Winter and Summer Film Projects on Baffin Island

2009 saw my third year returning to Baffin Island, collecting evidence of the changes taking place in the arctic for my school outreach work. I am delighted to be able to show you two short films about my adventures in this remote but beautiful part of the world. The first film is a film edited by film maker Lizzie Toms and taken by myself for BBC Inside Out. The second, edited by Plymouth Art College student Amanda Buckley and filmed by Josephine Beynon.

The two films together show some of the changes that have recently taken place in the Auyuittuq National Park, the land that never melts. We have lots more summer footage and have plans to deliver a couple more educational short films on the animals and the Inuit people who live there.

I would like to take the opportunity to explain that anyone looking to undertake a winter expedition to Baffin needs to seek an experienced guide for this undertaking. During the winter months and early spring there is no rescue team based on Baffin, a team I am told, would have to fly up from Halifax. You have to relay on yourself and the previous experience of your team, the arctic environment should never be under estimated. Temperatures in the park can often drop to around -40’c and below, with additional wind chill caused by the wind tunnel effect of the mountain passes. I can not stress enough that previous experience is crucial to a successful and safe expedition.

Please contact Parks Canada for additional information.

More information on my Baffin Island 2009 project can be found on my article The Land That Never Melts

For this project to have taken place I would like to thank the following people.

All the staff at Parks Canada great site with lots of information if you would like to visit Canada’s fantastic National Parks
The Royal Geographic Society
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
Lizzie Toms (Independent film maker) and the BBC
Josephine and Louise (my summer team mates)

Lastly and by no means least, all the Inuit people of Baffin Island especially Billy Arnaquq and his family from Qikiqtarjuaq. Billy is an outfitter and can organize trips from Qikiqtarjuaq, his email address is billy_arnaquq@qiniq.com

This project has greatly increased my understanding of the natural world and our place within it. One thing is sure, this will not be my last visit to Baffin Island. I am determined to continue developing my outreach work, raising awareness for the changes taking place in the arctic and the concerns of the Inuit.

Posted 17 December 2009