Grise Fiord - The Most Northern Community in Canada! ... And you thought it was Resolute Bay, Didn't you?

Final destination in the high arctic! OMG Grise Fiord! There are only two flights each week that go to Grise, and of course that is weather permitting, as always. There is a very small runway nestled in the mountain side which makes landing very difficult. Nothing larger than a twin otter can land and the wind has to be below ten knots. It is very easy to be trapped in Grise for these reasons.

Grise was established in the 1950`s during the Government of Canada`s High Arctic Relocation.This is the only community in the North that actually has a decreasing population, currently there are only 114 residents. I urge you to watch the documentary Martha of The North, which shows the hardships these Inuit families faced when they were moved from their homes in Northern Quebec under false promises of fertile lands, excellent hunting and the choice to go home after two years if they wanted. 

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to have tea with one gentleman who appeared in the film. Larry received the Order Of Canada for his efforts to gain reconciliation with the government. It was not until 2010 that the government finally gave a formal apology, admitting to the inhumane treatment and forcible relocation of these families.

On a happier note, the people in Grise were amazing and very hospitable, similar to Resolute. I really enjoyed my short trip there. Here are some pictures!

I was really having second thoughts when I saw this thing.

Me at the back of a terribly small plane.

This is Grise!
The first two days we had light like this for 30 minutes,
then it was black...all night and all day.

Me.
Getting ready to drive the GN SUV.

Looty Pijamini's monument of the first Inuit settlers of 1952 and 1955 in Grise Fiord
(commissioned by the Canadian Government)
Unfinished monument. The blob on the left is supposed to be a dog.