Cracks in the knowledge: sea ice terms in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik

Abstract

In the Canadian Arctic, where sea ice is a feature of purposeful and spiritual significance to the Inuit inhabitants, evidence suggests that traditional knowledge of the terms for sea ice is diminishing. This article presents the findings from fieldwork regarding the terms, and their definitions, that a group of Inuit from Kangiqsualujjuaq in Nunavik, Northern Quebec, use to describe sea ice. This case study, which explores their knowledge of sea ice phenomena, offers insights into the present state of Inuit knowledge of sea ice terminology in that community. Instruments used to elicit knowledge of and about sea ice terms are described in this article. Participant inclusion was based on gender and age groups, and an illustration was produced to demonstrate the disparity in sea ice knowledge across three generations of male and female hunters. It is suggested that future nomenclature studies of Inuit knowledge be based on the canvassing of all age brackets, if a realistic picture of the ways in which such knowledge is transmitted within and across generations is to be ascertained.

Inuit Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Subsistence Hunting and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Canadian Arctic

“…Despite even the most careful preparation, however, hunters sometimes encounter challenging or unexpected conditions when traveling, such as blizzards and other extreme storm events and unusual ice conditions. Hunters react to extreme conditions by drawing on their extensive TEK and the resources available to them to cope with the disturbance (Pearce et al, 2010a, b;Heyes, 2011). Pat Ekpakohak, an experienced hunter and Elder of Ulukhaktok, said that his pre-hunting planning and cold-weather survival knowledge saved his life when his snow machine plunged through the rapidly thinning sea ice in white-out conditions.…”

A framework and database for community sea ice observations in a changing Arctic: an Alaskan prototype for multiple users

“…Compilation of community-based sea ice observations into a database as a tool to support traditional knowledge speaks directly to the challenges identified by Heyes (2011), such as the combined impacts of rapid environmental change and shifts in how knowledge about the environment is now being passed and used by different generations. As expressed by Fred Tocktoo in Nome (personal communication, 2012), 'there is no set pattern anymore', and hence, hunters and other subsistence users out in the ice environment have to reacquaint themselves with sea ice conditions every season.…”

“…Hence, the transmission of Indigenous sea ice knowledge, as well as its preservation and continuous rejuvenation, may be at risk. In his work with Inuit ice experts in Nunavik, Heyes (2011) describes these challenges as 'cracks in the knowledge. ' In the collaborative effort described in this paper, we aspire to fill some of these emerging cracks by first building a usable and accessible repository for local Indigenous sea ice knowledge.…”

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

“…The disconnect between generations that has been observed and experienced in the North has been associated with a breakdown of knowledge transfer, weakening of land-based skills, and enhanced vulnerability among younger generations to climate change impacts (Ford et al, 2006Pearce et al, 2010Pearce et al, , 2011Heyes, 2011;Kral et al, 2011). One priority for enhancing adaptive capacity is "supporting the teaching and transmission of traditional skills" (Ford et al, 2010:187), and this priority, along with developing strong social networks can be addressed using PV.…”