Safe travels: Regional coordination of community-based weather, water, and ice monitoring for community travel safety in Iqaluit and Pond Inlet, Nunavut

Across Inuit Nunangat (Inuit homelands in Canada), Inuit have been travelling on the land, water, and ice since time immemorial to hunt, fish, gather, and access other communities. Inuit knowledge (IK) is learned through oral history and personal experience to understand when and how to travel on the land. However, Inuit travel safety is threatened as the Arctic warms rapidly, resulting in greater unpredictability of weather, water, ice, and climate (WWIC) conditions and physical injury. Though Inuit often travel hundreds of kilometers from their communities, many northern weather stations are located at community airports, which means that weather information does not meet the needs of community members. This PhD research project aims to explore community-based environmental monitoring (CBM) programs in Pond Inlet and Iqaluit to support travel safety across Nunavut. Blue Futures Pathways (BFP) is a program that connects young people aged 15-35 with education, employment and funding opportunities that support them in exploring successful careers in the Sustainable Blue Economy (Canada’s ocean, fresh water, wastewater and ice sectors). Acting as a Regional Coordinator, Faith will help establish a northern presence for BFP, expand outreach, and share resources that promote opportunities within the Sustainable Blue Economy.

Faculty Supervisor:

Gita Ljubicic

Student:

Partner:

SOI Foundation

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McMaster University

Program: