Background and Preparations

The Arctic is a remote part of the globe that most people think of as a harsh environment unchanged for thousands of years. Everyone has an idea of what the region is like, but before starting an expedition, we have to learn specific details about the land and its people in order to better plan our investigations. The following sections give you some important information to help you understand the research project and its goals.

We have also prepared background pages that paint an accurate picture of the actual landscape that served as the backdrop for the research and the history that was uncovered. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you are introduced to the people whose history was studied by the Canadian Museum of Civilization: the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in.