North Water Polynya commission heads to Grise Fiord, Pond Inlet

A special commission of the Inuit Circumpolar Council is heading to two High Arctic communities this week to get residents' input on protecting the North Water Polynya.

• Inuit Circumpolar Council strikes commission on High Arctic polynya's future

Polynya are areas of year-round open water surrounded by sea ice. The North Water Polynya traditionally known as Pikialasorsuaq between Ellesmere Island and Greenland is approximately 85,000 square kilometres in size and is a critical habitat for many species Inuit depend on, such as narwhal and beluga.

Commission membersOkalik Eegeesiak, the international chairperson of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, former Nunavut premier Eva Aariak and former Greenland premier Kuupik Kleist will travel toGrise Fiord and Pond Inlet for consultations.

Representativesfrom Resolute have been invitedto the sessioninGriseFiord, andrepresentatives fromClydeRiver and Arctic Bay are invited to the session in Pond Inlet.

"I think this will be a very strong piece of recommendationto the outside world on how Inuit would like to protect, or conserve, or co-manage the area," said Eegeesiak.

She said the commissionexpects to hear from groups such as Hunters and Trappers Organizations, community lands and resources committees under QIA and any local Inuit knowledge-holders.

Officials say the consultations will be unprecedented, taking place before proposals for shipping or development have even been submitted.

Consultations will also take place later this year in Greenland.