Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site explained

The Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site is a National Historic Site of Canada near King William Island in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. It protects the wrecks of and, the two ships of the last expedition of Sir John Franklin, lost in the 1840s during their search for the Northwest Passage and then re-discovered in 2014 and 2016. The site is jointly managed by Parks Canada and the local Inuit. Public access to the site is not permitted.[1]

History

See main article: Franklin's lost expedition.

On 7 September 2014, the wreck of HMS Erebus was discovered by the Canadian Victoria Strait expedition in Wilmot and Crampton Bay, to the west of the Adelaide Peninsula just to the south of King William Island, in of water.[2] On 12 September 2016, the wreck of HMS Terror was discovered by the Arctic Research Foundation in Terror Bay, off the southwest coast of King William Island at a depth of .[3] [4]

Geography

The site consists of two separate areas, one enclosing each wreck, with perimeter coordinates:[5]

Archaeology

As of 2019, the wrecks are the subject of archeological research undertaken by Parks Canada. Researchers are using the, a scientific and research vessel, as living accommodation; and a barge "Qiniqtiryuaq" to support the diving down to the wrecks. Parks Canada is also handling the documentation and conservation of artefacts removed from the wrecks.[6]

Ownership

Under international maritime law, as Royal Navy ships, the Erebus and Terror are the property of the United Kingdom. However, in 1997 before either wreck was discovered but in the belief that the wrecks must be within Canadian waters, the United Kingdom had entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Canada, that Canada could own the wrecks. In 1999, Canada created the new territory of Nunavut as part of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. Part of that agreement gave Inuit the ownership of archaeological sites and artifacts within Nunavut's boundaries.[7] After the wrecks were discovered, there was greater need to clarify all parties' rights in relation to the wrecks. In April 2019, the United Kingdom and Canada formally agreed that the original 65 artefacts removed from the wrecks would belong to the United Kingdom, but that the wrecks themselves and further artefacts removed would belong to Canada and the Inuit Heritage Trust with the exception of gold which would belong to the United Kingdom and any human remains would be repatriated to the United Kingdom.[8] In return, Canada would not seek payment from the United Kingdom for their costs incurred in discovering the wrecks and in removing and conserving the artefacts.[9] In relation to the Inuit rights, the Government of Canada (represented by Parks Canada) and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association negotiated an agreement that will establish a visitor centre at Gjoa Haven as an extension of the existing Nattilik Heritage Centre.[10] [11] A ten-year agreement was signed in March 2023, which "sets out a new model for a cooperative relationship established between Parks Canada and Inuit", with the intention of having the wrecks progressively become a fully Inuit-led National Historic Site.[12]

Public access

Public access to the site is not allowed with the exception of Inuit, who are permitted to hunt and fish within the protected area.[13] To protect the site from the public, Inuit from Gjoa Haven work as guardians, camping near the wreck sites to monitor access to the sites.[14]

However, on 5 September 2019, passengers of Adventure Canada on were permitted to visit the site of the wreck of HMS Erebus as part of a trial by Parks Canada in creating a visitor experience for the wreck site.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site. 2019-06-06. Parks Canada. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191008061245/https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/nu/epaveswrecks. 8 October 2019. 8 October 2019.
  2. News: Davison . Janet . 27 September 2015 . Franklin expedition: New photos of HMS Erebus artifacts, but still no sign of HMS Terror . . https://web.archive.org/web/20151126185037/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/erebus-terror-artifacts-1.3244303 . 26 November 2015 . live . A big clue in the mystery is the wreck of HMS Erebus, found last year in a location indicated by Inuit oral histories..
  3. News: Watson . Paul . Ship found in Arctic 168 years after doomed Northwest Passage attempt . The Guardian . 2016-09-12 . 2016-09-13.
  4. Web site: Unlikely Tip Leads to Discovery of Historic Shipwreck. https://web.archive.org/web/20161018222211/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/09/mysterious-mosaic-alexander-the-great-israel/shipwreck-discovered-hms-terror-franklin-arctic-canada/. dead. 18 October 2016. Pringle. Heather. 13 September 2016. National Geographic. 14 September 2016.
  5. Web site: Restricted area and activities in The Wrecks Of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site Of Canada. 22 March 2023. parks.canada.ca. Parks Canada. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191008064909/https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/nu/epaveswrecks/info/plan. 8 October 2019. 23 May 2023.
  6. Web site: Underwater archaeology at the Franklin wrecks. Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site. Parks Canada. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191008065153/https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/nu/epaveswrecks/culture/archeologie-archeology/explore/subaquatique-underwater. 8 October 2019. 8 October 2019.
  7. Web site: Of shipwrecks and sovereignty. 14 July 2017. Adriana. Craciun . en. Ottawa Citizen. 2019-10-13.
  8. News: HMS Erebus ship's bell recovered from Franklin expedition. Ducharme. Steve. 24 October 2017. Nunatsiaq News.
  9. Web site: Canada, Britain formalize agreement on Franklin expedition wrecks. Harris. Kathleen. 26 April 2018. CBC News. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191013060200/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/franklin-expedition-hms-erebus-terror-1.4636222. 13 October 2019. 13 October 2019.
  10. Web site: Inuit, Parks Canada close to deal on Franklin wrecks national historic site. DeGeorge. Krestia. 2018-10-18. Arctic Today. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191013060804/https://www.arctictoday.com/inuit-parks-canada-close-deal-franklin-wrecks-national-historic-site/. 2019-10-13. 2019-10-13.
  11. Web site: Inuit, Parks Canada close to deal on Franklin wrecks national historic site. George. Jane. 18 October 2018. Arctic Today. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191013061216/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/franklin-expedition-ship-historic-site-gjoa-haven-1.3498108. 13 October 2019. 13 October 2019.
  12. Web site: Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement Signed Between Government of Canada and Kitikmeot Inuit Association. Government of Canada. March 23, 2023. May 30, 2023.
  13. Web site: Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site. Parks Canada Agency. Government of Canada. 6 June 2019. www.pc.gc.ca. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190904011258/https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/nu/epaveswrecks. 4 September 2019. 4 October 2019.
  14. Web site: Inuit guardians program. 2019-05-27. Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site. Parks Canada. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191008072953/https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/nu/epaveswrecks/culture/inuit/gardiens-guardians. 8 October 2019. 8 October 2019.
  15. Web site: Northwest Passage cruise stops to see Franklin's shipwrecked Erebus. Bain. Jennifer. 15 September 2019. Vancouver Courier. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190921175909/https://www.vancourier.com/living/northwest-passage-cruise-stops-to-see-franklin-s-shipwrecked-erebus-1.23945719. 21 September 2019. 4 October 2019.

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