Inuit knowledge and molecular biology addressing industrial impacts in the Kivalliq

Industrial development has long been present in the Canadian Arctic but has undergone rapid development in Nunavut in the last 20 years. In the Kivalliq region, local Elders and hunters have associated gold mining and related activities with environmental impacts. One of the main impacts is causing stress for fish and wildlife that Inuit rely on for food. These negative impacts can affect Inuit culture, health, and well-being. The Kivalliq Wildlife Board, in partnership with ArctiConnexion and academic researchers, will develop in Kangiqliniq (Rankin Inlet) a new approach to monitor the impacts of the Agnico Eagle Mine’s (AEM) Meliadine project on freshwater and marine ecosystems. This approach will combine Inuit knowledge and molecular biology to develop indicators of environmental, ecological, and biological stress that will help the community of Rankin Inlet and other communities to research mining impacts. Our project will be community-driven, employ local people, involve our youth and Elders, and build capacity and expertise locally for new procedures and approaches. People from our community of Kangiqliniq will be the leader of this new project. We will also present our approach to the community of Qamani’tuaq in year two and pilot a project.

Inuit qaujimaningit ammalu uumajuliriniq piliriarilugu attuinirigunnaqtangit piliriangujuit Kivallirmi

Piliriaksami sivuliqtuq: Tartak, Clayton

Ikajuqtuijuq Timiujuq: Kivalliq Wildlife Board

Namiinningit: Kangiqliniq, Qamani’tuaq

Pilirivijjuarujut pivalliasimaliqtutuqaugaluat Kanataup Ukiuqtaqtungani kisianili sukanniqsammarimmik pivalliasimaliqtuq arraaguit 20 aniguqsimaliqtuni. Kivallirmi, nunanignni Innarijaujut ammalu uumajurniaqtiit attuaninganik ujaranniarniq avatimik. Ilangat attuiniusimajuni iqaluit uumajuillu atssururnaqtukkuuqtitauvammata Inuit niqigivattanginnit uumajuit. Taakkua attuinirlunniujut attuiniqarunnaqtut Inuit iliqqusinginnik, ilusinginnik ammalu qanuinngitsiarninginnik. Kivallirmi Uumajulirijiit Katimajingit, piliriqatiqaqtutit ArctiConnexion ammalu silattusarvirjuarmi qaujiaqtinik, piliriaqarniaqtut Kangiqlinirmi nutaarnik atuqtaugiarunnaqtunik qaujisautikanik aktuiningata Agnico Eagle Ujaranniarvingata Meliadine piliriangujumi tasirni kuunni ammalu tariurmi. Taanna aturiarniq katitiksinaqtuq Inuit qaujimajatuqanginnik ammalu uumajnit qaujisaqtinik piliriangulutit nalunaikkutiksait avatimut, nunamut, ammalu uumajuit aksururtitauvanninginnut ikajuqsiniaqtunik Kangiqlinirmiut ammalu asinit nunaliit qaujisarutiqarlutit ujaranniarnirmut attuqtauvaktunik. Piliriarijavut nunalinnut aulatauniaqtuq, iqqanaijaqtiksiluta nunaqaqtunik, ilautiksiluta makkuktunik Innarnillu, ammalu piruqpalliatiksiluta qaujimajitarijaujunik nunalinni nutaarnut pilirijjusirnut atuqtaugiarunnaqtunullu. Inunit Kangiqlinirmiut sivulirniaqtut tamatuminga piliriaksarmik. Unikkaarutiginiarmijavut atugiaqsimajavut nunangannut Qanani’tuaq tungaliangi arraaguup nutaarmillu piliriaksaqarluta.