Nunavik’s climate a hot topic for youth, elders

Kris Tukkiapik-Papak, at left, tells workshop participants about the changes he’s seen to Kuujjuaq’s Koksoak river in his lifetime. (PHOTO BY MELISSA GAGNON/KRG)

Nunavik elders say new species of plants and even trees coming up across the region. (PHOTO COURTESY BY MELISSA GAGNON/KRG)

Rain pelted the window during a meeting of youth and elders in the Ungava Bay community of Quaqtaq in late November.

And because rain is rarely seen there during the winter months, this downpour became the centre of conversation at a workshop on climate change that brought together young and old from Kuujjuaq, Umiujaq and Quaqtaq.

“I’d be skating on the lakes by now, but everything’s melted,” said Kuujjuaq teen Kris Tukkiapik-Papak.

“This would be a perfect time to go hunting by skidoo [by waterway] but you can’t do that anymore,” he said.

Although youth and elders at the Quaqtaq workshop had different observations, depending on their community, they all said climate change affects public safety, access to the land and marine infrastructure.

Students were asked to answer questions like: where does the ice form first in your village or where does it form last? What activities do you use your local marine infrastructure for?

“We usually had the same [observations] as the elders, but they said that when you dig underground in the summer, [the ground] is usually solid,” Tukkiapik-Papak said.

“Now when you dig four feet it becomes water.”

Elders said they noticed different trees and plants in the region, while familiar varieties of plants appear to grow faster.

“Quaqtaq elders predict there will be trees in their region eventually,” said Véronique Gilbert, Tukkiapik-Papak’s teacher at Jaanimmarik School.

Elders also said it’s important to share news about weather conditions over the local radio.

Elders have to share their knowledge to make sure it’s spread around,” Gilbert said.

Tukkiapik-Papak and other students now plan to help a Kativik Regional Government sea ice monitoring project by acting as observers at the Koksoak River, where they will monitor ice formation and spring melt.

The Quaqtaq gathering, organized by the KRG, Trent University and Quebec’s scientific research institute, was the fourth of its kind in Nunavik.

Organizers hope information from these workshops will help the regional government better understand how Nunavik’s infrastructure is affected by climate change.

During their recent regional council meeting in Kuujjuaq, KRG regional councillors also heard about the risks of not adapting to a changing climate and the growing need to increase preparedness before going out on the land.

“The most significant changes will be in the winter, and what that means is a shorter season,” warned Caroline Larrivée with Ouranos, a consortium of climate scientists.

There will be more snow, earlier spring break-up, and lower water levels, she said.

Already the sea ice extent around Nunavik’s coasts in winter is significantly lower than levels recorded before the 1980s, Larrivée added.

“This can have an impact on how you access the land,” she said. “It’s going to affect hunters’ success, and therefore cultural practices.”

For now, Nunavimmiut must bring more gas and supplies on hunting trips, carry firearms with them, and travel in groups.

Nunavik elders, students, teachers and visiting researchers gathered in Quaqtaq from Nov. 22 to 26 to compare their observations about changes in their local environment. (PHOTO by MELISSA GAGNON/KRG)