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Breaking the Ice: Canada and the Northwest Passage
It's been called "the Arctic Grail." For centuries, European explorers were obsessed with the quest for a route around North America to the Orient. Norway's Roald Amundsen finally conquered the Northwest Passage in 1906. But long Arctic winters meant the route couldn't be exploited commercially. Global warming could change all that by melting the ice and making the passage a key shipping route. But as this happens, the controversial question of sovereignty becomes increasingly important. Does the Northwest Passage belong to Canada or the world?

	The northern quest begins		The mysterious Franklin disappearance		Amundsen, Nansen and Canadian sovereignty
	Early explorers like Martin Frobisher, John Davis and Henry Hudson unsuccessfully seek the Northwest Passage. (Radio; runs 11:41)		The fate of a missing 19th-century explorer and his crew continues to fascinate the public. (TV; runs 19:10)		As Norwegian exploration in the North increases, Canada becomes concerned. (Radio; runs 4:35)

	St. Roch crew member tells about making history		S.S. Manhattan breaks through		'This is our country'
	In the 1940s, an RCMP ship was first to complete the journey in both directions. A surviving crew member describes the voyage. (Radio; runs 6:14)		A giant American tanker moves through the Northwest Passage in an attempt to prove the waterway is a viable commercial passage. (TV; runs 2:05)		When Arctic sovereignty is discussed, Arctic native people are often ignored. (Radio; runs 5:19)

	The Polar Sea controversy		The Arctic Grail		Sailing the passage by catamaran
	An American ship is preparing to cross the Northwest Passage, but it hasn't asked Canada's permission. (TV; runs 2:39)		Writer Pierre Berton's 1988 book features tales of 19th-century explorers obsessively searching for the Northwest Passage. (Radio; runs 12:20)		Canada's Jeffrey MacInnis and Mike Beedell are the first to navigate the Northwest Passage "by wind power alone." (TV; runs 11:01)

	On the trail of the St. Roch		Global meltdown may clear the Passage		U.S. and Canada 'must develop a plan now'
	The St. Roch II retraces the voyage of the original vessel to raise awareness and funds to fix the "rotting" St. Roch (TV; runs 5:16)		Thanks to global warming, the Northwest Passage is increasingly ice-free. How will this affect trade and sovereignty? (Radio; runs 19:01)		In 2006, an American White House adviser says it's crucial that the two countries develop a plan for the Northwest Passage soon. (Radio; runs 1:50)

LINKS Related Topics from CBC's Archives An Inuit Education: Honouring a past, creating a future Arctic Winter Games The Berger Pipeline Inquiry CBC.ca CBC News Online: Arctic Sovereignty External sites The Canadian Encyclopedia: Northwest Passage The CBC assumes no responsibility for the content of external links.

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