Inuit advisors help all-female expedition prepare for Northwest Passage snorkel relay

An all-female expedition team is in Iqaluit meeting with Inuit advisors to prepare for a snorkel relay of the Northwest Passage in 2018 and 2019.

"This is a bit of a warm up of sorts because eventually we're going to snorkel the Northwest Passage from Pond Inlet all the way to Tuktoyaktuk," says Susan Eaton, coordinator of the Sedna Epic Expedition.

​​Eaton says the 3,000-kilometre expedition will shed light on the effects of climate change on the Arctic.

"We're bringing global attention to the disappearing sea ice," she said. 

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"Expeditions are generally male dominated — so this all female team is quite unique," she added. 

This is the group's second venture into the Arctic. In 2014 they were in Labrador and Greenland.

'Snorkel safaris' for locals

During its time in Iqaluit, the group is holding workshops for kids at the breakwater, using mobile saltwater aquariums and underwater robots. They're also taking a group of young Inuit women on snorkel safaris in Frobisher Bay to introduce them to ocean-related careers in their community.  

In addition, they have plans to conduct satellite tagging and DNA collection of Greenland sharks.

The group is working with two Inuit cultural advisors, Aaju Peter and Johnny Issaluk, to familiarize them with local issues and connect them to the community.

Peter says she's ecstatic to be learning to snorkel to assist with the expedition.

"I think it's fantastic to empower the young women and introduce the women into what is in the ocean and [how to] befriend the ocean," she says.

"I know even though the water is scary for me, that it's going to be OK because it will be a great opportunity to help out."

'Now I'm going to see... what's it's like in there'

Issaluk has dived all over the globe but never in his own backyard.

"It's a great cause and I can see it making a great difference in the future," says Issaluk, who will be scuba diving with the expedition.

As a hunter, he says he's always thought about the underwater life of sea mammals.

"Now I'm going to see how they live and what it's like there underneath and I'm really excited about that."

Preserving the Arctic for his children was also a big part of his motivation for taking part in the expedition.

"I love hunting, and I want them to hunt just as comfortably as I do today," says Issaluk.

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