Inuit push back after photographers made anti-polar bear hunting video while in Nunavut

A recent video posted by two tourists who visited Arctic Bay, Nunavut, has sparked outrage among some Inuit in the territory. Süha Derbent and Murat Uslu, photographers from Turkey, visited Arctic Bay to document the effects of climate change on the Arctic and to photograph polar bears.

In the now-deleted Instagram video, the two men expressed their disapproval of sport hunting, specifically polar bear hunting. Derbent stated, “Some hunters are chasing them to kill as a sport. We believe it is an unacceptable injustice. Be the voice and spread this message with everyone that you know, please. Stop hunting polar bears.”

Sport hunting in Nunavut is carefully regulated, with polar bear tags issued in limited numbers to local Hunters and Trappers Organizations. These organizations can choose to allocate some tags for sport hunting. The practice ensures that polar bear populations remain stable.

After facing backlash for their video, Derbent apologized, stating that they did not intend to offend anyone. He clarified that their comments were directed at the specific situation they encountered in Arctic Bay and not a criticism of Inuit culture.

Nooks Lindell, an artist from Arviat, highlighted the importance of respecting traditional practices and the role of Inuit in managing wildlife populations. He emphasized that outsiders should not dictate how Inuit communities conduct hunting activities.

Paul Irngaut, vice-president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., reiterated the benefits of sport hunting for Inuit communities. He explained that the entire community benefits from the practice, with seamstresses making clothing for hunters and the meat being shared among community members.

Irngaut also emphasized the importance of vetting tourists before allowing them to visit remote communities. He urged visitors to educate themselves about local customs and regulations before making uninformed comments.

Chris Mitchell, from Arctic Bay Adventures, stated that tourists are not allowed to interfere with hunting activities in the hamlet. When the photographers attempted to approach the floe edge, they were instructed to leave the area.

Despite the controversy surrounding the video, Lindell hopes that it will encourage more Inuit individuals to speak out and advocate for their cultural practices. By amplifying their voices, he believes that misunderstandings like this can be avoided in the future.