The Kitikmeot Roundtable on Search and Rescue (KRSAR) was held at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, from 31 January – 1 February 2020. It brought together 55 members of the Ground SAR (GSAR) teams, Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Auxiliary units, CASARA volunteers, and Canadian Ranger patrols from Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, and Kugaaruk, academics, and representatives of federal and territorial agencies to discuss best practices, lessons learned, and future requirements for search and rescue in the Kitikmeot region.
Taamna Qitiqmiuni Katimatjutauyut Qiniqhiayinik Annaktiniklu (KRSAR) katimahimayut talvani Kaniitian Ukiuqtaqtumi Qauyihaqvianit (CHARS) Iqaluktuuttiaqmi, Nunavunmi, January 31-mit February 1-mut, 2020-mi. Katipkaihimayut 55-nik katimayinik talvanngat Nunainnaqmi SAR-nut (GSAR) havaqatigiingnik, Kaniitian Umiaqtuqtunik Annaktit (CCG) Havaqatigiingit, CASARA ikayuqtiit, taapkua Kaniitian Annaktit ikayuqtit Qurluqtuqmit, Iqaluktuuttiaqmit, Taluryuarmit, Kuugaaryungmillu, ilihaiyinik, kivgaqtiniklu kavamatuqanit aviktuqhimayumillu timiqutinik unipkaariamik havauhittiatqiyat, qanuq ayuiqhimaliqtut, hivunighamilu ihariagiyainik qiniqhiayit annaktillu Qitiqmiuni aviktuqhimayumi.
The idea for this roundtable came out of conversations that the roundtable organizers – Peter Kikkert, Angulalik Pedersen, and P. Whitney Lackenbauer – had with members of the community-based organizations involved in SAR in the Kitikmeot. Given the distances involved, the lack of federal resources in the region, and their extensive knowledge of local geography, sea and ice conditions, the environment, and potential challenges and risks, these groups are the foundation of Canada’s Arctic SAR system and need to be as effective as possible. To assist with this objective, group members highlighted the need to:
- 1) share their knowledge with and learn from practitioners in other communities; and
- 2) share their experiences with and develop relationships with the territorial and federal agencies involved in SAR in Nunavut.
Ihumaliuqtauhimayut hapkua katimatjutighat unipkaaqhutik taapkua parnaiyaiyut – Peter Kikkert, Angulalik Pedersen, taamnalu P. Whitney Lackenbauer – taapkualu nunallaarmiut timiqutit ilauyut SAR-kunnut Qitiqmiuni. Ungahiarutigiighutik, kavamatuqanit pivighailliuqhutik aviktuqhimayumi, qauhimattiaqhutiklu nunamingnik, taryumik hikuplu qanurininganianik, avatiinik, ayuqhautaulaaqtunik amirnaqtuniklu, hapkua katimaqatigiit tunngaviuyut Kanatam Ukiuqtaqtuanit SAR-kut havauhiinut taimaalu nakuuhimayughat ayurnaitpat. Ikayuriamik hapkununnga havaaghanut, katimayut ilittuqhitihimayut ihariagiyainik taapkuninnga:
- 1) ilittuqhitigiighutik qauhimayainik ayuiqhavigilugillu havaktiit ahinit nunallaarnit;
- 2) ilittuqhitigiighutik ilihimaliqtait ilagiittiarahuaqhutiklu aviktuqhimayumi kavamatuqanillu timiqutinik ilauyut SAR-kunnut Nunavunmi.
The roundtable allowed community responders to explain how they organize, coordinate, and conduct searches, with a focus on training and skills, response procedures, leadership, equipment, and inter-organization and inter-community cooperation. Together with their partners in the Canadian Coast Guard, Emergency Management Nunavut, and the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces, participants explored how Canada’s Arctic SAR System could best utilize community-based assets as force multipliers. As a culminating activity, officers from the Canadian Coast Guard held a Mass Rescue Operation Tabletop Exercise that centred on an adventure cruise ship running aground in the waters of the Kitikmeot.
Katimatjutigiyaanit nunallaarmiut kiuhiyit ilittuqhitivaktut qanuq parnaiyaivagiaghait, upalungaiyaqpagiaghait, qiniqhiavagiaghaillu, ihumagilluaqhugu ilihainiq ayuitaillu, kiuhiyut havauhiit, hivuliqtiit, ingilrutit, katimaqatigiingnik-havaqatigiingniqmik katimaqatigiingnik-nunallaat ikayuqtigiingniqmik. Atauttikkut taapkualu havaqatigiplugit Kaniitian Umiaqtuqtut Annaktit, Irininaqtunik Kiuhiyit Nunavunmi, taapkualu Havakviit Nunaptingni Anguyaktit/Kaniitian Anguyaktit Tingmitjiqiyit, ilauyullu qauyihaivagaat qanuq Kanatami Ukiuqtaqtuq SAR-kut Havauhiit ihuaqnighakkut ikayuutaulaariaghait nunallaarmiunit nanminiuyut annaktinut. Ayuiqhaqvigiplugu, havaktit talvanngat Kaniitian Umiaqtuqtut Annaktit Inugiangniqmi Annaghiyunik Havaktitaihimayut ihumagilluaqhugit ikaannguaqtuq tullaghimayut ikkalrumi taryumi Qitiqmiuni.
The roundtable brought together practitioners with a great deal of experience conducting SAR operations in their communities. The main objective of this roundtable was to collect their knowledge and produce a list of challenges, lessons learned, best practices, and suggestions for improvement to share with all individuals, groups, and agencies involved with SAR in the Kitikmeot.
Katimatjutauyumi katimapkaihimayut havaktinik ilihimattiaqtunik qiniqhianirmik SAR-kut havauhiigut nunallaarmingnit. Inilluarumayait hapkua katimatjutaigut taapkua katitirilutik qauhimayatuqanik titiraqlugillu ayuqhautit, ilihimaliqtait havauhittiat, uuktuquyauhimayullu ihuaqhaivighaqaqlutik ilittuqhitigiiklutik tamangnut inungnut, katimaqatigiingnut, timiqutinullu ilauyut SAR-kunnut Qitiqmiuni.
View or download a copy of the Roundtable reports:
Kitikmeot SAR 