Mary Simon's response to Government of Canada apology to High Arctic relocatees
It is my great pleasure to be here today to participate in this historic event.
My mind and heart go back to those dark days in the fall of 1953 when families from Inukjuak were offloaded from the decks of the C.D. Howe and the d’Iberville and deposited onto the shores of Ellesmere and Cornwallis islands in the High Arctic.
In 1993, I worked with Roger Tasse to prepare a report for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples which concluded that a complete picture of what happened in the High Arctic would not emerge until the relocatees had been given a meaningful opportunity to tell their story.
Then, later that year, I had the great privilege of participating in special hearings of the Royal Commission, where we received oral testimony from relocatees. The Commission heard from 33 Inuit, many who were speaking openly for the first time. I am still haunted by their courage and their voices.
I was also incredibly proud of each and every witness who, despite the foreign setting in Ottawa, were able to reach back into their memories and speak to us about “ilira” – the anxiety and fear they felt toward the Qallunaat who were changing their lives forever. And how the compliance of Inuit in the face of this fear was misunderstood, or chosen to be understood, as agreement to leave their home and families for unknown destinations.
Eking out a miserable existence for the first years, these people survived and, yes, eventually created lives. Many went on to thrive in Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord. That is the Inuit way. John Amagoalik, for example, was 5 years old when he was relocated. He went on to become one of our most influential political leaders. Martha Flaherty, whose remarkable film we saw earlier, has been similarly influential during a long career in politics and the arts.
The Royal Commission issued a comprehensive report. The primary recommendations were that the Government acknowledge the wrongs done, apologize and recognize the special contribution these Inuit made to Canadian sovereignty.
As time went by, the relocatees and their descendents came to understand the politics surrounding the decision to move them to the High Arctic. The survivors called themselves the High Arctic Exiles. Terms like “human flagpoles” and “human experiment” became topical.
In 1996, a compensation package was negotiated. But still the Government of Canada refused to apologize to the Inuit or acknowledge the great sacrifices they made to help assert sovereignty. As proud Canadians, this lack of recognition has always been incredibly hurtful.
As President of ITK, I have been crossing the country bringing the message to Canadians that the Arctic is a place in Canada whose time has come. That the Arctic is our homeland. This homeland includes the High Arctic, a place in the world that is now commanding huge attention.
Inuit are ready to work with Government in framing a new relationship based on mutual respect and grounded in our history, traditions, language and culture. The High Arctic is very much part of Inuit history and our collective history as a nation.
Today’s events are a step in the right direction and I thank the Minister for coming to Inukjuak, where the story began, to deliver this long-awaited Apology.
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