How Arctic Cruise Ships Are Threatening Inuit Communities (HBO)

This segment originally aired Oct. 20, 2016, on VICE News Tonight on HBO.

The Crystal Serenity in August became the largest cruise liner to ever traverse the Northwest Passage. More than 1,700 passengers and crew toured the Canadian Arctic and visited Pond Inlet, disrupting the lifestyle of its local community, comprising about 1,300 residents.

"They're in our hunting zone. There's hardly any narwhals coming by," community health worker Ena Maktar said. "If the marine mammals are not there any more, that means we're going to have to travel further to go hunt for our food."

Since the 1980s, Northwest Passage transits have quadrupled. Increased rates of Arctic tourism are threatening the food security of local communities.

"Before the [outsiders] arrived, Inuit fended for themselves by using the animals." Pond Inlet elder Elijah Panikpakochoo told VICE News correspondent Arielle Duhaime-Ross. "We survived by ourselves."

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[VICENews]

"Because the outsiders arrived, Inuit fended for themselves by using the animals, " A local elder told VICE News.

[damnatiomemoriae]

This one seems like an easy fix - forgive me if I'm oversimplifying, but they could tax the cruise ships before they come through, anyone who refuses to pay the tax - doesn't get in. Justification for the tax? these ships are literally disrupting the Inuit People's ability to hunt for food - which is a right that should not be infringed or impeded upon.

[NichoTBE]

over $100, 000 for freezing cold trip on a boat.. wow

[anonamoose]

I'd be pissed if that many people showed up on my back pouch too.

[candacegramson]

I worked in a article village in Alaska for a year. Things like this impact the very fragile eco system and its residents, human and animal.
these cruise ships are not benefiting small villages. These people are very self sustaining and global climate change is already making that difficult.

[AGS]

The Somalis had a similar problem. Their livelihood was in danger because international fishers caught their waters empty.
Than they turned to piracy.
Problem solved.

[theChon]

If a ticket on one of these cruise ships costs upwards to $100, 000, why don't they support the local communities they affect? I'm pretty sure all those upper class people wouldn't mind spending an extra $5000 subsidizing food prices for these communities.

[paulpatloyal]

The Inuit were never asked if ice breaking ships were detrimental to the Arctic ecosystem. The ice breakers of both USA, and other countries, destroyed old ice where algae, that took decades to form and where krill used to lay their eggs which in turn is food for whales is destroyed. I would think that these whales are traveling further north to find krill, many will starve.

[BangMaster]

If the Cruise companies have so much money, why don't they provide food for the Inuit people,
in exchange for using their backyard for parking their cruise ships,
and provide a form of rent to the community, so people can easily buy vegetables and fruit as well.
If you don't have the decency to help the community at all, then stop taking those stupid tourists to their native lands, and ruining the peace that the Inuits have had for all these years.

[scarz_minty]

If they invade there space they should at least give part of the money to the people there to help with there need since it in there backyard

[jahobr]

So supporting whalers is the progressive thing to do now? I'm getting old. Back in my days we protested whalers and supported whale watching-tourism.
(I love that they say "marine mammals" in hopes we are too stupid to figure out what they are talking about.)

[gonzoindigenousone]

All this negativity. No wonder this world is going to shit. Nothing but snide ass remarks and no understanding for the traditional way of life. Shame on you. None of you will know the ties to land, the cycle of life and death between man and beast. I sincerely hope this consumer driven society catches up with the greed and wasteful mindset of the majority. This just takes one more step towards losing all faith in humanity.

[WilliamBaked]

"oh no, look at that ship, its in my backyard" LOL...

[BaliAgha]

Call it for what it is... You dont want Cruise ships in your back yard, your home, your privacy... Food pricing is just a side note...

[sergiosierra]

Wait til they move in and tell you that you don’t belong. 🤔

[ROCdevelopments]

This is the VICE News I subscribed to! Show me how the world is falling apart faster than we can repair it.

[Tygearianus]

OMG that lady at 2:50 almost made me puke

[wzwzwzwzwzw]

we have a butler that walks in with tails on and gives us our breakfast

[cameronbalmer]

I can’t say I hate the idea of narwhals being driven away from hunters.

[rogerkomula]

She didn't look like she had any trouble finding food.