Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: The Inuit-led Sikumik Qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in Inuit Nunangat, Canada
Inuit have lived along the shoreline of the frozen Arctic Ocean for centuries. Our wellbeing, culture, and identity are closely tied to safe and dependable ice access. As the ice becomes more unpredictable with a changing climate, Elders and experienced ice users recognize that their accumulated wis...
Published in: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1076774 https://doaj.org/article/2ddba3faef094c57a3d8b0d4e7f8dfe0 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:2ddba3faef094c57a3d8b0d4e7f8dfe0 2023-05-15T15:15:54+02:00 Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: The Inuit-led Sikumik Qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in Inuit Nunangat, Canada L. Beaulieu A. Arreak R. Holwell S. Dicker O. Qamanirq L. Moorman K. Wilson R. Segal S. Crichton T. Bell 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1076774 https://doaj.org/article/2ddba3faef094c57a3d8b0d4e7f8dfe0 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1076774/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2023.1076774 https://doaj.org/article/2ddba3faef094c57a3d8b0d4e7f8dfe0 Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 11 (2023) Inuit sea ice geospatial SmartICE safety maps Indigenous Science Q article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1076774 2023-02-26T01:39:15Z Inuit have lived along the shoreline of the frozen Arctic Ocean for centuries. Our wellbeing, culture, and identity are closely tied to safe and dependable ice access. As the ice becomes more unpredictable with a changing climate, Elders and experienced ice users recognize that their accumulated wisdom and experience of safe ice travel—their Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ; a term used to describe Inuit knowledge and values) of sea-ice—must be shared and applied in new ways for the benefit of younger generations. Here we illustrate one such application that enables young Inuit scientists to learn and apply the tools and skills they need to create operational community-scale sea-ice maps (Sikumik Qaujimajjuti, or “tool to know how the ice is”). Our cross-cultural partnership approach—called the Sikumiut-SmartICE model—focuses on developing the skills of young Inuit to create the maps, while non-Indigenous partners provide mentorship, tools, and training. Our novel maps incorporate culturally relevant ice terminology, on-ice monitoring data and observations, and IQ-grounded interpretations of ice features and travel conditions from near-real time optical and radar satellite imagery. The layers of data are integrated into a local GIS, enabling the creation of maps that reflect local and seasonal travel patterns and meet our information needs in information content, extent and frequency. The maps are posted and shared through social media platforms preferred by the community. The maps are a trusted source of travel information because they are made by one of our own, using local language, experience, and IQ. The Sikumik Qaujimajjuti program illustrates the incredible potential of Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science when the scientific merit of IQ is fully recognized, when Indigenous researchers are able to access technologies and training to apply their IQ, and when non-Indigenous partners mentor and support young Indigenous scientists. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Ocean inuit Sea ice Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Arctic Ocean Canada Frontiers in Earth Science 11 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Inuit sea ice geospatial SmartICE safety maps Indigenous Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Inuit sea ice geospatial SmartICE safety maps Indigenous Science Q L. Beaulieu A. Arreak R. Holwell S. Dicker O. Qamanirq L. Moorman K. Wilson R. Segal S. Crichton T. Bell Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: The Inuit-led Sikumik Qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in Inuit Nunangat, Canada |
topic_facet |
Inuit sea ice geospatial SmartICE safety maps Indigenous Science Q |
description |
Inuit have lived along the shoreline of the frozen Arctic Ocean for centuries. Our wellbeing, culture, and identity are closely tied to safe and dependable ice access. As the ice becomes more unpredictable with a changing climate, Elders and experienced ice users recognize that their accumulated wisdom and experience of safe ice travel—their Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ; a term used to describe Inuit knowledge and values) of sea-ice—must be shared and applied in new ways for the benefit of younger generations. Here we illustrate one such application that enables young Inuit scientists to learn and apply the tools and skills they need to create operational community-scale sea-ice maps (Sikumik Qaujimajjuti, or “tool to know how the ice is”). Our cross-cultural partnership approach—called the Sikumiut-SmartICE model—focuses on developing the skills of young Inuit to create the maps, while non-Indigenous partners provide mentorship, tools, and training. Our novel maps incorporate culturally relevant ice terminology, on-ice monitoring data and observations, and IQ-grounded interpretations of ice features and travel conditions from near-real time optical and radar satellite imagery. The layers of data are integrated into a local GIS, enabling the creation of maps that reflect local and seasonal travel patterns and meet our information needs in information content, extent and frequency. The maps are posted and shared through social media platforms preferred by the community. The maps are a trusted source of travel information because they are made by one of our own, using local language, experience, and IQ. The Sikumik Qaujimajjuti program illustrates the incredible potential of Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science when the scientific merit of IQ is fully recognized, when Indigenous researchers are able to access technologies and training to apply their IQ, and when non-Indigenous partners mentor and support young Indigenous scientists. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
L. Beaulieu A. Arreak R. Holwell S. Dicker O. Qamanirq L. Moorman K. Wilson R. Segal S. Crichton T. Bell |
author_facet |
L. Beaulieu A. Arreak R. Holwell S. Dicker O. Qamanirq L. Moorman K. Wilson R. Segal S. Crichton T. Bell |
author_sort |
L. Beaulieu |
title |
Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: The Inuit-led Sikumik Qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in Inuit Nunangat, Canada |
title_short |
Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: The Inuit-led Sikumik Qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in Inuit Nunangat, Canada |
title_full |
Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: The Inuit-led Sikumik Qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in Inuit Nunangat, Canada |
title_fullStr |
Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: The Inuit-led Sikumik Qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in Inuit Nunangat, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: The Inuit-led Sikumik Qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in Inuit Nunangat, Canada |
title_sort |
indigenous self-determination in cryospheric science: the inuit-led sikumik qaujimajjuti (“tools to know how the ice is”) program in inuit nunangat, canada |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1076774 https://doaj.org/article/2ddba3faef094c57a3d8b0d4e7f8dfe0 |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Canada |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean Canada |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Ocean inuit Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Ocean inuit Sea ice |
op_source |
Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 11 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1076774/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2023.1076774 https://doaj.org/article/2ddba3faef094c57a3d8b0d4e7f8dfe0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1076774 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Earth Science |
container_volume |
11 |
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1766346236126822400 |