Franklin Expedition.......no longer lost?

[Derek 2.0]

It appears that one of the lost ships from the Franklin expedition has been found:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says one of Canada's greatest mysteries now has been solved, with the discovery of one of the lost ships from Sir John Franklin's doomed Arctic expedition.

"This is a great historic event," Harper said.

"For more than a century this has been a great Canadian story.… It's been the subject of scientists and historians and writers and singers. And so I think we have a really important day in mapping together the history of our country," the prime minister said.

What I find the most interesting, with the aide of modern technology, the near 175 year old testimony of local Inuit was proven correct………

I hope this will rekindle some interest in the Canadian Arctic, well ensuring further funding towards resource, infrastructure and scientific development, leading to furthering our sovereignty in the North.

[overthere]

They had a guy , some history prof , on CBC radio being interviewed on the significance of the find. The poor sad bastard spent the whole time complaining about Harper. Nobody really learned anything about the ship or expedition or anything else.

On another station their talking head said that it did not make the search for the other ship any easier. The other ship(they are not sure yet which one they found today) was likely scuttled at its mooring, is likely not nearby and will probably be just as hard to find.

Congrats to Parks Canada

Edited September 9, 2014 by overthere

[Big Guy]

I hope that the remains of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 take less time to find.

[Keepitsimple]

If it wasn't so cold up there, I would have loved to be part of the team that finally saw the image of that ship on the seabed. I've followed the story from a history perspective since I was a kid - it's been in National Geographic at least once. Just the thought of over 100 people trying to survive back then struck my imagination. It's not often that projects like this are successful so it's great that this one ended with Champagne corks.....and we got to map a huge portion of the Arctic seabed as well........and it was nice to see Harper with a kid-like, proud giggle.....the guy's got a tough job so it's good to see. A job well done by the entire team.....

[waldo]

........and it was nice to see Harper with a kid-like, proud giggle.....the guy's got a tough job so it's good to see. A job well done by the entire team.....

oh ya, Harper really emphasized the "we", repeatedly... and his personal part of the "we"? Harper most certainly has a selective attachment to history (and self-serving photo-ops tied to that history)... while at the same time he/his government make cuts to museums/archives presuming to host/house particulars of Canadian history... notwithstanding the Harper Conservative war on science and stifling/censoring federal scientists (with particular attachment to science keyed to the Arctic... to scientists doing research with a northern/Arctic tie).

[overthere]

Yes Wally we know Harper is worse than Hitler.

They found the ship pretty much by accident on this sixth Parks Canada expedition. They had planned to search another area, but sea ice forced them southeast so rather than do nothing they started looking where they ended up and 'bingo'!

[Keepitsimple]

I know the concept of a "team" - something other than "I" - might be foreign to old Waldo.....but indeed, this really was a team effort. Harper's contribution? He let it happen - he let it unfold.....and he cheered it on. Good for him - good for the team. Have just a tiny bit of humility Waldo.

The prime minister paid tribute to the search teams — a partnership between Parks Canada, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the Arctic Research Foundation, the Canadian Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Navy and the government of Nunavut — whose work since 2008 has paid off.

“This discovery would not have been possible without their tireless efforts over the years, as well as their commitment, dedication and the perseverance of the many partners and explorers involved," Harper said.

Queen Elizabeth sent a message for Canadians to the Governor General on Tuesday following the discovery.

"I was greatly interested to learn of the discovery of one of the long-lost ships of Captain Sir John Franklin. Prince Philip joins me in sending congratulations and good wishes to all those who played a part in this historic achievement," she said in a statement.

[waldo]

Yes Wally we know Harper is worse than Hitler.

OT, have I pinched a nerve? Please, if you must... use a lowercase 'dubya'!

[waldo]

Harper's contribution? He let it happen - he let it unfold.....and he cheered it on.

ya ya, he (no, sorry, "we") found a missing British expeditionary ship... but he... somehow... isn't willing to find anything but criminal attachment in regards missing aboriginal women (he won't let it happen - he won't let it unfold... and he cheers that on)

[Keepitsimple]

ya ya, he (no, sorry, "we") found a missing British expeditionary ship... but he... somehow... isn't willing to find anything but criminal attachment in regards missing aboriginal women (he won't let it happen - he won't let it unfold... and he cheers that on)

Sad Waldo.....very sad.

[waldo]

Sad Waldo.....very sad.

priorities, hey Simple? Playing to the base on one hand and carefully crafted image projection on the other.

[overthere]

OT, have I pinched a nerve? Please, if you must... use a lowercase 'dubya'!

Say wha?

No nerves pinched on me mate, I'm chiming in to support your pogrom!

If I have to venture a diagnosis on you it wouldn't be pinched nerves, I would guess serious constipation.

[waldo]

If I have to venture a diagnosis on you it wouldn't be pinched nerves, I would guess serious constipation.

please, don't try to leverage and apply your personal experience to me!

[guyser]

What I find the most interesting, with the aide of modern technology, the near 175 year old testimony of local Inuit was proven correct………

As do I

Maybe they would have found it a lot sooner had they listened.

Edited September 10, 2014 by Guyser2

[WestCoastRunner]

As do I

Maybe they would have found it a lot sooner had they listened.

Actually I think you are both wrong.The ships were found based on a report from a british dude and he discounted the Inuit's reportings. He was interviewed on cbc radio. It seems the Inuits spotted the 'boats' and not the ships. I will look for that interview.

[Big Guy]

I heard that the British have concluded that the Inuit were complicit in the sinking of the two ships. They have calculated the worth of the property that the Inuit destroyed, with interest and will be suing the Inuit nation for $3 billion. Apparently, they claim that they had an "understanding" or "verbal treaty" with the Inuit and they broke the terms of those treaties. They also claim that there is no time limit on treaties made with aboriginals.

[overthere]

These ships are both and jointly a National Historic Site. It's the only one in Canada that- until now- has had no physical location.

The UK ceded ownership of the undicovered wrecks to the Canadian govt in the 90s.

[Big Guy]

These ships are both and jointly a National Historic Site. It's the only one in Canada that- until now- has had no physical location.

The UK ceded ownership of the undicovered wrecks to the Canadian govt in the 90s.

That gives our federal government an opening. Canada can now sue fore the "terrorist" action on the part of aboriginals at the time. They can then negotiate with the aboriginals that we drop our suit against what those aboriginals did at that time if they withdraw their suits for treaties signed by while folks around that time.

[overthere]

There are no treaties in the North.

I'm really enjoyed your outrage and laboured humour.

More please.

[waldo]

The UK ceded ownership of the undicovered wrecks to the Canadian govt in the 90s.

ships or (partial) contents? Complicates reparations Big Guy

Canada promised Britain in a 1997 agreement that it would refrain from disturbing or bringing to the surface any human remains discovered on the wreck or in the vicinity, except if they need to be removed to conduct archaeological work.

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Because the wrecks of Erebus and Terror are both British property and Canadian national historic sites, the the 1997 memorandum of understanding carefully lays out each country’s claims and responsibilities. Britain retains ownership of the wrecks but has assigned “custody and control” to the Government of Canada. That means Canadian archeologists get to lead the recovery mission, and Canada can keep everything taken from the wreck — with a few important exceptions.

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The 1997 deal says London will assign Canada ownership of everything recovered except for gold and artifacts deemed important to the Royal Navy. Should gold be discovered, it will be split between London and Ottawa once coins deemed to be privately owned or claimed by third parties are deducted from the haul.

[waldo]

hey now... did someone miss the previous post? Where is he... overthere... or over... where?

but hey now! Turns out there was a Ruskie ship involved, playing a prominent role - the "Akademik Sergey Vavilov", crewed by the Russian Academy of Sciences:

A Russian-flagged vessel played a key role in Canada's recent discovery of a sunken ship from the missing Franklin expedition, a scenario that faced a regulatory challenge and gave senior Conservative officials pause.


Russian ownership underplayed

At the time, Harper was amping up his rhetoric and sanctions against Putin and his government, specifically with regard to Russia's annexation of the Crimean region of Ukraine.

The use of the ship was also scrutinized at senior levels of the Conservative government. The prime minister's website describes the ship by its Canadian alias "One Ocean Explorer" and makes no reference to its Russian ownership.

[Peter F]

Bump!

[On Guard for Thee]

I get a kick out of Harper sticking his face in front of the camera's as if he found the ships all by his' self. Let's not talk about the gutting of science budgets all over the country. I call's that sleazy.