The new venture has been set up by owners of Kingaunmiut Ltd., Bathurst Arctic Services, and Dene La Services Ltd.

"Our partnership will not only provide advantages to our clients, but by joining forces, all three of our businesses can expand the volume of work we already do," Sam Kapolak, president of Kingaunmiut said.

Kapolak said the three expeditors weren't competitors and have joint-ventured before.

Inuit-owned Kingaunmiut, which started operations about four years ago, is also owned by Robert and Martha Akoluk of Bathurst Inlet and Sam's brother Allan Kapolak, also of Bathurst Inlet.

Kingaunmiut, named for a hill in Bathurst Inlet, has helped co-ordinate BHP Diamonds' hiring. Prior to that, the company co-ordinated supplies flown to BHP's mine site.

"We've been working with Dene La and Kingaunmiut for a number of years on various projects, it was a natural marriage to take it one step further," Boyd Warner of Bathurst Arctic said. Warner will serve as Arctic Expeditors general manager.

"One of the big benefits we see, is with the settlement of land claims, company's have concerns with meeting requirements," Warner said.

The expeditor's role can range from shipping heavy equipment to mines to building an entire camp.

"We're here to solve problems," Warner said.

Another recent new development for Bathurst Arctic, is the addition of Guy Villeneuve as an expediting manager.

Guy joins Bathurst from Canamera Geological.

Each of the three expeditors will continue to operate separately but will act as one unit through Arctic Expeditors when it comes to work for resource companies.

"We needed to grow," said Dene La president Ernest Betsina. Much of Dene La's expediting work is in the North Slave and Nunavut.

Ndilo-based Dene La, which means good people, is owned by the Betsina family.

"We started Dene La because we wanted to own and operate our own company," Betsina said.

"What better people to expedite than those who know the land and the traditional lifestyles?"

Betsina predicts Arctic Expeditors will be a good example of how different groups can work together.