North Pole Scramble; the future of Inuit and Arctic nature

“Operation Nanook is one of the biggest northern operations the Canadian Forces conduct each year.” Defense Minister Peter Gordon MacKay was addressing the opening ceremony held in Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, on August of 2008. The operation was to exercise Arctic sovereignty and prepare for emergencies in the North. “The elders of our town have opposed the construction of the port for warships. They conduct this maneuver because they expect a war, don’t they? I really hate it,” An Inuit middle-aged woman who was one of the audiences said. Inuit accounts for 85 percent of the population of the northernmost territory and the economic depression is a serious problem. Therefore, there are voices which are concerned an influence on the environment and Inuit culture, while the voices that this operation will be a good opportunity for support of such problems and infrastructural development aid are getting louder. The preface to Inuit’s distress is a scramble for the sovereignty of Arctic between 8 countries including Russia, U.S. It is believed that Arctic ice will disappear in 2030 or 40 and the Arctic sea has a potential of big business chances such as oil. So, Canada’s government has also aimed for rights and interests of Arctic through Operation Nanook and some Arctic strategies. This North Pole scramble has changed the circumstance surrounding Inuit. Inuit used to set up with mostly hunting on a dog sled. However the recent melting ice disturbs their hunts and sometimes invites accidents that an Inuit hunter falls into the sea. It also deprives wild animals like a polar bear of a place to find their food. Their life is connected with nature strongly but it’s becoming difficult to live in the classic way. See the case of Inuit in Kaktovik, the city which has the largest wild life sanctuary in Alaska. The U.S. government has been exploiting the oil field and helping Inuit residents in the area economically in spite of the concession. The residents had prohibited from tapping this sanctuary but now, they have modernized their life-style and buy an air conditioner and a computer thanks to the oil money. As the expense, their culture and a once wild paradise have gone forever. On July of 2006, the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, which every Inuit delegates assemble, was held in Utgiagvik, Alaska. On one hand there were anxieties about damage from the climate change; on the other hand a lot of hope of the oil money spouted out in the meeting. Eventually, they decided to join the oil exploitation like Alaska. An attendant said at the end of the meeting. “Should we get an immediate profit and destroy our culture which has been come down until now? The exploitation will end soon. Then, I’m sure that they will end up deserting us again.” But, nobody could hear his grief.