Clyde River, Nunavut
Year(s) Funded: 2008-2009
Topic Area: Knowledge Sharing / Education Contact: Jakob Gearheard, [email protected] Partners: McGill-Queens University Press and communities in Greenland and Alaska Title: The Meaning of Ice: A special book project to report Inuit-led research on sea ice, sea ice use, and sea ice change in three Arctic communities
Action: This project contributed to the preparation of a book stemming from the results of an existing project called the “Siku-Inuit-Hila (Sea Ice-People-Weather) Project”. Siku-Inuit-Hila was a unique project conducted during the International Polar Year that brought Inuit from three Arctic countries together with scientists to study sea ice, sea ice use, and sea ice changes in three different Arctic communities. Inuit from Clyde River, Nunavut, Inughuit from Qaanaaq, Greenland, and Iñupiat from Barrow, Alaska, partnered with climatologists, geographers, and a sea ice physicist to conduct a research project that brought together the diverse knowledge and perspectives of all these experts on sea ice. Results: Writing workshops that complimented the main research were held in each participating community where local sea ice experts groups (sikulirijiit) met for several days of mapping and discussing sea ice. Local artists created artwork illustrating sea ice tools, clothing, activities, types of sea ice, and stories. The development of the graphical material is included in the book The Meaning of Ice. Outputs: The major outcome of this research is the contribution to the book The Meaning of Ice, published by the International Polar Institute Press in 2013. The Meaning of Ice has been written together by hunters, Elders, whalers, and researchers, and weaves together the story of human relationships with sea ice including sea ice use, impacts of environmental changes, personal stories, and emotional connections. Additional Resources & Publications
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