Full Proposals for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 6)

1.1 Title of Activity
Dynamic Social Strategies in Arctic Environments: Long-term Perspectives on Movement and Communication

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
Dynamic Social Strategies

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Hans Christian Gulløv
The Danish National Museum
Denmark

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
NULL
NULL
NULL
NULL

1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
Greenland
Canada
NULL
NULL
Germany
USA
NULL
NULL
Norway
Nunavut
NULL
NULL
Sweden
Nunavik
NULL
NULL

1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
747,759,466,694,749,336,467

1.7 Location of Field Activities
Arctic

1.8 Which IPY themes are addressed
2. Change in the polar regions
6. The human dimension in polar regions

1.9 What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity
3. Education, Outreach, Communication

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2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

The present project is designed to bring together a wide range of scholars, students, institutions, and approaches to study the key-concepts of movement, communication and strategies among arctic peoples. Recent advances in ethnography, anthropology, history, archaeology and natural sciences such as quaternary zoology, palaeo-ecology and palaeo-climatology have drastically altered our perception of the history of the Arctic. These advances have demonstrated that Arctic peoples possess rich, interconnected and complex histories, which demand full reconstruction in order to understand the development of present-day societies in the Arctic.The project intends to link these advances with one another and to bring about an internationally oriented comparative research program to develop a new and more integrated understanding of Arctic cultural history.Movement is regarded as an important concept for both describing changes in human societies, and for the understanding human relationships with their natural and social environment, in two main ways. First, movement refers to human actions ranging from seasonal mobility seen in small-scale movements within a region, to long-term, inter-regional migrations. Second, it refers to the movement of resources and material culture through trade and exchange between regions, which can serve to level out uneven resource distribution both in space and time, and can also symbolise social connections. Participation in regional and inter-regional communication networks is also central to long-term Arctic history, as rational choices can only be made with access to information on the social and natural environments outside the local and regional areas. These networks may be embedded in trade or exchange, or based on ideological or social connections and alliances. In this context, meetings of people from different cultural traditions form an arena where strategic choices are made and carried out. The ultimate objective of the project is to bring about an understanding of the dynamic strategies of movement, communication, and other social actions which Arctic peoples create when interacting with their social, cultural, and natural environments. These strategies can operate at multiple levels, including individual agents, families or households, local groups, and all people of a given cultural tradition. In particular, connections between these levels are expected to be important in identifying the multifarious life-strategies employed by individuals and societies in various parts of the Arctic World.The framework for this initiative is inspired by the IPY emphasis on multinational collaboration, and includes researchers from Greenland, Denmark, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Germany and USA. Fieldwork will be conducted in several places in Nunavut, Nunavik, Greenland, Newfoundland/Labrador, and Northern Fennoscandia. The present project has developed out of the internationally approved IPY-project # 747, 759 and 466, but also draws upon a number of other projects that have been developed in a context that emphasizes international and comparative approaches. The project is to be considered “open” in the sense that other relevant projects will be welcomed on an add-on basis, if they are conceived in a way which complements this project’s central objectives. Fieldwork will range from one to three synchronised field seasons in each of the described geographical areas. Joint activities will include exchange programs for university students and researchers (including a common pre-researcher and masters student field school) and the development of various data-exchange forums (meetings, conferences, a joint web-site, exhibitions and joint publications).

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
This project is inter-disciplinary on two levels. First, the core research revolves around several separate disciplines within the humanities and social sciences, including archaeology, history (including archival work), and cultural anthropology (including traditional knowledge interviews with contemporary northerners). Second, these will be integrated with a number of science disciplines, including quaternary zoology, palaeobotany, palaeolimnology, mineralogy, geomorphology, physical anthropology, and physics (radiocarbon dating and isotopic studies), all of which provide necessary context for understanding human 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?
Advances are expected to be especially significant within three main areas:Research - This project will lead to a detailed understanding of social change in the Arctic over the past 5000 years, through interpretation of the impacts of environmental and social factors on movement and communication. Highlighting human strategies involved in these relationships, will furnish a better understanding of both past and contemporary Arctic societies and strategies.Education – Firstly, the project will strengthen the development of an internationally based education- and exchange-programme on Arctic history. Secondly, this research will be aimed at the global academic community, with two major conferences and their resulting publication contributing to creating new knowledge in many areas, including regional cultural studies, and hunter-gatherer theory.Dissemination – This research will be directly relevant to present-day Arctic communities, and will be distributed by web sites, books, public lectures, and other formats. Interaction with local communities will emphasise mutual exchange in order to provide the researchers with access to knowledge that can only be found locally and to ensure dissemination of the academic results produced during the research process.

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?
Fixed wing transport aircraft
Helicopters

Further details – The participating institutions will otherwise handle the relevant logistic support.

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?

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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
A Steering committee made up of two representatives from Denmark (The National Museum of Denmark/University of Copenhagen), two from Canada (University of Toronto and Canadian Museum of Civilisation), two from Greenland (The National Museum & Archives of Greenland/University of Greenland) and one from Norway (Tromsø University) that will coordinate the project. Its initial task will be to establish guidelines for fundraising, research-dissemination and timelines for milestones. Following this initial phase, they will coordinate pre-fieldwork planning, fieldwork exchanges, data sharing, conferences, and publications.In accordance with the guidelines of the Steering Committee, collaboration and decision-making will generally follow a “principle of subsidiarity”. Fundraising for the activities of the Steering committee (including the maintenance of web site, meetings and conferences) will be applied for by the members of the Steering Committee, preferably from cross-national organisations (amongst others the European BOREAS initiative).Funding for the individual sub-projects will be applied for in national funding agencies. The Lead-contacts – Hans Christian Gulløv and T. Max Friesen – will act as contact person to the Joint Committee and the National IPY Committee, and will otherwise act as equal partners in the projects ad hoc Steering Committee.

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
No.

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
No, but at the national level most of the involved parties have a strong collaboration with institutions working outside the Arctic. During the project-period the involved parties will make a special effort to engage with non-Arctic research milieus, and in this way ensure that the results of the project are embedded in “mainstream” archaeology, history, anthropology etc.

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
This project is linked to all IPY core activities identified as “priorities” on the IPY web site. It will represent a uniquely broad-based initiative centred on social science, which occurs on a scale impossible without the IPY framework. We fully expect it to contribute both to cutting-edge research and meaningful education and outreach.

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
Following the IPY policy of openness in data-sharing data will be housed in accordance with the standing guidelines of the involved national institutions, i.e. in museum storage, archives etc. (with more than 100 years of storage experience). Archaeological materials, fauna and floral materials, archival data, and anthropological data are subject to extensive and variable regulations within each political jurisdiction, however an effort will be made to ensure free availability and free exchange of data.

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.?
Training of arctic scientists will be emphasized in all aspects of this project. We anticipate that a minimum of 50 graduate students will take part in the fieldwork and field-schools, and will also be closely involved with conference presentations and publications.

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education, outreach, and communication are central to the project. Most field projects will see close interaction with neighbouring northern communities, and will serve as a point of communication with community groups, media, and local students. Eventual products will be made available through web sites, books, public lectures, and other media. In addition, we will involve a significant number of northern high school and college students in anthropological and archaeological fieldwork activities, and field schools.

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
Funding for these activities will be applied for primarily through national organizations. Education, outreach, and dissemination are considered core activities of the project, and will be incorporated into the overall fundraising activities.

3.11 Additional Comments
With reference to section 1.9 of this application, although asked to identify only one “main IPY target”, we believe this project will contribute equally to two targets. For target 1, “natural or social science”, the research carried out by project members will make a major contribution to scholarship at the regional and global levels. For target 3, “education, outreach, and communication”, we are committed to broad dissemination of results to schools, communities, members of the public.

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4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Prof Hans Christian Gulløv
The Danish National Museum
Frederiksholms Kanal 12, Copenhagen
DK-1220 K
Denmark

Tel:          (+45)3347 3220
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         (+45)3347 3322
Email:      

Second Contact
Prof T. Max Friesen
University of Toronto
100 St. George Street, TorontoOntario
M5S 3G3
Canada

Tel:          (416) 978 4505
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         (416) 978 3217
Email:     

4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation