Civilization.ca - Canadian Arctic Expedition

More New Land

Ignoring the official request that the CAE leave the Arctic in 1916, Stefansson prolonged his stay and the Northern Party continued searching beyond the northern islands in 1916. The advance party started off from the North Star camp on northern Banks Island in late January, arriving on Melville Island in April, and Borden Island in May. From Kellett, Stefansson reached Mercy Bay in early April en route to Melville, Brock, Borden and Ellef Ringnes Islands. The men (Emiu, Noice, Knight, and Stefansson) discovered the "Second Land", later named Meighen Island, and the third "New Land", part of which was later named Lougheed Island. They retreated to the camp at Cape Grassy, Melville Island in September and wintered there. The people left at Mary Sachs that winter were Bernard, Knight, Thomsen and his family, and four Inuit.

Members of CAE Northern Party by flashlight: (back row, from left) Knight, Thomsen, Castel, Noice, (front row) M. Kilian, and Captain P. Bernard, at Kellett Base, Banks Island, N.W.T. January 1, 1916. GHW 51098. Source: Canadian Museum of Civilization

Half-finished camp, with triangular tent on poles, probably north of Melville Island, N.W.T. 1916. VS 50691. Source: Canadian Museum of Civilization

Stefansson, with hoar-frost, sitting on sled during a blizzard on M'Clure Strait, north of Banks Island, N.W.T. April 5, 1916. GHW 51111. Source: Canadian Museum of Civilization

Inuit family of six crowded behind a skin wind shelter, at CAE's Northern Party base camp, Armstrong Point, Victoria Island, N.W.T. June 1916. JH 63449. Source: Canadian Museum of Nature

Four Inuit adults and two children beside a skin wind shield on the beach, at CAE's Northern Party base camp, Armstrong Point, Victoria Island, N.W.T. June 1916. JH 63482. Source: Canadian Museum of Nature

Group of Inuit with unidentified member of CAE (possibly William Seymour) in front of wooden house at CAE's Northern Party base camp, Armstrong Point, Victoria Island, N.W.T. June 1916. JH 63443. Source: Canadian Museum of Nature

In December 1916 Peter Bernard and Charles Thomsen set off from Kellett base for Melville Island with three heavily loaded sleds, carrying mail and supplies for Stefansson's northern party. They never arrived.