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Canada Gives Centenary Gift to Norway
The Canadian Ambassador to Norway, Mrs. Shirley Wolff Serafini, has announced that on June 29, 2005, Canada gave Norway a gift of an inuksuk, a traditional Inuit sculpture, to commemorate Norway's centenary and the special relationship that exists between Canada and Norway.
“The relationship between our countries began with the first Viking visits to Newfoundland, and continued through Roald Amundsen's exploration of the Canadian Northwest Passage,” explained Ambassador Serafini. “Norwegian pilots trained in Canada during World War II, at a camp called ’Little Norway‘ and today, Canada and Norway are close partners on the international scene, with cooperation in fields such as nuclear safety, UN reform, the Arctic Council and promoting human security. Canada's gift to Norway recognizes the importance of the relationship, and the genuine fondness our people have for each other.”
The inuksuk gift has been installed on the grounds of the Norwegian Maritime Museum, where it stands near the Gjoa, the ship used by Roald Amundsen during his crossing of the Northwest Passage in 1905. The carver of the inuksuk, Joseph Suqslak, is from the community Gjoa Haven, which gave safe haven to Amundsen's ship and crew during his exploration. Many suggest that Amundsen's successful passage was due largely to the support that he received from the Inuit, and the lessons that he learned on surviving the brutal Arctic winter. The inuksuk was installed in Oslo by Mr. Mattiusi Iyaituk, an artist and President of the Board of Directors of the Inuit Art Foundation in Canada.
Norwegian Secretary of State Kim Traavik and Canadian Ambassador Shirley Serafini, at the inuksuk unveiling in front of the Gjoa.
Ambassador Serafini; Mattiusi Iyatiuk, President of the Inuit Art Foundation; Secretary of State Kim Traavik, and Jan Børge Tjäder, Director of the Norwegian Maritime Museum
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