Bear Witness Arctic Expedition

Orcadian explorer John Rae is in the company of many great Scots, among them John Logie Baird, Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Mackintosh and Alexander Fleming. Though not known to many, Rae in his own inimitable way became one of the greatest Arctic explorers of all time. We are all products of our time in history and for Rae the mid 1850’s was a time of classism, national pride and, it has to be said, ignorance. The time has come to celebrate and honour success rather than ...glorious failure. The time has come to bring attention to exploration and discovery that was done right; with respect, humility, skill and understanding. In the spring of 2019, the Arctic Return Expedition will re-trace the steps John Rae and his indigenous companions took during their 1854 historic expedition. In doing so the Arctic Return team will shed light on (and bear witness to) a successful explorer too long in the dark shadow cast by celebrated failure. Join the team as they return and at the same time look forward to recognize achievement, illuminate historical digressions and celebrate success. www.ArcticReturn.com

In January 2018, a friend of mine in Churchill, Manitoba Justin Allen and his team of dogs will begin an incredible journey across the country from Churchill back to his home province of New Brunswick - an estimated 3000km/1900miles! We all Bear Witness to our environment, but it's imperative that we also bear witness, support and recognize those people around us who do remarkable things. Please support Justin (and his dogs) by going to www.bossdogexpeditions.com and followin...g the links. Thank you. David Reid Justin: "I feel this adventure on which we are about to embark, provides an amazing opportunity to record traditional knowledge on the history and lifestyle of dog mushing. I would like to celebrate and share stories with communities about the dogs and the lifestyle that has transformed my life. I recognize that throughout our journey, we will run through traditional Indigenous territories; we will run to honour and pay homage to: 1. The Indigenous peoples and their connection to this land. More specifically, for passing on this ancient tradition of dog mushing - which has allowed me to live this life. As I travel through northern communities, I want to share my experiences with the rest of Canada. 2. To promote the art of dog sledding and animal rights. To educate people and show them that these dogs live a happy and fulfilling life - a life 'for the love of running'. There are unfair generalizations of the treatment of sled dogs, I would like to showcase that relationship from a positive perspective"

The Bear Witness team are delighted to have received the attached letter from The Honourable Catherine McKenna - Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

The boundaries of what is now Canada's largest marine conservation area were announced yesterday by the federal government along with the government of Nunavut, and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. Protecting Tallurutiup Imanga, or Lancaster Sound, protects approximately 110 square kilometres of ocean an area double the size of Nova Scotia and represents almost two percent of Canada's coastal marine waters. www.cbc.ca/1.4246763

Welcome to Tallurutiup Tariunga! The Bear Witness expedition team was delighted to hear the following news today: The Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the federal government declared Aug. 14 that they’ve reached an agreement on new, expanded boundaries for the long-awaited Tallurutiup Imanga Lancaster Sound marine protected area. Today in Pond Inlet/ Mittimatalik, Federal Environment Minister The Right Honorable Katherine McKenna announced the official creation of the Talluru...tiup Tariunga (Lancaster Sound National Marine Conservation Area) One of the goals of the Bear Witness expedition was to bring awareness and attention to this important area of Canada. http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca//65674welcome_to_tallurutiu/

Wherever you go, it's always a good idea to find out who your neighbours are going to be......

Work has begun on creating a book about Bylot Island. The book will include chapters on subjects such as polar bears (and other arctic animals) geology, culture, ice and snow, glaciers, history and the environment. Included will be a chapter telling the story (with photographs) of the Bear Witness Expedition. The book will be illustrated with photographs, drawings and paintings featuring Bylot Island in winter and summer. www.bearwitness.ca

I would like to thank, Ken Weaver and his family, at Weaver & Devore, in Yellowknife, for the contribution to the expedition with their beef jerky. Thanks to that beef jerky I was able to stay fed and strong throughout the expedition. Thanks Ken! To all sponsors and supporters of our expedition big and small, thank you, for making our trip possible and for your interest throughout our expedition. YOU WERE THERE WITH US - THANK YOU!! Martin Garcia. www.weaverdevore.ca... Weaver & Devore Trading is a family-run, independent general store located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. It was established in 1936 by Harry Weaver and Ellis "Bud" Devore, fur traders and watercraft men from Peace River, Alberta. Their first trade run to Yellowknife Bay in 1936 was in response to the increased mining activity that summer. The following year, the partners had erected a permanent log-cabin trading post and business boomed as Yellowknife grew into an important commercial centre. While Bud Devore sold out in 1954, the business continued to operate under the name Weaver & Devore and has remained in the Weaver family since Harry's death in 1957. The store discontinued the fur trading business in the 1980s and now specializes in general merchandise, produce, bush orders, and outdoor clothing. The store expanded into its current premises, on the other side of Weaver Drive, in the 1960s. The original Weaver & Devore trading post from 1937 is now a popular local restaurant called Bullock's Bistro and a City of Yellowknife Historical Site

What follows is a short Q&A with Eric: How are you feeling having completed such an epic 500km voyage on skis? "Very lucky! Being out of time for one month, no agenda, no phone, no network, the best way to enjoy every single day! Incredible landscapes, good team, good fun travelling with the dogs, great equipment, we came back fit and healthy, ready to go for another month! It's nice to look at Bylot Island map, now, but still hard to believe we did ski all around"... What struck you most about this very special environment that you explored? "I think I was expecting most of what we saw. Ice conditions, weather, wildlife, landscapes... Maybe not so cold temperatures, we had -35c at night for a couple of days. But I have been impressed with the quantity of polar bear tracks along the north west coast, although hunters told us we should see a lot. Some tracks were so big! Happily we had four dogs watching our camp at night. They were also good to keep the bears away during the day, when skiing." What were the weather conditions like over the month's expedition? "We have been lucky. We had some cold days in April, like -35C at night for a couple of days. But most of the time, we had -20C/-15C, with light wind. We had only one day with strong head wind, but not strong enough to stop us! We never had to stand by for better weather. We had mainly tail winds. Regarding fresh now, I was expecting more, but we didn't get so much snow fall, which makes it easier. Lots of blue sky, as you can see on the pictures!" What will you be doing next to share what you observed/learned during the expedition? "I have just sent my reports regarding the scientific measurements I did on snow and ice. I could not do as much as I was hoping, one computer didn't like the cold and we had to keep moving ahead, but I really liked to take time to look around, observe, measure, bring back data and pictures as requested by the scientists I work for. It would be a shame to come that far and not contribute to our knowledge. This is a way to better understand our changing world, and to help finding new solutions for a better harmony for human beings on earth. I will be publishing a photo album on our website www.vagabond.fr"

For the expedition, the Bear Witness team bought seal skin mitts. They were made by Celia Aglak. In addition to being incredibly warm and functional, they provided a very tangible link and connection to the land through which the team were travelling. Special thanks indeed to Celia for making them and to her husband Tommy who caught the seals.

Starting by looking West towards Cape Hay then panning along the North coast of Bylot, finally looking East along the route ahead.

A small selection of expedition images has been posted to the Bear Witness website. Please look under Expedition Gallery on the menu bar. www.bearwitness.ca

On May 9th, after approximately 520km and 28 days skiing, the Bear Witness team arrived back safe and sound in Pond Inlet . While tired, the team were happy to be back and to have successfully circumnavigated Bylot Island. While the ice conditions in areas around the island were at times challenging, the weather on the whole was great. Cold at the start (around -35C at night) but as spring approached then arrived, the temperatures gradually increased. David, Eric, Ingrid and ...Martin consider themselves incredibly lucky and fortunate to have experienced, and traveled in, this extremely remote and wild part of Canada. The expedition now continues as the team works to bring awareness and attention to this area through schools, media, talks and presentations. The Bear Witness expedition would not have been possible without the incredible support of all the sponsors involved. Special thanks to them and to everyone who supported, encouraged and followed the team around Bylot Island via the website. See more

All postings for the Bear Witness project will be made to www.facebook.com/bearwitness150 Going through the thousands of images taken and will post some over the next few days. The team would like to thank everyone for posting and making comments. The remote and difficult to get to parts of Canada are just as important and relevant as any other. From Tofino to St. Johns to Grise Fiord and all points in-between, we all have an enormous amount to be grateful for. Adventure travel in all it's guises, comes with responsibility. If done right; with purpose, meaning and passion, the best trips ever taken never end.

The Bear Witness team arrived back in Ottawa safe and sound (and tired) earlier today. Eric had to head back to Paris this evening so goodbyes were said at the airport. David, Ingrid and Martin headed to the Holiday Inn in Kanata (www.hisottawa.ca) for some great hospitality (and pizza!) Special thanks to all the staff there. Ingrid flies to Germany tomorrow for a bit to be with family and then home to Spain. Martin will fly home to Nelson BC early in the morning. As goodbyes were said talk already began of "what's the next expedition?" The Bear Witness project will continue and plans for the future are already in the works. Right now, full advantage has to be taken of the momentum we have to bring increased awareness to the area just explored and documented. Circumnavigating Bylot Island was, and is, just the start!

Hello from Pond Inlet. Team is all well and spending the day sorting through gear, equipment and food. We will be in Pond today at Black Point Lodge (www.blackpointlodge.ca) before flying to Iqaluit and then to Ottawa tomorrow. More news to follow later today. Thanks everyone for your interest and support.

24 tired but happy feet just arrived back in Pond Inlet. Circumnavigation complete. www.arctic150.com. Happy Canada 150! Thank you everyone!

Almost 24 kms yesterday under mostly sunny skies! Team is well.

After a long difficult day yesterday which ended with high winds and snow, today has started with sun and no wind. Confident of making it.

Now at Button Point @ the SE corner. Today we passed the 400km mark! Day 25. All is well. Sleds are getting lighter but snow is getting softer and deeper.

So, a French scientist, a German explorer, a Spanish/Canadian and a Scotsman (oh, and four sled dogs) decide to go on and adventure together...