José Gérin-Lajoie Alain Cuerrier Laura Siegwart Collier Esther Lévesque Luise Hermanutz Greg Henry Carmen Spiech From Nain, Nunatsiavut to Kugluktuk, Nunavut: Analysing vegetation change by interviewing local experts from 8 Inuit communities across the Canadian Arctic Photo: B. Tremblay
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From Nain, Nunatsiavut to Kugluktuk, Nunavut: Analysing ... · Susie Morgan, Lucas A. Etok, Sarah-Paasa Annanack, Kangirsualujjuaq. • Back then, the wind was blowing a long time
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José Gérin-Lajoie Alain Cuerrier
Laura Siegwart Collier Esther Lévesque Luise Hermanutz
Greg Henry Carmen Spiech
From Nain, Nunatsiavut to Kugluktuk, Nunavut:
Analysing vegetation change by interviewing local experts
from 8 Inuit communities across the Canadian Arctic
Photo: B. Tremblay
Rationale•
Arctic
vegetation
is
changing,
especially shrub growth. It can have strong impacts on:–
distribution of plant and animal species;
–
berry productivity;–
permafrost.
•
Thus affecting:–
hunting, fishing and gathering activities;
–
infrastructures as airstrips, buildings.
Plants: good integrators, indicators
of changes.
People: users, good observers
of changes.
Goetz et al, 2005: Satellite observed photosynthetic trends 1981-2003 by NDVI-8km resolution.
NainKangirsualujjuaq
Umiujaq
Kangirsujuaq
Pangnirtung
Pond Inlet
Baker Lake
Kugluktuk
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
•
Inuit perception of vegetation
and environment
changes comparing
back then
with
nowadays: Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) or Inuit living memory.
analyses-Water and ClimateTable 1. Consensus of change observed (> 51%) in environmental factors among 144 interviewees across Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and Nunavut, from 2007-2010.
When you have a snow storm it just blows away, lots of snow comes down but it never stays; it’s hard now to find good snow to make snow houses. Julius Ikkusek, Nain.•
The wind is harsher now; there seems to be more fog and rain,
we have seen weeks with fog. Jessica Ford, Nain.
• Lots of lakes have dried out andrivers are smaller than before. Some of them, you can now cross on rocks!Susie Morgan, Lucas A. Etok, Sarah-Paasa Annanack, Kangirsualujjuaq.
• Back then, the wind was blowing a long time from the same direction. Nowadays, the weather is more unpredictable and the wind changesrapidly and blows stronger, especially in early July. Juusipi Nappaaluk, Kangirsujuaq.
Frequency
analyses-VegetationTable 2. Consensus of change observed (> 51%) in vegetation factors among 144 interviewees across Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and Nunavut, from 2007-2010.
• There’s a lot of little new trees growing in different places...I see that a lot...I’ve heard other people commenting on them. Christine Baikie, Nain.
•
Near the sea, trees and shrubs are now growing where there was none before; mostly willows. Johnny-George Annanack, Kangirsualujjuaq.
• There were no trees on the coast before; they started to grow in 1988-90. They grow so much now! Lucas A. Etok, Kangirsualujjuaq.
•
Shrubs are starting to grow in June now, they used to grow in July. They grow more all around, over the paurngait (crowberries) areas. There were not so many when we moved here in1945.Alice Ayalik, Kugluktuk.
•
The shrubs are bigger everywhere around here, spreading around. Siasi Naluktuk, Lizzie Crow, Zackiasie Niviaxie, Ernest Tumic,
Dinah Tookalook, Umiujaq.
• Arpik (Cloudberries) are now growing everywhere, in places where there were none before. Back then, you would find them in the mountain, among birch. They grow bigger near the water. Willie Emudluk, Kangirsualujjuaq.
Kangirsualujjuaq
2007
Frequency
analyses-Land, Animals, HumansTable 3. Consensus of change observed (> 51%) in land, animals and human factors among 144 interviewees across Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and Nunavut, from 2007-2010.
Permafrost 61 ↑ 56 ↑ 58 ↑ 71 ↑ 76 ↑Erosion 52 ↑ 56 ↑ 65 ↑Mammal abundance 96 c 56 c 71 c 80 cBird abundance 61 cBlack fly abundance 65 ↓Travel routes 83 c 65 cWay of life 61 cTotal consensus for change 26 16 13 3 3 4 6 13
•
Since 2001-2002, there is less permafrost retaining water under the small streams, resulting in lower water levels. Now plants are invading these dried-up streams and lakes. Tivi Etok, Kangirsualujjuaq.
•
The traditional route is not always usable; the older generations can travel, but the younger ones cannot because they don’t know the land like we do. Lucas Ittulak, Nain.•
Ice is melting faster nowadays, so we tend to spend more time
inland. Lukasi Nappaaluk, Kangirsujuaq.•
I hope we never loose our country food because without that,
what will we do? Sarah Pasha Annanack, Kangirsualujjuaq.