Cruise Tourism Research Project - Uumiakun kanatum tunnuanun pulakataktun

As part of the ‘Cruise Tourism in Arctic Canada’ (CTAC) project interviews were conducted with residents in communities including: Ulukhaktok, Pond Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, and Nain.

During 2010, a selection of local people who have a connection to the cruise sector in  Ulukhaktok  were interviewed. The questions related to the costs and benefits of the industry to the community. Those interviewed were also asked to think about strategies to minimize the costs and maximize the benefits of cruise tourism to the community, as well as to Nunavut more generally. This blog explains what the people in  Ulukhaktok  had to say.

                Please add your comments!

2010mi Ulukhaktokmiut elangiit apikhoktaoyut ihumalutianik uumiakun pulakataktunik. Ulukhaktokmiununlu ekayutikhiat, moniliogutikunlu, pitkuhivutlu.

What's going on with Cruise Tourism - Uumiakun pulakataktun hulivalikan?

The number of planned cruise itineraries in Arctic Canada doubled between 2005 and 2006 from 11 to 22 and has increased by an additional 9.5% on average over the past four years. Cruise ship activity has now begun leveling off and we are no longer seeing dramatic increases in itineraries as we did during the 2006 season. Although some additional growth is expected the observed leveling off of itineraries is likely due to the 2009 economic recession, the limited number of ice- strengthened ships available for tourism purposes, and a fluctuating market of individuals seeking to experience the Canadian Arctic by sea. 

Despite expected overall growth in the sector the actual patterns of cruise activity reveal a great deal of variability. We are now observing more cruise ship activity through the Northwest Passage and in the western Canadian Arctic and less activity in the southern Arctic than we have in the past. In Ulukhaktok there was one cruise ship visit in 2007, two in 2008, four in 2009, two in 2010, and four in 2011.

Pulakataktun uumiakun Kanatum tunnuanun 2005min 2006mun amiigiaktun 11min 22mun imaalu hitamani ukiuni 9.5%mik amiigiakyumiyun. Talvanganin uumiat amiigiatilangit aulahiuktun. Amiigiakyumi-niagaloakhutik aulalimaitunakhiyun, hapkunanga, 2009mi monik akiikman, uumiatlu hikuuhiuktaktun ekilutkaagumata, uumiakun pulagumayun ekiklingmata. Uumiat amiigiakyumi-galuakhutik audlakviat aatjikingitok.

Why are more ships coming - Huuk uumiat amiigiatun kialikan?

In Arctic Canada decreasing sea ice extent and thickness has facilitated an increase in navigable shipping routes. Sea ice retreat has been primarily concentrated in the Beaufort Sea but is also evident across the entire Canadian Arctic. During the 2010 summer season weekly sea ice concentration was between 20 and 35% lower than it is normally and the open water season was considerably longer than it has been in the past. As a result, it is more accessible for cruise ships to travel in the Arctic and the season for save travel is getting longer.

Kanatum tunnuani hikua mikhivalialikman haklivaliavlunilu  uumiat audlaktaliktun audlayuittagaloaminik. Takyuk Beaufortmik attilik killamik mikhilikman. 2010 uupinganni hikup aktilanga mikhiyumiyok  20-35%mik tiamaitomik hikunahakhimayuk. Tiamaitomik uumiat audlaktaliktun takyuptini.

Benefits of Cruise Tourism

Ulukhaktok residents identified many benefits associated with cruise tourism. These benefits included:

• potential for economic income, 
• opportunity to share Inuit culture and traditions
• opportunity to create friendships with visitors

Concerns about Cruise Tourism - Uumiakun pulakataktun Ulukhaktokmiut ihumalutian

Residents identified many concerns related to the cruise industry. These included:

•          Risk of Garbage and Sewage Dumping
•          Air Pollution From Ships Fuel and Cooking
•          Ships Disturbing Marine Wildlife
•          Ships Showing up Unannounced
•          Ship Passengers Bringing Illness to the Community
•          Oil or Fuel Leaking into Marine Environment
•      Safety of Passengers (search and rescue capabilities
•       Little Economic Benefit to the Community (few sales and only selling small items) 

Hamaa ihumalutian:

•           Ekakutigut halumiatumiklu anakmiklu
•           Hilalu halumiakniakganik oksokyuaminlu egaatyutianin
•           Takyumlu angutianik
•           Uumiatlu takunakhivakmata ilihimaniatumik
•           Aaniakgutinik
•           Oksokyuaklu ginektaklu makinakhakman takyuptinun
•           Aanikan kablonak aanaotikhanik
•           Niivakvit angiyumik niivikniatok

Actions and Strategies - Kanuk ihumavitaa hivunikhaptinik

·      A selection of local residents, who are associated with cruise tourism in Ulukhaktok, suggested the following actions and strategies for maximizing the benefits of this sector to the community while minimizing the negative.

•           Improve Communication Between Ships and Communities
•          Provide Tourism and Entrepreneur Training Opportunities for Local Residents
•          Invest in Local Infrastructure to Support Tourism Economy
•          Improve Emergency Preparedness and Search and Rescue Capabilities
•          Improve Arctic Charting and Navigation Systems
•          Develop and Disseminate a ‘Community Handbook’ of Cruise Ship Regulations
•         Introduce Inuit Environmental/Wildlife Monitors On-Board Ships
•          Hold Regional Arctic Cruise Policy Workshop
•          Consider Additional Cruise Regulations and Appointing a Dedicated Authority 

Inuvialuit ihumalutian kanuk havakniagahaa titigahimayok atani (ilangit atoktaoliktun). Kanatum tunnuani uumiakgiakhilikman maligakhan titikan titikgagialakingmiyut. Nunatian atlaan imikun maligakhanik titigakhimayun.

•        Okakpaklutik
•        Inuvialuit ilihautilugit monilioknikmun
•        Kinekhiayukhan haniakhimalugit ilihautilugitlu
•        Nunauyat nutangoklugit
•        Uumiakun pulakataktun maligahain Inuvialuitnun ilitogipgalugit
•        Inuvialukmik monakhiniklugit

What are other communities saying - Humik Inuvialuit okakpalikan?

Interviews were conducted with residents of other communities across the Canadian Arctic. Other community residents expressed similar concerns to those outlined in Ulukhaktok. Additional concerns included:

•        Threats to National Sovereignty and Possible Security Threats to Communities
•         No Regional Organization. 
•      Similar Cultural Shows (drum dances) are Preformed in Every Community
•         Risk of Ship Passengers Bringing Drugs, Alcohol or Illegal Substances to Communities

Inuvialuit ihumalutian atyikiingitun apikhoktaogamik. Hamaa iliangit;

•         Hapiknaktumik Inuvialuknun havaknakhakmata
•          Hokolayunik takukufukpaktun
•          Imingaanaktunik Inuvialuknun tunihiniakmata

Contact Us - Apikhotikhakagovin!

For additional information please contact:

Emma Stewart:

emma.stewart@lincoln.ac.nz

Lincoln University

New Zealand

Jackie Dawson:

jackie.dawson@uottawa.ca

University of Ottawa

Canada

Margaret Johnston:

mejohnst@lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University

Canada