NUNAVUT - Divers are underwater, helicopters and planes are flying overhead, military personnel are on the streets and ships can be seen out on the horizon.

Canadian Ranger Cpl. Gary Kalluk of Resolute Bay, left, explains the purpose of the inuksuk to Cpl. Paul Girard, a combat diver from Greenwood, N.B., centre, and Sgt. Duncan Nyberg, right, the section commander for Queens York Rangers out of Toronto. Inuksuks are markers that were left for following family members to indicate which direction they should travel. - photo courtesy of Cpl. Chris Ringius, Formation Imaging Services, Halifax

The Canadian Forces have landed in Resolute and three other communities for Operation Nanook, its annual Eastern and High Arctic training exercise, being held this year from Aug. 6 to 26.

Resolute mayor Ludy Pudluk said he is personally happy to see the exercise taking place in his community. He and other community members got a tour of what's going on – and even went inside a Boeing C-17 airplane – one of the air force's newest large cargo planes.

"We're happy to see those people up here," he said. "They were really happy to see that big airplane inside. It's amazing. I have never seen anything like this. That was the excitement that we had -- to see that C-17."

Resolute is the most northern community to host the training exercise since its inception in 2007. It is also the location of the exercise's forward operating base.

"I think a lot of people in Resolute Bay, especially the young people, will remember this exercise and they enjoy it. I think that's the benefit for the community of Resolute Bay," said Pudluk.

Operation Nanook 2010 is taking place around Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Resolute and Pond Inlet. Exercise Natsiq, from Aug. 6 to 23, the military component of the operation, includes establishing temporary camps as well as undertaking surveillance operations in the air, on land and in the water. They will also perform presence patrols on land in the vicinity of the four communities.

The exercise is a big focus of the community of Pond Inlet right now, said senior administrative officer Mike Richards. The military is using the community hall as barracks, attracting a lot of kids, he said.

"For us, it's a big impact. It burdens everything that we have. Even though they're fairly independent, it does stress our resources a little bit," he said. "Overall, it's a big boost for the community. Just the fact that they're paying the local prices for chips and pop and normal junk food, that's going to be a big boost."

Richards said it's also good the community does see what the military does as it gives them a chance to learn more about it.

This year's operation is marking two firsts. This is the first time the United States and Denmark are participating in the operation. They were included to increase "inter-operability" between allies, said Lt. Col. Gino Chretien, the operation's forward HQ commanding officer.

"For us, since they are our neighbour and we are sharing the same piece of ground in the North, it is important for us to test and to increase the collaborations if something happens in those sensitive areas," he said.

He added it's important that Canadian Forces personnel from all branches have experience operating in the High Arctic.

"The main aspect for us to train and operate that far North is to give a sense to our troops and soldiers from the south what it is really like to operate in that kind of environment – the climate, the change of weather and how they can survive on the land," said Chretien.

A simulated crisis response scenario of an oil spill on the beaches of Resolute will be conducted during Exercise Tallurutiit Aug. 25-26. The Canadian Coast Guard will lead this exercise.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.