SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Defense Minister Peter MacKay and Canada's chief of the defense staff, General Walt Natynczyk, are in the North to observe Canada's largest annual Arctic sovereignty operation.

Operation Nanook, loosely translated as "land that is ours," involves government and civilian Northern partners, and approximately 600 Canadian Forces members running the exercise with two warships, Twin Otter aircraft and an Aurora surveillance plane.

The mission is taking place Aug. 19-26 in the Eastern Arctic, involving scenarios of simulated maritime emergencies including the evacuation of a ship in distress and an oil spill.

At a press conference at Joint Task Force North in Yellowknife on Monday,

MacKay and Natynczyk were scheduled to make stops in Iqaluit, Nanisivik, Arctic Bay and Alert to view Canadian Forces efforts first-hand.

This is MacKay's first visit to the Canadian Arctic but Natynczyk was here before in the late 1980s.

"The Canadian military has a long history in the North," said Natynczyk. "Operation Nanook continues this proud tradition, bringing together the men and women of the Army, Navy, and Air Force with our partners in defense and security to ensure Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic."

As a result of global warming, MacKay said the Northwest Passage has become much more navigable, increasing the amount of traffic and interest in the region, not only in the minds of Canadians but also internationally.

A variety of countries have disputed claims in Arctic territory, even the United States administration of George W. Bush considers the Northwest Passage international waters.

MacKay said, "the prime minister has said repeatedly during our time in government we have to use it or loose it and we intend to use it."

"We maintain very strongly that the Northwest Passage and areas here in the Canadian Arctic are our waters, we fully intend to demonstrate that sovereignty with our presence. We're investing but it takes time and training."

MacKay said Canada must have submarines available in addition to surface vessels and aircraft, satellite surveillance and an increasing number of boots on the ground.

For decades the presence of Canadian boots on the ground has been provided in large part by the Canadian Arctic Rangers. Both the defense minister and the chief of Canada's defense staff met with a group of Arctic Rangers at Yellowknife River earlier in the day and praised them for their ability to explore and survive in Arctic conditions.

"There was a Ranger who was there from the very beginning, and another who was only 19 who came up through the Junior Ranger program," said MacKay.

"Much like you see in the culture of our aboriginal people there is a desire to pass on their knowledge and preserve the understanding of the land and the ability to survive in this vast region."

Currently there are around 4,200 Canadian Arctic Rangers in the North. MacKay said the government intends to expand Canadian Ranger and the Junior Canadian Ranger programs.