The federal government has issued a long-awaited apology to Inuit families affected by the Dundas Harbour relocations in Nunavut nearly a century ago. Gary Anandasangaree, the federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, delivered the official apology during a ceremony in Arctic Bay, Nunavut, on Thursday afternoon.
Anandasangaree expressed deep regret for the harm caused to families and communities, acknowledging the hardships endured and the ruptures of kinships resulting from the forced relocations. Descendants of the relocatees, who have long advocated for official acknowledgment of the impacts, were present to hear the apology.
The Dundas Harbour relocations, which occurred in 1934, involved transporting Inuit individuals and dogs from various Baffin Island communities to Dundas Harbour on Devon Island, as part of a government initiative with complex motives. The move proved disastrous for the relocatees due to harsh weather conditions and limited resources in an unfamiliar environment.
Despite promises of return to their home communities, some Inuit were relocated multiple times to different areas like Arctic Bay, Fort Ross, and Spence Bay. Anandasangaree admitted that the relocations, although labeled as “voluntary,” were not truly so, highlighting the power imbalance that led to decisions made without accurate information.
The official apology was a significant moment for the Dundas Harbour Relocation Society, with Lucy Qavavauq expressing gratitude for the apology while noting the importance of earlier acknowledgment. Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok praised the apology as a crucial step towards healing and reconciliation, emphasizing the need for Canadians to understand and acknowledge the sacrifices made by Inuit for Arctic sovereignty.
