It was one of the most enduring mysteries of exploration: what happened to Arctic explorer, Sir John Franklin and his two ships and crew in 1848.
One of the ships, HMS Erebus was finally located in 2014 on the Arctic seabed.
Since then a number of artefacts have been recovered.
In a press release today, Parks Canada says it will work collaboratively with Inuit of the Kitikmeot region to establish a facility in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut that will support the conservation, research and presentation of the Franklin Expedition’s history and artefacts. The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced $16.9 million over five years to support the ongoing investigation of HMS Erebus and the continuing search for HMS Terror, and for the development of multi-purpose infrastructure. The funding will also contribute to economic development in the Kitikmeot region, and create employment opportunities in local Inuit communities.
The announcement comes shortly after a minor dispute over who controls the artefacts.
The Nunavut government said earlier this month that Parks Canada must consult with them before removing anything from the ship.
The British government, which technically still owns the ship, said they also might be interested in certain artefacts, especially if any gold is found on the ship.
The other Franklin ship, HMS Terror, has yet to be found.
Planning is underway for more dives this summer on the Erebus, and to continue the search for HMS Terror.
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