Full Proposals for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 292)

1.1 Title of Activity
"Yeendoo Nanh Nakhweenjit K'atr'ahanahtyaa - Environmental Change and Traditional Use of the Old Crow Flats in Northern Canada" (Gwich'in title directly translates into: Looking after the land for the future)

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
YNNK

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Shel Graupe
Vuntut Gwitchin Government
Canada

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
Arctic Athabascan Council
Gwich'in Council International

1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
United States of America

1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
151,162,133,168,175,189,196,169,188,50,55

1.7 Location of Field Activities
Arctic

1.8 Which IPY themes are addressed
1. Current state of the environment
2. Change in the polar regions
5. The polar regions as vantage points
6. The human dimension in polar regions

1.9 What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity
1. Natural or social science

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2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

Old Crow Basin is in the homeland of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) and lies across treeline in northern Yukon. The basin was not glaciated and preserves a record of Quaternary environmental change unique in Canada. The area was one of the first in Canada to be occupied by people. Old Crow Flats is an 8,000 km2 glacial lake basin containing over 2,600 lakes, a wetland ecosystem recognized internationally as a breeding and staging area for thousands of migratory waterfowl. Old Crow Flats is a passage on the migration of the Porcupine Caribou Herd as well as a key habitat for muskrat, both of which are integral to the culture of the people. Old Crow Flats is in continuous permafrost, which is critical to the nature and water balance of the lakes. There are increasing local concerns regarding the stability of the ecosystem of the Old Crow Flats ecosystem, its vulnerability to climate change, and the impacts this will have on the health and culture of the people. The purposes of this project are to document the history of environmental change in Old Crow Flats, to determine the impact of recent and anticipated climate change on the wildlife of the Old Crow Flats, and to enhance the resiliency of Vuntut Gwitchin health and culture to such change. The research will integrate traditional and scientific approaches, and will create a legacy of understanding and direct action to manage the response to future climate-driven effects. The project is clearly aligned with Fully Endorsed Projects 151 and 162.

Physical Environment - Old Crow Flats contains a unique assemblage of natural and human archives capturing environmental change from the last interglacial to the present. Examination of buried forest beds, relict permafrost, and fossil mammals will provide insight into the character of a past, warmer Arctic. Analysis of lake sediments and tree rings will present information on hydrological, ecological, and climate variability over 100s to 1000s of years. Isotope tracers will be used to characterize hydrological processes controlling current lake water balances. Deep ground temperature profiles will indicate recent changes in permafrost conditions. Snow, lake-level, river-ice and permafrost measurements will provide a baseline for future change. The Traditional Knowledge of the Vuntut Gwitchin will enhance these natural archives. Long-term monitoring of these variables by the First Nation will continue after the IPY.

Wildlife - We will examine how the distribution and abundance of wildlife in the Vuntut Gwitchin Traditional Territory vary across the forest-tundra transition and in response to hydrological fluctuations. We will examine the distribution of furbearer species across this ecotone based on traditional knowledge of habitat associations and systematic winter tracking surveys. Aerial surveys of muskrat abundance throughout the Old Crow Flats will be conducted in spring, and the results will be correlated with the water, snow, and ice regimes of these wetlands. Annual, ground-based monitoring of muskrat abundance in five representative lakes will examine the demographic processes underlying lake-by-lake abundance patterns. GPS-telemetry monitoring of seasonal use of the Old Crow Flats by moose will be related to hydrologic and climatic-control of shrub growth within this habitat. These new initiatives will be integrated with ongoing monitoring of waterfowl, fish, amphibians, and Porcupine Caribou distribution and abundance within the Traditional Territory. Thus, the proposed wildlife research will complement a strong-wildlife monitoring tradition in the Old Crow Flats and extend this with methodology and capacity-building that will ensure the long-term future of community-based monitoring.

Human Dimensions - Traditional Food is central to the social, cultural and physical well-being of the VGFN. Changes in the physical and biological environment, including water level, snow depth, overflow, ice conditions, and wind, impact food security in the Old Crow Flats. We propose to study the socio-economical and psychological ramifications of these impacts using a variety of approaches. Information on critical Traditional Food species and harvest data will be collected from the community. Population dynamics and density trends obtained from the wildlife ecologists will be used to model and calculate the extent of possible change to the nutrient intake of Traditional Foods by residents of the community. Based on the results of the study, adaptation plans will be developed in cooperation with the community.

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
This environmental health project provides a unique opportunity to adopt an integrated approach to study the dynamic interactions between the physical, hydro-ecological and socio-cultural environment in a northern ecosystem which has evolved over a long period of time.

Leadership from the community provides a holistic view of the environment that unites researchers from different disciplines. The proposal includes researchers with diverse expertise in traditional academic disciplines including geology, archaeology, physical geography, permafrost science, hydrology, wildlife biology, nutrition, toxicology, and medical anthropology. The proposal also includes local experts who will provide knowledge of the land and its processes, as well as a context for the project's applicability to the community.

Researchers from universities as well as territorial and federal governments will be involved.

Collaborations with partners from other circumpolar countries will enhance the exchange of research methodologies and findings.

The project will be respectful of the culture and traditions of the Aboriginal community of Old Crow, and will integrate Traditional Knowledge in all research activities.

2.2 What will be the significant advances/developments from this activity? What will be the major deliverables? What are the outputs for your peers?
Significant advances/developments:

Scientific/Academic:
1. Establish an integrative framework to study the Old Crow Flats in full partnership with VGFN
2. Provide a baseline record of environmental conditions in the Old Crow Flats during the IPY for long-term monitoring of environmental change
3. Identify the relationship of the physical, biological and the human dimension of the Old Crow Flats and how they have evolved with time
4. Determine the climatic controls on lake ice in the Old Crow Flats and hydrologic controls on lake levels and their variability over time
5. Resolve the nature of the last interglacial environment in northern Yukon in comparison with modern conditions
6. Identify the origin of the thaw lakes of the Old Crow Flats; timing and controls on their formation
7. Identify the origin of the oriented lakes of the Old Crow Flats
8. Resolve the relationships linking climate, hydrology, vegetation, wildlife, and harvest in the Old Crow Flats
9. Model the potential impacts of environmental change on the diet and well-being of the community
10. Increase local and scientific knowledge about environmental processes in Canada's Arctic, with application to other circumpolar regions
11. Conduct a multidisciplinary study with a wide temporal scale (i.e., study changes resulting from events occurring within a geologic as well as recent timescale)
12. Contribute to global knowledge of environmental change in the Arctic with particular reference to a significant wetland complex.
13. Define the existing chronology of long-term human occupation and change

Community/Education:
14. To increase working relationships between communities, governments, universities, and non-governmental organizations:
15. Enhance environmental knowledge and increase capacity for youth in the community
16. Develop resource materials tailored to the community of Old Crow
17. Enhance land management tools to assist in better management of the environment in the future

Major deliverables
1. Peer-reviewed journal articles
2. A case-study of multidisciplinarity, community-led research for other First Nations to follow on a territorial, national, and international scale.
3. A series of workshops in the Old Crow community (including meetings with Elders and youth)
4. Plain-language version of the study findings
5. On-going newsletters or 'progress updates'
6. Sustained long-term monitoring projects (methods will be developed during the course of this project to be used in the future)
7. Enhance local knowledge about land processes and geography
8. Increase capacity in youth to become future scientists
9. Open exchange of information between the community and scientists through all aspects of the study (including study design, development of long-term monitoring programs, and the implementation of these programs)
10. Production of educational materials based on the results of the project
11. Enhance the physical and mental well-being of the community by increasing the amount of time spent on the land documenting changes and increasing the community's comfort level working with scientific programs and equipment

What are the outputs for your peers?
1. Peer-reviewed journal articles and a monograph-length publication on the environment of the Old Crow Flats

2.3 Outline the geographical location(s) for the proposed field work (approximate coordinates will be helpful if possible)

2.4 Define the approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities?

2.5 What major logistic support/facilities will be required for this project?
Helicopters
New field station
Fixed wing geophysical aircraft
Snow terrain vehicles
Existing field stations

2.6 How will the required logistics be supplied? Have operators been approached?

2.7 If working in the Arctic regions, has there been contact with local indigenous groups or relevant authorities regarding access?
The VGFN Chief and its Natural Resources Department participated in the creation of this proposal. First Nation support for this proposal will be provided through administering the necessary environmental and socio-economic assessments and processing required land use permits. Should this proposal be fully endorsed and the adequate funding supplied, access to the land, community and other resources is to be granted by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.

Parks Canada Superintendent of Vuntut National Park also participated in the creation of this proposal. The federal agency is providing support through administering the required access and research permits needed when accessing the Park.

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3.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1 Origin of the activity
This activity is the start of a new programme that will outlive IPY

3.2 How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposed management structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
The activity will be managed by a project leader within the Natural Resources Department of VGFN and the budget will be administered through VGFN.
Coordination of scientific research activities will be realized through an already operational intranet site provided by VGFN, and annual or bi-annual scientific team meetings.
Coordination across the cluster will be achieved via the management approach adopted by the 151 umbrella.

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
This project's legacy will be increased research capacity in the community (including youth), enhanced land management tools and lasting partnerships that will continue after the IPY.

The legacy will include a record of the environment in 2007/08, increased environmental knowledge, educational materials, ongoing monitoring projects and an enhanced community resource library.

Current research staging and storage facilities will be upgraded to better serve future projects. Monitoring equipment and facilities will remain installed.

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
The Arctic Athabascan Council (AAC) and Gwich'in Council International (GCI) will be involved in this activity. Both organizations will be kept up-to-date through VGFN's membership in both organizations.

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
This proposal is suggested to be added to IPY Fully Endorsed Project 151.
Other closely related Fully Endorsed Proposals are 133 and 162.
The team will explore additional opportunities to cooperate with 168, 175, 189, 196, 169, 188, 50 and 55.

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
All data and metadata will be archived on the project internet site hosted at www.vgfn.net/ipy, constructed to facilitate storage, retrieval, and exchange of all data as per protocols of IPY. All data will be archived with adherence to VGFN policies and protocols governing the use of Traditional Knowledge.

3.7 Data Policy Agreement
Will this activity sign up to the IPY draft Data Policy (see website)
Yes

3.8 How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar scientists, logisticians, etc.?
We envision the next generation of polar scientists to come both from northern communities, like Old Crow, and universities. Capacity building in the Old Crow community will be ensured through participation in research activities by community members. Through collaboration in directed short-courses delivered by the researchers, VGFN members will be trained in essential environmental monitoring techniques relevant to the Old Crow region. This training will allow community members to maintain the integrity of observations from the IPY into the future.

Targeted involvement of aboriginal youth in research will be achieved by inclusion of environmental monitoring activities (e.g., snow depth, water sampling, animal tracking, active-layer depth measurements) into existing community-based Youth Camps in the Old Crow Flats. Educational materials and curriculum will be derived from this research through development of practical school-based exercises incorporating yearly monitoring data (e.g., changes in lake ice thickness, snow depth, ground temperatures).

Development of the next generation of university-based polar scientists will be attained through training of graduate students. This training will include a community-delivered course on the culture and perspective of the VGFN and their land. In addition, these students will enhance their skills in logistics and planning by working and collaborating with VGFN members. Graduate students will also participate with delivering short courses to the community within their research areas. These skills will be essential for successful future northern research.

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Three main audiences are targeted for education. Education of students in local primary schools will be enhanced by development of local curriculum modules based on IPY research and incorporation of monitoring activities in local traditional field camps. Local students hired as field assistants will receive in-depth exposure and experience in research methods and approaches. Non-local students will be involved by community-coordinated student exchanges and curricula-sharing programs. Undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students will receive a broad training in community-based, cross-disciplinary research.

As a community-generated project, sharing information with the local community has been a priority since inception. This information exchange has been and will be achieved through workshops to incorporate feedback from the community and to develop the design, implementation, and results of the project. A semi-annual newsletter reporting the implementation and results of the research will disseminate information to the local community and broader region.

Outreach efforts of this project will include speaking events by community members and researchers at venues such as the Beringia Centre and Yukon College, in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Field trips will engage youth in the project, while cultural and biological materials will be sent to museums for broader educational outreach. Local filmakers will document the research project for educational and outreach purposes.

Media communications will involve press releases and interviews with television, radio, and news publications, as well as articles submitted to magazines such as Canadian Geographic. Internet and intranet sites have been created by the community to orchestrate IPY projects and applications, and will be used to link information about the project to VGFN, Parks Canada, and Visitor Reception websites.

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
Government of Canada:
Department of the Environment
- Parks Canada Agency
- Canadian Wildlife Service
Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada
- Northern Scientific Training Program
Human Development Resources Canada
- Summer Career Placements Program
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
-Natural Resources Canada
Canadian Circumpolar Institute
Polar Continental Shelf Project
NSERC Northern Research Chairs
North Yukon Renewable Resources Council
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
Vuntut Hunter and Trappers Association
Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board
Yukon Territorial Government

3.11 Additional Comments

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4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Mr Shel Graupe
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
Director of Natural Resources Vuntut Gwitchiin First Nation Box# 94 Old Crow, Yukon Territory
Y0B 1N0
Canada

Tel:          867 966 3261, x.237
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         867 966 3800
Email:       nrd@vgfn.net

Second Contact
n/a n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
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Tel:          N/A
Mobile:   N/A
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4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation