Johannes

Overview

This summer’s SOI expedition will help to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Students on Ice, bringing together diverse youth (ages 14-18), scientists, Elders, artists, educators, and experts!

Aboard the expedition icebreaker Oqwatnukewey Eleke’wi’ji’jit (Polar Prince), we will sail from Nain, Nunatsiavut, to Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, through the awe-inspiring Torngat Mountains National Park.

In the SOI spirit, every day will be jam-packed with opportunities for learning and connection, including hands-on science workshops, shore landings, community visits, and encounters with wildlife. We will engage in discussions about a variety of topics like traditional knowledge, biodiversity, conservation, and youth leadership.

It is certain to be an inspiring and life-altering experience for us all!

Key Information

Route / Location

Nain, Torngat Mountains National Park, Imappivut, Killiniq, Ungava Bay, Koksoak River and Kuujjuaq.

Dates

July 12 - July 27, 2025

Theme / Focus

Traditional knowledge, biodiversity, conservation and youth empowerment

Number of Participants

44 international youth aged 14-18, along with scientists, Indigenous Elders, artists, and experts.

The Journey

Beginning on July 12, youth gather in Ottawa and travel as a group to Happy-Valley Goose Bay, Labrador, before proceeding on to Nain, home to the largest community in Nunatsiavut. The team will board the MV Polar Prince in Nain and head north towards Torngat Mountains National Park, one of the few national parks managed through an Indigenous-led approach, reflecting the deep connection and stewardship of the Inuit people with their ancestral lands. We will sail through Imappivut, the proposed marine conservation area adjacent to the Torngat Mountains, before visiting Killiniq at the tip of the Torngat Mountains and then heading into Ungava Bay. We will explore islands and rivers in Ungava before travelling south down the Koksoak River, reaching its conclusion in the community of Kuujjuaq in Nunavik.