Do you recognize the people in this photograph?

“I do realize this photo is from a long time ago”

According to a note on the back of this photo, it was taken at present-day Kugluktuk, Nunavut—formerly known as Coppermine—on May 18, 1930. The letter-writer, who discovered the photo in her grandfather’s things after he passed away, would like to know if anyone can identify the Inuit women shown.

By Nunatsiaq News

I came across this photo in my grandfather’s things after he passed away.

His name was Dr. James Jamieson, and what I do know is that he served as a medical officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, serving in Newfoundland and Goose Bay, Labrador.

I am unsure when he acquired this picture, or who J.H. is (noted on the  back of the photo), but I do know he had a lot of connections in the North.

I do realize this photo is from a long time ago, but perhaps someone recognizes someone … and perhaps this is a photo of someone’s family and they would like it returned.

Most sincerely,

Sarah Howard

Originally from North Bay, Ont., but now residing on Prince Edward Island

 

This note appears on the back of the photo of a group of Inuit women.

Nunatsiaq News welcomes letters to the editor. But we are under no obligation to publish any given letter at any given time.

In our print edition, we usually print letters on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. In our online edition, we usually print letters as soon as we are able to prepare them for publication.

 All letters are edited for length, grammar, punctuation, spelling, taste and libel. You may withhold your name by request, but we must know who you are before we publish your letter.

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(2) Comments:

  1. Posted by Sandra Omik on

    I’m not from Kugluktuk but I did google history about Coppermine from that time period. And I found the following information; Port Hearne was actually Fort Hearne. The Anglican minister’s name was Rev. JH Webster. He assisted Richard Finnie on a government patrol of the Western Arctic. There was also Jack Humble and Jim Hall that flew to Coppermine for the North American Mineral Exploration Ltd ( there were three or four mineral exploration companies sending planes up to explore). The RCAF established a station in Coppermine to see if an aluminum mine could be developed in Greendland. The St Roch ship was stationed in the area for a few years as a radio base between the Arctic, Edmonton and Ottawa and had aerial surveys from an G-Cara Fairchild FG2. There was a TB epidemic and Dr RD Martin was stationed in Coppermine. The ship Fort James was the first commercial ship crossing the the passage. The ships Bay Maud/Bay Chimo transported food, supplies up and fox fur and other fur out. Caribou from Alaska were purchased and transported to Coppermine area by the Komen Brothers during that period. There is also some photos at the Alberta aerial museum archives describing a photo from Thom Bay, Boothia Peninsula, from May 1930, one with a similar parka. There were 25 trading posts in the Western Arctic, government officials like LT Burwash took population surveys; with investigation reports by WHB Hoare, and by AE and RT Porsild who were botanists that spoke Inuinnaqtun. I hope you’ll find the family of the descendents of the women in the photo

    • Posted by Sarah on

      Thank you for that information – that is definitely interesting and helpful.

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