené par l’AEN sur une période de deux semaines au mois de mai et pour lequel 218 personnes ont répondu, soit environ 30 % de l’ensemble des membres.

Via Radio-Canada Information

L'Association des enseignants du Nunavut (AEN) affirme que 90 % de ses membres ont été témoins d'une forme de violence dans les écoles du Nunavut cette année, tandis que plus de 83 % en ont été victimes directement. Ces données sont tirées d’un sondage mené par l’AEN sur une période d...

06/13/2024

N.W.T. Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek has reversed her decision to close the men's unit of the Fort Smith Correctional Facility, and is putting some money back into the territory's midwifery services. (via CBC News )

The cuts were expected to save the territory nearly $3.7 millionN.W.T. Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek has reversed her decision to close the men's unit of the Fort Smith Correctional Facility, and is putting some money back into the territory's midwifery services. Wawzonek made the announcement

06/13/2024

Gov. Mike Dunleavy called the petitioners “nuts” and accused them of wanting to destroy Alaska more than they want to protect the environment. (via Public Media )

A coalition of environmental groups has filed a legal petition with the federal government to reconsider how the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System contributes to climate change and to begin phasing the 800-mile line out of existence. The government first authorized the pipeline right-of-way across fed

06/13/2024

Canadian North says its new baggage fees are about the airline being “realistic about our capabilities” to carry an ever-growing volume of cargo and passengers on its commercial flights. (via CBC News )

Airline says customers check an average of 1.4 bags per flight Canadian North says its new baggage fees are about the airline being "realistic about our capabilities" to carry an ever-growing volume of cargo and passengers on its commercial flights. Last month, the airline rolled out sweeping ch

06/13/2024

L’homme voyageait avec sa conjointe à travers le Canada et les États-Unis et s’était arrêté à Haines Junction alors qu’il se rendait en Alaska.

Via Radio-Canada Information

La victime de l’écrasement d’avion survenu à l’aéroport de Haines Junction, au Yukon, lundi après-midi, est un homme de 68 ans, originaire du Québec. Le bureau de la coroner en chef du Yukon confirme qu’il s’agit de Jean-Jacques Gemme, un habitant d’Amherst. L’homme voyageait avec...

06/13/2024

The council of Finnish municipality Utsjoki, bordering to Norway, approved ambitious plans for the development of year-round tourism at its meeting this week. (via The Barents Observer )

By Hannah Thule The council of Finnish municipality Utsjoki, bordering to Norway, approved ambitious plans for the development of year-round tourism at its meeting this week. Finland’s only municipality with a majority of Sámi population, Utsjoki, is renowned for its salmon fishing tourism in

06/13/2024

Les défis auxquels fait face la Société d’énergie des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (NTPC) ont ainsi fait l’objet d’un examen lundi par les députés du Comité permanent des opérations gouvernementales.

Via Radio-Canada Information

Entre la hausse du prix du carburant, les niveaux d'eau bas, les divers obstacles à la transition aux énergies renouvelables et les infrastructures vieillissantes, des députés des Territoires du Nord-Ouest craignent que la situation soit devenue critique. Les défis auxquels fait face la Sociét...

06/13/2024

L’artiste originaire du village de Salluit, au Nunavik, a récemment remporté le prix Juno 2024 de l’artiste autochtone contemporain de l’année pour son dernier album, Inuktitut.

Via Radio-Canada Information

Un timbre à l’effigie de l’artiste Inuk Elisapie Isaac sera dévoilé ce jeudi par Postes Canada, qui souhaite souligner l’implication de cette autrice-compositrice-interprète dans le rayonnement de la langue, de la culture et de la mémoire inuit au pays à travers ses œuvres. L’artiste ...

06/13/2024

Nunavut’s teachers union says 90 per cent of its members witnessed some form of violence in the territory’s schools this year, while more than 83 per cent experienced it first hand. (via CBC News )

Violence is still going largely underreported, according to union Nunavut's teachers union says 90 per cent of its members witnessed some form of violence in the territory's schools this year, while more than 83 per cent experienced it first hand. The figures come from a survey conducted by the

06/13/2024

«Je ne m’y attendais pas! Tu sais, on vit notre vie pour aider notre prochain, mais être récompensé pour ça ce n’est jamais quelque chose à quoi on pense!», confie William Tagoona.

Via Radio-Canada Information

L’artiste inuk William Tagoona a reçu le titre de compagnon de l’Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec pour sa contribution au rayonnement de la culture inuit à travers sa longue carrière d'auteur-compositeur-interprète et journaliste. «Je ne m’y attendais pas! Tu sais, on vit notre vi...

06/13/2024

A Saskatchewan researcher who specializes in fossil fuels and energy transitions says she understands why renewable diesel is an attractive alternative in the North — but she’s not sold on the idea that it’s the best way to reduce overall emissions. (via CBC News )

Total carbon footprint of renewable diesel 'a bit unclear,' says one researcher A Saskatchewan researcher who specializes in fossil fuels and energy transitions says she understands why renewable diesel is an attractive alternative in the North — but she's not sold on the idea that it's the best w...

06/12/2024

erson has been found dead, and another is missing after their snowmobile was reported to have gone through a crack in the sea ice near the village of Kangiqsujuaq, in Nunavik. (via CBC News )

Searchers still looking for 1 man after woman’s body was recovered One person has been found dead, and another is missing after their snowmobile was reported to have gone through a crack in the sea ice near the village of Kangiqsujuaq, in Nunavik. The body of a 31-year-old woman was found about

06/12/2024

The spring of 2024 in the Russian North has been registered as the warmest in the history of weather observations, the Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia reports. (via The Barents Observer )

By Elizaveta Vereykina, The Independent Barents Observer The spring of 2024 in the Russian North has been registered as the warmest in the history of weather observations, the Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia reports. The anomaly when the temperature was 4 degrees warmer was detected in t

06/12/2024

« Nous ne pouvons pas manger de l’or, et nous ne pouvons pas manger de minéraux de terres rares, nous mangeons des choses comme du poisson et du caribou et c’est ce que nous voulons protéger. »

Des Inuit veulent lier l’économie à l’environnement À Taloyoak, la communauté continentale du Nunavut la plus septentrionale au Canada, des Inuit cherchent à protéger leur territoire en misant sur une économie à échelle humaine, sociale et prospère. Texte et photos : Eilís Quinn Édit...