Nunavut collector of oral histories honoured with ceremonial flag

Louis Kamookak, a historian from Gjoa Haven, received a ceremonial Canadian flag Feb. 16 in recognition of his contributions to the discovery of Franklin’s ship, the HMS Erebus, in September 2014. The Government of Canada presented the flag to 50 Canadians who have “contributed significantly to the well-being of our citizens” on the 50th anniversary of the national flag. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

The Government of Canada celebrated the 50th anniversary of the national flag Feb. 16 by presenting a ceremonial flag to one remarkable Canadian for each of those years — including a celebrated Nunavut historian.

Louie Kamookak of Gjoa Haven received the honour for his lifelong efforts to collect oral histories from Inuit elders about the disastrous 19th-century Arctic expedition led by Sir John Franklin, a statement issued by Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Feb. 16.

“This research helped lead to the 2014 discovery of one of the expedition’s two ships, HMS Erebus, off King William Island,” the statement said.

The discovery made international headlines last summer and Kamookak — the only Nunavummiut to receive this honour — told Nunatsiaq News at the time that the discovery “proves that Inuit knowledge is very strong today, and it has always been.”

Parks Canada, which led the search for Franklin’s missing ships since 2008, first approached Kamookak in 2006, knowing of his extensive research and knowledge.

“I am very happy,” Kamookak said in September 2014, “after so much previous searching, they had decided to reopen the search, based on Inuit theory.”

Harper presented a flag to the Canadian Museum of History as well.

“I am also proud to mark this very special semicentennial by presenting 50 Canadian flags to 50 Canadians and organizations across the nation in recognition of their tremendous contributions,” Harper said in the statement.

Although the flag turned 50 years old this year, the maple leaf has been used as a national symbol since the early 1700s, the statement said.

For example, the maple leaf has been used by Canadian military units since before Confederation, Harper wrote, and today it even circles the globe, painted on the outside of the International Space Station.