UQSUQTUUQ/GJOA HAVEN
Even before Sir John Franklin's doomed HMS Terror was found at the bottom of Terror Bay Sept. 2, work had already begun on the issue of ownership related to artifacts discovered on the wreck of the HMS Erebus.
An underwater look at a portion of the HMS Terror, Sir John Franklin's second lost ship, found at the bottom of Terror Bay Sept. 2. - photo courtesy of the Arctic Research Foundation |
"We're working very collaboratively with (Britain) to effect the transfer of the artifacts to Canada but currently they are still owned by Great Britain," said Jarred Picher, director of the archeology and history branch with Parks Canada.
"I think one of the key things for us and the interim advisory committee is basically ensuring that these artifacts can tell the story in the communities up North as much as they can be displayed in museums in Ontario or elsewhere. Our goal is to make sure these artifacts help the communities themselves understand the story, in places like Gjoa Haven and Cambridge Bay, and elsewhere."
The Franklin Interim Advisory Committee discussed artifacts from the Erebus at its second meeting held in late August, said chairperson Fred Pederson, who represents the Kitikmeot Inuit Association on the committee. There are 55 artifacts recovered so far.
"They're all still in Parks Canada's facilities down south receiving the treatment so they can be preserved," said Pederson.
Gjoa Haven has a replica of the Erebus bell on display and replicas of other artifacts are on display in various other museums.
What happens to the genuine articles is still in process.
"Parks Canada and the Government of Nunavut are working on a MoU (memorandum of understanding) for joint ownership between Inuit and the Government of Canada, as well. There was some disagreement early on about who would own the artifacts," said Pederson.
"Inuit were saying because of the land claim agreement they should be owned by the Inuit Heritage Trust and displayed in Nunavut. That whole issue is being resolved through a new MoU. I don't think that's really an issue anymore."
However, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) president Cathy Towtongie has issues with the process.
"Under the Nunavut Agreement, the Inuit Heritage Trust and Canada have joint ownership of any artifacts from the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror that Canada owns. Once Canada gets ownership from Britain, Nunavut Inuit (through IHT) will be joint owners," Towtongie stated in e-mail to Nunavut News/North last week.
"Unfortunately, the Government of Canada has not included NTI in these discussions or advised NTI of them in any detail. This violates the Crown's fiduciary duty to Inuit and its consultation obligations. NTI has written to (Environment and Climate Change) Minister (Catherine) McKenna twice, asking about the status of discussions and requesting to be included. We have had no response."
Meanwhile, Parks Canada is seeking advice from the advisory committee on other matters.
It is made up of representatives from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, local communities, the Nattilik Heritage Centre, the Government of Nunavut, Inuit Heritage Trust, Nunavut Tourism and Parks Canada.
"Everything from what potential visitor experience opportunities could be presented at the site, to what security features or law enforcement things we want to consider," said Picher.
"It's a great group of people who have been having some pretty great dialogue on what the potential for the wreck of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror could be in the future."
At the second meeting in Gjoa Haven, an Erebus site visit was included on the agenda. Travelling there exposed the remoteness, as well as the difficulties and challenges of a potential tourism operation.
"It's not readily accessible from the community so they had to fly by chopper to an island and then by boat from an island to the site. And it was fairly windy that day so it was hard to view the ship from the surface of the water," said Pederson.
Picher said the site visit was a "powerful experience" for many of the committee members.
Pederson said discussions included "how things would shape up in Gjoa Haven, whether there's going to be a new building for displaying these artifacts or whether it would be an enlargement to an existing one like the Nattilik Heritage Centre."
"We're excited, too, that they found the second wreck," Pederson said.
"Having that second ship in Terror Bay will probably be easier to benefit Gjoa Haven than if it was found where they were actually looking for it. It would have been further away from the community, further away from the land, more treacherous water to try to do any tourism opportunities.
"Terror Bay is right on King William Island, the same island Gjoa Haven is on, so there are possibilities for land travel. You might not even have to do boat tours to get to that one. The possibilities are better."
