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The Canadian Arctic is experiencing climate change at a rate two to three times faster than the global average. For Inuit communities who have thrived in this challenging environment for millennia, this rapid transformation presents unprecedented challenges. Yet, drawing on their deep connection to the land, traditional knowledge, and innovative spirit, Inuit are leading the way in climate change adaptation, offering lessons of resilience that resonate far beyond the Arctic Circle.

The Changing Face of the North

The impacts of climate change in the Arctic are stark and far-reaching. Melting sea ice, thawing permafrost, and changing wildlife patterns are not just environmental concerns – they strike at the heart of Inuit culture, livelihoods, and well-being.

Indigenous leaders from northern regions emphasize that Arctic environmental changes have global implications. Northern environmental challenges often forecast broader global impacts. The preservation of Arctic communities and their ways of life represents a crucial indicator for global environmental health.

Sheila Watt-Cloutier, renowned Inuit activist and author, puts it powerfully: “Think about the interconnectedness of the arctic ice. What happens in the arctic doesn’t stay in the arctic. It’s impacting the rest of the planet. The arctic is the air conditioner for the world, and it’s breaking down.

Traditional Knowledge: The Bedrock of Adaptation

At the core of Inuit resilience is Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) – traditional knowledge passed down through generations. This holistic understanding of the environment is proving invaluable in navigating the challenges of a changing climate.

Adaptive Hunting and Travel

As sea ice becomes less predictable, Inuit hunters are adapting their practices, combining traditional knowledge with modern technology. In Nunavut, hunters use GPS and satellite imagery alongside traditional navigation methods to safely traverse changing ice conditions.

Inuit knowledge holders in northern communities emphasize how Elders pass down traditional skills for understanding the ice, wind, and currents. Contemporary education combines youth in both these traditional skills and new technologies. This approach represents the evolution of traditions rather than their displacement.

Changing Food Systems

Leopard Seal 

(Image Credit: Getty Images, Licensed from Unsplash)

Climate change is altering the availability of traditional food sources. In response, many communities are revitalizing traditional food preservation techniques while exploring new food sources.

In Nunavik, northern Quebec, community freezers stocked with country food (traditional game and fish) are helping to ensure food security as hunting conditions become more unpredictable. Simultaneously, some communities are experimenting with greenhouse agriculture, adapting southern growing techniques to the Arctic environment.

Community-Led Initiatives

(Image Credit – Dion Tavenier, Unsplash)

Across the Canadian Arctic, Inuit communities are taking the lead in developing and implementing adaptation strategies.

The Nunavut Climate Change Centre

Developed by the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Environment, the Nunavut Climate Change Centre (NC3) serves as an online hub connecting Nunavummiut with vital information about climate change impacts and adaptation. Working alongside Natural Resources Canada, the Nunavut Research Institute, and various Inuit organizations, the centre implements the territory’s Upagiaqtavut: Setting the Course climate change framework document objectives while making climate knowledge more accessible to communities. Through its web-based platform, NC3 helps residents understand, engage with, and adapt to the changing environmental conditions affecting their land.

SmartICE: Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Technology

Blending traditional Inuit knowledge with innovative technology, SmartICE (Sea-ice Monitoring and Real-Time Information for Coastal Environments) enhances Arctic communities’ understanding of changing sea-ice conditions. Led by Memorial University of Newfoundland through a collaborative partnership, this system uses mobile sensors and satellite imagery to complement generations of Inuit expertise in ice safety. Rather than replacing traditional knowledge, SmartICE’s real-time monitoring tools support Inuit decision-making about safe travel routes across sea ice, while ensuring Inuit leadership remains central in the program’s operations and development.

According to Dr. Trevor Bell, SmartICE Founding Director, “By augmenting Indigenous knowledge and supporting ice use, SmartICE is also helping strengthen Indigenous culture and supporting intergenerational teaching and community building.”

Health and Well-being in a Changing North

Climate change poses significant challenges to Inuit health and well-being, from increased risk of accidents on unstable ice to impacts on mental health as traditional ways of life are disrupted.

Mental Health Initiatives

Many communities are developing mental health programs that incorporate traditional Inuit values and practices. For example, the Tungasuvvingat Inuit Ilagiiqatigiitsiarniq Program (formerly Family Well-Being Program) is a community-led, prevention-focused program rooted in Inuit cultural values. The program empowers communities to nurture the health and well-being of their families through preventative care. This initiative delivers culturally grounded, holistic support services that strengthen bonds between children, youth, and families while honouring traditional Inuit approaches to wellness.

Revitalizing Traditional Medicine

As the Arctic ecosystem changes, some traditional medicinal plants are becoming scarcer. In response, initiatives like the Nunavik Inuit Research Centre are working to document traditional medicinal knowledge and explore ways to cultivate important plants locally.

Policy and Advocacy: Inuit Voices on the Global Stage

Inuit leaders are ensuring that Arctic voices are heard in national and international climate policy discussions.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s National Inuit Climate Change Strategy

The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the national representational organization for Inuit in Canada, has developed a comprehensive National Inuit Climate Change Strategy. This strategy outlines Inuit-led approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation, emphasizing the importance of Inuit knowledge in policymaking.

The ITK website, states, “Our climate strategy advances Inuit determined actions to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of our communities in the face of a rapidly changing climate and landscape.

International Advocacy

Inuit leaders are also active on the international stage, bringing Arctic perspectives to global climate negotiations. Their advocacy emphasizes the interconnectedness of Arctic climate change with global systems and the importance of Indigenous leadership in climate solutions.

Challenges and Opportunities

While Inuit communities are demonstrating remarkable resilience, significant challenges remain. Limited infrastructure, high costs of living, and the rapid pace of change all complicate adaptation efforts. However, these challenges are also driving innovation and strengthening community bonds.

The Arctic’s changing climate also presents new economic opportunities, from increased shipping to tourism. However, Inuit leaders stress the importance of approaching these opportunities sustainably and in ways that benefit local communities.

Lessons for the World

The Inuit experience of climate change adaptation offers valuable lessons for communities worldwide. It demonstrates the importance of local knowledge in developing effective adaptation strategies, the power of community-led initiatives, and the need for holistic approaches that consider environmental, cultural, and social factors.

Inuit Leadership in a Changing World

As the Arctic continues to warm, Inuit communities stand as global leaders in climate change adaptation. Their approaches, rooted in traditional knowledge yet open to innovation, offer a model of resilience in the face of unprecedented change.

The story of Arctic adaptation is one of challenge and hope — of a people drawing on ancient wisdom to face a rapidly changing future. As the world grapples with the global impacts of climate change, we would do well to look to the North, where Inuit communities are lighting the way towards a resilient, adaptive future.

Sheila Watt-Cloutier, a prominent Inuit activist, emphasizes that Indigenous Peoples should not be viewed merely as victims of climate change. Instead, she highlights their profound understanding of their environment and their remarkable resilience. Watt-Cloutier argues that the Indigenous experience of thriving in challenging environments has equipped them with unique insights and abilities. These skills and knowledge, she suggests, position Indigenous Peoples to take a leading role in global efforts to address and adapt to climate change.

As we face a future of increasing climate uncertainty, the resilience, knowledge, and leadership of Inuit communities offer not just inspiration but practical lessons in how to adapt, survive, and thrive in a changing world.

 

Blog by Rye Karonhiowanen Barberstock

 

(Header Image Credit: Unsplash Community, Licensed by Unsplash)

In the face of rapidly changing climate conditions, Canada’s Indigenous Peoples are drawing upon millennia of wisdom to adapt and thrive. This ancient knowledge, known as Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), is proving to be an invaluable resource in the fight against climate change. But what exactly is TEK, and how is it shaping climate adaptation strategies across the country?

Understanding Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Traditional Ecological Knowledge is a cumulative body of knowledge, practices, and beliefs about the relationship between living beings and their environment. Passed down through generations via oral traditions, TEK is deeply rooted in the cultural and spiritual practices of Indigenous communities.

Unlike Western scientific approaches, which often compartmentalize knowledge, TEK embraces a holistic worldview. It recognizes the interconnectedness of all living things and emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance in nature. This perspective is particularly valuable in addressing the complex, interconnected challenges posed by climate change.

TEK in Practice: Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

Across Canada, Indigenous communities are applying TEK to develop effective climate adaptation strategies. These approaches often blend traditional practices with modern technologies, resulting in innovative solutions tailored to local environments.

Water Management and Conservation

In many Indigenous communities, water is seen as a sacred resource that must be protected and used wisely. Traditional water management techniques, such as the construction of small-scale dams and the use of natural filtration systems, are being revived and adapted to address changing precipitation patterns and increased flood risks.

For instance, the Okanagan Nation in British Columbia has been using traditional knowledge to inform their watershed management strategies. By combining TEK with modern scientific data, they’ve developed a comprehensive approach to water conservation that respects both ecological and cultural needs.

(Photo Credit: Zarif Ali, Unsplash)

Sustainable Hunting and Fishing Practices

As climate change alters animal migration patterns and affects fish populations, Indigenous hunters and fishers are adapting their practices to ensure sustainable harvests. This often involves adjusting hunting seasons, diversifying catch methods, and implementing stricter conservation measures.

In Nunavut, Inuit hunters are using their intimate knowledge of sea ice conditions to adapt to rapidly changing Arctic environments. By closely observing ice formation patterns and animal behaviours, they’re able to adjust their hunting strategies while ensuring the long-term sustainability of wildlife populations.

(Photo Credit: Byron Johnson, Unsplash)

Traditional Agriculture and Food Preservation

Indigenous agricultural practices, developed over centuries to withstand environmental fluctuations, are proving remarkably resilient in the face of climate change. Many communities are reviving traditional crop varieties that are better adapted to changing conditions.

In Ontario, Anishinaabe communities are reintroducing traditional “three sisters” agriculture – interplanting corn, beans, and squash. This method not only improves soil health and increases crop yield but also enhances the resilience of food systems to climate impacts.

Case Studies: TEK in Action Across Canada

Coastal First Nations’ Ocean Management in British Columbia

The Coastal First Nations of British Columbia have been at the forefront of integrating TEK into ocean management strategies. Their Guardian Watchmen program combines traditional stewardship practices with modern conservation techniques to monitor and protect marine ecosystems.

Through this program, Indigenous communities are able to track changes in ocean temperatures, monitor fish populations, and implement sustainable harvesting practices. This approach not only helps in adapting to climate change but also ensures the preservation of cultural practices tied to the ocean.

(Image Credit: Getty Images [licenced photo], Unsplash)

Cree Communities’ Fire Management in the Boreal Forest

In the boreal forests of northern Canada, Cree communities are reviving traditional fire management practices to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. These controlled burning techniques, passed down through generations, help maintain forest health and biodiversity while reducing fuel loads that contribute to larger, more destructive fires.

By integrating these traditional practices with modern firefighting techniques, Cree communities are creating more resilient forests better equipped to withstand the increased fire risks associated with climate change.

(Photo Credit: Izzy Edey, Unsplash)

Inuit Weather Prediction in Nunavut

In Nunavut, Inuit elders are sharing their traditional methods of weather prediction with younger generations and climate scientists. These methods, based on careful observation of cloud patterns, wind directions, and animal behaviors, are proving remarkably accurate in predicting short-term weather changes in the rapidly changing Arctic environment.

By combining this traditional knowledge with modern meteorological data, communities are better able to prepare for extreme weather events and adapt to changing seasonal patterns.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the value of TEK in climate adaptation is increasingly recognized, challenges remain in fully integrating this knowledge with Western scientific approaches. Issues of intellectual property rights, cultural appropriation, and skepticism from some in the scientific community can create barriers to collaboration.

However, there are growing efforts to bridge these gaps. Many universities and research institutions are now partnering with Indigenous communities to conduct collaborative research that respects and incorporates TEK. Government agencies, too, are beginning to recognize the importance of TEK in policymaking, particularly in areas related to environmental management and climate adaptation.

The Future of TEK in Climate Adaptation

As the impacts of climate change intensify, the role of TEK in developing effective adaptation strategies is likely to grow. Indigenous communities across Canada are leading the way in demonstrating how ancient wisdom can be applied to modern challenges.

For non-Indigenous Canadians, there is much to learn from these approaches. By respecting and integrating TEK into broader climate adaptation efforts, we can develop more holistic, effective strategies for facing the challenges ahead.

As we move forward, it’s crucial that we continue to support Indigenous-led climate initiatives and create more opportunities for knowledge sharing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Only by working together and respecting diverse knowledge systems can we hope to build a more resilient, sustainable future for all Canadians.

 

– By Rye Karonhiowanen Barberstock

Indigenous-led efforts to conserve caribou, highlight efforts to sustain cultural and ecological connections among First Nations and endangered species. According to a 2013 report by the Assembly of First Nations and the David Suzuki Institute, in Canada, “boreal woodland caribou herds share the land with approximately 300 First Nation communities.” Both boreal caribou and Southern Mountain caribou, in British Columbia, Canada, are listed as “threatened” under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Caribou contribute to the lives and cultures of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island (the continent of North America). For example, caribou is a traditional food among the Inuit and the parts of the caribou that are not eaten, such as the skin and fur, are transformed into material for tents, clothing, and bedding. The hunting and harvest of caribou play social and spiritual roles in maintaining kinship and community relationships.

Indigenous led-conservations efforts are saving caribou from local extinction (also referred to as extirpation), thus contributing to the protection of Indigenous self-determination. For example, the size of the Klinse-Za caribou herds (one of 54 subpopulations of caribou in British Columbia) on the traditional territories of the West Moberly First Nations and the Salteau First Nations, have declined from approximately “250 in the 1990s to only 38 in 2013.” However, about nine years of conservation efforts by these First Nations have increased the size of the herd to 101 caribou in 2021, and more recently, to 114 caribou . The increase in the numbers of caribou, is attributed to the leadership and conservation actions undertaken through a conservation partnership agreement between West Moberly First Nation and the Salteau First Nation. The partnership agreement provides habitat protection for the Klinse-Za and for other caribou subpopulations in neighbouring areas. In addition, the agreement aims to “stabilize and expeditiously grow the population” to self-sustaining levels and to maintain consistency between traditional caribou hunting practices and harvesting practices and Aboriginal and Treaty rights. The conservation agreement also invites the reinstatement of cultural traditions of caribou hunting.

The degradation of caribou habitats has contributed to the steep decline of caribou in British Columbia as well as in other parts of Canada. For example, in Northern Québec and Labrador, the George River caribou herd has declined by 98% since 2001. Although the numbers of caribou in the herd went up slightly in 2020, they went down again in 2022, and while non-Indigenous people are banned from hunting the caribou, the Innu and Cree Nations are also taking measures to curb hunting. On January 24, 2022, the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee and Innu Nation of Québec jointly signed the Maamuu nisituhtimuwin/ Matinueu-mashinaikan atik u e uauinakanit or mutual understanding, that “establishes mutually agreed upon terms by which Innu communities in Québec will be able to access caribou within the Cree traditional territory of Chisasibi, Eeyou Istchee.”

Indigenous-led caribou conservation protects not only the caribou, but also Indigenous ways of living with the land, and “maintaining balance” between Indigenous cultures and biodiverse ecosystems.

 

By Leela Viswanathan

 

(Image Credit: Orna Wachman, Pixabay)

Recently, the United Nations (UN) chastised the governments of Denmark and Greenland for undertaking mining without having first consulted with the Inuit who make up the majority of Greenland’s inhabitants. The UN highlighted colonialism as a root cause for these countries’ errors in not seeking the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples. Consultation, however, should not be conflated with or considered a replacement for FPIC.

Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is embedded within fundamental human rights to self-determination. The framework by which FPIC is legally implemented internationally, includes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), as well as the International Labour Organization’s Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’ Convention (ILO 169), and the Convention of Biological Diversity. The FPIC process is not just a means to consult Indigenous Peoples and seek consent about a project; rather, “it is also a process in itself, one by which Indigenous peoples are able to conduct their own independent and collective discussions and decision-making” at their own pace and using culturally appropriate approaches on any matters that concern them.

Engaging in an FPIC process may involve participatory processes and does not guarantee consent by Indigenous communities. Outcomes of an FPIC process include obtaining consent of an Indigenous community about undertaking a project, making changes to the conditions under which a project is intended to happen, or withholding consent to a project or activity and doing so at any time.

 

By Leela Viswanathan

 

(Photo Credit: Johannes Plenio, Unsplash)

Indigenous-owned solar energy projects are contributing to meeting a net-zero carbon emission target while building the self-sufficiency of their communities. Becoming energy sovereign, requires a community to build their “ability… to control, regulate and manage their own energy.”  Solar power is among the cheapest forms of renewable energy and the Pembina Institute reports that from 2015 to 2020, renewable energy projects in Canada, nearly doubled across remote communities.

Launched on November 17, 2020, the 2.2-megawatt (MW) Three Nation energy (3NE) solar farm in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, is owned by Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, and Fort Chipewyan Métis Association. It is reported that the 3NE solar farm and ATCO’s 600-kilowatt (KW) solar farm and “a battery storage system will reduce the need for more than 800,000 litres of diesel fuel each year.” Together, these solar projects are “the largest remote solar farm in Canada” found northwest of the Alberta’s oil sands.

With the Arctic warming three times faster than the rest of the planet, Inuit communities have become leaders in tackling climate change by engaging in renewable energy projects, including harnessing solar power. Vuntut Gwitch’in First Nation located in Yukon,  is one of the first Indigenous communities in Canada to declare a climate emergency. The community has set a goal to reach net-zero carbon emission by 2030, which is 20 years ahead of the Canadian federal government’s commitment to net-zero carbon emission by 2050. The Old Crow Solar Project of Vuntut Gwitch’in First Nation consists of 2,160 solar panels to maximize the capture of the sun’s rays during long summer days. Vuntut Gwitch’in First Nation holds a 25-year electricity purchase agreement with ATCO Electric Yukon. The energy that is generated by the Old Crow Solar Project will be bought at a similar cost to diesel. According to Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation., over $410,000 is returned to the community through the electricity purchase agreement, and can then be reinvested in additional renewable energy projects.

More examples of First Nation communities who are leaders in generating solar power and who are actively contributing to the effort to reach net-zero carbon emissions include:

More solar projects are in the works in British Columbia, including a new solar project on the Upper Nicola Band Reserve in collaboration with the Okanagan Nation Alliance and FortisBC.

Through their diverse solar energy projects contribute, Indigenous peoples are minimizing their communities’ dependency on fossil fuels, especially diesel, while becoming energy sovereign.

 

By Leela Viswanathan

 

(Image credit: Nuno Marques, Unsplash)

Polar bears and humans – especially Inuit – have a symbiotic relationship. This close relationship reveals the impact of climate change on both polar bears and Inuit, and points to the possibilities for climate adaptation.

Several compounding effects of climate threats experienced by polar bears and humans are highlighted by Polar Bears International. For example, climate warming largely created by human and industrial consumption of fossil fuels has led to longer seasonal periods where no Arctic ice is formed. Consequently, polar bears go through longer fasting periods, which in turn decreases the bear population. The potential for polar bear population collapse can be mitigated through conservation practices, including community-based wildlife management and conservation-hunting to counter overharvesting and unregulated commercial and sport hunting. These management practices would also contribute to “preserving the Inuit connection to the land and their cultural identity.”

As the Arctic becomes warmer, and at a fast rate, the relationship of polar bears – a predator at the top of the food chain – with birds and humans, changes. Melting sea ice results in polar bears spending more time on shore and this encourages the likelihood for conflicts with humans. Shrinking sea ice dramatically reduces the polar bears’ usual hunting range, such that the bears will hunt for food alternatives, like bird eggs, on the land. Climate change also slows down ocean currents and can contribute to extreme weather occurrences during the winter months. The wind and ocean currents carry high loads of toxicity and pollutants. When polar bears eat fish and seals, they “absorb [pollutants] at higher levels.” Reducing pollutants will help both the bears and humans, especially in the context weather extremes associated with climate change.

Canada is the home to two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population. Polar bears are a species of concern under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) and are a protected species under provincial and territorial legislation. Harvest management practices that adapt to climate change assist Inuit to maintain their cultural links with polar bears and other wildlife, and can facilitate the conservation of polar bear species in Canada. The International Union for Conservation and Nature has classified the polar bear as a vulnerable species.

Since 2016, the collaborative research project BEARWATCH has been monitoring the impacts of Arctic climate change through polar bear activity, genomics, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in and around the Inuit community of Gjoa Haven, located on the southeast coast of King William Island, North of the Arctic Circle. The project’s team has developed a toolkit for analyzing the molecular composition of bear droppings, or bear “scat,” in order to better monitor the polar bear population and to support and sustain Indigenous community-based monitoring programs.

Facilitating meaningful engagement of Inuit in collaborative climate change research and policy development could not only bring recognition and respect for Inuit ways of knowing and livelihoods, but could also help to sustain the strong cultural, environmental, and economic connections between Inuit and polar bears.

By Leela Viswanathan

(Image Credit: Noaa, Unsplash)

Climate change triggers emotions. ‘Climate grief’ or ecological grief refers to the emotional response to the loss and anxiety associated with the “overall effects of climate change.” Climate change has an impact on human health—physical and mental. While the physical impacts of climate change have been linked to respiratory ailments, like asthma, because of air pollution and heatstroke, various psychological ailments and mental health concerns are emotional impacts of climate change and are often overlooked.

The uncertainty associated with climate change requires people to deal with changes that have already occurred, and with complex feelings of not knowing what additional changes will emerge in the future; this exacerbates anxiety and grief. Names for climate grief can take on regional terms. For example, “winter grief” is the grief of the loss of traditional winters due to climate change. “Snow anxiety,” and grappling with simultaneous feelings of “winter joy” and “snow relief” are some of the ways that Arctic communities express the spectrum of feelings associated with managing uncertainty in the landscape due to climate change.

Climate grief is prevalent in Arctic communities. The Inuit experience of “solastalgia”—a feeling of home sickness without ever leaving home”—is linked to the psychological impact of seeing the landscape of melting ice due to climate change. The unpredictability of the “shoulder season”—the period between hunting seasons—is a cause for worry among the Inuit. Fluctuations in the amount of snow in the winter and Spring temperatures make it increasingly difficult for Inuit to plan for their lives. With the melting ice limiting access to land and water, Inuit with otherwise strong cultural connections to the landscape are experiencing a form of seasonal affective disorder. The loss of one’s home and the shifting conditions for Arctic survival are feeding a sadness, on top of the impacts of colonialism, regarded by some as a social determinant of health.

Climate change effects also disrupt Indigenous knowledge systems and feed anxiety in the loss of one’s culture. Inuit fear loss of species if there is “no more sea ice” and loss of connection to the land. The cumulative loss of land over years for Inuit communities of Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada and the resultant loss of sense of place, are at the root of ecological grief, with the concomitant effect of loss of local knowledge.

The Climate Atlas recognizes how mental health impacts of climate change fall into three main categories: experiences of extreme weather events; experiences of environmental changes; and awareness of climate change experiences. Climate grief and distress affects all age groups. Author of “A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety,” Sarah Jaquette Ray notes that the population born “at the tail end of the Millennial generation,” also known as Generation Z or iGen, are “the first to have spent [their] entire lives with the effects of climate change,” and that everyone should mirror their tremendous energy and address climate distress by renewing one’s “commitment to climate advocacy.”

 

By Leela Viswanathan

 

(Image Credit: Jeremy Bishop, Unsplash)

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