As part of the Joint Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan, the City of Yellowknife and Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) have started engaging with the GNWT on an initiative to create a new display at the Yellowknife Airport.
The Yellowknife Airport is actively addressing the chiefs’ concerns regarding the taxidermied polar bear and seal display at the luggage carousel, which does not accurately depict the airport’s geographical location.
The airport’s polar bear exhibit is the most photographed site in the Northwest Territories and will continue to be part of the airport. As a territorial airport and considering that polar bears are indigenous to the region, there are no intentions to remove it altogether.
The regional airport manager, Randy Straker, has organized two talks with the Dene First Nations and the City of Yellowknife. The most recent meeting produced a rough sketch and some suggestions. The group is currently gathering more information regarding design and project costs. There have yet to be any official sketches.
The existing polar bear exhibit will stay in place until an approved replacement design is ready for installation. At this stage, the timeline and location for the potential transfer of the bear have not been determined.
