Trent University alumna Shelagh D. Grant, adjunct professor in Canadian Studies and research associate of the Frost Centre, has been named winner of the 2011 J.W. Dafoe Book Prize, for her book, Polar Imperative: A History of Arctic Sovereignty in North America, published by Douglas & McIntyre.
Ms. Grant’s book was selected from fifty seven submissions and chosen from a short list of five other books.
“My success in historical research and writing would not have been possible without the opportunities provided by Trent University and the support and encouragement of so many colleagues. If the nominations are seen as an honour, it is one that should be shared by Trent University,” said Ms. Grant.
The Book
Polar Imperative: A History of Arctic Sovereignty in North America examines the historical sovereignty claims of many countries over North America’s Polar Regions. According to Ms. Grant, “Changes in climate, technology and resources all put pressure on existing claims to sovereignty and control in the Arctic. As the ice melts away, international attention is drawn to potential development of the area's newly accessible resources, such as oil, gas, iron ore, and gold."
Ms. Grant’s objective behind writing the book is to have as many Canadians as possible understand the underlying history of our Arctic sovereignty issues, thus facilitating support for some tough decisions any government in power will be required to make over the next few years.
Tough Decisions for Canada
Canada needs to maintain control over its area in the Arctic, not just by military means but through significant investment in infrastructure. Deep sea ports, inspection facilities, coast guard / patrol boats, search and rescue operations and oil spill clean-up will require ongoing upgrading and maintaining, “so we can protect the environment and the people who live there,” said Ms. Grant.
“Having sovereign rights over an area is also a responsibility to the people who live there. Canada would be concerned with protecting the environment and food sources from contamination and ensuring the sustainability of the economy.”
The Author
Known for her scholarship on the Canadian Arctic, Ms. Grant is a leading historian, distinguished archival researcher, author and mentor. A graduate of the Master’s program in History at Trent in 1982, she has contributed to Trent’s outstanding reputation in Canadian Studies through her award-winning publications on the Arctic such as On Trial for Murder and through her work with Inuit communities in Nunavut.
The Trent Experience
“Trent’s interdisciplinary community made me appreciate the importance of context and comparative aspects of any issue,” added Ms. Grant. “This book is a comparative piece that looks at the tentative weaknesses, strengths and potential minefields concerning the Arctic sovereignty of three areas: Alaska, Greenland and Arctic Canada. By comparing the evolution of Arctic sovereignty in three locations, one gets a better idea of why some countries retain control and why others abandon or lose control.”
The Prizes
The prize will be formally awarded at the J.W. Foundation’s Annual General Meeting on May 26 in Winnipeg. The Prize memorializes John Wesley Dafoe, one of the most significant Canadian editors of the 20th Centurey. In his tenure at the Manitoba Free Press, later renamed the Winnipeg Free Press, from 1901-1944, Dafoe was known for his advocacy of western development, free trade, national independence, and the Commonwealth.
Posted on Monday, May 2, 2011.