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2014 A historical and legal study of sovereignty in the : terrestrial sovereignty, 1870–1939

Smith, Gordon W.

University of Calgary Press

"A historical and legal study of sovereignty in the Canadian north : terrestrial sovereignty, 1870–1939", Gordon W. Smith; edited by P. Whitney Lackenbauer. University of Calgary Press, Calgary, Alberta, 2014 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/50251 book http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 International Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH: TERRESTRIAL SOVEREIGNTY, 1870–1939 By Gordon W. Smith, Edited by P. Whitney Lackenbauer

ISBN 978-1-55238-774-0

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Acknowledgement: We acknowledge the wording around open access used by Australian publisher, re.press, and thank them for giving us permission to adapt their wording to our policy http://www.re-press.org 15 341 The East ern Arct ic Pat rol, t he Royal Canadian Mount ed Police, and O t her Government Act ivi t ies, 1922–39

The background of the institution of an annual patrol voyage in the eastern after the First World War has already been provided in chapter 10. To recapitulate briefly, it involved a combina- tion of circumstances and events which developed after the war, including Vilhjalmur Stefansson’s campaign for more activity in the North; the unwillingness of Knud Rasmussen to acknowledge Canadian authority in and the Danish government’s apparent support of his stand; the fear of Danish, American, and Norwegian infiltrations and claims in the Arctic islands; information emerging from the Reindeer-Muskox Commission’s investigation and report; and a growing feeling in official circles that it had become absolutely essential to take steps to establish ’s authority and sovereignty in these outlying territories. In this atmosphere of stress and worry, consideration was at first given to a plan that involved sending an emergency expedition to the northern islands in the autumn of 1920. This plan was soon abandoned as impractical, and subsequent efforts concentrated on prepar- ing an expedition for the summer of 1921. John Davidson Craig of the Dominion Lands Surveys and the International Boundary Commission was given overall command of the planning and of the expedition itself. Captain H. C. Pickels of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, was appointed ship’s captain; the CGS Arctic, which for several years had been in the lightship service in the lower St. Lawrence River, was transferred from the Department of Marine and Fisheries to the Department of the Interior, and negotiations were carried on with Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who wanted to com- mand the expedition. Doubts and disagreements in official circles about Stefansson and his role, coupled with the entry of English explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as a rival to Stefansson, led the Canadian government to drop its plans for a 1921 expedition in May of that year. The work of re- pairing and outfitting the Arctic continued at a slower pace, but Captain Pickels, who had immedi- ate charge of this work, died on 1 October 1921, and the ship was left in winter quarters at until June 1922. This was approximately the situation when the and Yukon Branch of the Department of the Interior received instructions on 9 June 1922 to prepare as quickly as possible for an Arctic voyage, which Ottawa officials had decided upon for that summer. 342

Figure 15-1: CGS Arctic near Port Burwell, Quebec. George R. Lancefield / Library and Archives Canada / PA-096482.

The Eastern Arctic Patrol ship he had already commanded on four north- (1922) ern expeditions. A total of 950 tons of cargo were loaded in great haste, including 500 tons The lateness of the decision to send out the ex- of coal for the ship and 150 for the police posts pedition, and the shortness of the navigation that were to be built, 225 tons of lumber for the season in northern waters, made it necessary police buildings, and 75 tons of food and other to complete preparations in a hurry. John Craig supplies. The expedition totalled forty-three documented the bustle and confusion that oc- men, including Craig, Bernier, and the crew of curred between 9 June and the date of sailing.1 five officers and twenty men; the Royal -Can Captain Joseph-Elzéar Bernier, who had already adian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment of offered his services,2 was appointed in June to Inspector C. E. Wilcox and nine others; and six succeed Captain Pickels as ship’s captain, thus additional members with scientific, technical, reuniting this seventy-year-old veteran and the and administrative responsibilities. The last

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH group comprised the expedition’s medical of- the Department of the Interior. Major Logan ficer Dr. Leslie D. Livingstone, the Air Board’s succeeded in finding a suitable site for an air representative Major Robert A. Logan, the landing strip on the opposite side of the valley. surveyor and meteorologist L. O. Brown, the With freeze-up already starting, the Arctic de- assistant surveyor T. P. Reilly, the cinematog- parted on 29 August, leaving behind Inspect- rapher G. H. Valiquette, and the commanding or Wilcox, six of the RCMP constables, and a officer’s secretary W. H. Grant. Plans to send a family of who had agreed to 343 larger and more varied group of scientists were accompany the Mounties and stay with them abandoned, mainly because they would have for one year. little time ashore to do their work. On the way south, the expedition stopped After five weeks of “feverish activity,” all to examine , near Cape War- was ready aboard the Arctic on the evening of render and the southeastern extremity of Devon 17 July, “the engines turned over under their Island, to ascertain its suitability as the site for own steam for the first time in several years,”3 another police post in the future. The harbour and the expedition sailed early the next mor- was large and almost completely landlocked, ning. Some minor engine problems caused with a sheltered spot suitable for a post at one short delays, but after these were overcome, the side, not far from a good anchorage. Returning ship passed through the Strait of Belle Isle and to Pond Inlet on 6 September, the men discov- northwards along the Greenland coast with- ered that the harbour was still blocked by ice; out much difficulty. It reached on however, the ship got close enough to land the 15 August, but ice prevented landing at Pond supplies and equipment for the second RCMP Inlet as anticipated to establish a police post post that the expedition established. The ship there, so the expedition proceeded north to made contact with Staff Sergeant Alfred Her- Ellesmere Island. Sverdrup’s Fram Fiord on the bert Joy of the RCMP, who had come to Pond south coast had been tentatively selected as the Inlet in September 1921 to investigate the mur- site of the police post on Ellesmere, but the ap- der of a white trader named Robert Janes, the proaches were still completely blocked by ice, second officer on Bernier’s 1910–11 expedition. and a small harbour close to King Edward VII Joy, who had been living at the recently estab- Point at the extreme southeastern tip of the is- lished Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) post, was land was chosen instead. Eight days of “fever- to be left in charge of the new RCMP post with ish haste and almost unceasing work” followed the three remaining members of the RCMP (a at , as the place was christened, corporal and two constables) assigned to serve unloading two years’ equipment and supplies with him.4 As at Craig Harbour, a bronze tab- for the police and getting their buildings suf- let, No. 2, was set in a large boulder as a survey ficiently advanced so that they could safely be marker, but a shortage of time meant that only left behind. Plane table and photographic sur- preliminary survey work was accomplished. veys were made of the area; observations for As the HBC was already located here and there latitude, longitude, and azimuth were taken; were local Inuit to provide any needed help, it and a bronze tablet marked “Canada, N.W.T. was not considered necessary to stay any long- 1” was set in solid rock, “signifying the first er than was required to complete unloading, tablet set in Franklin District under the direc- and the Arctic left on 7 September. It made a tion of the North West Territories Branch” of call at Godhavn, Greenland, on the way home,

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol Figure 15-2: Inuit with members of the CGS Arctic expedition, 1922. William 344 H. Grant / Library and Archives Canada / e002282921.

permission to land having been obtained pre- in the should be feasible during most viously by Inspector Wilcox.5 The Canadians of the year (employing wheels in summer and showed no inclination to try to ignore or cir- skis in winter) and that conditions were also cumvent formalities and regulations in Green- favourable for other work connected with fly- land, as they suspected the Danes themselves ing, such as wireless and photography. He also had done in Ellesmere. After an uneventful trip recommended that Canada should establish an south, the Arctic arrived back at Quebec on 2 experimental air station at some central point October. in the archipelago and maintain it throughout The main accomplishment of the exped- the year as an observation post.7 ition was the establishment of Craig Harbour and Pond Inlet, each of which was to serve triple duty as RCMP post, post office, and cus- The Eastern Arctic Patrol toms house. Craig summarized this and the other achievements of the expedition in his (1923) published report.6 He observed that the Janes The Canadian government made plans to send murder case, the presence of traders, and the two ships on the 1923 patrol: Arctic and an- entry almost every season of expeditions from other vessel which was to be obtained in Eng- outside warranted the maintenance of RCMP land and renamed Franklin. Captain Bernier posts, and he already envisaged the establish- went to to take over the command ment of several others. In a brief report, Major of the new vessel, leaving L. D. Morin as cap- Logan gave details about the potential land- tain of Arctic, but delays in finishing repairs to ing fields he had found at Craig Harbour and Franklin nullified the plan. Thus,Arctic went Pond Inlet, as well as general flying conditions north unaccompanied in 1923, again with in the Arctic. He advised that use of airplanes

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH 345

Figure 15-3: Eastern Arctic Patrols, 1922–24. Andrew Taylor, Geographical Discovery and Exploration in the (Ottawa: Department of Mines and Technical Surveys, 1964), 125. By permission of Natural Resources Canada.

Bernier as ship’s captain and J. D. Craig as and the ship’s officers and crew, and the RCMP expedition commander. The expedition’s prin- relief force of two constables, Arctic carried a cipal purpose was to establish one or two new considerably larger group of scientific, tech- RCMP posts, but there was some uncertainty nical, and other officials than the year before. as to where these should be. Officials had de- These included the medical officer Dr. Living- cided that one should be established at or near stone, the surveyor Frank D. Henderson, the in the southern part of Kane Basin naturalist J. Dewey Soper from the Victoria if weather and ice conditions permitted. The Memorial Museum, a hydrographer from the sovereignty aspect was uppermost in the selec- Department of Marine and Fisheries, the en- tion of this site, and also in some officials’ pref- gineer Major Lachlin Taylor Burwash from erence for Dundas Harbour as the site for the the Northwest Territories and Yukon Branch, second post in , to main- the wireless operator William George Earl, tain surveillance over Inuit and traders there.8 and a cinematographer. There was also a five- Arctic departed from Quebec on 9 July. Be- man court, which was to try the Inuit accused sides Craig and his personal secretary, Bernier of murdering the trader Janes and which

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol comprised the stipendiary magistrate Louis- recommended and sentenced to two years’ Alfred-Adhémar Rivet, prosecuting attorney close confinement at Pond Inlet, and the third Adrien Falardeau, attorney for the defence was found not guilty and set free.11 Leopold Tellier, registrar François Biron, and The expedition left Pond Inlet on 3 Sep- interpreter William (Sivutiksaq) Duval.9 The tember and made the last major stop at Pang- ship called at Godhavn to pick up some dogs nirtung in Cumberland Sound, where officials 346 and kamiks (native boots), which had been finally decided to establish the new RCMP ordered the year before for the RCMP serving post. All hands helped with the construction, in the North. As soon as Craig landed, he was and by the time the expedition departed on approached by an officer of the Royal Danish 22 September, the buildings for the RCMP de- Navy inspection ship Islands Falk with a “polite tachment under Inspector Wilcox, who was to but firm request” for papers showing the right spend the winter there, were almost completed. to land in Greenland. This requirement had By 4 October, Arctic was back at Quebec. Sub- been foreseen and provided for, and the docu- sidiary results of the expedition were Hender- ments presented “satisfied the officer fully.”10 son’s completion of surveys for the police posts The ship reached Craig Harbour on 5 at Craig Harbour, Dundas Harbour, Pond In- August, and all RCMP and Inuit there came let, and , and for HBC posts at aboard to help set up the new post at Cape Sab- Cape Strathcona, Pond Inlet, and Pangnirtung; ine. MacMillan and his expedition were found other results were Dr. Livingstone’s medical at Etah, and through him arrangements were examinations of Inuit, especially at Pond Inlet made with the two Inuit families remaining at and Pangnirtung.12 Etah who agreed to accompany the Canadian police and stay with them. Thick ice made it impossible to get to Cape Sabine, however, so The Eastern Arctic Patrol the police, Inuit, and supplies that had been destined for the projected new post were all (1924) landed at Craig Harbour. During the short For 1924, plans were again made to send two stay there, the new “post office” was officially ships to the north, but once again these plans opened, and wireless operator Earl was able to had to be cancelled and only Arctic was used. set up equipment and receive messages broad- Craig was unable to go, so the command fell to cast in code from . A short exploratory Frank Henderson, who had been surveyor on trip was made along the south coast of Elles- the 1923 patrol. Bernier was the ship’s captain mere, a call was made at Dundas Harbour once again, and the ship’s company included where Inspector Wilcox selected a site for a fu- the officers and crew, scientific and technical ture police post, and a memorial ceremony was personnel, and six RCMP who were to relieve performed on at the Franklin others and man a new post. One of the tech- cenotaph. At Pond Inlet, a formal trial was con- nicians was Richard Sterling Finnie, son of ducted of the three Inuit charged with the 1920 the director of the Northwest Territories and murder of Janes. One Inuk was found guilty of Yukon Branch, who served as assistant wire- manslaughter and sentenced to ten years’ im- less operator. Extra quantities of food, supplies, prisonment in Stony Mountain Penitentiary, and building materials caused the ship to be the second was found guilty but with clemency

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH 347

Figure 15-4: Inspector C. E. Wilcox, RCMP, and Inuit, , NWT, 1924. L.T. Burwash / Library and Archives Canada / e002344291.

overloaded, and a fatal accident was narrowly and occupy it for part of the year.) On the re- avoided in a storm north of the Strait of Belle turn trip, the ship made a ten-day stop from 17 Isle when it was found necessary to jettison the to 26 August at Dundas Harbour to construct deck load of coal and lumber. buildings for the new post “Dundas,” which Calls were made at and was formally opened just before Arctic depart- then at Pangnirtung, where the naturalist J. D. ed. Three RCMP members were left to occupy Soper left the expedition to carry on a one-year it. Other stops were made at Pond Inlet (28 study of plant and animal life around Cum- August), Clyde (6 September), and Home Bay berland Gulf. After a stop at Godhavn,Arc - (7 September), after which Arctic proceeded tic proceeded to Pond Inlet and then to Craig without interruption to Quebec, arriving on 24 Harbour, where it was discovered that the main September.13 building erected in 1922 had burned down during the winter. All personnel were removed from Craig Harbour and taken to Fram Havn The Eastern Arctic Patrol near Cape Sabine, where a new police post was to be established. The Inuit families who had (1925) come with the expedition to assist and remain The expedition of 1925 was under the com- with the police refused to stay, however, so mand of George Patton MacKenzie, who had only a supply post (christened Kane Basin) was been Gold Commissioner of the Yukon before erected, and all police and Inuit intended for his appointment. Again the ship’s company in- the new post were taken back and left at Craig cluded scientific and technical personnel and Harbour. (The police at Craig Harbour planned several RCMP members who were going north to make a patrol to the Kane Basin supply post as replacements, this having become a regular

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol feature of the cruise and one continued there- Etah for the planned post re- after. Also on board the Arctic was the Inuk mained with the RCMP, and the Inuit families who had been sentenced in 1923 to a prison already at Craig Harbour were taken aboard to term in Stony Mountain Penitentiary and who, be transferred to Dundas Harbour. The ship because of ill health, was now being returned made hasty calls at Dundas Harbour, Pond In- on parole to his home at Pond Inlet. (He died in let, Albert Harbour, and Pangnirtung, and the 348 December 1925.) expedition arrived back at Quebec somewhat As in 1924, the ship was heavily loaded and later than usual on 10 October.15 got into difficulties in the stormy Atlantic wat- This was the last cruise of the famous old ers north of the Strait of Belle Isle. Heavy ice Arctic, which became the property of ship frustrated an attempt to call at Pangnirtung, breakers and was left to become a hulk.16 It was and twenty days were lost first trying to get also Captain Bernier’s last voyage to the north- through it and then trying to escape from it. Af- ern islands.17 ter a short stop at Godhavn, Arctic proceeded to Etah, where it made contact with Bowdoin and Peary of MacMillan’s Arctic expedition (see The Eastern Arctic Patrol chapter 14). The meeting was cordial, but Mac- Millan’s activities in the had (1926) been a matter of concern to the Canadian gov- The Canadian government now decided that a ernment for some time, and MacKenzie took larger and faster ship than the Arctic was ne- up with the American leaders the question of cessary to handle the increasing cargoes and Lieutenant Commander Byrd’s airplane flights growing responsibilities of the annual summer over Ellesmere Island and whether permits had patrol. For the 1926 voyage, the government been obtained for such flights. Byrd passed on chartered the SS Beothic, a 2,700-ton, 10-knot to Mackenzie the alleged statement by Mac- steel ship owned by the Job’s Sealfishery Com- Millan that permits had been secured, but it pany of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Under the was later established that they had not.14 The terms of the charter, the owners provided the next stop was the Kane Basin subpost, where ship’s captain, Enoch Falk, and the officers the expedition found a record saying that Cor- and crew (with the exception of Captain L. D. poral T. R. Michelson had visited the post on Morin, who had formerly been first officer on 24 April 1925 while on patrol from Craig Har- the Arctic and was taken as pilot because of his bour. Although the expedition had intended knowledge of northern waters). George Mack- to establish a post still farther north at Bache enzie was again the officer in charge, and the Peninsula, the lateness of the season, shortage ship’s company totalled forty-two, including of coal, and the leaky condition of Arctic com- the expedition’s physician Dr. Livingstone, Dr. pelled it to abandon the idea. After restocking Lud Weeks and Dr. Maurice Fall Haycock of the storehouse at Kane Basin and leaving other the Geological Survey, and Corporal H. P. Friel supplies at nearby Fram Havn, the expedition and seven constables of the RCMP. proceeded south to Craig Harbour. Here the Leaving North Sydney, Nova Scotia, on 15 work of unloading supplies was completed as July, the expedition called in turn at Godhavn, quickly as possible, Staff Sergeant Joy was left Pond Inlet, Dundas, Craig Harbour, and Etah. in charge, the two Inuit families obtained at

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH largely to radio operator S. J. Mead, the ship was in daily contact with Ottawa throughout the voyage. Beothic arrived back at North Syd- ney on 29 August.18

The Eastern Arctic Patrol 349 (1927)

The expedition left North Sydney inBeothic on 16 July 1927, again with MacKenzie in charge. Among the ship’s company were Dr. of the University of Toronto, the art- ist A. Y. Jackson, and Inspector C. E. Wilcox and seven other RCMP members. Calls were made in succession at Godhavn, Dundas Har- bour, Craig Harbour, Etah, Fram Havn, Bache Peninsula, Craig Harbour, Dundas Harbour, Beechey Island, , , Pond Inlet, River Clyde, Pangnirtung, Lake Harbour, Figure 15-5: Inuit on SS Beothic at Pond Wakeham Bay, and Port Burwell, and Beothic Inlet (Mittimatalik/), 1926. Richard arrived back at North Sydney on 5 September. S. Finnie / Library and Archives Canada / Drs. Weeks, Haycock, and Livingstone, who PA-207912. had been left at Pangnirtung the year before, all returned with the expedition, while Inspect- or Wilcox remained at Pond Inlet. The patrol, At Fram Havn, it picked up the goods left the which was routine in most respects, was stat- year before and, after the expedition had suc- ed in the annual report of the Department of ceeded in crossing Buchanan Bay, the exped- the Interior to have “fully accomplished” its 19 ition members established an RCMP post at purposes. It did not, however, succeed in get- Bache Peninsula in accordance with the plan ting farther west than Beechey Island and Port that had to be abandoned in 1925. Staff Ser- Leopold in the planned reconnaissance west of geant Joy was left in charge of the new post, . with two constables and three Inuit families. On the return voyage, Beothic made calls in succession at Etah, Dundas, Arctic Bay, Pond The Eastern Arctic Patrol Inlet, Clyde River, and Pangnirtung. Weeks (1928) and Haycock were left at Pangnirtung to carry on geological investigations, and Livingstone Again Beothic was used for the patrol, its com- also remained there to investigate the health pany totalling forty-eight, including MacK- and living conditions of local Inuit. Thanks enzie in command, thirty-four officers and

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol crew under Captain Falk, medical officer Dr. Chesterfield Inlet, , Resolution Is- Livingstone, moving picture operator and land, and Port Burwell, in that order, before re- commander’s secretary R. S. Finnie, assistant turning to North Sydney, the home port being secretary R. T. Bowman, and Inspector Joy reached on 3 September. At Fram Havn, the and eight other RCMP members. Dr. Rudolph expedition met the Backe Peninsula detach- Martin Anderson, Chief of the Biological Div- ment and also Inspector Joy, who had recently 350 ision, Department of Mines, also accompanied completed a long patrol from Dundas Harbour the expedition. Leaving North Sydney on 19 to Melville Island and back to Bache Peninsula. July, Beothic proceeded in turn to Godhavn, The German scientist Dr. Hans Krüger and his Pond Inlet, Dundas Harbour, Fram Havn, the assistant Åge Rose Bjare, who were on their way Greenland settlement of Nerke, Craig Har- to northwestern Greenland, were picked up at bour, Cape Sparbo, Dundas Harbour, Beechey Godhavn and taken to the Nerke settlement. Island, Pond Inlet, River Clyde, Pangnirtung, Dr. Stuart was left at Pangnirtung to replace Lake Harbour, Port Burwell, and then back to Dr. Livingstone as health officer. Contact was North Sydney, arriving on 2 September. The made with SS Armore and SS Sambro at Resolu- Greenland Inuit who had been with the RCMP tion Island, where the Marine Department was at Dundas Harbour were left at Nerke; a sup- setting up a direction finding station.21 ply base was established at Beechey Island for Inspector Joy, who was making his headquar- ters for the coming year at Dundas Harbour The Eastern Arctic Patrol and expected to go on a long patrol westwards; and a residence was built at Pangnirtung for (1930) Dr. Livingstone, who remained to establish his The patrol was again carried out byBeothic headquarters there.20 under MacKenzie’s command. The ship’s com- pany totalled fifty-six, including thirty-five- of ficers and crew members and twenty-one other The Eastern Arctic Patrol personnel. Among the latter were the ship’s (1929) doctor D. S. Bruce, the Canadian artists Lawren Harris and A. Y. Jackson, the Danish scientist Beothic departed from North Sydney on 20 July Dr. Morten Porsild and his little granddaugh- 1929, under the command of G. P. Macken- ter, and three American scientists, as well as ten zie. The ship’s company of forty-four included constables and Inspector Joy of the RCMP. The thirty-six officers and crew, with Captain Falk itinerary included Godhavn, Alexander Haven as a master and Captain L. D. Morin as ice pi- and Cape Rutherford near Bache Peninsula, lot, medical officer Dr. Hugh Stuart, ornithol- Dundas Harbour, Cornwallis Island, Bathurst ogist Percy Algernon Taverner, secretary R. S. Island, Pond Inlet, River Clyde, Pangnirtung, Finnie, and four RCMP constables. Calls were Lake Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet, Coats Island, made at Godhavn, Dundas Harbour, Cape and Port Burwell. The expedition was later Sparbo, Craig Harbour, Fram Havn, Etah, the than usual this year, departing from North Nerke settlement, Dundas Harbour again, Pond Sydney on 31 July and returning on 27 Septem- Inlet, River Clyde, Pangnirtung, Lake Harbour, ber. Heavy ice conditions in Kane Basin made it

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH necessary to land the Bache Peninsula supplies Advance, Lake Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet, and at Cape Rutherford rather than at the police Port Burwell, and it was back at North Sydney post, and similar conditions in Viscount Mel- by 17 September. At Fram Havn, the expedition ville Sound compelled abandonment of a plan members learned that Krüger and Bjare, who to reach Melville Island. Dr. Stuart was picked had left Bache Peninsula on their expedition up at Pond Inlet, having made a patrol of this westwards about seventeen months earlier, had point from Pangnirtung the previous winter, not been heard from. Burwash thus cancelled a 351 and taken back to his post; Dr. Bruce replaced projected move of the Bache Peninsula detach- Dr. Livingstone as medical officer at Chester- ment to Craig Harbour and arranged search field Inlet; and Dr. Livingstone returned to expeditions and other emergency measures. As North Sydney with the ship. Building materials the itinerary indicates, short additional trips and equipment were taken to Pangnirtung for were made for various unscheduled purposes. the construction of a hospital there.22 At Pangnirtung, where the new hospital had just been completed, Dr. Livingstone replaced Dr. Stuart, who went back south with the ship. The Eastern Arctic Patrol Beothic rendezvoused with CGS N. B. McLean east of and transferred (1931) some passengers and mail.23 Under a reorganization of the Department of the Interior, arising out of the transfer of natural resources to the Prairie provinces in The Eastern Arctic Patrol 1930, the administration of the Northwest (1932) Territories and Yukon (including the Eastern Arctic Patrol) became the responsibility of Several important changes were instituted for the Dominion Lands Administration. For the the patrol of 1932. To save money, the govern- patrol in 1931, Beothic was chartered as usual, ment entered into a contract with the HBC for with Captain Falk serving as master as he had joint use of SS Ungava, which would not only done on previous voyages of this ship, but with carry out its annual supply voyage to company L. T. Burwash as expedition commander. Be- posts but would carry the Eastern Arctic Pa- sides the usual complement of ship’s officers, trol as well.24 The HBC chartered Ungava, the crew, and RCMP replacements, Beothic car- 2,000-ton sister ship of the Beothic, from Job’s ried the medical officer Dr. Livingstone, the Sealfishery Company. The new officer in charge American physician and medical researcher of the expedition was Major David Livingstone Dr. Peter Heinbecker, and two representatives McKeand, Secretary of the Northwest Territor- of Canadian newspapers. Leaving North Syd- ies Council of the Department of the Interior, ney on 30 July, the expedition called in turn who received his appointment and commission at Godhavn, Fram Havn, Bache Peninsula, on 12 May 1932. Other orders in council ap- Fram Havn, Robertson Bay and Thule (Green- pointed him a Justice of the Peace in and for land), Craig Harbour, Cape Sparbo, Dundas the Northwest Territories and authorized him Harbour, Pond Inlet, Dundas Harbour, Pond to receive applications during the expedition Inlet, River Clyde, Pangnirtung, Cape Hopes for aliens wishing to be naturalized.25

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol The ship’s company of sixty-three included becoming larger because of the increasing scope Captain Thomas Farrar Smellie and the crew of the responsibilities assumed. The Canadian of thirty-five, Inspector T. V. Sandys-Wunsch government again made a contract with the and twelve other RCMP members, medical HBC for joint use of the ship that the com- officer Dr. J. S. Douglas, veterinarian Dr. J. R. pany was using for its own patrol, in this case West, secretary and historian Garnet A. Woon- SS Nascopie, a vessel specially designed for use 352 ton, and several others including two HBC of- in Arctic waters (and generally superior to Un- ficials. The route followed was longer than in gava). The larger party aboard the ship reflected earlier years, mainly because of the need to call the increasing scale of the work undertaken at HBC posts in . Leaving Mont- and included, besides the ship’s captain and real on 9 July, the Ungava proceeded in turn to crew, the commanding officer D. L. McKeand, Cartwright, Port Burwell, Lake Harbour, Wa- assistant officer in charge W. C. Bethune, med- keham Bay, Sugluk West, Wolstenholme, Cape ical officer Dr. Jon Bildfell, geologist Dr. Henry Smith, Port Harrison, , C. Gunning, botanist Dr. Oscar Malte, meteor- Wolstenholme, Dorset, Lake Harbour, Port ologist William Edgar Knowles Middleton, Burwell, Pangnirtung, River Clyde, Pond Inlet, parasitologist Dr. Ivan W. Parnell, secretary Kane Basin, Craig Harbour, Dundas Harbour, and historian A. P. Norton, and Inspector T. V. Pond Inlet, Godhavn, and Port Burwell, ending Sandys-Wunsch and four other RCMP mem- the cruise at St. John’s, Newfoundland, on 16 bers. The Nascopie sailed from on 8 September. As the itinerary shows, the ship vis- July and returned to St. John’s, Newfoundland, ited some posts a second and even a third time. on 27 September; in between these dates, the Bad ice conditions defeated an attempt to call itinerary included successive calls at Cart- at Bache Peninsula, the only post not reached. wright, Port Burwell, Lake Harbour, Wakeham This was an unfortunate failure, given the gov- Bay, Sugluk, Wolstenholme, Cape Smith, Port ernment’s intention to transfer the personnel Harrison, , Churchill, South- at this post to Craig Harbour. At Godhavn, ampton Island, Wolstenholme, Cape Dorset, the expedition learned that a Greenland party Lake Harbour, Port Burwell, Dundas Harbour, had visited Bache Peninsula in early spring and Craig Harbour, Robertson Bay, Pond Inlet, found the police in good health. Neither the River Clyde, Pangnirtung, Port Burwell, and police nor the Greenlanders had been able to Cartwright. find any trace of Krüger, Bjare, or Akqioq (the During the expedition, as much scientif- Polar Inuk who joined them on the expedition), ic work as time permitted was carried on, al- and officials now concluded that there was little though botanical research was unfortunately possibility of their safe return.26 terminated at Charlton Island by the sudden illness and subsequent death of Dr. Malte. Dur- ing the second call at Wolstenholme, a prelim- The Eastern Arctic Patrol inary hearing was held in connection with the murder of an Inuk at the preced- (1933) ing winter. The police temporarily closed posts at Bache Peninsula and Dundas Harbour and For the year 1933, further significant changes reopened the post at Craig Harbour (which were made in the patrol, which was steadily had been closed). A patrol party from Bache

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH Figure 15-6: The SS Nascopie anchored in Pangnirtung Fiord. George Hunter/ National Film Board of Canada /Library and Archives Canada / 353 e010692597.

Peninsula found a message left by Krüger in the large ship’s company were medical officer a cairn on the northern coast of Axel Heiberg Dr. A. G. MacKinnon, anthropologist Douglas Island but was unable to find any further trace Leechman, veterinarian Dr. Seymour Hadwen, of him. The Inuit who had aided the police in magnetician R. Glenn Madill, ornithologist their search were returned to Robertson Bay. E.F.G. White, secretary and postal representa- Dr. Bildfell was left at Pangnirtung to replace tive F. Gilbert, and Superintendent T. H. Irvine Dr. Livingstone, who returned to Ottawa with and eight other RCMP members. Starting from the expedition.27 Montreal on 7 July and returning to Halifax on 30 September, Nascopie made successive calls at Cartwright, Port Burwell, Lake Harbour, The Eastern Arctic Patrol Wakeham Bay, Wolstenholme, Cape Smith, Port Harrison, Charlton Island, Churchill, (1934) (Southampton Island), Wol- stenholme, Cape Dorset, Lake Harbour, Port The patrol of 1934 again usedNascopie , and Burwell, Pangnirtung, River Clyde, Pond Inlet, again D. L. McKeand was officer in charge, Dundas Harbour, Craig Harbour, Pond Inlet, with T. F. Smellie as ship’s captain. Among Port Burwell, and Cartwright.

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol At Port Burwell on the outward trip, con- Harbour, Port Burwell, Craig Harbour, Dun- tact was made with D. B. MacMillan’s exped- das Harbour, Pond Inlet, River Clyde, Pangnir- ition (see chapter 14), which was awaiting the tung, and Port Burwell. arrival of Sergeant Frederick Anderton of the As much scientific and technical work was RCMP, who had been specially detailed as carried on as circumstances permitted. The the Canadian government representative with three medical doctors investigated problems 354 the expedition while it was in Canadian wat- concerning the health of Inuit. Leechman left ers. At Churchill, the supplies for Chesterfield the ship on the outward call at Port Burwell were transferred to the motor ship Fort Severn, and excavated some Inuit ruins on the Button and Dr. Livingstone took passage on the same Islands. Ney’s function with the expedition was ship to resume his duties as medical officer at to establish geodetic astronomical stations at the this port. A new HBC trading post, the most various points of call, and he also made precise northerly in Canada, was opened at Dundas latitude and longitude determinations at most Harbour. At Pangnirtung, Dr. MacKinnon re- of the stops. Commander Beard examined and placed Dr. Bildfell, who returned south with collected information on Canada’s northern the ship.28 harbours. The RCMP closed their detachment at Port Burwell, planning to have a constable in charge there for the summer months only, and The Eastern Arctic Patrol opened a new detachment at Port Harrison on the east coast of Hudson Bay.29 (1935)

The patrol of 1935 sailed from Montreal on 13 July in Nascopie, again with Major McKeand The Eastern Arctic Patrol in command, and returned to Halifax on 28 (1936) September. Among the ship’s company were medical doctors A. L. Richard, Charles Birch- The patrol of 1936 was made in Nascopie, ard, and Israel Mordecai Rabinowitch; anthro- again with Major McKeand in command. The pologist Douglas Leechman; physiographer government party comprised medical officer David A. Nichols; geodetic surveyor Charles Dr. N. A. MacArthur, anthropologist Doug- Herman “Marsh” Ney; entomologist W. J. las Leechman, geodetic surveyors C. H. Ney Brown; historian and observer Hon. William and Joseph Courtright, physiographer David George Martin; secretary and postal represent- Nichols, botanists Dr. Nicholas Polunin and ative W. M. MacLean; naval commander C. T. Rev. Father Arthème Dutilly, historians and Beard of the Department of National Defence; parliamentary press reporters Lloyd Roberts and Superintendent T. V. Sandys-Wunsch and and Thomas Wayling, post office represent- twelve other RCMP members. The itinerary ative G. H. Lawrence, and Inspector Keith included calls, in succession, at Cartwright, Duncan and six other members of the RCMP. Port Burwell, Lake Harbour, Wakeham Bay, Leaving Montreal on 14 July, the expedition Sugluk West, Wolstenholme, Cape Smith, Port proceeded in turn to Hebron, Port Burwell, Harrison, Churchill, Chesterfield, Southamp- Lake Harbour, Wakeham Bay, Sugluk West, ton Island, Wolstenholme, Cape Dorset, Lake Wolstenholme, Cape Smith, Port Harrison,

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH Churchill, Chesterfield, Southampton Island, cruise indicates the increasing scope and com- Wolstenholme, Cape Dorset, Lake Harbour, plexity of the work being done. Others aboard Port Burwell, Pond Inlet, Craig Harbour, Dun- the ship during part of the voyage included Dr. das Harbour, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet, Clyde George F. Crile of Cleveland, Ohio, and Dr. C. River, Pangnirtung, and Port Burwell, ending Stuart McEwen of the Royal Victoria Hospital, at Halifax on 1 October. Montreal. Dr. MacArthur left the ship at Church- Stops were made in succession at Hebron, 355 ill and was replaced by Dr. T. J. Orford, who Port Burwell, Lake Harbour, Wakeham Bay, later relieved Dr. MacKinnon at Pangnirtung. Sugluk West, Dorset, Wolstenholme, South- The RCMP also investigated a few instances of ampton Island, Cape Smith, Port Harrison, crimes among Inuit. Leechman and Nichols Churchill, Chesterfield Inlet, Wolstenholme, spent about three weeks on investigations in Lake Harbour, Craig Harbour, Arctic Bay, Fort the Wolstenholme area between calls of the Ross, Pond Inlet, Clyde River, Pangnirtung, ship at that point. Similarly, Ney left the ship and Port Burwell. at Port Burwell and carried on an investiga- Perhaps the most notable feature of the tion along the coast of Ungava Bay before being 1937 patrol was the meeting in Bellot Strait of picked up when the ship returned. Polunin and Nascopie, coming from the east, and Aklavik, Dutilly made an extensive collection of botan- coming from the west. This was, in a sense, a ical specimens.30 Canadian negotiation of the Northwest Pas- sage, although it was accomplished by two vessels rather than one. A similar completion The Eastern Arctic Patrol of the had occurred a few years earlier, when Fort James, sailing from (1937) the east, met Fort MacPherson, sailing from the west, at . A new HBC trading The patrol of 1937 left Montreal on 10 July post, Fort Ross, was established at the eastern on Nascopie, with Major McKeand in charge, extremity of Bellot Strait. The visit to the new and returned to Halifax on 28 September. The post at Arctic Bay, which had been established government party included medical officer Dr. the year before by transferring some Inuit from L. D. Livingstone; geodetic surveyors C. H. Ney Dundas Harbour to this site, found the resident and K. Gladstone; physiographer D. A. Nichols; party apparently satisfied with their new home. astronomer R. G. Madill; ichthyologist H. M. During the expedition, efforts were made to Rogers; biologist V. C. Wynne-Edwards; radio expand the use of radio communication in the engineers J.H.T. Arial, A. F. Crowell, and A. visited, and direct radio contact with Tamblin; Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Ottawa was maintained throughout the voy- representatives Frank Willis and Roy Cahoon; age. Finnie also took motion pictures illustrat- cinematographer Richard Finnie; post office ing various features of Inuit life.31 representative E. Gravel; historian and press re- porter R. K. (Andy) Carnegie; and Superintend- ent G. F. Fletcher and nine other RCMP mem- bers. The steadily increasing number of scien- tific and technical personnel accompanying the

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol The Eastern Arctic Patrol The Eastern Arctic Patrol (1938) (1939)

The 1938 patrol sailed from Montreal onNas - Again the patrol was on Nascopie, with David copie on 9 July and returned to Halifax on 19 McKeand in charge. Among the ship’s com- September, again with Major McKeand in pany were medical officer Dr. John Melling; 356 charge. Among the ship’s company were med- physiographer D. A. Nichols; zoologist John ical officer Dr. Keith Rogers, physiographer G. Oughton; biologists Maxwell John Dunbar, D. A. Nichols, ornithologist T. M. Shortt, art- Dennis Chitty, and Harold S. Peters; parasit- ist Frederick H. Varley, special researcher Jon ologist Lynden Laird Lyster; dentist Charles Bildfell, historian Marion Grange, post office H. M. Williams; barristers J. A. McLean and representative F.R.E. Sparks, and Superintend- F. G. Whitaker; historian Richard Marriott; ent Thomas B. Caulkin and five other RCMP post office representative R. A. Perkins; -sec members, two of whom were accompanied by retary J. Lambert; and Inspector D. J. Martin their wives. The ports of call were, in order, and five other members of the RCMP. Leaving Hebron, Port Burwell, Lake Harbour, Wake- Montreal on 8 July and returning to Halifax on ham Bay, Sugluk West, Dorset, Wolstenholme, 23 September, Nascopie called in turn at Heb- Southampton, Cape Smith, Port Harrison, ron, Port Burwell, Lake Harbour, Wakeham Churchill, Chesterfield Inlet, Wolstenholme, Bay, Sugluk West, Cape Dorset, Wolstenholme, Lake Harbour, Port Burwell, Thule, Craig Har- Southampton Island, Cape Smith, Port Har- bour, Arctic Bay, Fort Ross, Pond Inlet, Clyde rison, Churchill, Chesterfield Inlet, Wolsten- River, Pangnirtung, and Hebron. holme, Lake Harbour, Port Burwell, Craig Har- For the second successive year, contact bour, Fort Ross, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet, Clyde was made at Fort Ross with Aklavik, coming River, Pangnirtung, and Hebron. from the western Arctic. At Cape Dorset, ar- At Chesterfield, Dr. John Melling replaced rangements were made to transport several his brother Dr. Thomas Melling, who became Inuit families to Arctic Bay and Fort Ross so ship’s doctor for the rest of the cruise. An un- that they could join relatives who were already usual feature of the trip was the trial at Pang- at these points. After the traditional exchange nirtung of an Inuk murderer, with McLean of courtesies with Danish officials at Thule, a and Whitaker acting as Crown prosecutor and small party of Greenland Inuit was hired to defence counsel, respectively. He was found in- serve two years with the RCMP at Craig Har- sane and taken south for treatment. The large bour. Shortt made a large collection of bird number of scientific personnel among the ship’s specimens, and Bildfell made a special study company gives an indication of the size and of the nesting grounds of the eider duck. The scope of the scientific work attempted, which scientific work done during this expedition was covered a wider range of subjects than on any on a smaller scale than usual, however, largely previous expedition. The post at Port Burwell, because of the smaller number of scientific per- which had been a regular port of call since the sonnel accompanying the cruise.32 government and HBC cruises were joined, was closed after the second visit. On 4 September, after the outbreak of war,Nascopie was put

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH under war regulations and camouflaged with Investigating and prosecuting serious paint as much as possible.33 crimes took up a large portion of the RCMP’s time in northern detachments. In the early 1920s, police were kept occupied by an unusual- The Royal Canadian ly large number of murders among the Inuit. During the year after his arrival at Pond Inlet, Mounted Police, 1922–39 Staff Sergeant A. H. Joy succeeded in arresting 357 three Inuit for the murder of Robert Janes and Perhaps the most significant step in the grad- then found himself obliged to make another ual extension of the RCMP’s surveillance of investigation when he received reports of sev- Canada’s Arctic regions and maintenance of eral more Inuit murders near Home Bay on the law and order therein was taken in 1922, when east coast of . The murders at Kent Inspector Wilcox and nine other ranks accom- Peninsula in 1921 had been followed by more panied the first annual Eastern Arctic Patrol violence and at least one more murder; when and established a new detachment at Craig one of the suspects, Alikomiak, was arrested by Harbour. This formed part of the Canadian Corporal William Andrew Doak, he shot and government’s larger policy aimed at taking killed both Doak and Otto Binder, the manager such steps as seemed possible, practicable, and of the HBC post at . Three other sep- necessary to assert and consolidate sovereignty arate Inuit murders of Hav-oo-Ogak, Hiktak, over the Arctic regions that Canada claimed. and Kapolak, all in the region looked after by By 1924, the RCMP had twenty detach- the Tree River detachment, were under inves- ments grouped in four subdistricts in the tigation, and still another was reported to have Arctic and subarctic parts of the North, not occurred in the Repulse Bay region of Hud- counting the Yukon and the several detach- son Bay. In connection with all these murders ments there. The so-called Ellesmere Island and also in the normal course of duty, many subdistrict had Pond Inlet and Pangnirtung long patrols were made, notably from Rampart on Baffin Island, Dundas Harbour on Devon House, Tree River, Chesterfield Inlet, Port Bur- Island, and Craig Harbour, with the subpost at well, and Pond Inlet.36 From Chesterfield Inlet, Kane Basin, on Ellesmere Island itself. Hudson post visits were exchanged with Knud Rasmus- Bay subdistrict had Port Nelson and Chester- sen’s Fifth Thule Expedition, which was win- field Inlet; the Arctic subdistrict had Aklavik, tering on an island off Lyon Inlet, southeast of , Tree River, and Baillie Island; .37 and the Mackenzie River subdistrict had Fitz- The main feature of the RCMP’s work in gerald, Fort Smith, Chipewyan, Resolution, the North in 1923 was their participation in Rae, Providence, Simpson, Norman, and Good two full-fledged murder trials, one at Pond Hope. Port Burwell in was ad- Inlet for the three Inuit accused of murdering ministered from Ottawa.34 Changes to the Janes and one at Herschel Island for the sever- RCMP’s northern footprint, as well as the over- al Inuit who had been arrested in connection arching administration, occurred on an annual with the murders of Doak, Binder, and two of basis and are beyond the scope of this study but their own people. The trial at Pond Inlet, re- did represent effective Canadian occupation sulting in two convictions and one acquittal, through the interwar period.35 has already been described in the section on

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol 358

Figure 15-7: Police Posts in the Northwest Territories, 1925. Jennifer Arthur-Lackenbauer based on William Morrison, Showing the Flag: The Mounted Police and Canadian Sovereignty in the North, 1894-1925 (Vancouver: UBC Press, 1985), xvi-xvii, and Annual Report for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for the year ended September 30, 1926.

the Eastern Arctic Patrol. For the trial at Her- Sergeant Walter Munday travelled from Ches- schel Island, the judicial party travelled north terfield Inlet to a point about seventy-five miles from Edmonton and by boat down the Mack- north of Baker Lake to investigate the murder enzie River. Alikomiak and Tatamigana were of an Inuk named Ook-pa-tow-yuk, but he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death, unable to investigate the reported murder of Ekootuk was found guilty of manslaughter and another Inuk in the remote region north of Re- sentenced to one year’s imprisonment at Her- pulse Bay. schel Island, and Olepsekak and Amokuk were Another murder trial took place at Her- acquitted.38 Staff Sergeant Joy’s responsibilities schel Island in 1924, when a judicial party in connection with the Janes case had pre- found Ik-a-luk-piak guilty of the murder of vented him from going to Home Bay to investi- Hav-ou-gach south of Tree River in 1921 and gate the reported murders there, but he learned sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment in from Inuit that a man named Neakuteuk had Stony Mountain penitentiary. Corporal Fin- gone insane and then, after prevailing upon ley McInnes and Constable William Mac- members of his tribe to kill two men, had been Gregor travelled from Pangnirtung to Home put to death himself. In the spring of 1923, Staff Bay in early 1924 to investigate three reported

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH murders there, and several more murders were himself had been put to death in what was under investigation. A member of the Tree obviously self-defence, so no prosecution was River detachment arrested I-ter-goo-yuk, ac- undertaken, but in the second case, a court cused of the murder of Ook-pa-tow-yuk north from Edmonton held a trial at Aklavik and of Baker Lake about two years earlier, on King sentenced the murderer, Okchina, to one year’s William Island during the winter of 1924–25. imprisonment – a light punishment owing to 42 In accordance with instructions from Ottawa, extenuating circumstances. The most spec- 359 I-ter-goo-yuk was released with only a severe tacular event of the 1930s was the RCMP’s warning because of the practical impossibility greatest manhunt, for the “Mad Trapper” Al- of obtaining a legal conviction. The Tree River bert Johnson, who killed one Mountie and detachment also arrested I-ka-yena, accused of wounded several others before he was finally the murder of Uluksak (who had himself been tracked down and shot on the Eagle River in convicted of murder several years earlier), near February 1932.43 Queen Maud Gulf early in 1925. He was tried Pursuant to these investigations and the before Judge Lucien Dubuc at Aklavik in June Canadian government’s general sovereignty as- 1926 and found not guilty because of extenu- sertion policy, the RCMP also undertook an ac- ating circumstances and released. The RCMP tive patrolling program throughout the Arctic. also investigated another reported Inuit mur- Commissioner Cortlandt Starnes noted in his der of Puyerack by Tekack on Adelaide Pen- 1925 report that these long patrols, especially insula about 1921. Tekack voluntarily surren- in the Arctic, were often not made in connec- dered at Tree River after Sergeant F. A. Barnes tion with “cases” but were nevertheless a special had made a futile trip to tradition of the RCMP; their real purpose was in 1925 to arrest him. He also was tried before supervision of remote areas and isolated settle- Judge Dubuc at Aklavik in June 1926, pleading ments rather than to search for infractions of guilty of manslaughter and receiving a sen- the law.44 In reference to these patrols, Starnes tence of one year’s imprisonment at Herschel wrote two years later that “perhaps even here Island. Cases of accidental deaths, missing there is a slight decrease in the romantic side persons, infanticide, and starvation were also of the northern work, for, while long pioneer investigated.39 journeys still are made, nevertheless practice in These general patterns continued in the patrolling has brought facilities, and our men years ahead. No serious criminal cases had now as a matter of routine traverse regions come to light in the Northwest Territories in which not long ago were the objects of difficult 1927, 40 suggesting strongly that the RCMP were and tedious discovery.”45 making their presence felt, but in the Yukon, Among the many patrols in 1922 and 1923, an Indian named Jackie MacIntosh was found Corporal Finley McInnes and William B. Mac- guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to three Gregor completed an arduous trek from Pond years’ imprisonment for the murder of Pelly Inlet to the Inuit settle- Jim.41 In 1929, the RCMP investigated a large ment of ; Sergeant H. Thorne from Ed- number of deaths, both violent and accidental, monton ventured to Herschel Island (by way including a multiple murder case in the inter- of Alaska and Rampart House) in connection ior of Baffin Island and another murder near with the two hangings there; Staff Sergeant Joy Bathurst Inlet. In the first case, the murderer travelled from Pond Inlet to Lancaster Sound

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol in a bold but futile attempt to reach Ellesmere southern half of Ellesmere island; Island; and Inspector H. L. Fraser went from while the western coast of Hudson Fort Smith towards Great Bear Lake.46 In April bay and also are policed. and May 1925, Corporal T. R. Michelson pa- The mineral developments in north- trolled from Craig Harbour to the subpost at western Manitoba are causing our Kane Basin and back. patrols to go further north in that re- 360 Among the many patrols in early 1926, gion and in northern Saskatchewan, Inspector C. E. Wilcox went from Pond In- while we are steadily working into let to Home Bay; Sergeant J.E.F. Wight and the Barren Lands from the eastern Constable T. H. Tredgold from Pangnirtung ends of the great lakes of the north.50 to Lake Harbour and back; Staff Sergeant Joy from Craig Harbour to The extension of the RCMP’s posts into the and back; and Corporal Petty from Chester- Arctic islands facilitated long patrols into even field Inlet to and Back River, and the most remote parts of the archipelago. In back.47 Some of these patrols disclosed appal- the spring of 1929, for example, Inspector Joy ling conditions of hardship among Inuit in re- made a record-breaking patrol of 1,700 miles mote settlements, and the Mounties did what from Dundas Harbour to Winter Harbour in they could to give immediate help and make Melville Island, and then back to Bache Pen- arrangements for more. The most spectacular insula by way of Lougheed, King Christian, of the many northern patrols in 1927 was newly Ellef Ringnes, and Axel Heiberg Islands.51 Con- promoted Inspector Joy’s foray westwards of currently, Corporal Anstead, in charge of the Ellesmere Island, in this case from Bache Pen- Bache Peninsula post, was making a patrol of insula to several of the and 1,084 miles in Axel Heiberg Island and along back.48 The following year, Constable E. (Ted) the west coast of Ellesmere, while Constable Anstead patrolled from Bache Peninsula to S.H.C. (Hugh) Margetts travelled from Pond Axel Heiberg Island and back, and Inspect- Inlet to and back, a distance of 970 or Wilcox patrolled from Pond Inlet to Fury miles.52 Many other patrols were made, both and Hecla Strait, Foxe Basin, and Igloolik, and in the islands and on the northern mainland, back. Corporal R. A. Williams, in charge of an unusual and sad one being that of Inspector the Reliance detachment, made several patrols Charles Trundle from Great Slave Lake to the eastwards in search of the missing party led by cabin on the Thelon River where the Hornby the English adventurer John Hornby.49 By this party had perished to bury the bodies, recover point, Commissioner Starnes commented on the records, and make any other dispositions the comprehensiveness of the RCMP’s north- necessary.53 Among the more arduous patrols ern patrols in these terms: in 1930 were by Constables N. M. McLean and W. C. (Bill) Beatty from Bache Peninsula to The Arctic coast-line from the the western and southern coasts of Ellesmere Alaska boundary to the neighbour- Island, discovering a new route on the trip; by hood of the magnetic pole now is Corporal Maurice Mason Timbury and Con- under regular observation and con- stable R. W. Hamilton from Dundas Harbour trol; so are Hudson strait, Baffin is- to Cornwallis Island and back; by Corporal land, North , and the Hugh A. McBeth from Pond Inlet to Foxe Basin

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH 361

Figure 15-8: RCMP patrols in the High Arctic, 1929. Andrew Taylor, Geographical Discovery and Exploration in the Queen Elizabeth Islands (Ottawa: Department of Mines and Technical Surveys, 1964), 128. By permission of Natural Resources Canada. and back; and by Constable F. W. Ashe from (Nothing was found except a written record left Pond Inlet to Home Bay and back.54 By this by Dr. Krüger at the northern extremity of Axel point, Commissioner Starnes referred to the Heiberg Island on 24 April 1930, and it could last two as “habitual” and “customary.”55 only be concluded that he and his party had Land patrolling continued through the perished.)57 In March 1934, Constable L.W.L. 1930s. Corporal Harry Stallworthy made a long White led a patrol from to King patrol in the spring of 1931 from Bache Penin- William Island to investigate the murder of an sula to Craig Harbour and other points in a fu- Eskimo named Anaruak two years earlier,58 tile search for Dr. Krüger and his two compan- and Corporal McInnes completed one from ions (Bjare and Akqioq).56 The following year, Pangnirtung to and Lake Har- his detachment made two more long patrols bour, and back.59 The following year the longest in search of the lost Krüger expedition, with patrol was led by Constable Albert “Frenchie” Corporal Stallworthy circling Axel Heiberg Is- Chartrand, who travelled from Coppermine to land and Constable Hamilton travelling west as several points in Victoria Island and Corona- far as Amund Ringnes and Cornwall Islands. tion Gulf, and back again.60 In the early months

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol of 1936, Acting Lance Corporal R. C. Gray and several others (including Alex Stevenson of the Other Canadian Government HBC) made a long patrol from Pond Inlet to Expeditions, Surveys, Pingitkalik on the east coast of Melville Penin- Investigations, and Patrols sula and back. Another long patrol that season in the North was led by Acting Sergeant G. T. Makinson, 362 which went from the St. Roch at Cambridge Bay There were other Canadian government ex- to King William Island and on to Matty Island peditions, surveys, investigations, and patrols near before returning, with of various kinds during these years. Some of the primary objective of investigating two Inuit those in the eastern Arctic were connected murders.61 with the Eastern Arctic Patrol, and others in Maritime patrols, dealt with at length in the Yukon, the Mackenzie Valley region, and the discussion of the Eastern Arctic Patrol, the western Arctic islands also played a role in also facilitated RCMP coverage of the Arctic. Canada’s effort to occupy, administer, and de- In 1925, the motor launch Lady Borden was velop the North.66 transferred from Chesterfield Inlet to Pang- The Eastern Arctic Patrol certainly facili- nirtung and helped the police visit settlements tated research into health conditions among along the eastern coast of Baffin Island. The Inuit. Dr. Leslie Livingstone, who had been ap- most striking addition to the force’s facilities pointed medical health officer for the District was the 200-ton motor schooner St. Roch in of Franklin in 1925, went north on Beothic in 1928. Classed as a “floating detachment,” the 1926 and established his base for the follow- ship would patrol Arctic waters and help main- ing year at Pangnirtung, returning south with tain contact among the detachments on the the same ship in 1927. During the winter and coast and in the islands.62 The following year, spring, he made two long trips to southwestern Commissioner Starnes noted that the force had and northern Baffin Island to investigate and twenty-five boats of various sorts for service in treat Inuit illnesses, and he was picked up at the North, the largest being St. Roch.63 By the Pond Inlet by Beothic for the return voyage.67 early 1930s, it wintered regularly at Tree River, In 1928 and 1929, he returned to begin estab- giving the police another base in the area,64 and lishing a medical headquarters and hospital at it also served as a hub for long patrols. Con- Pangnirtung, and undertook a similar project stable S. E. Alexander of St. Roch spent almost at Chesterfield Inlet in 1930. Travelling by rail the entire winter of 1936–37 on patrol in the to Churchill in April and then by dog team to Cambridge Bay–Coppermine region, travelling Chesterfield, he opened the medical post and a total of 1,583 miles, and Sergeant Henry As- helped to plan the projected hospital, before bjorn Larsen, the venerable skipper of the St. returning to Ottawa in the autumn.68 Another Roch, made a 900-mile patrol from Cambridge medical officer active in the Arctic was Dr. Bay, where the vessel was wintering, to King James A. Urquhart at Aklavik, who went on an William Island and back.65 investigative tour of health conditions in 1932 through the Northwest that took him to Her- schel Island, Coronation Gulf, and Great Bear Lake.69

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH conditions and a geographical reconnaissance along the eastern coast of James and Hudson Bays from Rupert House to Richmond Gulf, in- cluding the adjacent islands.72 Major Burwash spent the summers of 1928 and 1929 investigating the Arctic coast and offshore islands between Coronation Gulf and 363 Boothia Peninsula. Travelling via the Mack- enzie River and then eastwards from Aklavik in the government’s gasoline boat Ptarmigan, he wintered at Gjoa Haven on King William Island, made three trips to the vicinity of the North Magnetic Pole on Boothia Peninsula, and investigated Inuit stories about the fate of the Franklin expedition. Uncertainty as to the fate of the Dominion Explorers air expedition headed by Colonel C.D.H. MacAlpine caused a long wait at this party’s base near the entry of the into Bathurst Inlet, and Figure 15-9: Major L. T. Burwash, 1926. Library it was not until mid-November, when the safe- and Archives Canada / Indian and Northern Affairs, Department Library Albums. ty of the expedition had been ascertained, that Burwash was able to set off on the first of sev- eral plane hops that took him south to Win- nipeg.73 He spent the summer of 1930 in the Other officials conducted surveys of eco- same region, travelling by boat and plane, with nomic and local conditions. Major L. T. Bur- instructions to continue his investigations of wash, an exploratory engineer with the De- the mineral resources of the Coppermine area partment of the Interior, was particularly ac- and to examine further the correctness of vari- tive in the eastern and central Arctic during ous reports and rumours about the Franklin these years. In the summer of 1923, he left expedition. Accompanied by Richard Finnie, the Eastern Arctic Patrol at Pangnirtung and Burwash flew around King William Island and spent a year making an economic survey and searched the ground along the west coast but general reconnaissance of southwestern Baf- found no new, conclusive evidence about the fin Island, returning south on HBC vessels in Franklin party.74 1924.70 The following year, he was instructed to Other Canadians carried out official -in conduct a comprehensive investigation of the spections in the western Arctic during the Arctic coast and travelled eastwards from the interwar years. Chief Inspector John Francis Mackenzie delta, wintered on King William Moran visited the Mackenzie District, travel- Island, and continued in the spring of 1926 to ling down the Mackenzie River to the delta in Chesterfield Inlet, where he took passage on an 1922, 1924, 1926, and 1928, in the latter case HBC boat back to Ottawa.71 In the summer of continuing eastwards along the Arctic coast in 1927, he completed an economic survey of Inuit SS Baychimo as far as Queen Maud Gulf.75 In

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol 1927, J. A. McDougal, the district agent at Fort were members).80 Three years later, Camsell fol- Smith, carried out an inspection and investi- lowed this up with an inspection trip to Fort gated Inuit conditions in the region between Smith and the Yellowknife mining district, and Fort Smith and Cambridge Bay.76 In the sum- Roy A. Gibson, Director of the Lands, Parks, mer of 1929, Oswald S. Finnie, Director of the and Forests Branch, inspected a number of Northwest Territories and Yukon Branch, made settlements and mining sites in the Mackenzie 81 364 a field inspection of posts and settlements in District. the Mackenzie District and Yukon Territory to Government officials also were involved in secure first-hand information about conditions extensive geological and geographical survey from local spokesmen and to advise govern- work. For example, Dr. Lud Weeks of the Geo- ment about desirable change and development. logical Survey, accompanied by Maurice Hay- His route was by train from Ottawa to Water- cock, wintered at Pangnirtung in 1926–27 and ways, Alberta; by steamboat down the Atha- carried on extensive investigations in south- basca, Slave, and Mackenzie Rivers; by plane ern Baffin Island.82 Guy Houghton Blanchet of from Aklavik to Dawson (this being a pion- the Department of the Interior Topographical eering flight); by ship along the Pacific coast to Survey, who earlier in the 1920s had made im- Vancouver; and then by train back to Ottawa. portant investigations in Wood Buffalo Park83 In the course of his journey through the North, and in the regions around and to the north and he made as many stops and visits to outlying east of Great Slave Lake,84 spent the working points as possible.77 seasons of 1928 and 1929 carrying out similar The expansion of the mining frontier also duties in Keewatin District. Acting as a govern- elicited direct attention. A. L. Cumming, Chief ment representative with several private com- Mining Inspector (and later a member of the panies which were prospecting for minerals, he Northwest Territories Council), flew from Fitz- went into the region by ship through Hudson gerald in August 1931 to make a field investi- Bay, wintered at Tavani on the west coast of gation of stakings and claims in promising ore the bay south of Chesterfield Inlet, and during bodies in the Great Bear Lake–Coppermine the two seasons participated in various pros- River region, notably at Echo Bay and the Dis- pecting trips by airplane. Although this meth- mal Lakes.78 The following summer he travelled od of travel was in its infancy in the North and by canoe from Fort Smith to the Mackenzie del- obviously had many problems to overcome, he ta, inspecting schools, hospitals, radio stations was optimistic about its future utility for pros- and public utilities, generally in the settlements pecting and for other purposes.85 Blanchet took en route, and also the reindeer camp east of charge of the search for the MacAlpine party the delta. On the return trip, he went up Bear and continued to make flights under difficult River and visited several mining locations, in- circumstances until he received news in early cluding some he had seen in 1931.79 Dr. Charles November that the lost party was safe at Cam- Camsell, the Deputy Minister of Mines, and Dr. bridge Bay.86 Harold W. McGill, the Deputy Superintendent A large proportion of the scientific exped- General of Indian Affairs, made inspection itions which were made during these years were trips in the Northwest Territories during the carried on in conjunction with the Eastern Arc- summer of 1935 and submitted reports to the tic Patrol. For example, in 1936 David Nichols Northwest Territories Council (of which both of the Geological Survey, Douglas Leechman

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH Figure 15-10: J. D. Soper and party on a survey of Parketuk Bay, 1929. J.D. Soper / Library and Archives Canada / 365 e002342694.

of the National Museum, and C. H. Ney of the Cape Dorset until 1929.89 He returned to Baffin Geodetic Service of Canada went north on the Island the following year to continue his inves- Nascopie and left the ship to carry on periods of tigations of wildlife in the southern part of the research in their own disciplines, Nichols and island, but illness forced him to return to Ot- Leechman at Wolstenholme and Ney at Port tawa in August 1931.90 In 1932 and 1933, he was Burwell. This was common practice at the time. occupied with a comprehensive investigation of Nichols, for example, accompanied the Nascop- flora and fauna in Wood Buffalo Park.91 ie and made geological studies in this way each W.H.B. Hoare, an investigator for the year from 1935 to 1939.87 Northwest Territories and Yukon Branch of the Similarly, studies of Arctic flora and fauna Department of the Interior, also spent exten- took Canadian scientists to the Far North. In sive time in the field. In 1924, 1925, and 1926, August 1924, the naturalist J. D. Soper fol- he made a comprehensive investigation of wild- lowed Burwash’s example by leaving the Arc- life, especially caribou, along a large portion of tic at Pangnirtung, establishing his base at the the Yukon and Mackenzie coast and in the in- RCMP post, and carrying on investigations terior.92 He following this with fieldwork in the in the Nettilling and Lakes region Thelon Game Sanctuary (created by a federal before boarding Nascopie at Amadjuak in Au- order in council on 15 June 1927) from Janu- gust 1926 and heading home.88 In the summer ary 1928 to August 1929. Building a cabin on of 1928, he returned to Baffin Island to carry the Thelon River to serve as his headquarters, out research on Inuit and wildlife (particular- he examined the southern part of the sanctu- ly to determine the breeding grounds of the ary in the summer of 1928 and the northern blue goose) and established his headquarters at part in 1929, primarily to ascertain the number

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol Henry Douglas Clarke of the University of To- ronto with biological surveys of the sanctuary in 1936 and 1937.95 The same pair returned for further investigations in 1937. As discussed in chapter 9, the Danish brothers Alf and Robert Porsild investigated 366 the possibility of introducing the reindeer in- dustry in parts of the Canadian North, cover- ing the coastal region as as Coronation Gulf and the interior east of the Mackenzie delta and around Great Bear Lake in 1927–28.96 Alf made a botanical investigation of some of the islands in James Bay during the summer of 192997 and then made a botanical investiga- tion in Keewatin the following year in a further search for reindeer grazing grounds.98 In 1931, he conducted three Saami (Lapp) herders down the Mackenzie River to Kittigazuit and then continued from there on a patrol into Alaska.99 Robert had also been sent to the Mackenzie delta in connection with the reindeer project in the summer of 1930.100 Other researchers fol- lowed on inspection tours of the region, super- vising fieldwork and conducting detailed stud- ies on the reindeer herd.101 Canadian researchers also completed im- portant hydrographic work during the interwar Figure 15-11: Bob Porsild feeding the dogs, years. The Canadian government decided in the Eskimo Lakes, NWT, 1927. AEP / Library and mid-1920s to complete the Hudson Bay railway Archives Canada / e010933876. and terminals, and an order in council of 22 January 1927 provided for the appointment of an advisory board under the chairmanship of the representative of the Department of Marine and general condition of muskox there. Later in and Fisheries, N. B. McLean, to organize an in- the summer of 1929, he descended the Thelon vestigation into ice conditions, navigation, and River to Chesterfield and returned home on the related matters in Hudson Strait.102 Using the Eastern Arctic Patrol vessel Beothic.93 Hoare CGS Stanley and the freighter Larch to trans- returned to Thelon the following summer to port men, materials, and supplies, McLean’s continue his faunal investigations, overwinter- party established three bases in the Hudson ing in the field near the eastern extremity of Strait during the summer and fall of 1927: at the sanctuary before returning to Ottawa in Port Burwell at the eastern extremity, Not- August 1931.94 He also assisted Dr. Charles tingham Island at the western extremity, and

A HISTORICAL AND LEGAL STUDY OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH Wakeham Bay halfway between the two. From 1935. F.C.G. Smith and then J. U. Beauchemin these bases, they made detailed observations surveyed the west coast of Hudson Bay in the by airplane, by boat, and from the ground. The vicinity of Churchill in 1928, 1929, 1930, and CGS Montcalm and Larch withdrew the exped- 1931. Smith carried on yearly surveys in Hud- ition in the autumn of 1928 according to the son Strait, on the Quebec side in 1931, 1932, original plan, but the expedition left direction and 1935, and on the Baffin Island side in 1933 finding stations in operation at Port Burwell, and 1934. Using the DGS icebreaker and patrol 367 Nottingham Island, and Cape Hopes Advance. ship N. B. McLean, Smith completed his survey Insofar as conclusions could be drawn from for the most important parts of the route.105 weather and ice observations during the two Finally, in connection with the Inter- seasons, McLean anticipated a possible naviga- national Polar Year in 1932–33, three Canadian tion period of about four months: from about stations were put into operation in the Arctic, 20 July to 20 November.103 at Cape Hopes Advance, Chesterfield Inlet, and Other hydrographic surveys followed in Coppermine. Frank Davies, Balfour Currie, the late 1920s and 1930s. For example, N. Wil- Stuart McVeigh, and were stationed son of the Canadian Hydrographic Service at Chesterfield Inlet; R. C. Jacobsen at Copper- travelled down the Mackenzie River from Fort mine; J. R. Lilly at Cape Hopes Advance; and Smith in 1930 in the hydrographic launch Pilot E. H. Vestine at Meanook, Alberta. John Patter- I and surveyed the Richards Island channel in son was Director of the Meteorological Service, the delta, some of the passages among the outer W.E.W. Jackson was the Assistant Director, and islands, and the offshore waters westwards to Andrew Thomson was in charge of meteoro- Shingle Point on the Arctic coast and north- logical planning. “Some of the future giants of wards to Hooper Island. His main objective was Canadian science received thorough practical to try to locate a navigable channel for seagoing education during the Second International vessels between open water and the Mackenzie Polar Year,” a subsequent report noted. “Al- River. He continued the survey in 1933 in the though not all the data from the Second Inter- vicinity of Port Brabant, Kittigazuit, and the national Polar Year could be analyzed because eastern part of the delta.104 Hydrographic oper- of the interruption of the world war, it has been ations also continued in connection with the estimated that the information gathered was development of the Hudson Bay route during worth ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’ world- eight consecutive seasons from 1928 through wide for telecommunications alone.”106

15 | The Eastern Arctic Patrol