Canadian military in Inuvik as Operation Nanook-Nunalivut begins

The Canadian Armed Forces are back in Inuvik — at least for a couple weeks.

Operation Nanook-Nunalivut began Sunday in the community, with 450 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and 110 members of allied military forces there until March 9.

Countries who have soldiers taking part in the operation include the United States, Belgium, Sweden and Norway.

Operation Nanook is an annual military operation which takes place in either Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon or Labrador each year, with the goal of preparing the Canadian military to work effectively in Canada's North.

It started in 2007, and was split into four different operations, which each have a different focus, in 2018. 

Operation Nanook-Nunalivut focuses on training for harsh conditions and co-operation with allies. It was last held around in the Inuvik area in 2022.

The Midnight Sun Complex in Inuvik is being used as the base of operations during the operation, serving as office space and barracks for the Canadian Rangers and some military personnel.

Jordan Mitchell is a public affairs officer for the 37 Canadian Brigade, which serves out of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. It's one of multiple units participating in Operation Nanook-Nunalivut this year.

"We are very appreciative of the town for letting us take that space," Mitchell said.

"We are also going to be all around Inuvik and also in Tuktoyaktuk."

Mitchell said some military personnel will be in the community until mid-March, when the crews who are left behind to clean up and pack their belongings will leave.

He said his unit is glad to be a part of the operation.

"We're really driven to do everything we can to defend Canada and support arctic sovereignty for everyone," he said.

Inuvik has a history with the Canadian Forces, having had members of the military stationed there from the late 1960s to mid-1980s.

Inuvik elder Gerry Kisoun remembers spending time with the families of the military members when he was a teenager, back in the 1970s.

"They were very involved with a lot of stuff in the community. They were helping coach kids, they had teams. Inuvik was a really busy place back in those days," Kisoun said.

"I know some of them were on rotation to a place called Alert for six months then come back to their families."

Kisoun remembers walking down the road and seeing people in camouflage fatigues all over town.

"They had their own store in the armed forces building. We were able to pay half the price for what was in the local grocery store," he said.

Kisoun is happy to see a renewed military presence back in the community, even if it is only for a few weeks.

"Now we see them doing an operation here, it's pretty good to see them out and about and in our community I guess, and in the region."