Interactive CD-ROM Available
"When the Weather is Uggianaqtuq: Inuit Observations of
Environmental Change"
Author: Shari Fox
Published By:
National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)
Arctic System Science (ARCSS) Data Coordination Center
To read more about the project or to order a copy of the CD-ROM (free of
charge), please go to:
http://nsidc.org/data/arcss122.html
or go to:
http://nsidc.org
or e-mail the National Snow and Ice Data Center at:
nsidc [at] nsidc.org
SUMMARY
Uggianaqtuq (pronounced OOG-gi-a-nak-took) is a North Baffin Inuktitut
word that means to behave unexpectedly, or in an unfamiliar way. From
the perspective of many Inuit in the Arctic, the weather has been
uggianaqtuq in recent years. In this interactive, multi-media CD-ROM,
Inuit from two communities in Nunavut, Canada (Baker Lake and Clyde
River), share their observations and perspectives on recent
environmental changes. Maps, text, photos, video, and music are
integrated to help illustrate the changes Inuit have observed in their
environment and the impacts on their livelihoods.
The CD-ROM is a pilot project into using media technology, as opposed to
written reports, as an alternative way to document and communicate Inuit
observations and knowledge. It is both an exploration into designing
more creative and useful reporting to communities involved in research,
as well as an educational tool for students, researchers, and
decision-makers in Nunavut and beyond who are interested in how Inuit
are experiencing environmental change. Topics on the CD-ROM were
identified through community interviews and focus groups and include
snow, sea ice, wind, weather variability, changes in seasons, animals,
glaciers, and more. The CD-ROM also focuses on the individual
knowledge-holders and through their images and words observations are
shared and explained.
The integrated components of the CD-ROM allow the user to:
- Search by topic or the person being interviewed
- View interview clips in Inuktitut with English interpretations
- View and print maps about environmental changes drawn by participants
- View short videos with scenes from the communities
- View summaries and photos of environmental changes and their impacts
to the landscape and community life
The CD-ROM should appeal to students, educators, researchers, and
decision-makers in Nunavut and elsewhere who have an interest in the
Arctic, Inuit, and indigenous observations and experiences of recent
climate and environmental changes.
To read more about the project or to order a copy of the CD-ROM (free of
charge), please go to:
http://nsidc.org/data/arcss122.html
or go to:
http://nsidc.org
or e-mail the National Snow and Ice Data Center at:
nsidc [at] nsidc.org