Community Perspectives on the Impact of Climate Change on Health in Nunavut, Canada

Abstract

aBstraCt. the purpose of this study was to explore community perspectives on the most important ways that climate change is affecting the health of northern peoples. the study was conducted in Iqaluit, Nunavut, using a participatory action approach and the photovoice research method. Participants identified themes and patterns in the data and developed a visual model of the relationships between the themes identified. Five themes emerged from the data: the direct impacts of climate change on the health of individuals and communities, the transition from past climates to future climates, necessary adaptation to the changing climate in the North, the call to action (individual, regional, and national), and reflection on the past and changing knowledge systems. a climate change and health model was developed to illustrate the relationships between the themes. Participants in this study conceptualized health and climate change broadly. Participants believed that by engaging in a process of ongoing reflection, and by continually incorporating new knowledge and experiences into traditional knowledge systems, communities may be better able to adapt and cope with the challenges to health posed by climate change.Key words: Inuit, northern communities, Nunavut, climate change, health, action, participatory research rÉsuMÉ. l'objectif de cette étude consistait à explorer diverses perspectives communautaires quant aux manières les plus importantes dont le changement climatique a des incidences sur la santé des gens du Nord. l'étude a été réalisée à Iqaluit, au Nunavut, au moyen d'une méthode d'action et de recherche participative faisant appel à la « photovoice ». les participants ont déterminé les thèmes de même que les tendances caractérisant les données, puis ont abouti à un modèle visuel pour établir des relations entre les thèmes ainsi déterminés. les données ont donné lieu à la formulation de cinq thèmes, soit les incidences directes du changement climatique sur la santé des gens et des collectivités; la transition des anciens climats aux nouveaux climats; l'adaptation nécessaire au climat changeant dans le Nord; un appel à l'action (individuel, régional et national); et une réflexion sur les systèmes de savoir du passé qui sont en pleine évolution. Ensuite, un modèle de changement climatique et de santé a été élaboré dans le but d'illustrer les liens existant entre les divers thèmes. les participants à cette étude ont conceptualisé le changement climatique et ses incidences sur la santé à grande échelle. Ils croyaient qu'en s'adonnant à un processus de réflexion continue et qu'en intégrant constamment de nouvelles connaissances et expériences aux systèmes de savoir traditionnel, les collectivités pourraient être mieux placées pour s'adapter et relever les défis posés par le changement climatique en matière de santé.Mots clés : Inuit, collectivités du Nord, Nunavut, changement climatique, santé, action, recherche participative traduit pour la revue Arctic par Nicole Giguère.

Exploring Elders’ and Seniors’ Perceptions of How Climate Change is Impacting Health and Well-being in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut / ᕿᒥᕐᕈᓂᖅ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᔾᔪᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᕆᒍᓚᑦ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓗᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᖏᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ

“…Observations of climate and environmental changes reported by Elder and senior interview participants included increased average annual temperatures; increased rain; decreased snowfall; decreased ice quality, thickness, and extent; and unpredictable seasonal timing. The findings from this subgroup support previously published Inuit observations and empirical research both within the region of Nunatsiavut, as well as across the Canadian North (Christensen et al, 2007;Cunsolo Willox et al, 2012, 2013aFord et al, 2008;Fox, 2002;Furgal et al, 2002;Furgal & Seguin, 2006;Füssel, 2009;Healey et al, 2011;Nickels, Furgal, Buell, & Moquin, 2005;Pearce et al, 2009).…”

“…Across the Canadian North, several environmental and climate changes already have been observed by Indigenous peoples as well as documented empirically. These include higher ambient temperatures; increased frequency and intensity of storms; and unpredictable changes in rainfall, snow, and ice formation patterns (Christensen et al, 2007;Cunsolo Willox et al, 2012, 2013aFord et al, 2008;Fox, 2002;Furgal, Martin, & Gosselin, 2002;Füssel, 2009;Healey et al, 2011;Pearce et al, 2009). Indigenous populations living in these regions, such as Canadian Inuit, are particularly vulnerable to effects of climate change due to their dependence on the surrounding land, water, and ice for livelihood, cultural activities, and subsistence (Ford, Pearce, Duerden, Furgal, & Smit, 2010b;Ford, Smit, & Wandel, 2006;Ford et al, 2007;Ford et al, 2008;Furgal & Seguin, 2006).…”

Research on the Human Dimensions of Climate Change in Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut: A Literature Review and Gap Analysis

“…Not all communities or community members are equally at risk, however. Vulnerable groups identified in the literature include females, particularly single mothers living alone; households without an active hunter; and households engaged in the harvesting sector, but with limited access to cash resources (Chabot, 2003;Beaumier and Ford, 2010;Healey et al, 2011;Lardeau et al, 2011).…”

“…First, only a few health risks have been examined. Mental health, for instance, is largely neglected in the scholarship, despite the disproportionate rates of suicide and other mental health issues in the North and rapid acculturation that is likely to increase sensitivity to such impacts (Lehti et al, 2009;Cunsolo Willox et al, 2011;Healey et al, 2011). Vector-, food-and water-borne diseases (e.g., E-coli, salmonella, trichinella, brucellosis) that could become more problematic with climate change have been largely overlooked (Martin et al, 2007;Gauthier et al, 2010).…”

Youth-Led Participatory Video as a Strategy to Enhance Inuit Youth Adaptive Capacities for Dealing with Climate Change

“…Such research uses diverse approaches premised on active community participation through all stages of the research process (Harper et al, 2012;Pearce et al, 2012;McClymont Peace and Myers, 2012). These approaches include PhotoVoice (Healey et al, 2011) and digital storytelling (Cunsolo Willox et al, 2012b).…”