Inuit oral traditions come to life with historian, Louie Kamookak and his 2016 Humahuk Arctic Expedition tracing ancestral stories of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition.
Louie Kamookak’s involvement in the discovery of the HMS Erebus, British explorer Sir. John Franklin’s long lost vessel in the Arctic in summer 2014 was of great importance. Polar cruise specialist, One Ocean Expeditions (OOE) is honoring Mr. Kamookak’s enormous and continuing contribution to Canadian history by participating in the Humahuk Expedition and assisting to facilitate his travel across the Arctic to walk in the footsteps of his great Grandmother’s stories surrounding the ill-fated Franklin Expedition of 1845.
For over 30 years Louie Kamookak, an Inuit historian from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut has been researching Franklin’s ill fated-expedition by spending time interviewing elders and collecting stories on the location of the perilous and tragic expedition passed down from generations. These compelling ancestral stories are now calling back Kamookak to the land and to lead an expedition of his own to search for the proof of peril and Sir John Franklin’s remains. The story is chilling yet inspiring as it reinforces the importance of Inuit oral traditions and its essential historic contribution for generations to come.
One Ocean Expeditions in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) are sponsoring this important search by Louie Kamookak. “For well over 30 years, I have been fascinated by the mystery of Sir John Franklin, and his fated expedition. This fascination, which has led to over a dozen expeditions in and around King William Island, was inspired by a story told to me by my late, great grandmother. In her younger years, she shared with me that she had come upon artifacts and a grave, which she believed to be connected to the Franklin Expedition. The drive to find these artifacts and grave, and connect my great grandmother’s story with an answer to the great Canadian mystery, has since guided my work, and will serve as the inspiration for this expedition”, shared by Louie Kamookak.
“One Ocean Expeditions’ contribution in this historic land based Humahuk Expedition with the RCGS this summer is something we take great pride in. It demonstrates our commitment to the Arctic and the preservation and sharing of Inuit culture”, says One Ocean Expeditions’ Managing Director, Andrew Prossin. “OOE’s support and involvement towards cultural, environmental and scientific educational programs in Canadian schools is what we are all about. The diversity of our programs, our experience navigating the Arctic combined with our staff knowledge and support of special initiatives is what sets us apart”, added Andrew Prossin.
One Ocean Expeditions’ Canadian Arctic cruise season starts August 1st, 2016 with varied itineraries exploring Baffin Island, and the Northwest Passage. Prices per person start at 5195 USD.
For information on One Ocean Expeditions’ Arctic 2016/17 cruises visit:
http://www.oneoceanexpeditions.com/arctic/dates_and_prices.php
For more information on the Humahuk Expedition visit:
http://www.rcgs.org/programs/expeditions/2016-humahuk-expedition-one-ocean.asp
For Arctic expedition cruises pictures visit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p3aqdvcbnqryflt/AACED8C5YwyhG3PvpkaM1PJea?dl=0
SOURCE: One Ocean Expeditions