Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area
Tags: permafrost, climate change, Gwich'in, Inuvialuit, Indigenous knowledge, fire
| Principal Investigator: | Lantz, Trevor C. (31) |
| Licence Number: | 17689 |
| Organization: | University of Victoria |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2025
|
| Issued: | Apr 02, 2025 |
| Project Team: | Trevor Lantz, Emma Street, Jackie Ziegler, |
Objective(s): The core objective of this research is to work with Inuvialuit and Gwich’in experts to document local observations of environmental conditions. Specifically, we will use semi-structured interviews and, where possible, land-based observation to document environmental conditions with photographs and videos georeferenced using GPS units. In 2025, interviews will focus on permafrost landscape change and tundra fire.
Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 6148. The core objective of this research is to work with Inuvialuit and Gwich’in experts to document local observations of environmental conditions. Specifically, we will use semi-structured interviews and, where possible, land-based observation to document environmental conditions with photographs and videos georeferenced using GPS units. In 2025, interviews will focus on permafrost landscape change and tundra fire. This research uses semi-structured interviews with Gwich’in and Inuvialuit experts and, where possible, participatory mapping activities (photo and video documentation of environmental conditions) to document Indigenous Knowledge of regional environmental change. Observations made using these methods provide critical information on the nature and rate of environmental change and are useful for environmental assessment and local and regional decision making. We will communicate the results of our research on an ongoing basis by providing plain language summaries to the HTCs / RRCs in each community we work in. Plain language deliverables will also be made available to interested community members and schools. We will continue to provide periodic oral presentations at the regular meetings of regional co-management organizations (IGC, GRRB, FJMC). When there is interest, we will also give oral presentations to HTCs / RRCs. Members of my research group will also deliver public presentations at the Western Arctic Research Centre in Inuvik. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: April 20 - December 31, 2025
