Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR 2007-8 ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC CONNECTIONS  

Outline
We have two display windows at the New Iceland Heritage Museum (NIHM) located on the shore of Lake Winnipeg in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada One is devoted to the Gimli connection to the Arctic. It features a display of “Portraits of the North” by Gerald Kuehl, graphite pencil drawings and short bios of many Inuit and Native Canadians; a Mayberry Art Gallery catalogue and information about A.A. Ruben, an Inuit sculptor whose latest collection is a meld of Inuit and Norse styles titled “Iceland 900 A.D”; and a Vilhjalmur Stefansson information section, featuring a family tree of his Inuit family (which he never acknowledged outside the North). Stefansson was born just a little north of Gimli and proudly wore his Icelandic ancestry—as we do here in Gimli. The other window is devoted to the Gimli connection to the Antarctic. Sled dogs from the Gimli area accompanied Sir Ernest Shackleton on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914; 30 of the sled dogs on Rear Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition II in 1933 were from our area. As a featured item, the family of Sigurjon (John) Isfeld has loaned us the beautiful gold watch that Sir Ernest gave Sigurjon in appreciation of delivering 99 Gimli sled dogs to London in 1914. This is in our main gallery under glass, for safe keeping. In the lobby of our main gallery, we have assembled two looseleaf binders to complement the display windows. They have a wealth of information about the subjects in the windows, gathered from families, books, magazines, newspapers and the internet. We have more information coming in and will up-date at intervals throughout the year. We are also in the process of putting together a 15-minute DVD to show in our “Lady of the Lake” Theatre.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The visitors to our New Iceland Heritage Museum will find out about the local connections to the Antarctic and Arctic regions of our Earth. We have provided reference pages for these visitors to pursue their own research. We have also put out a request for more information from our community—photos and stories.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Using email, we have been in touch with Iceland, United States, Falkland Islands, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and, of course, many areas of Canada.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
No field work, as yet. Probably won’t be any.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
This is a small project, but we have already shared information with contacts in the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No, just the local level. Museum management and Municipal Government (R. M. of Gimli).

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

Very new—even though much of it is old information. Very autonomous.

How will the project be organised and managed?
We have our windows displays open at this time, and the looseleaf binders are available. This is a “work in progress” and we will be adding more information and artifacts (if we get feed-back from our community).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We have had our Opening Ceremonies—one invitational, one open to the public. We had overflow crowds at both. We served bannock, preserves and many varieties of tea. Two school classes have been for a visit and we will be hosting many more. Our local newspaper is going to do an article, and we will have a story of the Gimli Dogs in the Arctic and Antarctic in the next issue of “The Icelandic Canadain” magazine.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
We have lists of references and “thanks to” lists. Our data is all available to the general public. Not sure what “issues” could arise.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Petty cash fund and volunteers.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

MS Gail Halldorson
New Iceland Heritage Museum
108-94 1st Avenue
Gimli MB
R0C 1B0
Canada

Tel: 204 642-4001
Mobile: no
Fax: 204 642-9382
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation