2019 Arctic Expedition: Day 14
Today was our last day onboard our floating classroom, the MS Ocean Endeavour. After 14 incredible days exploring Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic, the SOI 2019 Arctic Expedition is coming to an end.
Devon Manik from Resolute Bay kicked off the morning briefing with a presentation on his life in Resolute Bay. An action jam followed where students discussed topics such as prosperity, people, planet, peace and partnerships. The final workshops of the expedition followed where students had the last chance to select what they wanted to learn from an expert in their field.
Pod teams had one last meeting where they reflected on all that they had accomplished and how far they had come throughout the entire journey! It is incredible how everyone came here as strangers but are leaving as such good friends.
Spirits were high in the evening as everyone was enjoying every last minute together. It was certainly a time of celebration! There was a Vernissage and a Talent Show where students had the opportunity to showcase a wide variety of creative skills including visual art, singing, spoken-word, poems, guitars, ukuleles, dancing and more! There was even an impromptu dance party began in the Hub.
Photos (c) Martin Lipman/SOI Foundation
Tomorrow (August 6) is a travel day. We will disembark our floating classrooom and what has been our home for the past 14 incredible days, the MS Ocean Endeavour, and board our flights in Resolute. Enroute to Ottawa we will bid farewell to many of our northern friends in Iqaluit.
Stay tuned for travel updates later today and our welcome back event (broadcast LIVE on Facebook) on August 7th. Facebook will go live at 10:45am on August 7th.
Participant Blogs
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, staff
Media & Communications Professional
Inari, Finland
Dál leat ollen Resolute Bay -nammasaš báikái, vaikke jiekŋadilli lei vehá váttis mannan ija! Diđiimet jiekŋakárttáid vuođul, ahte ahte jiekŋa soaitá lihkadit davás ja caggat min mátkki Cornwallis-sullui, gos Resolute Bay giláš lea.
Beal golmma áigge támpa olliige jieŋa ravdii. Mearra ii lihkus lean jikŋon gitta Resolutii ja támpa sáhtii vuodjit hui hihttásit ja várrogasat jieŋa guora ja ollii Resolutii. Čeahpes kapteaidna!
Resolute Bays eai oro go sullii 200 olbmo. Giláš lea ovtta min studeantta, Devona, ruoktobáiki, muhto váidalahtti eat beasa galledit doppe dán háve. Odne lea menddo garra biegga eatge sáhte doalvut gummefatnasiid meara ala. Ihttinges mis ii leat astu go lihkkat, boradit iđitbiepmu, rastildit gummefatnasiiguin gáddái ja njuiket golmma girdái, mat dolvot min Ottawai.
Muđui, ovdal dán reaissu in diehttán, ahte muhtun olbmuid bargu lea čuovvut jiekŋadili ja biekkaid ja hábmet jiekŋakárttáid daidda geat johtet meara alde. Miellagiddevaš bargu!
We have reached Resolute Bay although the ice situation was a bit challenging last night! We knew based on the ice charts that the ice is on the move northwards and may pose some challenges on our way.
At half past two last night the ship reached the edge of the ice. There was a narrow open passage that we were able to creep up on to Resolute. A good job, captain!
Only about 200 people live in Resolute Bay, so even by our standards that is a small village (there are about 500-800 people in my home village Inari in Sápmi in what is called Northern Finland nowadays). One of our Students on Ice students, Devon, is from Resolute Bay but unfortunately we won’t be able to visit the village. Today is too windy to get on the zodiacs and tomorrow we only have time to get up, have our breakfast, cross with the zodiacs and hop on our three planes that take us to Ottawa.
By the way, before this trip I had no idea that there are people whose job it is to monitor the ice situation and the winds and to create ice charts for the seafarers to use. So fascinating!
Tukirqi Pilurtuut, staff
Inuktitut Cirriculum Developer
Kuujjuaraapik, QC
We, on SOI, have pod groups and my awesome Siku pod group is so supportive of one another. Anyways, we vote who goes on a Kayak, stand-up paddle board & a Qajaq. Students get to first, so when we were voting I stated “I’m from Northern Quebec & I have been on a kayak but, never in a Qajaq” Guess what?! I went on my first Qajaq short expedition with my sister Ulaayu & it was fabulous. It came so natural for me, it’s as if my soul was yearning to get in that Qajak and just simply enjoy what my ancestors have created to thrive and to survive! OYE! OYE! OYE!
