Sam Hossack on the Dettah-Yellowknife Ice Road.
I hope that by tracing the history of the High Arctic Relocations as an event responding to a ‘wicked problem’, as experiences too often overlooked, and as a myth created for political gain, that future scholarship can examine the High Arctic Relocations in greater detail and re-centre Inuit and their lived experiences of relocation and its aftermath.
Recent political events focus Canada’s - and the world’s - attention on the Arctic, especially on questions of sovereignty. Sam Hossack’s thesis, defended on January 10, 2025, at the University of Waterloo, is therefore timely.
Research
Dr. Hossack’s dissertation, “A Broken History: Examining the Events, Experiences, and Narratives of the High Arctic Relocations, 1950-2010,” reveals the complexity of narratives about the Arctic by considering the High Arctic Relocations that began in 1953 when the Canadian government moved thirty-five Inuit from Inukjuak in Northern Québec to the High Arctic. While this government program is often interpreted as the result of sovereignty concerns, her research complicates this understanding.
Sam’s thesis examines the legacy of the High Arctic Relocations by exploring archival evidence, Inuit testimonies, and political narratives from the 1950s to the 2010s. It reassesses the Canadian government's motivations for relocating Inuit. Spurred by Inuit searching for recognition and compensation, it analyzes the complex impacts on those involved, and the ongoing legacy of the relocations.
“The focus on [Canadian Arctic] sovereignty … squeezed out important narratives about broken promises, misuse of government funds and loan programs, and the development of Northern communities.”
Post-graduate opportunities
Dr. Hossack began a postdoctoral fellowship on February 1 at Trent University. There, she will continue her research related to Canada’s public administration, governance, and security in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic since the Second World War. “I will also be involved with the research activities of the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN),” she says. Other exciting opportunities resulting from her work are in the process of being finalized.
Reflections
Sam appreciates the support for teaching and advocacy roles that she took up during her time at the University of Waterloo in the Tri-University Graduate History program. She obtained the Certificate in University Teaching which allowed her to work as an educational developer at Waterloo’s Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) supporting graduate students and postdocs in developing their teaching skills. She also served in various capacities with the Canadian Historical Association (CHA) including on the Grad Student’s Committee and as a graduate student representative on the CHA’s “Future of the History PhD” Task Force.
Examiners
Dr. Hossack was supervised by Dr. P. Whitney Lackenbauer, who is now based at Trent University. Drs. Susan Roy and Ryan Touhey rounded out her committee at Waterloo. The external examiner was Dr. Tina Loo from the University of British Columbia. The internal-external examiner was Dr. Robert Park from Waterloo’s anthropology department.