KANGIQTUGAAPIK/CLYDE RIVER
Saying there is not enough time to meet its benefit commitments in 2014, seismic surveyor Multi-Klient Invest AS (MKI) is delaying seismic testing in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait until 2015.

Seven-year-old Scarlett Autut-Mimialik, left, gets her new helmet adjusted by RCMP Const. Jennifer Wright at the Rankin Inlet bike rodeo on July 14. - Candace Thomson/NNSL photo

The news was welcomed by residents affected communities concerned about the effects on wildlife from extremely loud sonic blasts involved in such testing.

"This is very good news," said Clyde River Mayor Jerry Natanine. "It means that our life can keep going without intrusion from seismic testing for another year. Bad news is that the project was not shut down."

Observers say about 300 Clyde River residents and 26 Arctic Bay residents hit the streets July 23 to protest the proposed testing. Local concern since the National Energy Board approved the testing June 26 was brought to the attention of Ecojustice and subsequently Greenpeace, the latter of which has offered to pay legal costs to mount a legal challenge.

"I’m hoping that we can build a strong relationship with (Greenpeace) as we have similar concerns about the ecology of this region," Natanine stated in an e-mail.

National Energy Board communications advisor Rebecca Taylor told Nunavut News/North earlier in the month that opponents had 30 days to bring an appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal.

"Decisions made by the NEB may be appealed to Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal on a point of law or jurisdiction if the court grants permission to appeal it," she stated in an e-mail. "An appeal cannot be made simply because someone is unhappy with the outcome."

Niore Ikaluqjuak, who founded the Facebook page called Fight against Seismic Testing in Nunavut, had mixed feelings about support from Greenpeace, a lead player in the fight against the international seal trade.

"As stated by one of the members here, I know this will scare people away from our fight and he is right in pointing that out," Ikaluqjuak wrote on the Facebook page. "I know that what Greenpeace has done in the past up to today has been a fight for how we live our lives."

In her keynote speech at the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Nunavut MP and federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq warned Inuit against being manipulated by Greenpeace.

Natanine expressed his disappointment.

"Our honourable MP unfortunately is standing on her party's platform," he stated. "I don’t blame her. But that platform is what we are against and she’s on it. I’m very disappointed in how she is handling this."

Meanwhile, Greenpeace issued its own statement.

"Proposed seismic testing activities in Baffin Bay will have severe impacts on marine life and traditional lifestyles of coastal indigenous peoples," Greenpeace Arctic campaigner Farrah Khan stated in a news release. "To date, the concerns of Clyde River have been ignored by the federal government, the National Energy Board, and the oil industry. If Minister Aglukkaq acted as a steward for the Arctic environment — as an environment minister and chair of the Arctic Council should — then she would be listening to the concerns of Northerners and acting on them."