Students Celebrate Centennial of Canadian Arctic Expedition With Historical Videos

WINNIPEG, May 16, 2013 /CNW/ - One hundred years ago, fourteen scientists, several captains and their crew set sail on a mission to explore unknown lands in the Beaufort Sea.  Their five-year odyssey, from 1913-1918, marked the first multi-disciplinary scientific expedition to the Canadian Arctic.  This Canadian-funded expedition uncovered thousands of animals, plants, rocks and fossils as well as artifacts from the Copper Inuit and other cultures.

Today, students across Canada are travelling back in time to celebrate the Canadian Arctic Expedition by researching and making videos with themes that relate to the history of Canada's north.  Their historical video stories are part of a special version of the Young Citizens program, organized by Canada's History.  For a view through the lens of their projects, visit www.YoungCitizens.ca.  Here's a snapshot of some of their videos.

• Nicolas Cain from Vancouver, British Columbia is exploring the life and times of Sam Steele, the first North West Mounted Police who upheld law and order in the Yukon during the Gold Rush.
• Lauren Rushton from Wolfville, Nova Scotia stars in a cooking segment showcasing traditional Aboriginal meals.  On the menu is pemmican and bannock.
• Kayla Sanderson from Yellowknife, NWT is interviewing friends of Ian Calder who was one of the first dentists in the Northwest Territories.
• Emelyne Boals from Kingston, Ontario is investigating Inuit myths and legends.

Other participants include:
Julienne Chipesia - Inuvik, NWT - Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement.
Ogust Sun Danh-Le - Nackawic, NB - Le réseau DEW (The DEW Line)
Kévin Desjardins - St-Pascal, QC - La chasse dans l'Arctique (Hunting in the Arctic).
Jascinta Fryza - Winnipeg, MB - Flying Wonder.
Erin Getty - Winnipeg, MB - Drumming is the Heart Beat. 
Jonathan Ijjangiaq - Repulse Bay, NU - Surviving in the North.
Gabe Isenor - Kennetcook, NS - The Undiscovered Discoverer: The Story of John Rae.
Julie Joncas - St-Pascal, QC - La legend de Sedna (The Legend of Sedna).
Patricia Kablutsiak - Arviat, NU - Traditional Sewing.
Helena Kantowicz - Vancouver, BC - The Dark Legacy.
Anita Kopak - Repulse Bay, NU - Carrying on Inuit Culture.
Dean Kusugak - Repulse Bay, NU - The Igloo.
Jake Leslie - Middle Musquodoboit, NS - Mi'kmaw Culture.
Participants (continued):
Emily Mittertreiner - Vancouver, BC - Search for the Northwest Passage.
Noah Newlands - Nackawic, NB
Trevor Nickel - Winnipeg, MB - Yukon Gold Rush.
Ève Pelletier - St-Pascal, QC - Les changements climatiques (Climate Change).
Cynthia Pelletier - St-Pascal, QC - Les légends inuits (Inuit Legends).
Brennan Siemens - Winnipeg, MB - The North Pole.
Samantha Silliphant - Charlottetown, PEI - The Residential School System.
Athena Tillie - Moose Jaw, SK - Myths and Legends of the Inuit.
Michaela Young - Winnipeg, MB - Filming the North: Alexander Mackenzie.

Canadians have until June 3^rd to view, comment on and vote for their favourite student video.  Once ballots are tallied, a panel of judges will review all the submissions and select four students who will travel to Ottawa in November.  There, they will screen their film at the Canada's History Forum, held annually in conjunction with the Governor General's History Awards.

Deborah Morrison, CEO and Publisher of Canada's History Magazine remarked, "The Young Citizens program fosters real connections between students and aspects of our past.  They become the tellers of the story which in turn gives them a greater sense of ownership of our history, and a greater commitment to ensuring it is remembered by others."

The 2013 Young Citizens: Expedition North video project is generously supported by Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life, as well as the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Youth Take Charge program.  This interactive project encourages students from Grades 4 to 11 to research and film videos on Canadian heroes, legends and key events of the Arctic Expedition.

The Governor General's History Awards bring together students, teachers, historians, museums and community organizations, writers and media producers to celebrate as well as learn from each other.  The day prior to the award ceremonies, recipients will participate in a public history forum at the Canadian War Museum.  This year's forum, exploring how technology is changing Canadian history, is open to the public to attend onsite or online by registering at www.CanadasHistory.ca/HistoryForum.

About Heritage Fairs
Heritage Fairs began as a pilot community project in Winnipeg in 1993 and has today grown to involve over 110,000 students each year in schools-based and regional exhibitions in more than 100 communities across Canada. Solely driven by a network of volunteer teachers and community history organizations, the program benefits from funding support from the Department of Canadian Heritage and Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life for national coordination by Canada's History Society and the Young Citizen's video component.

About Canada's History Society
Canada's History Society is a national charitable organization devoted to popularizing Canadian history.  In addition to presenting the Governor General's History Awards and publishing Canada's History (formerly The Beaver) magazine, as well as Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids, the Society also produces a number of educational and online programs to encourage more discovery, celebration, and understanding about our rich history and culture.  More details can be found at CanadasHistory.ca

SOURCE: Canada's History