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The Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site is a National Historic Site of Canada near King William Island in the northern Nunavut territory. It protects the wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, 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

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 11 metres (36 ft) 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 69–79 ft (21–24 m).[3][4]

Geography

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

Archeology

On board Parks Canada's archeology support barge "Qiniqtiryuaq" beside the wreck of Erebus

As of 2019, the wrecks are the subject of archeological research undertaken by Parks Canada. Researchers are using the RV David Thompson, 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 wrecked ships 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 with the Inuit. Part of that agreement gave the 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 Canadian Government (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

Inuit guardians from Gjoa Haven on MS Ocean Endeavour as part of the trial visitor experience, 2019

Public access to the site is not allowed with the exception of Inuit, who are permitted to hunt and fish within the protected area.[5][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 MS Ocean Endeavour 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]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site.
  1. ^ "Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site". Parks Canada. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  2. ^ Davison, Janet (27 September 2015). "Franklin expedition: New photos of HMS Erebus artifacts, but still no sign of HMS Terror". CBC News. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. A big clue in the mystery is the wreck of HMS Erebus, found last year in a location indicated by Inuit oral histories.
  3. ^ Watson, Paul (12 September 2016). "Ship found in Arctic 168 years after doomed Northwest Passage attempt". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. ^ Pringle, Heather (13 September 2016). "Unlikely Tip Leads to Discovery of Historic Shipwreck". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Superintendent's order". Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site. Parks Canada. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Underwater archaeology at the Franklin wrecks". Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site. Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  7. ^ Craciun, Adriana (14 July 2017). "Of shipwrecks and sovereignty". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  8. ^ Ducharme, Steve (24 October 2017). "HMS Erebus ship's bell recovered from Franklin expedition". Nunatsiaq News.
  9. ^ Harris, Kathleen (26 April 2018). "Canada, Britain formalize agreement on Franklin expedition wrecks". CBC News. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  10. ^ DeGeorge, Krestia (18 October 2018). "Inuit, Parks Canada close to deal on Franklin wrecks national historic site". Arctic Today. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  11. ^ George, Jane (18 October 2018). "Inuit, Parks Canada close to deal on Franklin wrecks national historic site". Arctic Today. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  12. ^ "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. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  13. ^ Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada (6 June 2019). "Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site". www.pc.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  14. ^ "Inuit guardians program". Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site. Parks Canada. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  15. ^ Bain, Jennifer (15 September 2019). "Northwest Passage cruise stops to see Franklin's shipwrecked Erebus". Vancouver Courier. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
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