Inuvialuit excited, concerned and prepared as cruise ships plan return to Arctic

After a nearly two-year standstill, cruise ships will be returning to the Arctic Ocean, bringing both opportunity and concern to the communities there.

Several cruise ships have applied to pass through the Northwest Passage into the N.W.T. in 2022, according to the environmental impact screening committee's website.

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) released a three-year cruise ship management plan earlier this year which details how there will be an inevitable increase in traffic as the climate continues to warm and the ice on the Northwest Passage melts. 

The plan acknowledges the reality of climate change and the danger it brings, but also the opportunities. 

"Visiting the Inuvialuit Settlement Region by cruise ship showcases our remarkable coastal communities in a unique and memorable way," IRC Chair Duane Smith writes in the plan. 

The plan outlines policies that ensure vulnerable Arctic Ocean ecosystems aren't damaged, traditional lifestyles aren't affected, beneficiaries will benefit financially and the community is protected from illnesses like COVID-19.

Ulukhaktok is among the most popular stops in the N.W.T. for cruise ships, and visitors often buy the local art.

Donna Akhiatak, an artist in Ulukhaktok and manager of the hamlet's art centre, remembers just a few years ago when tourists would arrive. 

"The art centre is jam-packed full — you can barely move around in the art centre, and non-stop purchasing ... until they leave," she said. 

Akhiatak is excited to see tourists again, as the fall — the usual time of year for cruise ships — has been quiet these past few years. 

But she's also worried about the risk visitors could bring. 

"At the same time, we have to be cautious because we're still in a pandemic," Akhiatak said. 

This was a concern shared by Paulatuk Mayor Ray Ruben Sr. 

"I'd be probably put in the hot seat if I had to make the decision of a cruise ship coming or not. If I said yes, I think I'd be in hot water from a lot of people," he said.