Federal officials are heading to Canada's most northern community to discuss an extensive mapping project that could affect Canadian sovereignty.

The geology project in Grise Fiord, Ellesmere Island is a result of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Under the agreement, Canada has until 2013 to claim sovereignty over the seabed that extends beyond the 200 nautical mile limit off its coasts.

To claim sovereignty, the federal government has to prove the land under the sea is part of the Canadian continental shelf.

Canada's northern seabed is so clogged that icebreakers can't get through.

To that end, the Geological Survey of Canada wants to work with local residents to map the Lomonosov ridge off the northern tip of Ellesmere Island.

"We're a very long distance from them but we want to know what they know about the area, and how they can help us plan the experiment and of course, we'll ask if anyone would like to participate in the experiment," said Ruth Jackson of the geological survey.

The ridge runs between the island and Greenland, which is why Denmark and Canada are sharing the $3.5 million cost of the mapping project. However, both nations hope to claim sovereignty over the area.

Canada stands to gain rights to any resources such as oil, gas and methane in the area, and control over research, Johnson said.

The mapping project could increase Canada's land mass by an area equivalent to the three Prairie provinces.

Jackson said because of the extreme ice conditions, up to 30 researchers will be flown to the ice next March. They'll spend about six weeks doing sonar and seismic testing to determine the profile and composition of the ocean floor.

"Obviously, any time a proponent comes to town with an ambition of setting off explosions and seismic readings, there's bound to be questions of wildlife disturbance and to our hunting area," said Marty Kuluguqtuk, an official with the hamlet of Grise Fiord.

Kuluguqtuk expects there'll be several such questions at this week's public meeting.