Wildlife spooked by mysterious noise in area in northern Canada

Hunters in a remote community in Nunavut, in northern Canada are concerned about a mysterious sound apparently coming from the sea floor. The sound described sometimes as a "pinging", a hum, or even a beep has been heard throughout the summer.

Fury and Hecla Strait, the area where the sounds are heard is about is about 120 kilometers northwest of the village of Iglooik. The area is north of the Arctic Circle. Paul Quassa a member of the Nunavut legislative assembly said that the noise is scaring animals away: "That's one of the major hunting areas in the summer and winter because it's a polynya." A polyna is an area of open water surrounded by ice usually containing many sea mammals. However, this summer that were very few. Qassa told members of the legislature that the noise was emanating from the sea floor.

Quassa says that Baffinland, owner of a mine at Mary River has been doing sonar surveys but the company says it has no equipment in the water. Another member of the legislature George Qulat also visited the sites but as he is nearly deaf he did not hear any sounds. However, he noticed the absence of wild life and said: "That passage is a migratory route for bowhead whales, and also bearded seals and ringed seals. There would be so many in that particular area. This summer there was none."

Others have heard the sound, including those aboard a private yacht that passed through the area. They described the mysterious sound during a community radio show after they arrived in Igloolik. Other people called in to claim they heard the sound.

While some suggest that the sound is created by Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. the company claims it is not conducting sonar surveys in that area and has no equipment in the water. Qassa points out that no permits have been issued for any work in the area that could explain the noise. Another theory blames Greenpeace environmentalists who it is claimed are attempting to scare wildlife away from the rich hunting grounds. The local Inuit have had conflict with Greenpeace before over the issue of seal hunting. Qassa said: "We've heard in the past of groups like Greenpeace putting in some kinds of sonars in the seabed to get the sea mammals out of the way so Inuit won't be able to hunt them. Nobody has ever seen any type of ship or anything going through that area and putting something down." Farah Khan , a spokesperson for Greenpeace said that not only would they do nothing to harm marine life, they respected the right of the Inuit to hunt. Even the Russian news source Sputnik covers the story.

The reports are regarded as significant enough for further investigation by the Canadian military. The noise could be produced by submarines but were not considered a likely cause. A spokesperson for the military wrote in a statement: "The Department of National Defence has been informed of the strange noises emanating in the Fury and Hecla Strait area, and the Canadian Armed Forces are taking the appropriate steps to actively investigate the situation." Igloolik is about 70 kilometers north of Hall Beach a military site that is still active though it was part of the now closed DEW early warning line of radar stations active during the cold war. Qassa said that inhabitants of the area really had not a single clue as to what was causing the sound.

The military sent a CP-140 Aurora patrol aircraft to investigate last Tuesday. It was sent under the mandate of Operation Limpid, a domestic surveillance program meant to "detect, deter, prevent, pre-empts and defeat threats aimed at Canada or Canadian interests." Ashley Lemire, a spokesperson for the Canadian Department of National Defence said: “The Canadian armed forces are aware of allegations of unusual sounds emanating from the seabed in the Fury and Hecla Strait in Nunavut. The air crew performed various multi-sensor searches in the area, including an acoustic search for 1.5 hours, without detecting any acoustic anomalies. The crew did not detect any surface or subsurface contacts." She said the crew did observe two pods of whales and six walruses in the area. She said that at the present the Department of National Defence did not intend to do any further investigation.

Body of Nunavut community mayor finally found

Nunavut is a far northern area of Canada formed in 1999 from part of the Northwest Territories. It is about the size of western Europe but has a population of less than 32,000 people.

Jamesie Kootoo was the mayor of the small village of Kimmirut. Last November 26 he went hunting for a day but never returned. Community members started an exhaustive search but in the winter the weather often prevents searches and after several weeks search efforts were stopped until Spring.

The body was finally found about 50 kilometers north of the village near a large lake. He will be buried next week. Cause of death was not listed but I expect he froze to death. For more see this article. Some traditionalists have noted that snowmobiles can break down and leave a rider stranded while sled dogs are more reliable.

Alberta raises minimum wage now second lowest in Canada still

Even though Alberta is one of the richest provinces in Canada with rich oil deposits until recently it had the lowest minimum wage in Canada. However, on Sept 1 the province will raise the minimum wage to $9.75 per hour.

The new 35 cent increase will put Alberta at the second lowest minimum wage rate in Canada. Saskatchewan next door will now have the lowest rate at $9.50. Both provinces have right leaning governments even though in the past Saskatchewan was home to the most leftist government under the CCF of any Canadian province. How times change.

The minimum wage for those who serve liquor will remain at $9.05 per hour. Presumably the rationale is that the wage is supplemented by tips. In reality it is probably a nod to bar owners who help fund the Conservative government!

The Alberta government puts a positive spin on the wage saying that if you factor in the low taxes in Alberta it is second highest in Canada. But the Alberta Federation of Labor says that government is spinning the truth and noted that Alberta has the highest provincial cost of living in Canada. People trying to live on the minimum wage will hardly be able to make ends meet.

Nunavut in the north has the highest minimum wage of 11 dollars no doubt necessary because of the isolation and high living expenses. For more see this article.

Nunavut introduces new language bills

Interesting that the former Official Languages Act listed eight official languages. There must have been several "Indian" languages included perhaps. If the new law is applied to businesses it seems that clerks would be required to know the four official languages. Language training schools will have a field day!

Nunavut introduces new language bills
Not strong enough, say Inuktitut proponents; small businesses disagree
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 6, 2007 | 9:17 AM CT
CBC News
Proposed laws aimed at protecting the Inuit language went through first reading Tuesday in the Nunavut legislature.

But some say the legislation does not go far enough in putting Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun on an equal footing with English and French, while others say it goes too far.

Louis Tapardjuk, the territory's minister of culture, language, elders and youth, introduced a new official languages act, along with an Inuit language protection act, for first reading.

But Nunavut Tunngavik president Paul Kaludjak and Languages Commissioner Johnny Kusugak, who were at the legislative assembly when Bills 6 and 7 were introduced, criticized the proposed legislation.

"We truly believe that it could have been a lot stronger," Kusugak said, adding that he was expecting tougher enforcement provisions, as well as a shorter period of time before Inuktitut is mandatory in schools from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Tapardjuk, however, said the language bills are part of an evolutionary process, putting the Inuit languages of Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun on equal footing with English and French.



"Sure, I'd like to see it tougher myself," he said. "However, we have to face reality. We are bound by the Nunavut Act, and English and French have to be recognized in Nunavut.

"Our problem in the Inuktitut language is that we don't have Inuktitut-speaking judges, we don't have Inuktitut-speaking doctors," Tapardjuk added. "It's eventually going to come around, but we are to make certain there are [pieces] of legislation that [address] that issue."

Both proposed laws are meant to ensure Inuit can see and use their language in all facets of life, from phone bills and bylaw tickets, to workplaces and schools. They were developed following several months of public consultations around the territory.

Under the proposed official languages act, English, French and the Inuit languages of Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun would be the territory's official languages. The current Official Languages Act, which existed when Nunavut was still part of the Northwest Territories, lists eight official languages.

If passed, the Inuit language protection act would require services to be provided in Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun, as well as ensure those languages be included on signs, bills and advertising. Such requirements would apply to stores and businesses — something that Claire Kennedy of D.J. Specialities in Iqaluit said may hurt small businesses like hers.

"We can't compete with government wages as a small business, and that's where we get hurt," said Kennedy, who added that she has been having trouble hiring bilingual staff for years.

The proposed protection act would also create a minister of languages and an Inuit language authority that would develop terminology and standards.

Ultimately, Tapardjuk said, the government's goal is to make sure the Inuit languages thrive and Inuit are proud to speak their mother tongue.

The public will have a chance to comment on the proposed laws once they are referred to a standing committee for review, assuming the bills get second reading.