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From the 4,500-kilometer journey across the Arctic to the conference hall in Whitehorse, the work of security in the Arctic is growing.
Delegates from all over the world are in Whitehorse for the Arctic Summit, which promises to focus heavily on infrastructure, while Canadian Rangers and members of the Canadian Forces will leave much of the infrastructure behind to embark on an epic journey from Herschel Island to Churchill, Man.
All the work comes at a time of increased international focus on the Arctic, and as the Canadian government looks to invest heavily in Northern infrastructure. The agenda of the conference is mainly focused on the infrastructure that can be used by civilians and the military, as well as the large number of valuable minerals spread across Northern Canada.
Retired general Wayne Eyre, former Chief of Defense and a panelist at this year’s conference, said the changing landscape meant that old ideas about Arctic security were out of date.
“This is the most important region in the world,” Eyre said. “As we look towards an integrated global security environment, our world is getting smaller and our Arctic is not as secure as it used to be.”
“Small” in the Arctic is relative. As the conference continues, one of the largest Operation Nanook-Nunalevut programs ever mounted is underway across the board.
More than 900 kilometers north of Whitehorse, members of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group were battered by storms for three days at Shingle Point, on the north slope of the Yukon. They drove more than 4,500 miles in the snow to Churchill, Man., with stops in several communities and installations of the North Warning System along the way.
Heavy snow and strong winds delayed the expedition because Inuvialuit rangers deemed it unsafe to continue, said Whitney Lackenbauer, the honorary colonel of the Canadian Rangers on the expedition.
“The past few days have reminded us of the importance of Canadian Rangers focusing on their communities,” he said. “So having guards from Inuvik and Aklavik with cabins up here at Shingle Point… meant they knew when we had to stop.”
Even rangers from other areas of the Arctic have a few things to learn about how climate changes from place to place, said Master Cpl. Tony Kunuk, Canadian ranger from Igloolik, Nunavut.
“Right now, I am no longer in my situation,” he said. “Where I come from, there are no trees. We’re lucky that we have people from Inuvik and Aklavik talking about nature, how it can change here on a dime.”
“And we get to sit down, because of this third day of bad weather, we talk about history and so on and get to know each other a little bit. It’s working very well so far,” added Kunuk.
Operation Nanook-Nunalevut runs until April. The event includes several exercises in different locations around the Canadian Arctic and will involve approximately 1,300 Canadian personnel, as well as soldiers from the United States, France, Belgium and Denmark. Parks Canada and the RCMP are also involved.
This operation will also include the firing of two M777 vehicles. Heavy weapons will be tested near Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. The Canadian military says it will be the first time a missile has been fired in the North 60.
The Arctic Summit wraps up in Whitehorse on Wednesday.
