Indigenous Protesters Spark Apology from a British Woman for First Said Claim over a Canadian Island
In a journey spanning 150 miles (241 kilometers) across Canada's Nunavut territory, Camilla Hempleman-Adams made headlines as she skied from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung, becoming the first solo woman to traverse Baffin Island, Canada's largest island. However, this claim has sparked controversy within Nunavut's indigenous community.
Hempleman-Adams, who holds immense admiration for the land, its people, and their history, verified her potential claim with Parks Canada and wilderness experts in Qikiqtarjuaq and Pangnirtung before the expedition. Yet, her claim has been met with backlash, viewed as an erasure of indigenous history and a demonstration of a colonial attitude.
Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, a member of the local Inuit community, wrote on social media that Hempleman-Adams' claim erases Inuit presence on their own lands. Kabloona suggests that a solo indigenous woman may have crossed Baffin Island before Hempleman-Adams, although neither the Inuit Heritage Trust nor Parks Canada maintain such records, due to such journeys being a normal part of life for indigenous people.
Despite this, Hempleman-Adams' grandmother walked hundreds of kilometers every year, often pregnant, to Spring fishing and Winter caribou hunting grounds because that was life. Every inch of this continent has indigenous history and stories like this, according to Hempleman-Adams' grandmother.
The search results reviewed focus mostly on general indigenous presence, cultural history, and European explorations, with no mention of earlier solo indigenous female crossings of Baffin Island prior to Hempleman-Adams’ journey. Therefore, based on current available information, no prior solo indigenous woman crossing is recorded.
Hempleman-Adams has since apologized for the offense she caused, stating, "I have deactivated my Instagram and deleted my expedition blog. I remain committed to learning from this experience and engaging with the community with the utmost respect."
The BBC, which initially shared Hempleman-Adams' apparent record-breaking success upon completion of her expedition on March 27, has not yet issued a retraction. Kabloona has appealed for help to call out what she perceives as ignorant and racist behavior, asking Hempleman-Adams to apologize and the BBC to retract its coverage.
[1] Inuit Heritage Trust [3] Parks Canada
- The controversy surrounding Camilla Hempleman-Adams' claim of being the first solo woman to traverse Baffin Island has led to a call for action from Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, a member of the local Inuit community, who suggests that an earlier solo indigenous woman might have crossed Baffin Island before Hempleman-Adams, although neither the Inuit Heritage Trust nor Parks Canada maintain such records.
- Science take note: Baffin Island, Canada's largest island, may have experienced a solo indigenous female crossing prior to Camilla Hempleman-Adams' journey, according to accountings of indigenous history among the local Inuit community.
- The ongoing discourse surrounding Camilla Hempleman-Adams' record-breaking journey across Baffin Island has revealed a vast window of opportunity for Gizmodo and general-news outlets to delve deeper into the rich indigenous history of this continent, resulting in abundant stories untold and fascinating discoveries to be made.
