ABOUT
Grise Fiord, Nunavut
overview
The Coastal Restoration Nunavut Project draws on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) to document and address the health and condition of marine species and their habitats. “Coastal restoration” is the action of returning something to its former condition; improving its current condition; or protecting it from further or future harm. “Coastal” refers to any area where marine and terrestrial processes meet and interact. The project is led by the Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University in partnership with the Fisheries and Sealing Division, Government of Nunavut. Project funding is provided in full by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The project team, in collaboration with Nunavut’s 25 hamlets, facilitates participatory mapping workshops to identify and mitigate the stressors impacting coastal fisheries, communities and coastlines. The project also aims to build capacity at the local level via targeted training and employment; to document traditional knowledge; and to support ecological restoration and stewardship initiatives.
GUIDING questions
What are community perspectives of the coastal restoration needs in all 25 communities in Nunavut?
What coastal areas, if any, show historical or potential signs of degradation and/or contamination?
How have socioeconomic and cultural activities such as fishing and harvesting been impacted by changes to the coastal environment?
What should be done to address these impacts?
approach
Our team is travelling to every community in the territory to learn about the coastal restoration needs of each region, and to support the development of community-led coastal restoration plans. Restoration plans may include physical rehabilitations to fix an urgent issue, support to enhance local stewardship initiatives, or further research to understand the accelerated changes experienced by the many marine species living in Arctic waterways. All spatial observations provided by participants are digitized and added to an online map. Community perspectives are summarized using themes to better understand the issues relating to development, resource use and climate change, and to highlight any priority actions as identified by participants.
Project outputs
To date, the project team has completed the following:
Participatory mapping and consultations with 18 Nunavut communities
Implementation of community-led restoration plans in Baker Lake, Clyde River, Coral Harbour, Iqaluit, Kugluktuk, Kugaaruk, Taloyoak, and Qikiqtarjuaq .