QAUSUITTUQ/RESOLUTE
The Canadian Armed Forces are going farther from home base than they have in previous years, as well as testing equipment and checking the condition of existing infrastructure during Operation Nunalivut 2013 this year.
Ranger Cpl. Paul Ikuqllaq from Gjoa Haven finishes packing his qamutik before leaving on a two-week patrol from Resolute during Operation Nunalivut on April 10. - photo courtesy of Cpl. Pierre Letourneau, 19 Wing Imagery Comox, Department of National Defence |
About 120 army personnel are participating in the annual exercise in and around Resolute from April 9 to 25, according to Lt.-Col. Glen MacNeil, Task Force Nunalivut Commander.
MacNeil, who provided an update on the operation to Nunavut News/North on April 18, said things are working overall very well.
One patrol has reached the Isachsen weather station in five days and was on its way back to Resolute, he said.
The patrols are using different routes on various types of ice. A big difference exists between smooth ice and rough sea ice, which is more difficult to navigate around, he added. The rangers from across the North have been working together, said MacNeil.
"They get to learn from each other and they've been able to share best-practices and really hone their skill sets on working, navigating, traveling and surviving in the North," he said. "Our folks have been able to go out and navigate through these different types of ice and to really perfect their skills of surviving and traveling out on the land."
The Canadian Armed Forces deployed in Resolute for the operation come from different units primarily falling under Joint Task Force North. The 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, from various patrols across the North, are participating, as is the 440 Air Transport Squadron from Yellowknife, which will provide the Twin Otters. A number of search-and-rescue technicians are embedded within the Canadian Ranger patrols.
Patrols also inspected structures along the routes. At Isachsen, they were able to use some structures for a bit of shelter while they were there, said MacNeil.
"The buildings are very much in the state we thought," he said. "As structures that are not in use, we found what we would expect from those, they're not maintained to the same standard as a structure that would be in use. The airstrips we've seen are still usable."
They were unable to go to Mould Bay because of the weather, he said, but they added another long-range patrol out to Tanquary Fjord, on the northern coast of Ellesmere Island.
They have seen a lot of wildlife, from polar bears to muskox, caribou and seal. They also encountered some adventurers on the land.
"This year, we're going out a fair distance from Resolute Bay so we're testing our longer-range patrolling capability out to some of these locations," he said.
Going out and operating in these conditions is extremely important because even though the Canadian Armed Forces do the operation annually, the troops are often composed of new personnel, said MacNeil.
He said it allows them to test the equipment in these harsh conditions and allows the people using the equipment to build confidence operating in these conditions.
"It (doing patrols) should demonstrate, to the people of the North, certainly to all Canadians, their Canadian Armed Forces is able to deploy anywhere in the country in response to a safety, security or defence scenario," said MacNeil.
"The conditions we face in the high Arctic, both in terms of terrain and in weather, are typically some of the harshest conditions you can find anywhere in the country," he said.
Resolute Mayor Tabitha Mullin has met with the visiting Canadian Armed Forces.
"As far as the local Rangers are concerned, along with the community, yes we're happy they are up here, doing their sovereignty patrols and spending a little money here in the community and paying people too," she said.
