Challenges and Accomplishments: A Celebration of the Arctic Institute of North America

Abstract

IN THE 1930S, EXPLORER VILHJALMUR STEFANSSON, northern scientists (particularly geologists), and developers such as Gilbert LaBine recognized the strategic nature and economic potential of the Arctic regions. The Second World War brought this potential into focus with various projects, especially the Northeast and Northwest Staging Routes for air traffic, the Alaska Highway, and the Canol Pipeline from Norman Wells, as well as the weather stations and the voyage of the St. Roch through the Northwest Passage. In 1942, a group of Canadians held private discussions about how Canada could increase her administrative, scientific, and technical competence in the Arctic to match that of other Arctic nations, such as the Soviet Union. These discussions about Arctic competence and Canadian sovereignty took place against a backdrop of disinterest and ignorance shared by the Canadian government and the public. Through personal contact with the Canadian Trevor Lloyd, American military people and scientists became aware of these discussions: the military was preoccupied with the strategic importance of the Arctic, while the scientists were interested in preserving and making accessible “a remarkable collection of hitherto unassembled information,” bequeathing it to an institution at war’s end (Parkin, 1966:8). By March 1944, Canadian initiatives had led to the realization that some objectives could best be achieved by an international organization. Accordingly, in May 1944, nine Americans and eleven Canadians met in New York: though they were there as individuals, they included senior bureaucrats and university people on the Canadian side and scientists and government Arctic specialists on the American side. Individual relations between these people were important dynamics in the formative stages. Despite differing perspectives, they established a private binational organization, with room for Greenland and Newfoundland and Labrador, and appointed Raleigh Parkin as pro tem secretary. This meeting also stressed the need for a headquarters close to an important library and other facilities, with good access to the capital cities. After a vigorous debate, an American-sponsored motion selected Montreal, with its well-equipped university libraries. In September 1944, at Montreal, the proposal for the new institute was approved. Its board of governors would include not only scientists, but also members with broad experience in financial management and administration. The proposal identified a need for independent scientific research: basic general research, studies on the problems of Arctic living, and an examination of the Arctic’s relationship to the physical, social, and economic problems of the world. The new institute would strive to coordinate its research with other ongoing research and to cooperate with government bodies and other research institutes. Geophysicist Laurence Gould became acting director in 1944, and Lincoln Washburn replaced him in October 1945. Offices were established at McGill University and in December 1945, by Act of Parliament, the Arctic Institute of North America was chartered. Its stated purposes were the following: