Throughout July and August, multiple consultation meetings were held in Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, and Aklavik as part of the ILLUQ project’s outreach and collaboration efforts. These meetings, which involved individual consultations and targeted events, were designed to engage local communities in ongoing scientific research, documentary film-making, and various project activities, highlighting the importance of integrating local and Indigenous knowledge and scientific research in addressing local environmental challenges.
Key Consultation Activities
Individual Consultations and Informal Conversations:
Throughout the summer, numerous individual consultations were conducted with local organizations and community leaders, including representatives from various committees and government bodies such as the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC), Hunters and Trappers Committees (AHTC, IHTC), the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) and the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). These meetings allowed the project team to gather valuable insights on local concerns and needs, focusing on topics like climate change impacts, permafrost research, pollution and health.
Main Events in August:
Targeted Consultation with ThinICE and IRC Lands Department (August 7th, Inuvik Greenhouse):
This event brought together representatives from local government, community members, and the sister project ThinICE to discuss the ILLUQ project and identify local needs. The teams discussed their upcoming research, emphasizing the importance of local engagement in research activities. The event highlighted the collaboration between researchers and the community to address permafrost related challenges in the region.
Arctic Permafrost Atlas Distribution in Tuktoyaktuk (August 8th, Kitti Hall):
Invited by our long-standing partner Dustin Whalen, the team participated in a community event focused on local monitoring and community-based research projects. The team distributed copies of the Arctic Permafrost Atlas to community members. This event fostered networking opportunities and strengthened community engagement in ongoing research.
Combined Atlas Presentation and ILLUQ Consultation (August 9th, Ingamo Hall, Inuvik):
The event served as both a local Atlas launch and a consultation session, featuring a presentation on the Atlas and the project, and an open discussion with community members, journalists, and local scientists. This interactive session allowed the team to share project findings, gather feedback, and address community concerns directly.
Positive Developments and Future Directions
The consultation meetings revealed a generally positive response from community members, with a strong emphasis on the need for clear and effective science communication. There was a consistent call for research teams to report their results back to the communities and to ensure that the research directly benefits local populations. Key concerns included:
• Erosion and Infrastructure Threats: Coastal and riverbank erosion were highlighted as major concerns, threatening cabins and other critical infrastructure. Community members expressed interest in mapping projects that assess these risks and explore potential relocation support.
• Cultural and Social Impacts: Research should contribute to strengthening youth-Elder interactions to preserve Indigenous knowledge and skills, which are perceived as critical in adapting to environmental changes. Concerns about cultural loss due to erosion, the changing landscape, and the impact of permafrost thaw on traditional lifestyles were frequently raised.
• Health and Environmental Concerns: Participants voiced concerns about new environmental challenges, such as increased sedimentation, contaminant presence in food sources, and the impacts of invasive species. The community called for more concrete recommendations and information on bioaccumulation of contaminants in local diets.
Next Steps and Continued Engagement
The ILLUQ team remains committed to ongoing collaboration with local communities and plans to prioritize outreach efforts that foster two-way communication. Planned activities include further consultation meetings, ethics and research license approvals, and fieldwork scheduled for spring 2025. The project will continue to engage with local experts, research environmental changes, and explore innovative adaptation measures to address the challenges identified during these consultations in terms of permafrost degradation, pollution and health.
If you would like to listen to what the Atlas is about, go to: “Yukon Morning with Elyn Jones - June 18, 2024: Mapping change in Arctic Permafrost Atlas“ https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-393/clip/16076111 For further updates on the ILLUQ project and our work in the Canadian Arctic, stay connected through our website and social media channels. Your feedback and participation are invaluable as we work together to understand and respond to the rapid environmental changes in the region.
Local videographer Karli Zschögner in Fort McPherson. Check out her video of the Atlas launch in Reykjavik here: https://youtu.be/lm8kVJhVuHM
