Latest news with #Hempleman-Adams
The Guardian
10-04-2025
- The Guardian
UK adventurer apologises for record trek claim after Inuit backlash
A British adventurer has apologised after her claims to be the first woman to traverse Canada's largest island solo were dismissed by members of the Inuit population who criticised her dangerous 'privilege and ignorance'. Camilla Hempleman-Adams, 32, covered 150 miles on foot and by ski while pulling a sledge across Baffin Island, Nunavut, in temperatures as low as -40C and winds of 47mph (76km/h) during the two-week expedition last month. The trek took Hempleman-Adams, the daughter of the adventurer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung, through Auyuittuq national park. But her claims have been described as incorrect, with local people saying they had travelled the same route for generations. Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, an Inuit artist based in Ottawa, said on Instagram: 'There is no way in hell a British coloniser is coming to Inuit Nunavut in 2025 and claiming any firsts. 'My gramma walked hundreds of kilometres yearly, often pregnant, to spring fishing and winter caribou hunting grounds because that was life. Every inch of this continent has Indigenous history and stories like this. Help me call out this ignorant and racist behaviour.' Kabloona said the matter had affected the community because many people who lived traditional nomadic lifestyles had died, raising concerns that cultural practices would gradually be lost to time. 'The article hit people really hard in a very sensitive spot because of our history and the difficulties we face every day in combatting western colonialism,' she told the BBC. 'This woman is coming here from such a place of privilege and ignorance that it seems dangerous. It was almost like she was bringing back news of a new continent to Europe and saying: 'There's nobody here!' We were and still are.' She added: 'It's such a clear example of how colonialism benefits from dispossessing Indigenous people of their land and writing us out of history.' Hempleman-Adams wrote on her expedition website before departure: 'Parks Canada has confirmed there are no historical records of a female solo attempt from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung.' Kabloona said this was because crossing the terrain was considered 'a normal way of life for them'. Hempleman-Adams, a producer living in London and the youngest British woman to ski to the north pole aged 15, said: 'It was never my intention to misrepresent any historical achievements or cause distress to local communities. 'Before undertaking the expedition, I researched and verified the accuracy of my claim with Parks Canada and local outfitters in both towns who confirmed that there was no known female solo winter crossing from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung. 'However, if this information is incorrect, I apologise unreservedly for making an incorrect claim and for causing offence.' She added she was 'truly saddened' that coverage of her trek 'may have caused concern or upset … I remain committed to learning from this experience and engaging with the community with the utmost respect.'
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Adventurer apologises over ‘first' Baffin Island claim after Inuit backlash
A British adventurer who claimed to be the first woman to solo traverse Canada's largest island has apologised after she was criticised for her 'ignorance'. Camilla Hempleman-Adams battled temperatures as low as minus 40C and winds of 47mph during the two-week expedition. The 32-year-old covered 150 miles on foot and by ski while pulling a sledge, and finished in 13 days – a day faster than expected. The solo trek across Canada's largest island took Ms Hempleman-Adams from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung, through the unforgiving landscape of Auyuittuq National Park. Members of the native Inuit population said her claim was incorrect and said people living there having travelled the same route for generations. Writing on Instagram, Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, an Inuit artist based in Ottawa, said: 'If you look deeper you'll see a larger problem: erasure of Inuit on our own lands. 'In news coverage, Baffin Island is said to be uninhabited, with not much life. 'There is no way in hell a British coloniser is coming to Inuit Nunaat in 2025 and claiming any firsts. 'My gramma walked hundreds of kilometres yearly, often pregnant, to spring fishing and winter caribou hunting grounds because that was life. 'Every inch of this continent has indigenous history and stories like this. Help me call out this ignorant and racist behaviour.' Following the criticism, Ms Hempleman-Adams said: 'I want to express my apologies for any offence caused by recent articles regarding my solo winter traverse from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung through the Akshayuk Pass. 'It was never my intention to misrepresent any historical achievements or cause distress to local communities. 'Before undertaking the expedition, I researched and verified the accuracy of my claim with Parks Canada and local outfitters in both towns who confirmed that there was no known female solo winter crossing from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung. 'However, if this information is incorrect, I apologise unreservedly for making an incorrect claim and for causing offence. 'I have deep respect for the land, its people, and their history. 'I have travelled in this region multiple times and hold immense admiration for its nature, culture and traditions. 'I am truly saddened that the coverage of my journey may have caused concern or upset, and I remain committed to learning from this experience and engaging with the community with the utmost respect.' Ms Hempleman-Adams, a producer living in London, previously became the youngest British female to ski to the North Pole at the age of just 15. She hoped the Baffin Island challenge would inspire women to break boundaries, as well as highlight the impact of climate change on the region and its Inuit communities. The attempt was supported by Torabhaig Distillery, a whisky maker on the Isle of Skye.
CBC
09-04-2025
- CBC
British woman apologizes for claims she set a record in Nunavut
A British traveller has issued an apology after claiming she was the first woman to solo traverse Nunavut's – and Canada's – largest island. Camilla Hempleman-Adams completed the trek from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung, through the Akyashuk Pass, last month. Many media outlets around the world reported her as the first woman to trek solo across Baffin Island, causing outrage among some Nunavummiut. Inuit Heritage Trust said it doesn't maintain such records. Neither does Parks Canada, which pointed out that "Inuit have inhabited Inuit Nunangat since time immemorial, leaving footprints, history and knowledge across all lands, passes, and traditional places in the North, Nunavut, and Auyuittuq National Park." In a written statement to CBC News, Hempleman-Adams apologized for the offence her claims have caused. She said before the trip, she researched and verified the accuracy of her claim with Parks Canada and local outfitters in Qikiqtarjuaq and Pangnirtung. "However, if this information is incorrect, I apologize unreservedly for making an incorrect claim and for causing offence," she said. "I have deep respect for the land, its people, and their history. I have traveled in this region multiple times and hold immense admiration for its nature, culture and traditions … and I remain committed to learning from this experience and engaging with the community with the utmost respect." Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, who pushed for Hempleman-Adams to issue an apology, said it was badly needed. "She misrepresented Baffin Island as a whole and the area and just the history of people who were here before colonization," Kabloona said. Every Inuk has a story of long journeys across Nunavut, she said, and she's currently mapping out a route her family used to take from Chantrey Inlet in the Kitikmeot region to get to caribou hunting grounds. On one of those occasions, her grandmother gave birth to Kabloona's father. "And then two days later, they got up and kept walking because they had to find food," she said. "That's just what everybody's grandma did." Kabloona also believes there isn't enough education – or news coverage – about Inuit history in Canada because of colonization, so she said she isn't surprised that people abroad don't know about it either.
Telegraph
09-04-2025
- Telegraph
British adventurer triggers colonialism row over historic Canadian island trek
A British adventurer has been accused of having a 'dangerous colonial attitude' after she claimed to be the first woman to cross Canada's largest island solo. Camilla Hempleman-Adams, the daughter of explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, traversed the 150-mile width of Baffin Island on foot and by ski in 13 days last month. But the 32-year-old has been criticised by Inuits for displaying 'privilege and ignorance' because she claimed she is the first woman in history to do so. Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, an Inuit who lives in Ottawa, Ontario, said Canada's indigenous population had been criss-crossing the island for generations. 'If you want to come and enjoy the outdoors, please do so,' she said. 'The danger is going back with this colonial attitude and disseminating information like the Inuit don't have history there. 'Saying you're the 'first person' to do anything in an indigenous country is insulting. Show respect to the land and the people who have kept it pristine for your adventures.' Ms Kabloona added: 'This woman is coming here from such a place of privilege and ignorance that it seems dangerous. It was almost like she was bringing back news of a new continent to Europe and saying 'there's nobody here!' We were and still are.' Ms Hempleman-Adams, who is from Wiltshire but lives in London, had previously claimed that her expedition along the Akshayuk Pass from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung would be the first 'female solo attempt'. Following the backlash, her website has been changed to instead claim that she was attempting to become 'the first British woman' to traverse the route. Ms Hempleman-Adams said: 'I want to express my apologies for any offence caused by recent articles regarding my solo winter traverse from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung through the Akshayuk Pass. It was never my intention to misrepresent any historical achievements or cause distress to local communities. 'Before undertaking the expedition, I researched and verified the accuracy of my claim with Parks Canada and local outfitters in both towns who confirmed that there was no known female solo winter crossing from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung. However, if this information is incorrect, I apologise unreservedly for making an incorrect claim and for causing offence. 'I have deep respect for the land, its people, and their history. I have travelled in this region multiple times and hold immense admiration for its nature, culture and traditions. I am truly saddened that the coverage of my journey may have caused concern or upset, and I remain committed to learning from this experience and engaging with the community with the utmost respect.' Ms Hempleman-Adams battled temperatures as low as minus 104F (40C) and winds of up to 45mph on the expedition. After she finished the journey, she said: 'When you go in by yourself, you just have a mindset to keep going. You adapt, you have the mindset that you can't give up. There is no giving up in those conditions. I was firmly just, keep going, one step in front of the other.' Her father Sir David flew out to see her complete the expedition. He said: 'What she's achieved is quite extraordinary. I was really, really worried. She was right on the edge. It was wind speeds of 30 knots [34mph], and that's just dangerous in these temperatures. 'Being solo, you've got to be really on top of your game the whole time. If you just lose concentration for five minutes, it's a real problem. I'm immensely proud of her.' In 2008, Ms Hempleman-Adams became the youngest person to ski to the North Pole at the age of 15.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Adventurer's trek claim 'ignorant', say islanders
An adventurer who claimed to be the first woman to solo traverse Canada's largest island has been criticised for her "privilege and ignorance". Camilla Hempleman-Adams, from Wiltshire, covered 150 miles (241km) on foot and by ski across Baffin Island, Nunavut, completing the journey on 27 March. However, members of the native Inuit population said her claim was incorrect and came from a "dangerous colonial attitude", with people there having travelled the same route for generations. Ms Hempleman-Adams has since apologised, adding: "It was never my intention to misrepresent any historical achievements or cause distress to local communities." The solo trek across Baffin Island took Ms Hempleman-Adams from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung, crossing through Auyuittuq National Park. Ahead of departure, she wrote on her expedition website: "Parks Canada has confirmed that there are no historical records of a female solo attempt from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung." But Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, based in Ottawa, said this was because crossing the terrain is considered "a normal way of life" for Inuit people. 'The article hit people really hard in a very sensitive spot, because of our history and the difficulties we face every day in combatting Western colonialism," she said. "This woman is coming here from such a place of privilege and ignorance that it seems dangerous. "It was almost like she was bringing back news of a new continent to Europe and saying 'there's nobody here!' We were and still are. "It's such a clear example of how colonialism benefits from dispossessing indigenous people of their land and writing us out of history." In a statement, Ms Hempleman-Adams apologised for the offence caused by her expedition coverage. "I have deep respect for the land, its people, and their history," she said. "I have travelled in this region multiple times and hold immense admiration for its nature, culture and traditions. "I am truly saddened that the coverage of my journey may have caused concern or upset, and I remain committed to learning from this experience and engaging with the community with the utmost respect." Ms Kabloona said the matter had affected the community because many people who lived traditional nomadic lifestyles had now passed away - raising concerns that cultural practices will gradually be lost to time. She is now in the process of mapping out the route her family has taken for generations while migrating south in spring, towards the caribou hunting grounds. On one of these annual 186-mile (300km) journeys, Ms Kabloona's grandmother went into labour and gave birth to her father in a tent along the way. "Two days later, she got up and carried on walking," Ms Kabloona said. "She did that in every single one of her pregnancies, traversed our land, because that is our way of life and always has been." Ms Kabloona said she welcomed visitors to the region but disapproved of the "outdated" term "explorer", as it carried with it connotations of imperialist expansion. "If you want to come and enjoy the outdoors, please do so," she said. "The danger is going back with this colonial attitude and disseminating information like the Inuit don't have history there. "Saying you're the 'first person' to do anything in an indigenous country is insulting. "Show respect to the land and the people who have kept it pristine for your adventures." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Woman aims to complete solo Canadian trek Explorer completes solo Canadian island traverse
