Inuit advisors help all-female expedition prepare for Northwest Passage snorkel relay

An all-female expedition team is in Iqaluit meeting with Inuit advisors to prepare for a snorkel relay of the Northwest Passage in 2018 and 2019.

"This is a bit of a warmup of sorts because eventually we're going to snorkel the Northwest Passage from Pond Inlet all the way to Tuktoyaktuk," says Susan Eaton, coordinator of the SednaEpic Expedition.

Eaton says the 3,000-kilometreexpedition willshed light on the effects of climate change on the Arctic.

"We're bringing global attention to the disappearing sea ice," she said.

• Women plan 3,000km Northwest Passage snorkel relay

"Expeditions are generally male dominated so this all female team is quite unique," she added.

This is the group'ssecond venture into the Arctic. In 2014 they were in Labrador and Greenland.

'Snorkel safaris' for locals

During its time in Iqaluit,the group is holdingworkshops for kids at thebreakwater, using mobile saltwater aquariums and underwater robots. They're also taking a group of young Inuit women on snorkel safaris in Frobisher Bay to introduce them to ocean-related careers in their community.

In addition, they have plans to conduct satellite tagging and DNA collection of Greenland sharks.

The group is working with two Inuit cultural advisors, Aaju Peter and Johnny Issaluk, to familiarize them with local issues and connect them to the community.

Peter says she's ecstatic to be learning to snorkel to assist with the expedition.

"I think it's fantastic to empower the young women and introduce the women into what is in the ocean and [how to] befriend the ocean," shesays.

"I know even though the water is scary for me, that it's going to be OK because it will be a great opportunity to help out."

'Now I'm going to see... what's it's like in there'

Issalukhas dived all over the globe but never in his own backyard.

"It's a great cause and I can see it making a great difference in the future," says Issaluk, who will be scuba diving with the expedition.

As a hunter, he says he'salways thought about the underwater life of sea mammals.

"Now I'm going to see how they live and what it's like there underneath and I'm really excited about that."

Preserving the Arctic for his children was also a big part of his motivation for taking part in the expedition.

"I love hunting, and I want them to hunt just as comfortably as I do today," says Issaluk.

• SednaEpic Expedition to take Dartmouth woman on Arctic scuba dive
• Book shares Inuit elders' insights on climate change in Arctic