Grise Fiord - ᐊᐅᓱᐃᑦᑐᖅ

Grise Fiord is the northernmost community in Canada and is situated on the southern coast of Ellesmere Island, overlooking Jones Sound. The community is located between a mountain range and the ocean and relies heavily on the sea for food and transportation. Carving, traditional crafts and clothing are also important sources of income. The community’s hunting and fishing area includes Jones Sound, and extending into the Norwegian Bay, Baumann Fiord, Vendom Fiord, and Makinson Inlet.

The CRN research team visited the community in March 2018. Team members held participatory mapping workshops with the Hunters and Trappers Association, Hamlet staff, Elders, and other resource users, collecting observations on coastal health and changing coastal conditions. Participants provided all data illustrated on this map.

Coastal issues included: Environmental changes were observed in the permafrost leading to impacts on infrastructure and fiords were melting faster and making ice more dangerous. Ecological changes included increases in dead seals but the cause for this mortality was unknown. Increased shipping/marine traffic and tourism, especially around walrus haul-outs and resting/calving grounds could have a negative impact on marine mammals.

Community restoration priorities included: the restoration of the eroded natural harbour; risk assessment of the restoration, a new community freezer; and to rebuild the road along the eroding shoreline.

To learn more about Grise Fiord (English version), please download our research profile here. If you would like to view the Inuktitut version of our research profile, please download here.

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