Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #51:Inuit Sea Ice Use and Occupancy Project  (Inuit Sea Ice Project (ISIP))

Outline
Mapping, and cartographic technologies have progressed immensely over the past decades. And yet, the representation of landscapes, topology, toponymy, and landforms remains focused on just that – land. North American topographic maps continue to represent landscapes as interpreted, described, and named over a history of European, American, and Canadian exploration. In Canada and Alaska efforts have been made, and are currently underway, to begin “re-mapping” the north according to the rich diversity of Inuit knowledge (e.g. place names, oral history, and land use and occupancy projects) that is generally overlooked in conventional mapping initiatives. However, the large expanses of blue that delineate the Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay, among other major water bodies, are left relatively empty in most maps. These “blank” areas are actually ice-covered white expanses for three quarters of the northern year, and will be the focus of our International Polar Year (IPY) project. Sea ice cover has been used by Inuit for thousands of years, and despite rapid and pronounced changes in community lifestyles and Inuit culture sea ice remains an integral component of daily life in the north. We propose to map and document sea ice use around several Inuit communities across the North American Arctic, to illustrate: i) a seasonal sea ice topology; ii) the extent and areas of use; iii) notable sea ice hazards; iv) key harvesting areas; v) traditional and current ice routes; vi) place names associated with ice features; and vii) shifts in patterns of sea ice use due to social and/or climatic change. Investigating both past and current conditions/uses, this project will culminate in maps depicting conventional water bodies as winter “land extensions” which are as elaborately used, and understood, as land features and terrain. In addition, building upon ongoing collaborative research efforts with several Inuit communities will ensure that sea ice use is represented according to current Inuit practices and their rich oral history. This IPY project will be modelled after the 1976 Inuit Land Use and Occupancy Project (ILUOP), using some of the methodologies and philosophies incorporated in that study. As in the ILUOP, we would use maps to identify each community's past and present sea ice use patterns. Mapped and written descriptions of sea ice use will also be supported by people’s knowledge of, and cultural relationship with, the sea ice. Similar to the ILUOP, our project will create partnerships between university and independent researchers, as well as local researchers. Additionally, the ISIP will incorporate new mapping and cartographic technologies (combining Global Positioning Systems (GPS), remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to provide unique representations of the dynamic sea ice environment) to facilitate the development of spatial databases that could be used for management, research, and planning. The methodologies employed and the insights gained in the implementation of this project would be broadly applicable to other circumpolar nations; they would be transferable to other efforts to map, or represent land or sea ice use. Therefore, the ISIP will be an important IPY contribution to help refine collaborative research methods, as well as to evaluate potential global warming effects on the environments and lifestyles of arctic communities.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Change: Provides a unique vision regarding the current (and to some degree historical) sea ice conditions and uses – from an Inuit perspective, but mapped in order to be more accessible to Inuit youth, scientists, and governments  New Frontiers: Investigates new frontiers in attempts to represent a dynamic environment in a mapping format, as well as engaging Inuit knowledge and scientific technologies in producing a final outcome (will contribute practical and methodological experiences/protocols)  Human Dimension: Visually depicts some of the key aspects of the intricate relationships that Inuit communities maintain with the sea ice environment

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This project will rely on partnerships between Canadian- and American-based researchers, constituting a comprehensive research network. Aporta and Laidler have extensive experience in researching and mapping sea ice in several communities of Nunavut. Fox Gearheard and Krupnik are involved in several sea ice and climate change studies in Nunavut, Greenland, and Alaska. Milton Freeman will provide his invaluable experience in the management of the Inuit Land Use and Occupancy Project. The other collaborators (mentioned below) will contribute through their different areas of expertise, and their regional connections, while additional partners will be sought as the project progresses.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Specific locations will be defined at a later stage of the project. We anticipate including several communities in Nunavut, Nunavik, the Northwest Territories, and Alaska, and possibly Greenland at a later date.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 10/2006 – 05/2007      10/2007 – 05/2008      10/2008 – 05/2009
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Transportation will be provided by scheduled flights as well as by private transport arranged locally. Helicopters will be used in specific cases, and snow machines will be used frequently. We will make intensive use of satellite imagery. The project will rely heavily on community support, local guides, and local experts (all established during earlier projects). Contacts and support services could be shared. The project may also make research links with ArcticNet and may thus be able to use the ice-breaker in conjunction with some of their planned transepts.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The ISIP will leave a legacy of community infrastructure through such things as training, community contacts, research networks, and possibly equipment infrastructure (e.g. GPS equipment, GIS software, and/or computers). Materials and documentation resulting from the project will be permanently placed with local organizations (e.g. Inuit Heritage Trust, Nunavut Research Institute, Nunavut Government, Avataq Cultural Institute, Makivik Research Centre, Aurora Research Institute, and local/territorial governments of other regions involved).

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: THEME: Education, Outreach & Communication SUB-THEME: Variability and change in the Canadian Cryosphere

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?


This project is an extension of existing plans and current research, but the proposal for the IPY timeframe is a very new component. This project will build upon existing research, but the scale will be larger, bringing several researchers and data pools together, and expanding the research into Alaska and possibly Greenland with international partners.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project will be managed and administered by Claudio Aporta and Gita Laidler, in cooperation with the other team members. The local field studies will be conducted in collaboration with members of local Inuit communities. Other specific tasks may be divided as follows:  person in charge of planning and logistics  person in charge of conducting field research in each of the participating communities (same person may go to one or more communities, or more than one person if funds permit)  person hired to be in charge of digitizing data  person hired to be in charge of GIS database structure and manipulation  person hired for cartographic expertise  several local interpreters, guides, assistants, and experts hired in each community

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education and outreach goes hand in hand with the ISIP since both would necessarily be ongoing throughout the duration of the project due to the importance of participation and collaboration from northern community members. Mapping deliverables could form a valuable educational resource, and involving northern communities could be an important capacity building process (i.e. perhaps it could develop into future community-directed projects). In addition, the maps would be helpful in communicating with scientists, governments, and the general public. Communication would also entail the promotion of the IPY program within northern communities, and would ensure more northern participation in IPY activities.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
One of the major goals of this project is to publish the resulting data in a similar fashion as the ILUOP was done. The material (text and maps) will be organized by community and by region. The GIS data will be available to scientific organizations, national governments, archives, and territorial or municipal governments world-wide.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The total cost of the project, including preparatory work, equipment, field work, transportation, analysis, and publication of a book is estimated at CAD$ 500,000 . Potential sources of support are: NEI, SSHRC, DIAND/NSTP, NSERC, FQRSC, CIS, DFO, ACUNS, NSIDC, ArcticNet, Nassivik, NSF (full descriptions of each acronym and funding source are available upon request).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr  Claudio Aporta
CIÉRA and Department of Anthropology, Université Laval
Pavillon Charles-De Koninck, Local 0450
Québec (Québec)
G1K 7P4
Canada

Tel: (418) 527-2728
Mobile: no
Fax: (418)656-3023
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation