TUT0104
10/23/2014
Promoting Higher Education of The Canadian Arctic Environment For Inuit & First Nations
Through reading Shelagh Grant’s book, “Polar Imperative,” the understanding I have come to is that the Arctic is a much more politically complex and socially diverse ecosystem than I once previously assumed. Previously viewing the Arctic as a barren frozen tundra with scarce species, including polar bears, seals, and fish. Through reading Polar Imperative my view has incorporated a political, geographic, and historical transdisciplinary understanding; which Island belongs to what country, and where the Arctic borders stand and how were they formed? Historically there were disputes over land rights and feuds about where boarders …show more content…
This means that the United States, in real terms, has power over our Arctic, this is mostly due to the fact that Canada can’t protect its arctic, so it asks the US who accepts, but is only protecting the Canadian Arctic for the safety of it’s own Nation. Under the regime of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada has begun to have more interest in Arctic militarization and development. Prime Minister Harper has clearly stated that he wants Canada to be protected by Canadians especially the Arctic. He has invested millions of tax payer dollars in upgrading the equipment and technology used for reconnaissance and transportation around the Arctic boarders of Canada. A major policy that Prime Minister Harper has set is the “Boots on the Tundra” which promotes increasing the population of our Northern Territories, especially our Arctic and by doing so we will have a de facto claim to our Arctic. This is where the Inuit and First Nations come in to play, as they are the ones who makeup over 90% of our Canadian Rangers. This is mainly because they are issued a uniform, a gun and ammunition that is important to hunt for food, a radio, and a compass. The Canadian Rangers provide patrols and detachments for national security and public safety missions in the northern, isolated, or coastal regions of Canada. Presently the status of the Northwest Passage is currently the longest lasting dispute in