News in Review – October 2012 – Teacher Resource Guide THE SEARCH FOR THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION

MINDS‐ON ACTIVITY

Discuss the following questions before reading:

1. Name as many explorers as you can. Note what country each explorer was from and what lands they were exploring and claiming. Discuss your findings as a class.

2. Define the terms imperialism, colonialism and indigenous.

3. Why might explorers be considered heroes of their own nation? Why might they be viewed less favourably by indigenous peoples? Why are explorers considered important historical figures?

4. Who would you consider as present day examples of explorers? Why?

SETTING THE STAGE

Captain Sir and his crew of 130 Arctic Archipelago. Victorians wondered their men set off from Britain 160 years ago on an fate and sent several expeditions to find answers expedition of the Arctic. The two ships, the to the mystery. Dozens of expeditions were HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were some of the launched in an attempt to search for the lost biggest and strongest vessels ever to make the men. journey. Stocked with food, water and other necessities to last seven years, the expedition In 1859, a search party hired by Lady Jane hoped to detail the last un-navigated section of Franklin found a message left in a cairn (a pile the (a route from the Atlantic of stones made by humans) on Victory Point, to Pacific Ocean through Canada). that detailed how the two ships had become trapped in the ice in Victoria Naval explorers like Franklin were heroes of Strait in late 1846, and remained there a year Victorian Britain; brave men who risked life and and a half. The message also stated that Sir John limb to examine the mysteries of uncharted Franklin died on June 11, 1847 and by spring lands and to lay claim to those lands for their 1848 another 24 members of the crew has mother country. perished. In April 1848 the rest of the crew left a note saying they were setting out on foot, for a After two years with no communications back to destination they never reached. Britain from Franklin, everyone feared the worse. The entire crew had vanished in the

25

OCTOBER 2012 — THE SEARCH FOR THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION

Despite the tragic ending to his journey, In recent times, the Canadian government has Franklin remained a hero in British popular also invested time and money to search for the culture and other expeditions were launched to doomed vessels, but the reasons for the latest find out more about the disaster. Some revived interest in Franklin seem to be scientific, speculated that the crew had fell victim to economic and political interest related to Arctic scurvy, lead poisoning, or tuberculosis. Earlier sovereignty. The latest hunt for wreckage was speculation of cannibalism was finally proven led by Parks Canada. Franklin's ships were not when skeletal remains were found in later search found but important artifacts were discovered. It parties (bones revealed evidence of being was the fourth government-led expedition over intentionally severed). The story of the doomed the past five years and the biggest. The lost ships quest in the unforgiving North remains a remain an undiscovered national historical site. historical mystery.

Class Discussion

1. Why is the Arctic important to the government of Canada? List as many reasons as you can (i.e. natural resources, national identity, military/defense, environmental)?

2. Why is the Arctic important to the people? List as many reasons as you can.

News in Review ∙ CBC Learning ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 26

OCTOBER 2012 — THE SEARCH FOR THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION

Examining Primary Evidence of the Franklin Mystery

Primary evidence is important to historians. Primary evid