What's New

• 14 May 08
  U.S. adds Polar Bears to List of Threatened Species
  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced that he is accepting the recommendation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The listing is based on the best available science, which shows that loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar bear habitat. This loss of habitat puts polar bears at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future, the standard established by the ESA for designating a threatened species. [More].
  The proposed ESA special 4(d) rule is available at - http://www.doi.gov/issues/polar_bears.html - for a 60 day public comment period.
  

  
  

• 08 May 08
  Minister Baird and Secretary Kempthorne Hold Bilateral Meeting
  OTTAWA — Canada's Minister of the Environment, John Baird, held a bilateral meeting earlier today with U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. The Minister and Secretary were also joined by the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Mary Simon, as well as a number of officials from both countries.
  
  "Today's bilateral meeting included a number of cross-border issues, including the recent announcement by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) on the status of the polar bear, and other important issues that cross the 49th parallel," said Minister Baird. [More].

• April 12, 2008: Consul General Huffaker heads North for Operation Nunalivut

  Consul General of the United States of America for Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories Tom Huffaker, joined a team of academics and journalists on a three day trip to Ellesmere Island, to observe the final days of “Operation Nunalivut”, a month-long training exercise for Canadian Forces, including locally engaged Rangers. Escorted by Brigadier General Chris Whitecross (Commander, Joint Task Force North) and a team of officials from the Department of National Defence, the group set out from Yellowknife in a Canadian Forces plane on April 12 and spent the next days on Ellesmere Island, at Resolute Bay and in Eureka, the location of the forward base of operations for three sovereignty patrols operating on the Northeast coast of Ellesmere Island. The soldiers briefed participants on their activities, operating procedures for the extreme North, and displayed and described their equipment and survival techniques. [slideshow]

• On November 29 there was a Video WebCast on: Native American Traditions, Oral History and the Indian Wars of the American West. In commemoration of National American Indian Heritage Month, Dennis Zotigh and Peter Cozzens looked at Native American traditions and the climactic struggles between Native Americans and the white man in the American West. View the webcast.

• Internet Tools & Curriculum Design for Young Learners of English: Technology and Classroom Activities: USINFO webchat covered new ways to teach younger learners
  On June 14, English as a Second Language (ESL) expert Judie Haynes discussed new ways to motivate students and make language learning fun. Transcript.

• “The United States, Climate Change, and the Arctic”
  The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada and The Center for U.S. Studies and the International Geopolitical Center of the Raoul-Dandurand Chair of Strategic and Diplomatic Studies at the University of Québec at Montréal (UQAM) hosted an online webchat at the at the International Conference, “The United States, Climate Change, and the Arctic”. Montréal, Québec, April 19 – 20, 2007.

• CRS Report : Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Legislative Actions Through the 109th Congress Updated April 9, 2007.
• CRS Report : Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): New Directions in the 110th Congress. February 8, 2007.

• "Ask the Ambassador" Live Web Chat -- Friday, February 16, 2 pm EST (1900 GMT).
  Ambassador David H. Wilkins was available live to answer questions on this "Ask the Ambassador" web chat. The Ambassador invited Canadians to engage with him on a dialog on issues of concern to Canadians "North of Sixty". Transcript of web chat.

• Visit by Consul General Abigail Friedman to Nunavut, 18-22 September 06. A short description and pictures from her visit.
  
  
• CG Friedman visited the Canadian Research Icebreaker CCGS Amundsen before it left port in Quebec August 22 for Nunavut. The CG will be visiting Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, and Pond Inlet, in Nunavut Territory, 18-22 September 06.
• Traveling Tales: On a plane between Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik recently, U.S. Consulate Calgary public affairs representative Betty Rice began talking with Alana Mero, from Aurora College. Ms. Mero spoke eloquently about the cooperation between U.S. and Canadian rescue teams who put aside questions of nationalism or borders to help Canadians and Americans in need. At our request, Ms. Mero has graciously contributed this article as a guest writer for the U.S. North of 60 Virtual Presence Posts. July 06.
• Ambassador Wilkins' Inaugural Visit to the NWT, May 06.
• Hay River Rotary Assists Children of New Orleans. 16 November 05.
• In July 2005, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa donated three Scholastic Book collections to libraries in the Northwest Territories. .
• In May 2005, Consul General Friedman of the U.S. Consulate General in Quebec City presented Scholastic Book collections to Nakasuk and Joamie Elementary Schools in Nunavut. The educational book sets, a gift of the people of the United States, feature selected reference works, key events and people in United States history, topics in science, geography, sports, and culture, as well as best-loved children's stories. They are meant to promote communication and understanding between the people of Canada and the United States.
  
  
• U.S. Embassy Supports the Centre for Indigenous Theatre's 2005 Summer School North in Yellowknife, July 05.
• American Artists Participate in Great Northern Arts Festival. 15-24 July 05.
• American and Canadian scientists explain NASA's THEMIS project to Northern audiences. Videoconference Sheds Light on Aurora Borealis Study, 18 July 05
• Ecole Sir John Franklin High School Students take part in an on-line dialogue with former U.S. Ambassador Cellucci. 9 March 05.
• Former Ambassador Paul Cellucci formally launched the "North of 60: U.S. Virtual Presence Posts in Canada" at the Embassy of the United States of America in Ottawa, 2 March 05.