so I would like to ask so I’d like to ask all of you today what comes to mind
ask all of you today what comes to mind
ask all of you today what comes to mind when you think of the Arctic what do you
when you think of the Arctic what do you
when you think of the Arctic what do you think about what image comes up when I
think about what image comes up when I
think about what image comes up when I talk about the poles because ever since
talk about the poles because ever since
talk about the poles because ever since I was young I heard about this
I was young I heard about this
I was young I heard about this incredible area I would imagine polar
incredible area I would imagine polar
incredible area I would imagine polar bears traversing across the ice that
bears traversing across the ice that
bears traversing across the ice that stretched for miles or ambitious
stretched for miles or ambitious
stretched for miles or ambitious explorers looking for new routes or
explorers looking for new routes or
explorers looking for new routes or harsh frozen landscapes that prompted
harsh frozen landscapes that prompted
harsh frozen landscapes that prompted adventure
adventure
adventure this was the poles to me in fact if you
this was the poles to me in fact if you
this was the poles to me in fact if you were to google the Arctic this is what
were to google the Arctic this is what
were to google the Arctic this is what you would see and it echoes a lot of the
you would see and it echoes a lot of the
you would see and it echoes a lot of the perceptions that many of us have
perceptions that many of us have
perceptions that many of us have regarding the poles because it’s a place
regarding the poles because it’s a place
regarding the poles because it’s a place that’s very distant from where we are a
that’s very distant from where we are a
that’s very distant from where we are a place we don’t know much about now as I
place we don’t know much about now as I
place we don’t know much about now as I grew up this dialogue regarding the
grew up this dialogue regarding the
grew up this dialogue regarding the poles began to change
poles began to change
poles began to change I heard less about how beautiful it was
I heard less about how beautiful it was
I heard less about how beautiful it was and more about what issues were
and more about what issues were
and more about what issues were surrounding it one issue in particular
surrounding it one issue in particular
surrounding it one issue in particular climate change and this dominated the
climate change and this dominated the
climate change and this dominated the public’s perception on the Arctic and it
public’s perception on the Arctic and it
public’s perception on the Arctic and it was all I heard about for a long time
was all I heard about for a long time
was all I heard about for a long time and for that reason I’m here to talk to
and for that reason I’m here to talk to
and for that reason I’m here to talk to you about a subject that’s not as well
you about a subject that’s not as well
you about a subject that’s not as well known now in the summer 2016
known now in the summer 2016
known now in the summer 2016 I received the chance of a lifetime
I received the chance of a lifetime
I received the chance of a lifetime to go to the eastern Canadian and
to go to the eastern Canadian and
to go to the eastern Canadian and Greenlandic Arctic with an organization
Greenlandic Arctic with an organization
Greenlandic Arctic with an organization called students on ice and this
called students on ice and this
called students on ice and this organization hopes to bring young people
organization hopes to bring young people
organization hopes to bring young people to the poles so that they could become
to the poles so that they could become
to the poles so that they could become advocates for their protection needless
advocates for their protection needless
advocates for their protection needless to say I worked on me I went with a
to say I worked on me I went with a
to say I worked on me I went with a hundred and twenty young people from all
hundred and twenty young people from all
hundred and twenty young people from all around the world
around the world
around the world whether it was close by in Surrey or as
whether it was close by in Surrey or as
whether it was close by in Surrey or as far away as India and Malaysia and along
far away as India and Malaysia and along
far away as India and Malaysia and along with me were 80 educators from any
with me were 80 educators from any
with me were 80 educators from any discipline you could think of whether it
discipline you could think of whether it
discipline you could think of whether it was art history science it was all there
was art history science it was all there
was art history science it was all there and these perspectives taught me so much
and these perspectives taught me so much
and these perspectives taught me so much about the poles because it gave me a
about the poles because it gave me a
about the poles because it gave me a very diverse view on it and
very diverse view on it and
very diverse view on it and issues that were surrounding it and I
issues that were surrounding it and I
issues that were surrounding it and I brought those stories here with me today
brought those stories here with me today
brought those stories here with me today now on my very first day I was lucky
now on my very first day I was lucky
now on my very first day I was lucky enough to meet a few other people in
enough to meet a few other people in
enough to meet a few other people in Ottawa we got to meet mr. Justin Trudeau
Ottawa we got to meet mr. Justin Trudeau
Ottawa we got to meet mr. Justin Trudeau and I thought to myself this is going to
and I thought to myself this is going to
and I thought to myself this is going to be amazing
be amazing
be amazing this experience is going to change my
this experience is going to change my
this experience is going to change my view but at the same time I didn’t know
view but at the same time I didn’t know
view but at the same time I didn’t know exactly how I remember in a very first
exactly how I remember in a very first
exactly how I remember in a very first day on board I would look outside the
day on board I would look outside the
day on board I would look outside the window and I would be so completely
window and I would be so completely
window and I would be so completely fascinated by this view because this is
fascinated by this view because this is
fascinated by this view because this is what the Arctic was to me ice floes
what the Arctic was to me ice floes
what the Arctic was to me ice floes drifting past the clouds that danced
drifting past the clouds that danced
drifting past the clouds that danced before us I remember on our very first
before us I remember on our very first
before us I remember on our very first day I was eating breakfast when suddenly
day I was eating breakfast when suddenly
day I was eating breakfast when suddenly our expedition leader came on and he
our expedition leader came on and he
our expedition leader came on and he said good morning everyone I am not sure
said good morning everyone I am not sure
said good morning everyone I am not sure if you’d be interested but there’s
if you’d be interested but there’s
if you’d be interested but there’s something outside right in front of us
something outside right in front of us
something outside right in front of us that may capture your view and there
that may capture your view and there
that may capture your view and there they were poor polar bears a mother bear
they were poor polar bears a mother bear
they were poor polar bears a mother bear and her two cubs a large male and I
and her two cubs a large male and I
and her two cubs a large male and I sprinted to the very front of the ship
sprinted to the very front of the ship
sprinted to the very front of the ship because this is what I wanted to see
because this is what I wanted to see
because this is what I wanted to see this is what the Arctic was to me and I
this is what the Arctic was to me and I
this is what the Arctic was to me and I was completely swimming in joy because
was completely swimming in joy because
was completely swimming in joy because the polar bear is the poster child for
the polar bear is the poster child for
the polar bear is the poster child for the poles or even the entire
the poles or even the entire
the poles or even the entire environmental movement but at the same
environmental movement but at the same
environmental movement but at the same time the Arctic is so much more than
time the Arctic is so much more than
time the Arctic is so much more than that it embodies a culture embodies of
that it embodies a culture embodies of
that it embodies a culture embodies of people it is a symbol of resilience it
people it is a symbol of resilience it
people it is a symbol of resilience it is a diverse ecosystem and this has
is a diverse ecosystem and this has
is a diverse ecosystem and this has something about how little I knew about
something about how little I knew about
something about how little I knew about the Arctic at the time and throughout
the Arctic at the time and throughout
the Arctic at the time and throughout this expedition that was about to learn
this expedition that was about to learn
this expedition that was about to learn a lot more on our second day we arrived
a lot more on our second day we arrived
a lot more on our second day we arrived in this place called Hebron it is a
in this place called Hebron it is a
in this place called Hebron it is a small village on the northern coast of
small village on the northern coast of
small village on the northern coast of Labrador established by Moravian
Labrador established by Moravian
Labrador established by Moravian missionaries in the 1830s and I was so
missionaries in the 1830s and I was so
missionaries in the 1830s and I was so confused about why we were here this
confused about why we were here this
confused about why we were here this wasn’t the Arctic to me weren’t we
wasn’t the Arctic to me weren’t we
wasn’t the Arctic to me weren’t we supposed to be really high up north this
supposed to be really high up north this
supposed to be really high up north this was a Labrador wasn’t it supposed to be
was a Labrador wasn’t it supposed to be
was a Labrador wasn’t it supposed to be really cold
really cold
really cold where were the glaciers but when I
where were the glaciers but when I
where were the glaciers but when I arrived on shore this is what I saw
arrived on shore this is what I saw
arrived on shore this is what I saw and this and this it turns out in the
and this and this it turns out in the
and this and this it turns out in the 1950s there were approximately 60 inuit
1950s there were approximately 60 inuit
1950s there were approximately 60 inuit families living in this area but one day
families living in this area but one day
families living in this area but one day somebody came onto their shores it was
somebody came onto their shores it was
somebody came onto their shores it was the government and they said you are
the government and they said you are
the government and they said you are leaving
leaving
leaving there was no consultation this was a
there was no consultation this was a
there was no consultation this was a time of cultural assimilation this is a
time of cultural assimilation this is a
time of cultural assimilation this is a time when indigenous peoples weren’t
time when indigenous peoples weren’t
time when indigenous peoples weren’t valued and they took them away from
valued and they took them away from
valued and they took them away from their home put their children into
their home put their children into
their home put their children into residential schools relocated them far
residential schools relocated them far
residential schools relocated them far away from the place they were used to in
away from the place they were used to in
away from the place they were used to in these residential schools these young
these residential schools these young
these residential schools these young children were physically mentally
children were physically mentally
children were physically mentally emotionally sexually abused the place
emotionally sexually abused the place
emotionally sexually abused the place where the Inuit live is the basis for
where the Inuit live is the basis for
where the Inuit live is the basis for their entire way of life when you take
their entire way of life when you take
their entire way of life when you take them away from that you destroy it
them away from that you destroy it
them away from that you destroy it today this is all that is left of Hebron
today this is all that is left of Hebron
today this is all that is left of Hebron small scattered remains of a once a
small scattered remains of a once a
small scattered remains of a once a vibrant village now this is a friend of
vibrant village now this is a friend of
vibrant village now this is a friend of mine her name is Caitlin and she was a
mine her name is Caitlin and she was a
mine her name is Caitlin and she was a staff member on board the expedition and
staff member on board the expedition and
staff member on board the expedition and when she was there I learned a really
when she was there I learned a really
when she was there I learned a really special story associated with her it
special story associated with her it
special story associated with her it turns out that although she lives in
turns out that although she lives in
turns out that although she lives in Ontario her family is from here on in
Ontario her family is from here on in
Ontario her family is from here on in fact in this picture she’s actually in
fact in this picture she’s actually in
fact in this picture she’s actually in our great-grandmother’s house and when
our great-grandmother’s house and when
our great-grandmother’s house and when she recounted her family’s history she
she recounted her family’s history she
she recounted her family’s history she couldn’t have helped being so emotional
couldn’t have helped being so emotional
couldn’t have helped being so emotional about it because she was looking at a
about it because she was looking at a
about it because she was looking at a life that could have been hers she
life that could have been hers she
life that could have been hers she looked at the community that could have
looked at the community that could have
looked at the community that could have been hers this house could have been her
been hers this house could have been her
been hers this house could have been her home but that possibility was taken away
home but that possibility was taken away
home but that possibility was taken away from her it was stolen from her now as
from her it was stolen from her now as
from her it was stolen from her now as we were counted back towards the history
we were counted back towards the history
we were counted back towards the history of the Inuit there was another story
of the Inuit there was another story
of the Inuit there was another story that came up my friend of mine named
that came up my friend of mine named
that came up my friend of mine named Justin now when Justin was a teen he
Justin now when Justin was a teen he
Justin now when Justin was a teen he wanted nothing more than to have braces
wanted nothing more than to have braces
wanted nothing more than to have braces he thought braces made you super cool
he thought braces made you super cool
he thought braces made you super cool and he wanted them because everybody
and he wanted them because everybody
and he wanted them because everybody around to met braces and he would get
around to met braces and he would get
around to met braces and he would get them too
them too
them too so he went up to his mom and he begged
so he went up to his mom and he begged
so he went up to his mom and he begged her for braces and she said no and he
her for braces and she said no and he
her for braces and she said no and he would beg again and she would say no and
would beg again and she would say no and
would beg again and she would say no and that happened over and over again until
that happened over and over again until
that happened over and over again until he gave up but he never knew why he
he gave up but he never knew why he
he gave up but he never knew why he couldn’t get his braces like everyone
couldn’t get his braces like everyone
couldn’t get his braces like everyone else and it wasn’t until a few years
else and it wasn’t until a few years
else and it wasn’t until a few years later that she finally decided to give
later that she finally decided to give
later that she finally decided to give an explanation it turns out Justin’s
an explanation it turns out Justin’s
an explanation it turns out Justin’s mother was a victim of the residential
mother was a victim of the residential
mother was a victim of the residential school system and when she was there
school system and when she was there
school system and when she was there dentistry services needed to be given
dentistry services needed to be given
dentistry services needed to be given out to their students but just because
out to their students but just because
out to their students but just because they were necessary doesn’t mean that
they were necessary doesn’t mean that
they were necessary doesn’t mean that they were regulated so one day one by
they were regulated so one day one by
they were regulated so one day one by one these students would line up onto a
one these students would line up onto a
one these students would line up onto a school bus and head on off to the
school bus and head on off to the
school bus and head on off to the dentist and he was paid for every tooth
dentist and he was paid for every tooth
dentist and he was paid for every tooth he removed regardless if the procedure
he removed regardless if the procedure
he removed regardless if the procedure was necessary or not so one by one these
was necessary or not so one by one these
was necessary or not so one by one these kids would walk up and they would have a
kids would walk up and they would have a
kids would walk up and they would have a tooth removed two or three of you are
tooth removed two or three of you are
tooth removed two or three of you are lucky and no anesthetic was given just
lucky and no anesthetic was given just
lucky and no anesthetic was given just since mother was so traumatized by this
since mother was so traumatized by this
since mother was so traumatized by this experience she wanted nothing more than
experience she wanted nothing more than
experience she wanted nothing more than to make sure Justin didn’t have to go
to make sure Justin didn’t have to go
to make sure Justin didn’t have to go through it either so she pulled him away
through it either so she pulled him away
through it either so she pulled him away from the dentist she wanted to make sure
from the dentist she wanted to make sure
from the dentist she wanted to make sure she would never have to relive that I
she would never have to relive that I
she would never have to relive that I hope you understand just how horribly
hope you understand just how horribly
hope you understand just how horribly these people were treated I hadn’t
these people were treated I hadn’t
these people were treated I hadn’t thought about this at all when I was
thought about this at all when I was
thought about this at all when I was headed to the Arctic and as we were
headed to the Arctic and as we were
headed to the Arctic and as we were counted our time in Hebron I looked back
counted our time in Hebron I looked back
counted our time in Hebron I looked back and I realized that many people around
and I realized that many people around
and I realized that many people around me were weeping distraught and I didn’t
me were weeping distraught and I didn’t
me were weeping distraught and I didn’t really know why at the time until I
really know why at the time until I
really know why at the time until I realized that many of these people were
realized that many of these people were
realized that many of these people were Inuit because something like this
Inuit because something like this
Inuit because something like this doesn’t stop with one generation it goes
doesn’t stop with one generation it goes
doesn’t stop with one generation it goes on and on and on
on and on and on
on and on and on that pain moves on and those that
that pain moves on and those that
that pain moves on and those that survive the residential school system
survive the residential school system
survive the residential school system looked for different ways to cope they
looked for different ways to cope they
looked for different ways to cope they returned to alcohol substance abuse
returned to alcohol substance abuse
returned to alcohol substance abuse violence and those habits move on to
violence and those habits move on to
violence and those habits move on to their children and their children and on
their children and their children and on
their children and their children and on and on and on so these people were
and on and on so these people were
and on and on so these people were looking at this issue and they were
looking at this issue and they were
looking at this issue and they were realizing that it was a symbol for so
realizing that it was a symbol for so
realizing that it was a symbol for so many of the issues that they’re living
many of the issues that they’re living
many of the issues that they’re living with today
with today
with today today anyway suicide rates are ten times
today anyway suicide rates are ten times
today anyway suicide rates are ten times the national average today they’re still
the national average today they’re still
the national average today they’re still not being consulted whether it being
not being consulted whether it being
not being consulted whether it being spoken to but they’re not having having
spoken to but they’re not having having
spoken to but they’re not having having any power in this position today their
any power in this position today their
any power in this position today their way of life and their culture is being
way of life and their culture is being
way of life and their culture is being compromised by our actions we need to
compromised by our actions we need to
compromised by our actions we need to look at this we need to look at those
look at this we need to look at those
look at this we need to look at those mistakes we’ve made we need to reconcile
mistakes we’ve made we need to reconcile
mistakes we’ve made we need to reconcile them and we need to think of ways to
them and we need to think of ways to
them and we need to think of ways to stop this effect because this is an OK I
stop this effect because this is an OK I
stop this effect because this is an OK I headed to the North expecting to see
headed to the North expecting to see
headed to the North expecting to see wildlife to see these astounding sights
wildlife to see these astounding sights
wildlife to see these astounding sights to be bombarded with all these beautiful
to be bombarded with all these beautiful
to be bombarded with all these beautiful things to see evidence of climate change
things to see evidence of climate change
things to see evidence of climate change and to become an advocate against it and
and to become an advocate against it and
and to become an advocate against it and those are all true but beyond those
those are all true but beyond those
those are all true but beyond those preconceptions was a complex web of lies
preconceptions was a complex web of lies
preconceptions was a complex web of lies and so so much there that I never even
and so so much there that I never even
and so so much there that I never even thought of and this is something that I
thought of and this is something that I
thought of and this is something that I today want to do something about today I
today want to do something about today I
today want to do something about today I stand before you because I think this
stand before you because I think this
stand before you because I think this issue needs to be addressed today I
issue needs to be addressed today I
issue needs to be addressed today I stand before you because I want to share
stand before you because I want to share
stand before you because I want to share this story with an audience especially
this story with an audience especially
this story with an audience especially as open-minded and curious as you all
as open-minded and curious as you all
as open-minded and curious as you all are I stand here today because I had the
are I stand here today because I had the
are I stand here today because I had the opportunity to learn about them so I
opportunity to learn about them so I
opportunity to learn about them so I could do something about it and I’m
could do something about it and I’m
could do something about it and I’m giving you that opportunity here today
giving you that opportunity here today
giving you that opportunity here today what happens when you go to the polls
what happens when you go to the polls
what happens when you go to the polls I’m standing here that’s my answer my
I’m standing here that’s my answer my
I’m standing here that’s my answer my question for all of you is what happens
question for all of you is what happens
question for all of you is what happens when you learn about them thank you
”
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