ARCUS 13th Annual Meeting and Arctic Forum 2001

Inuvialuit Observations of Climate Change: Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Science in the Canadian Arctic [Poster]

Dyanna Jolly [Riedlinger]¹, Fikret Berkes², Community of Sachs Harbour^3
1Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, (current) Burnham School Road, RD 5, Christchurch, 8021, New Zealand, Phone +64 (3) 347.680, dyjolly@ihug.co.nz
²Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada, berkes@ms.umanitoba.ca
³Sachs Harbour, NWT, Canada

The Arctic is considered by many to be the "canary" of climate change, and has become a focal point for climate change research. However, considerable uncertainty remains concerning the rate and extent of change, and the impact on northern ecosystems. Inuvialuit in the Canadian Arctic possess a substantial body of knowledge and expertise related to climate and climate change. In recent years, communities such as Sachs Harbour are experiencing changes that they consider beyond the range of normal or expected variability. Community assessments of change are based on cumulative knowledge of local trends, patterns and processes, derived from generations of reliance on the land. Can these community assessments, based on local observations and traditional knowledge, enrich and expand understandings of Arctic climate change? Here, we describe five convergence areas that can provide a framework for using Inuvialuit knowledge and western science together to understand climate change in the Canadian Arctic.

Previous Abstract | Next Abstract