Tallurutiup Imanga to Greenland Expedition: Full Recap
In Ottawa, Ontario, on August 14th eight Canadian youth aged 18-24 from coast to coast to coast met to embark on the adventure of a lifetime from beautiful Tallurutiup Imanga to Greenland. Our group was made up of a variety of personalities, but our shared passion to lead change clearly united our small but mighty group. Our SOI Pod met for the first time over an energizing breakfast that got us ready for a day of exploring the National Capital Region. Our group visited the Museum of Nature and took a grounding bike ride along the Rideau Canal. In the evening, we were briefed alongside the other visitors on our upcoming big travel day by Adventure Canada, which made us even more ecstatic.
We were up early the following day as we embarked on our 6-hour Charter flight to the Arctic. The morning hours flew by, and we got our first glimpse of the Arctic when stopping in Iqaluit for a brief fuel refill. From above, the turquoise lakes, ocean, and the Arctic tundra were truly mesmerizing, and we couldn’t wait to explore it for ourselves. After a few more hours, we finally landed in Qausuittuq (Resolute, NU) meaning, “place with no dawn.” Our SOI gear kept us warm, as the weather was much cooler than we got acclimatized to in Ottawa. We went to the nearby beach, where we embarked for the first time in zodiacs using the infamous sailor’s grip. As our expedition vessel, the Ocean Endeavour, grew closer in the distance, we couldn’t wait to make it our new home and classroom for the next two weeks. We immediately explored our cozy cabins and then rushed to the upper decks upon boarding, hoping to spot some wildlife. After our first briefing in the Nautilus Lounge about safety at sea, we quickly put what we learned into action through a mandatory lifeboat drill. We later got introduced to the Adventure Canada team and met Devon Manik, a polar bear hunter and SOI alum from Qausuittuq. His stories showed us what living in the High Arctic and such a unique climate is like. After a hearty supper in the Polaris restaurant, we went to bed, eager for what would come in the next few days.
The next day we were awoken by our expedition lead’s infamous “Good morning, good morning, good morning!” with a recap of weather conditions and plans for the day. We were all very excited about our first landing in the Arctic, but beforehand, we experienced an Inuit welcome led by Inuit cultural educators and Elders on the ship. We also had an inspiring talk with our team leader Lynda from SOI, who shared Inuit perspectives on the famous Franklin Expedition and David Newland’s catchy song “Beechey Island,” a big hit amongst our SOI group. Beechey Island was hauntingly beautiful with its tall sand dunes and remnants of the Northumberland House, built in 1852 by men searching for Franklin’s expedition. Later on, we journeyed further down the beach to the graves of crew members who passed in search of Franklin. Some of us took in the landscape by sitting down and sketching what we saw.
Our next stop was Prince Leopold Island, where we had the freedom to roam around a specified safe zone and participate in any activities that interested us! Adventure Canada offered a great variety of exciting learning opportunities. Some students chose to learn about photography from Jacquie, while others joined a yoga session overlooking the beautiful mountainous scenery. A botanist and conservation biologist also specialized in learning about the biodiversity around us. We were blown away by the diversity of small plants and insects that lived in this seemingly lifeless tundra environment. One species of remembrance was the Arctic Bumblebee (Bombus polaris); did you know there are resilient little bees that live above the treeline? We also had the opportunity to learn about the rich history of this island. Here, an old Hudson Bay Trading Post was left perfectly intact. We could only view it from a distance, as keeping it pristine is vital to preserving it. On the other side of our exploration zone, the archeologist on board stood showing historic Inuit campsites that can be seen through remains of stones or vegetation growing strongly due to the organic material left by Inuit hundreds of years ago. It was beautiful to see the earth honouring the history and people that were once there.
Our next day, we started with an early and exciting awakening with an announcement of our first polar bear sighting! We all ran to the deck faster than we thought was possible, some forgetting jackets – but the adrenaline kept us from even noticing the cold! It was beautiful as we watched the morning sun light up the tundra ground as the bear trekked across the land, disappearing behind a rolling hill. After that eventful morning, we were ready for where the rest of the day would take us! Little did we know, it would consist of two more polar bears! We had a zodiac cruise in the morning, touring around the Devon Ice Cap, where we could hear the ice crackling and calving in the distance. Every trip with Adventure Canada brings unpredictable conditions, making each experience unique from the last. Unfortunately, the presence of a polar bear caused our afternoon landing to be cancelled, but instead, we went on another long zodiac cruise around South Croker Bay to look for more polar bears. Searching for polar bears proved challenging at a distance as we mistook many pieces of ice for bears, but eventually, we saw an off-white figure slowly moving across the shore. A technical difficulty allowed us to view the bear even longer than planned, and some of us were even disappointed when the zodiac started running again! In the evening, we were lucky to talk about visual storytelling with two talented multimedia artists specializing in photography and film: Jacquie Matechuk and Trevor Wallace. We all felt inspired to pick up a camera at the end as we learned about the power that can be portrayed through imagery.
After a hearty breakfast, our Pod had the opportunity to explore Cuming Inlet through an extreme or advanced hike. Trekking the unexpectedly rocky Arctic terrain was a real treat, as we witnessed fields of Arctic cotton, marshy slopes, and a glacier river. As we returned to the beach, we were lulled by Lynda’s beautiful drumming and throat singing. A few of our youth even sang with her; a genuinely magical moment that grounded us in Inuit culture and these precious lands. Upon returning to the ship, we all got ready to do the official polar plunge, which consisted of jumping into the Arctic Ocean from a platform on the ship’s side. Despite the water being just 6 degrees, the festive atmosphere motivated us to jump in before quickly rushing out. That evening we remotely attended the Global Indigenous Youth Summit on Climate Change. Five Indigenous youth presented just before dinner and we felt proud to participate in such an important summit.
The next day was one for wildlife lovers! We had the opportunity to visit Bylot Migratory Bird Sanctuary, which is a highly diverse bird colony with 71 species identified and six permanent resident species. Heading out on the zodiac was one of the coldest days, and the water was covered in layers of fog, making visibility difficult. But we all agreed it added so much beauty to the experience. We were lucky to hop on a boat led by Garry, the ornithologist on board. Garry helped to point out species, and by the end, we spotted a few abundant species, such as the thick-billed murre, black-legged kittiwake, black guillemot, glaucous gull, northern fulmar, and king eider! As we floated along the colony cliff, we saw thousands of birds appear and disappear into the curtain of fog. We all felt a change in perspective as we looked up, observing species living their entire lives on the vast ocean. These species rely on fish to survive, and as the climate changes, we worry about changing fish populations and how this may affect the birds.
Our next day was one that we all were waiting for. We finally got to visit a community called Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet). We were greeted by our local tour guide, who brought along her baby grandson, carrying him on her back for the entire walk in a traditional coat called an amauti. We toured the community briefly before going to the community centre, where we were treated to an Inuit cultural performance. Before the performance, we met local artisans with their beautiful work. Traditional Items like ukpik-a snowy owl made out of sealskin, and ulu-a woman’s knife, were a couple of favourites among the group! The cultural performance began with traditional games where a young man demonstrated challenging physical games such as the one-foot high kick and two-foot high kick. When asked for volunteers to try the high kicks, our very own Draco made us proud as he kicked with perfect precision, hitting the target every time! They also played the fisherman game, which is done to test if your fingers are strong enough to fish. The strength and agility games perfectly adhere to the physically demanding traditional way of life of the Inuit. After the games, a group of all ages performed drum dancing, throat singing, and inuksuk building. Many of us were moved by the performances involving every person–from the age of a toddler to an elder. Multiple generations stood together as one to perform their cultural traditions, which felt incredibly powerful. Many of us left with strong emotions, reflecting on the importance of family and connection to others.
Our journey to Greenland’s west coast was elongated as a mass of sea ice obstructed our planned path through the Davis Strait. Bypassing the ice resulted in two days at sea, which did not go to waste as we further immersed ourselves in the Arctic through a series of workshops hosted by the Adventure Canada staff and Inuit team members. Some of these included learning about biodiversity in the Arctic, Inuit art-making such as beading, how the High Arctic came to be, and many more. We also got to try some Inuit Country Food, one of the most memorable and meaningful experiences for our team. We also spent time on deck, observing the curious fulmars following the ship, and the seemingly endless Arctic Ocean. We also had the opportunity to visit the bridge and get a glimpse of what it was like sailing in the High Arctic. Some of us even enjoyed a dinner at the captain’s table, which was quite an honour.
Finally returning from days at sea, we arrived in Ilulissat, Greenland. Two of our numbers were lucky enough to embark on a kayak adventure while the others rode on zodiacs to tour the ice fjord. As we maneuvered around the giant skyscrapers of ice, we kept our eyes out for marine life as the melting glaciers released algae that attracted zooplankton, a food favourite among marine mammals! Luckily, we spotted a beautiful humpback whale gently feeding at the surface. After our zodiac ride, we arrived in Ilulissat and walked to the other side of the ice fjord, where we passed through fields full of hundreds of sled dogs and puppies sleeping and playing in the grass. Then we hiked through a beautiful boardwalk passing over Sermermiut Valley, a world heritage site containing settlement remains from 4000 years ago. Once through the boardwalk, we were in awe of the breathtaking white backdrop. The contrast between the green field, rocky shore, and the enormous ice fjord was a sight we will remember forever. Many of us spent hours exploring the area – taking pictures, eating lunch, and two of our team even throat sang while standing tall on the rocks looking over the ice field.
Our final landing was unique. For the first time, we didn’t have to take a zodiac to get to shore. Once docked, we were guided across the town of Sisimiut, the second largest in Greenland, by a local guide who shared perspectives on the reality and hardships of living in the Arctic. We got to appreciate the colourful landscape of houses and visit a historic site with a traditional Greenlandic home. We later had the opportunity to taste more Country Food such as lumpfish rocs, muskox sausage, shrimp, and many more. We also met a local handler and cuddled some adorable sled dog puppies. That night, as we journeyed to our final stop of Kangerlussuaq, we travelled the world’s longest fjord. It was a magical way to end our experience, as the landscape looked like it was out of a fantasy movie. The calm peaks, crystal-clear water, and chats in the outdoors made us feel at peace, preparing us for the long journey back home.
Our last day was filled with sad goodbyes, but we knew the connections made would be stronger than the distance. Being on a ship together for two weeks creates a lifelong bond that will never go away. The future of our group consists of limitless possibilities, each holding unique strengths and passion to create change. Each of us took away something different from this experience – some learned life lessons, connected with their culture, built connections with others, learned new skills and career paths, gained confidence, or disconnected from our chaotic world. No matter what was taken away, it is certain that we all see things from a new perspective and feel motivated to march down our own path and create positive change.
Watch the Tallurtiup Imanga to Greenland Expedition recap video here: