THE COLDEST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD
ᓂᒡᓚᓱᖕᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᖅ
NEVER-BEFORE ATTEMPTED IN MODERN TIMES
In March 2025, a diverse Inuit-Qallunaat (non-Inuit) team will undertake an expedition to highlight the importance of qimuksiq (dogsled) travel in Arctic life. The team will set out to traverse Ellesmere Island, from Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord) in the south to its northern edge at the coldest time of year.
THREE OBJECTIVES:
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To celebrate a cultural revival that can serve to amplify Inuit knowledge.
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To increase understanding and support for northern biodiversity, among both the scientific community and the public.
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To share the journey with classrooms around the world.
1. Cultural Revival
The team will use both traditional qimuksiq and modern snowmobiles to make the journey and will fully document the unique challenges of the extreme climate and environment. The expedition will explore the historical context of the qimuksiq's importance, its near eradication in the 1950s, and the lasting impact on Inuit heritage. The voices telling this story will be that of the Inuit – our Inuit teammates and Inuit elders in the communities – who will relay the struggle they’ve faced with their disconnection from their cultural roots and the profound journey of reconciliation they are undertaking.
2. Increased Understanding
We will be working directly with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as we traverse Ellesmere Island, making observations, taking measurements, and collecting samples in places at times of year that have never been done before. The team’s goal is to help better understand how and where life survives in this most extreme of Arctic environments. The collection of samples and observations will build understanding for the complexity and fragility of the Canadian North.
3. Education
During the expedition, the team will connect to 26,000+ teachers on Can Geo Education’s educational network through live educational broadcasts using broadband satellite. The expedition will unfold live on a satellite fed website, where students will be immersed in every step of the journey. The expedition will be the thread that ties together themes of Inuit history and knowledge, ecology, the environment, Arctic ecosystems, wildlife, climate change, and Arctic sovereignty. Students will be issued learning challenges and will be able to ask the explorers questions through the live website. The team will make dispatches from the field in both English and Inuktitut.
Upon completion of the expedition the team will create a dedicated educational website aimed at the same 26,000+ teachers in the Can Geo Education network. Additional insight into the film as well as extended unseen footage and interviews will be featured to advance the storytelling even further.
OUR TEAM
The coming together of a diverse team with different life experiences, travelling together both traditionally and in a modern way.
Ray Zahab
Explorer-in-Residence at RCGS
Ray is a Canadian explorer, an ultra distance runner and the founder of the educational nonprofit impossible2Possible. He has run over 17,000 kilometres across the world’s deserts and has also completed unsupported expeditions in some of the coldest places on the planet. His adventures have been documented in feature-length films and for a variety of TV programs.
Kevin Vallely
RCGS Fellow, Explorer's Club
Kevin is an explorer, writer, architect and a happily-married father of two. Among Kevin’s many expeditions, he has skied the length of Alaska’s 1180 mile Iditarod Trail in winter, retraced the infamous Sandakan Death March through the jungles of Borneo for the first time since WWII and rowed a boat across the stormy waters of the Northwest Passage to bring awareness to climate change.
Devon Manik
Traditional hunter, Musher
Devon Manik is Inuk from Qausuittuq (Resolute Bay), Nunavut. Carried by his qimmiit and his ancestors, Devon is keeping the tradition of hunting with sled dogs alive in the age of social networks. He is one of the few qimuksiqtiit contracted to hunt for communities, to help fight food insecurity and maintain food soveriegnty — helping him to make a living off hunting with his qimuksiq.
Jovan Simic
Owner/Executive Director - Koolrunnings
Jovan Simic is Serbian who has been living in Iqaluit for almost a decade. He is the founder and CEO of Kool Runnings. Through his business Jovan has started many successful initiatives that benefit young Inuit, including helping youth to reconnect to qimmiit and qimuksiqniq. Jovan is self taught, but has also been guided and taught by elders all across Inuit Nunangat about qimuksiqniq
Terry Noah
Arctic Outfitter and hunter
Terry Noah, is Inuk from Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord), Nunavut. He is a successful and resourceful entrepreneur, hunter, guide, wildlife photographer, adventurer, writer, and research guide. He is passionate about addressing food security and food sovereignty within his small community of Aujuittuq, Nunavut.
THE ROUTE
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
The expedition will be filmed throughout, and will be made into a feature length documentary. An elite cold weather camera team will capture every moment of this epic journey, using the latest technology to reveal the unknown world of Ellesmere Island in stunning imagery.
CAMERA TEAM
Ronan Donovan
National Geographic Explorer and Storytelling Fellow
Ronan Donovan is a conservation photographer, filmmaker, wildlife biologist, and National Geographic Explorer and Storytelling Fellow. His first documentary series, Kingdom Of The White Wolf, has been published by National Geographic, PBS Nature, and BBC Planet Earth.
John Golden
Professional Photographer
Jon Golden has been working as a professional photographer for 35 years. His assignments have taken him to over 60 countries and required him to sail more than 20,000 miles at sea. His images have been published in many major U.S. magazines including National Geographic, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and Virginia Quarterly Review.
EDUCATION
We are connected directly with the RCGS and through Canadian Geographic Education and i2P we will be connecting with over 25,000+ educators live during the expedition and afterwards with resource material and lesson plans. Our mission is to share the Canadian north, geographically and culturally, with educators from around the world.
Impossible2Possible is a 501 (c)(3) public charity, IRS Tax ID 80-0222800.