An update on Inuit perceptions of their changing environment, Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island, Nunavut)
The Inuit of Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island) have developed a deep respect for their natural environment and are able to report not only changes in weather, ice, and natural resources but also changes in their communities as a result of climate change. The objective of this study was to shed light on ho...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/elementa.025 http://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article-pdf/doi/10.1525/elementa.025/468873/elementa.025.pdf |
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crunicaliforniap:10.1525/elementa.025 2024-04-07T07:51:16+00:00 An update on Inuit perceptions of their changing environment, Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island, Nunavut) Sansoulet, Julie Therrien, Michèle Delgove, Joseph Pouxviel, Guilhem Desriac, Julie Sardet, Noé Vanderlinden, Jean-Paul 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/elementa.025 http://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article-pdf/doi/10.1525/elementa.025/468873/elementa.025.pdf en eng University of California Press http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene volume 8, issue 1 ISSN 2325-1026 Atmospheric Science Geology Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology Ecology Environmental Engineering Oceanography journal-article 2020 crunicaliforniap https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.025 2024-03-08T03:46:51Z The Inuit of Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island) have developed a deep respect for their natural environment and are able to report not only changes in weather, ice, and natural resources but also changes in their communities as a result of climate change. The objective of this study was to shed light on how the impacts of climate change are currently perceived in the communities of Kanngiqtugaapik, Pangniqtuuq, and Qikiqtarjuaq. In order to construct a shared knowledge base, we conducted qualitative video interviews and participated in a hunting camp with multigenerational and multigender Inuit hunters and fishers. First, Inuit continue to see the world in which they cohabit with other living things, particularly animals, as a world that they cannot control on their own—a world they must adapt to, passing learning from one generation to the next. Second, they report that changes in the ice have been among the major and most important transformations to have occurred in recent decades. Observations made by these local populations also indicate changes in hunted species, with fewer caribou and narwhal, more birds, insects, and fish, including from more southerly regions, and an uncertainty about polar bear populations. Seal hunting remains stable, and this meat is still the most popular and healthy food, physically and psychologically. Third, sociological and economic changes (e.g., lifestyle change, monetary economies, quotas), in addition to environmental changes (e.g., climate change, species change), have had a significant impact on food harvesting activities as well as food consumption in the region. A final perspective concerns the needs of the Qikiqtaaluk communities to further develop collaboration with scientists. This need for partnership is not only perceived as a scientific necessity but also recognized by Inuit as essential to their communities, with some local leaders ready to work toward a fruitful collaboration. Article in Journal/Newspaper Baffin Island Baffin inuit narwhal* Nunavut polar bear Qikiqtaaluk Qikiqtarjuaq University of California Press Nunavut Baffin Island Qikiqtarjuaq ENVELOPE(-64.029,-64.029,67.557,67.557) Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 8 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of California Press |
op_collection_id |
crunicaliforniap |
language |
English |
topic |
Atmospheric Science Geology Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology Ecology Environmental Engineering Oceanography |
spellingShingle |
Atmospheric Science Geology Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology Ecology Environmental Engineering Oceanography Sansoulet, Julie Therrien, Michèle Delgove, Joseph Pouxviel, Guilhem Desriac, Julie Sardet, Noé Vanderlinden, Jean-Paul An update on Inuit perceptions of their changing environment, Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island, Nunavut) |
topic_facet |
Atmospheric Science Geology Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology Ecology Environmental Engineering Oceanography |
description |
The Inuit of Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island) have developed a deep respect for their natural environment and are able to report not only changes in weather, ice, and natural resources but also changes in their communities as a result of climate change. The objective of this study was to shed light on how the impacts of climate change are currently perceived in the communities of Kanngiqtugaapik, Pangniqtuuq, and Qikiqtarjuaq. In order to construct a shared knowledge base, we conducted qualitative video interviews and participated in a hunting camp with multigenerational and multigender Inuit hunters and fishers. First, Inuit continue to see the world in which they cohabit with other living things, particularly animals, as a world that they cannot control on their own—a world they must adapt to, passing learning from one generation to the next. Second, they report that changes in the ice have been among the major and most important transformations to have occurred in recent decades. Observations made by these local populations also indicate changes in hunted species, with fewer caribou and narwhal, more birds, insects, and fish, including from more southerly regions, and an uncertainty about polar bear populations. Seal hunting remains stable, and this meat is still the most popular and healthy food, physically and psychologically. Third, sociological and economic changes (e.g., lifestyle change, monetary economies, quotas), in addition to environmental changes (e.g., climate change, species change), have had a significant impact on food harvesting activities as well as food consumption in the region. A final perspective concerns the needs of the Qikiqtaaluk communities to further develop collaboration with scientists. This need for partnership is not only perceived as a scientific necessity but also recognized by Inuit as essential to their communities, with some local leaders ready to work toward a fruitful collaboration. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sansoulet, Julie Therrien, Michèle Delgove, Joseph Pouxviel, Guilhem Desriac, Julie Sardet, Noé Vanderlinden, Jean-Paul |
author_facet |
Sansoulet, Julie Therrien, Michèle Delgove, Joseph Pouxviel, Guilhem Desriac, Julie Sardet, Noé Vanderlinden, Jean-Paul |
author_sort |
Sansoulet, Julie |
title |
An update on Inuit perceptions of their changing environment, Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island, Nunavut) |
title_short |
An update on Inuit perceptions of their changing environment, Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island, Nunavut) |
title_full |
An update on Inuit perceptions of their changing environment, Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island, Nunavut) |
title_fullStr |
An update on Inuit perceptions of their changing environment, Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island, Nunavut) |
title_full_unstemmed |
An update on Inuit perceptions of their changing environment, Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin Island, Nunavut) |
title_sort |
update on inuit perceptions of their changing environment, qikiqtaaluk (baffin island, nunavut) |
publisher |
University of California Press |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/elementa.025 http://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article-pdf/doi/10.1525/elementa.025/468873/elementa.025.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-64.029,-64.029,67.557,67.557) |
geographic |
Nunavut Baffin Island Qikiqtarjuaq |
geographic_facet |
Nunavut Baffin Island Qikiqtarjuaq |
genre |
Baffin Island Baffin inuit narwhal* Nunavut polar bear Qikiqtaaluk Qikiqtarjuaq |
genre_facet |
Baffin Island Baffin inuit narwhal* Nunavut polar bear Qikiqtaaluk Qikiqtarjuaq |
op_source |
Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene volume 8, issue 1 ISSN 2325-1026 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.025 |
container_title |
Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene |
container_volume |
8 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1795666175710986240 |