Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-skm99 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T14:48:13.074Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Out in the cold: Canada's experimental Inuit relocation to Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Alan R. Marcus
Alan R. Marcus
Affiliation:
Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1ER
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In 1953–55 the Canadian government experimentally relocated Inuit (Eskimo) families from the region of Port Harrison (Inukjuak), on Quebec's Ungava peninsula, to Ellesmere and Cornwallis Islands in the Arctic Archipelago. Today Inuit relocatees allege that they were deceived by the government and suffered greatly as a result of the experiment. The government asserts that the relocation was undertaken for humanitarian reasons. The controversy has recently resulted in hearings before a Canadian parliamentary committee on aboriginal affairs and the Human Rights Commission. A study of the relocation issue prepared for the government, known as the ‘Hickling Report’, rejects Inuit claims of mistreatment. In this paper the Hickling report's findings are assessed. Contrary to the report's conclusions, documentation suggests that one of the government's motives for undertaking the relocation pertained to Canadian sovereignty and exercising ‘effective occupation’ of the islands.

Type
Articles
Information
Polar Record , Volume 27 , Issue 163 , October 1991 , pp. 285 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amagoalik, L. 1989. Makivik News. 15: 15–17.Google Scholar
Arctic Circular 1955. 8(4):80–81.Google Scholar
Bain, G. 1952. Eskimo hunting less since pensions granted. Toronto Globe and Mail 22 May.Google Scholar
Bolger, C. M. 1960a. Memorandum to A. Stevenson. 4 October 1960. NAC/RG85/1962/A–1012–13/1.Google Scholar
Bolger, C. M. 1960b. Memorandum to the Director. 15 November 1960. NAC/RG85/1962/A–1012–13/1.Google Scholar
Canada. 1953a. Minutes of a meeting of the Cabinet in the Privy Council Chamber. 19 January 1953. NAC/RG2/2652/Cabinet Conclusions - Meeting - 7 - 1953.Google Scholar
Canada. 1953b. House of Commons debates, 8 December 1953, vol. 1, p.700.Google Scholar
Canada. 1954. House of Commons debates, 13 May 1954, vol. 5, p.468O.Google Scholar
Canada. 1990. Evidence given at a hearing before the House of Commons committee on aboriginal affairs. 19 March 1990.Google Scholar
Cantley, J. 1953. Memorandum to the Director, Northern Administration and Lands Branch. 12 November 1953. NAC/RG85/316/20–1/29.Google Scholar
Crazier, A. P. 1952. Statistical and financial report of Eskimo Family Allowances as at 31 March 1952. NAC/RG22/254/40–8–1/2.Google Scholar
DNANR. 1955. Pres srelease. Editorial and Information Division. 23 June 1955. NAC/RG22/319/40–2–20/4.Google Scholar
DRD. 1950. Note to the Acting Deputy Minister R. A. G., Office of the Director, Lands and Development Services Branch. 6 September 1950. NAC/RG22/254/40–8–1/2.Google Scholar
DRD. 1951. Report on Eastern Arctic Patrol 1951, Montreal to Churchill. NAC/RG85/1127/201–1–8/2A.Google Scholar
DRD. 1953. Minutes of a meeting held at 10:00 A.M. August 10, 1953, in room 304, Langevin Block, to discuss the transfer of certain Eskimo families from Northern Quebec to Cornwallis and Ellesmere Islands. NAC/RG22/254/40–8–1/4.Google Scholar
DRD. 1954. Official DRD Treasury Office receipt. 5 May 1954. NAC/RG85/1474/251–2/4.Google Scholar
Department of Transport, Canada. 1954. Accounts payablevoucher. 23 April 1954. NAC/RG85/1474/251–2/4.Google Scholar
Diubaldo, R. 1985. The government of Canada and the Inuit, 1900–1967. Ottawa, Research Branch, Corporate Policy, Indian Affairs and Northern Development.Google Scholar
Elijahsialuk, S. 1986. Interviewed in Makivik Grise Fiord/Resolute Bay Relocation Meeting, 13–15 February 1986 in Frobisher Bay. (Translation from Inuktitut).Google Scholar
Eskimo Affairs. 1952. Summary of the proceedings at a meeting on Eskimo Affairs held 19 and 20 May 1952, in the board room of the Confederation Building, Ottawa. RCMP Information Access Directorate, D1512–2–4–Q–27 (1952).Google Scholar
Fraser, W. G. 1960a. Memorandum to the Director, Northern Administration Branch, Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, ‘Eskimo Trading Store, Grise Fiord, NWT.’ 5 May 1960. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–5.Google Scholar
Fraser, W. G. 1960b. Memorandum to the Constable in Charge, RCMP, Grise Fiord, NWT, ‘Eskimo Trading Stores, Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, NWT.’ 15 July 1960. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–5.Google Scholar
Freeman, M. 1969. Adaptive innovation among recent Eskimo immigrants in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Polar Record 14 (93): 769–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fryer, A. C. 1954a. Rehabilitation program of Eskimo at Craig Harbour. RCMP Craig Harbour detachment. 1 February 1954. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–5.Google Scholar
Fryer, A. C. 1954b. Eskimo rehabilitation program at Craig Harbour. RCMP Quarterly. 20(2): 139–42.Google Scholar
Gibson, F. R. 1953. Eskimo project - Resolute Bay, Northwest Territories. RCMP Resolute Bay detachment report. 14 October 1953. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–14.Google Scholar
Gibson, F. R. 1954. Conditions amongst Eskimos - Resolute Bay, NWT. RCMP Resolute Bay detachment report. 26 March 1954. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–14.Google Scholar
Gibson, F. R. 1955. Conditions amongst Eskimos - Resolute Bay, NWT. RCMP Resolute Bay detachment report. 22 March 1955. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–14.Google Scholar
Gibson, F. R. 1956. Conditions amongst Eskimos - Resolute Bay, NWT. RCMP Resolute Bay detachment report. 14 November 1956. NAC/RG 18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–14.Google Scholar
Gibson, F. R. 1983. Letter to Bob Pilot. 24 September 1983.Google Scholar
Gibson, F. R. 1990. Letter to Alan Marcus. 7 May 1990.Google Scholar
Hickling Corporation. 1990. Assessment of the factual basis of certain allegations made before the standing committee on aboriginal affairs concerning the relocation of Inukjuak Inuit families in the 1950s report. Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Northern Program.Google Scholar
Hinds, E. M. 1953a. Welfare teacher's report for May 1953. 31 May 1953. NAC/RG85/1269/1000–304/2.Google Scholar
Hinds, E. M. 1953b. Welfare teacher's report for July 1953. 31 July 1953. NAC/RG85/1269/1000–304/2.Google Scholar
Houston, J. 1954. Memorandum on Eskimo art and craft work. January 1954. NAC/RG22/324/40–8–5/1.Google Scholar
Jackson, J. C. 1956. The Eastern Arctic Patrol 1956, Churchill Onward. 4 December 1956. NAC/RG85/1234/201–1–8.Google Scholar
Jenkin, T. C. 1959. Conditions amongst Eskimos - Resolute Bay detachment area period ending 31 Dec. 1959. RCMP Resolute Bay detachment report. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–14.Google Scholar
Jenkin, T. C. 1960. Report to the Officer Commanding ‘G’ Division, Relocation of Eskimos - Resolute Bay, NWT. 5 January 1960. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–14.Google Scholar
Larsen, H. A. 1952a. Memorandum to Commissioner L.H. Nicholson. 8 February 1952. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55–TA–500–8–1–13 (1960)Google Scholar
Larsen, H. A. 1952b. Memorandum to Commissioner L.H. Nicholson, ‘Conditions amongst Eskimos - generally’. 22 September 1952. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8485–048 Box 42/D1512–2–4–Q–27 (1952)Google Scholar
Larsen, H. A. 1953. Memorandum to F.J.G.Cunningham, Director, Northern Administration and Lands Branch. 19 October 1953. NAC/RG22/254/40–8–1/4.Google Scholar
Larsen, H. A. 1954. Memorandum to The Director, Northern Administration and Lands Branch. 2 June 1954. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–14.Google Scholar
Larsen, H. A. 1956. Memorandum to Commissioner L.H. Nicholson. 28 September 1956. RCMP Information Access Directorate, File No. T.1316–16 (1956).Google Scholar
Lesage, J. 1955. Obligations of White Race to the Eskimos. Ottawa Journal. 23 March 1955.Google Scholar
Lucko, G. D. 1964. Conditions amongst Eskimos generally - annual report - year ending 31 Dec. 1964. RCMP Resolute Bay Detachment, by Cst. G.D. Lucko. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–14.Google Scholar
Macdonald, V. 1950. ‘Report on Canadian Sovereignty in the Arctic’. Cited in the document Sovereignty in the Canadian Arctic from the files of the Advisory Committee on Northern Development for the year 1954. RG22/544/Rowley–ACND 1954/3.Google Scholar
Macdonell, C. B. 1964. Memorandum to the Officer Commanding, RCMP, Frobisher Bay, NWT ‘Conditions amongst Eskimos generally - annual report - year ending 31 December 1963’. 21 February 1964. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–5.Google Scholar
Marcus, A. R. 1990. Out in the cold: the legacy of Canada's Inuit relocation experiment in the high Arctic, 1953–90. MPhil thesis, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge.Google Scholar
Marshall, C. J. 1953. Report to Graham Rowley, Secretary, Advisory Committee on Northern Development, DRD. 9 November 1953. NAC/RG22/254/40–8–1/4.Google Scholar
Mckenna, C. J. 1952. Wall Street Journal. 2 December.Google Scholar
Gazette, Montreal 1954. New homes for Eskimos said success. 26 October.Google Scholar
Nungaq, A. 1981. Interviewed in Inuktitut. December 1981, No. 49, P. 5–14.Google Scholar
Nutaraq, E. 1989. Interviewed in Makivik News. Issue 15, p. 15–17.Google Scholar
Pilot, B. 1959. Conditions amongst Eskimos generally - annual report - Grise Fiord area, NWT, year ending December 31, 1959. RCMP Grise Fiord detachment report. NAC/RG85/1446/1000–133/1.Google Scholar
Sargent, G. K. 1953. Eskimo conditions, Craig Harbour area, period ending December 31st, 1953. RCMP Detachment Craig Harbour. NAC/RG85/1446/1000–133/1.Google Scholar
Sargent, G. K. 1954. Eskimo conditions, Craig Harbour area. RCMP Craig Harbour detachment report. 31 December 1954. NAC/RG85/1446/1000–133/1.Google Scholar
Sargent, G. K. 1955. Eskimo conditions, Craig Harbour area, period ending December 31st, 1955. RCMP Detachment Craig Harbour. NAC/RG85/1446/1000–133/1.Google Scholar
Sivertz, B. G. 1956. Memorandum to the Director, ‘Eskimo Settlements at Resolute and Craig Harbour’. 22 October 1956. NAC/RG85/1514/1012–1/5.Google Scholar
Sivertz, B. G. 1958. Memorandum to the Deputy Minister, ‘Garbage Dumps’. 19 May 1958. NAC/RG22/485/40–8–1/9.Google Scholar
Sivertz, B. G. 1960a. Memorandum to the Deputy Minister. 18 November 1960. NAC/RG85/1446/1000–133/1.Google Scholar
Sivertz, B. G. 1960b. Memorandums Mr. Bolger, Administrator of the Arctic, ‘Relocation of Eskimo Groups in the High Arctic’. 25 November 1960. NAC/RG85/1962/A–1012–13/1.Google Scholar
Stevenson, A. 1953. Inspection Trip Eastern and Northern Quebec Coast and Southern Baffin Island - June–July, 1953. NAC/RG85/1207/201–1–8/3,Google Scholar
Stevenson, A. 1959. Memorandums Mr. Bolger, ‘Eskimo Loan’. 4 February 1959. NAC/RG85/1474–251–2/8.Google Scholar
Stevenson, A. 1977. Inuit Relocation - High Arctic, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Northern Affairs Program, Social and Cultural Development Division, Ottawa.Google Scholar
Vitt, V. R. 1965. Conditions amongst Eskimos generally - annual report year ending 31 December 1965. RCMP Grise Fiord detachment report. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–5.Google Scholar
Vitt, V. R. 1968. Conditions amongst Eskimos generally annual report year ending 31 December 1968. RCMP Grise Fiord detachment report. NAC/RG18/acc. no. 8586–048 Box 55/TA–500–8–1–5.Google Scholar
Wright, J. G. 1953. Letter to G. Waring. 30 March 1953. RG85/1235/251–2/1.Google Scholar
Young, H. A. 1953a. Memorandum to L.H. Nicholson, 10 March 1953. NAC/RG22/254/40–8–1/3.Google Scholar
Young, H. A. 1953b. Letter to C. M. Drury. 9 November 1953. NAC/RG22/544/Rowley-ACND-1953/1.Google Scholar