Focus of Study/Research Where do you study/work? What is your area of interest?
I am a PhD student with McGill University, and make my home in Zone 1 – Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. As there are no universities in the territory of Nunavut, I conduct my PhD studies remotely – affording me the opportunity to continue living in Nunavut and regularly engaging in-person with Inuit research partners for co-production of knowledge. I have lived and worked in the Arctic for almost two decades, and have experience in northern academic research, both federal and territorial governments, and in the private sector. At the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) in session 5.06 ‘Combining Indigenous and other local knowledges with environmental modeling to promote resilient Arctic communities,’ I presented my PhD research on “Assessing changing cryohydrogeologic conditions with locally-relevant landscape indicators in Nunavut, Canada.” My research results show how assessing environmental change is dependent on pairing knowledge systems and cryohydrogeologic information that is of a scale, format, topic, and timeframe relevant for local decision making.
For those living on continuous permafrost for multiple generations, changes to the winter local waterscape is a novel experience. Past local expert knowledge, ways of knowing, and assessment of land-based hazards have developed based on a regime of limited lateral groundwater movement during winter. Additionally, Arctic climate change prediction models generally do not account for near-surface groundwater processes nor its effects on locally-relevant landscape dynamics and suprapermafrost talik formation. Yet, there is evidence of changing groundwater dynamics - large rivers; for example, are already measuring increased winter drainage. Further, some continuous permafrost Arctic streams that previously had a cessation of winter baseflow are now flowing yearround. This research study pairs Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit with cryohydrogeological science to identify and assess locally-relevant landscape indicators of winter groundwater movement in the continuous permafrost region of Nunavut, Canada. Nunavut is the traditional home of the Inuit, who comprise the majority of the population. Winter overland travel primarily consists of snowmobiling and dog sledding. We document and categorize past and present winter drinking water sources and ways of identifying potential winter drinking water source locations in Nunavut. We then analyze available hydrometric station data for changes in winter baseflow, and assess the occurrence and change in groundwater springs, icings, and thin freshwater-ice locations along winter overland travel routes. Combined, these results provide integrated understanding of changing hydrogeologic conditions to one where year-round groundwater flow and resultant landscape dynamic impacts are more common place.
Purpose of your travel What was the goal of your trip? Why did you wish to join this particular event, and why is it important to you?
I am particularly drawn to the ICARP conference because of the research priority team ‘Co-Production and Indigenous-led Methodologies’ and the inclusion of Arctic-resident decision makers in shaping the priorities of the Fifth International Polar Year in 2032–33. There is a long history of southern institutions and establishments directing the Arctic on what its priorities should be. Based on my experience living, studying, and working in the Arctic, the goal of my trip was to advance the following 3 concepts with southern-based academics and institutions:
- Most disciplines in the Arctic are limited by data scarcity. By pairing local/Indigenous knowledge sources with southern-based science, we can address data scarcity knowledge gaps with locally relevant observations and indicators of environmental change.
- Northerners know the Arctic is changing. Through co-designing research projects with northerners, research deliverables can be of a scale, format, topic, and timeframe relevant for local environmental-change decision making - and simultaneously advance scientific understanding of environmental change.
- Arctic research programs need to enhance capacity building, self-governance and/or self determination of northerners. Southerners need to educate themselves on the movements already underway in the Arctic, and design their research programs to come alongside and support northerners in their initiatives and decision making.
It was important for me to join this particular event because too often I see Arctic research projects and deliverables that are not of a scale, format, topic, and timeframe relevant for Arctic-resident decision makers. As a fellow Arctic researcher, I felt compelled to ask of my Arctic research colleagues at this event ‘Whom is Arctic research designed to benefit?’
Impact of the grant What difference did this grant make for you? What did you accomplish as a result of joining the event? How will attending this event help you forward in your studies/career?
For me, this grant gave me the opportunity to participate in the event in person, receive feedback on my PhD research in real time, communicate with and strengthen my existing pan-Arctic colleagues present, and expand my pan-Arctic network for future collaborative endeavours. I live and conduct my research fulltime from a remote Island in the Canadian Arctic which can be isolating at times. Although advances have been made in online hybrid conferencing (which I appreciate as its permitted me to be part of more Arctic discussions while remaining in the Arctic), relationship and trust building is still more conducive in person. The positive feedback I received after my conference presentation and number of engaged spin-off conversations thereafter, enhanced my understanding of the importance of my research and my increased my motivation to keep going on the research path I am on. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge Mobilization in the Arctic Science Summit Week and priority setting for the upcoming Internation Polar Year. I equally appreciated meeting others at different stages of the Indigenous Knowledge recognition journey, and gleaning contacts and lessons learned applicable to my own research journey within existing academic and funding systems. I also appreciated questions from the audience at the event suggesting it’s time to move away from purely curiosity-inspired research and more into a time of Arctic action-inspired research. This aligns well with the 3 concepts I advanced at Arctic Science Summit Week through my participation.
Qujannamiik University of the Arctic Travel Grant Selection Committee for the travel grant, allowing me to participate in person at the ICARP IV Summit in Boulder, Colorado.
This student participation opportunity was made possible by Global Affairs Canada.