Maud's return to Cambridge Bay
The polar ship Maud was raised in 2016 from a bay in Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay) in Nunavut and towed back to Norway. This week, a model of her returned to Iqaluktuuttiaq.
Inside a large wooden crate at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), the model ship Maud stands. Soon, three students from the Arctic Future Pathfinders course will present her as a gift to the local Inuit community.
Here in Iqaluktuuttiaq, many people have a connection to the name Maud: the ship spent nearly 100 years here and was a familiar—and for many, beloved—sight in the bay outside the town. Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen had the ship built to drift across the North Pole, an expedition that began in 1918.
He managed to navigate the Northeast Passage, but the expedition to the North Pole failed. Instead, Maud remained in Iqaluktuuttiaq. In 1930, she sank in shallow water and for many years was a landmark in the town. In 2016, work began to tow her back to Norway, a process completed in 2018.
A Long Journey
The model ship Maud has also had a long journey: Kristiansand–Tromsø–Nuuk–St. John's–Edmonton–Iqaluktuuttiaq. Some legs were by plane, others aboard the sailing ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl. On the flight from Edmonton to Iqaluktuuttiaq, she was placed inside the cabin with the students to ensure she made the journey safely. Finally, she has reached her destination.
“We wanted to give the local community in Iqaluktuuttiaq a gift, and it felt natural for us to bring a model of Maud, since it is so connected to this place” says Jørgen Berge, Pro-Rector for Research and Development at UiT.
Valuable Time in Nunavut
The original plan was for the entire course to take place aboard Statsraad Lehmkuhl, through the Northwest Passage, arriving in Iqaluktuuttiaq midway. When Statsraad Lehmkuhl had to turn south, UiT decided to disembark and fly to Iqaluktuuttiaq to stay in the town for a week. This allowed the students to spend more time with the local population and gain valuable insight into Inuit culture.
“Working on Arctic issues involves understanding the many factors at play—people, culture, and the history of oppression. It requires us to acknowledge the weight of the injustices done to those who live here. It’s not enough to listen; we must give people real opportunities to influence decisions that affect their own homes,” says Elias Vinsrygg, a participant in Arctic Future Pathfinders and a student at NBMU.
Experiencing Inuit Culture
On this day, the students are participating in an open day at CHARS, where elders share stories about their lives and culture. The students have just witnessed a drum dance performance by local Inuit. Now, Vinsrygg and two other students are preparing to present the model ship Maud. As they approach the gathering with the model, a sense of anticipation fills the room.
“Maud?”
“Is it Maud?”
“Maud.”
The name buzzes among the Inuit present. A man begins to cry as he recounts how his parents were married aboard the ship.
“It Was an Honor”
“We were glad that Maud was retrieved, as she didn’t belong to us, but at the same time, we felt a certain loss when she was gone. The ship brought joy and was a gathering point when we were camping out in the bay,” says Kitty Taipagak.
“We are grateful to receive this model back in Cambridge Bay,” says Annie Pannaq.
Roald Amundsen is also held in high regard in the local community:
“Amundsen tried very hard to complete his journeys. He collaborated with the Inuit, and the Inuit collaborated with him, providing him with warm clothing made from sealskin and caribou. That’s why Amundsen and his crew succeeded in their journeys,” says Navalik Tologanak, who is one of the elders.
Elias Vinsrygg says it was an honor to present the model.
“At the same time, we were a bit nervous after hearing how much the ship meant to the community. But it seemed like the elders were happy and grateful, so it was a good feeling,” says Vinsrygg.
Maud's history in brief:
Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen had the polar ship Maud built by shipbuilder Christian Jensen in Vollen, Asker, with plans for a polar expedition north of Siberia from 1918–1925. Amundsen intended to drift with the ice across the North Pole, following the idea of Nansen’s Fram. In early summer 1918, Maud set sail from Kristiania, and in July, she continued eastward from Vardø, heading for the Northeast Passage.
It took two winters and three summers for the ship to navigate the Northeast Passage. In 1920–1921, Amundsen attempted to take Maud northward to begin drifting across the North Pole, but he failed to overcome the ice. After a year in Seattle for repairs and upgrades, Maud re-entered the ice in 1922 under Captain Oscar Wisting’s leadership to drift across the Arctic Ocean. This attempt also failed, and Amundsen was eventually forced to sell the ship to the Hudson Bay Company. At an auction in Seattle in 1925, the polar ship was sold for $40,000.
Maud served as a supply ship for a few years under the name Baymaud before being anchored in Iqaluktuuttiaq. Among other uses, the ship’s masts were used as antenna supports for radio communication with the settlement.
In 1930, Maud sank in shallow water in the bay. She remained there until the “Maud Returns Home” project began the process of obtaining her release from Canadian authorities to tow her back to Norway. In early August 2018, Maud returned to Norway. The plan is for the ship to have its own museum in Asker. The ship is named after Queen Maud (1869–1938).
Sources: Store norske leksikon, Fram musem and Maud Returns Home