Inuit self-determination at heart of Arctic research funding plan set for another 5 years
Ottawa to fund Arctic science partnership
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed speaks at a news conference Thursday at the Aqsarniit hotel in Iqaluit. (Photo by Livete Ataguyuk)
Updated on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.
A new partnership among ArcticNet, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Polar Knowledge Canada hopes to use $50 million in federal funding to support five years’ worth of scientific research in Inuit Nunangat.
And it will be done while respecting Inuit self-determination, the partners say.
The partnership will focus on using Inuit knowledge to better understand and prepare for a changing Arctic, representatives from the three groups announced Thursday at a press conference at Iqaluit’s Aqsarniit hotel and conference centre.
“This is the exciting news from the government of Canada commitment in supporting ArcticNet through its Strategic Science Fund for an additional five years,” said ArcticNet chairperson Donna Kirkwood.
The money will come from that fund, administered by the federal Innovation, Science and Economic Development Department and Health Canada, according to a news release issued at Thursday’s announcement.
The funding announcement took place as ArcticNet held its first-ever meeting in Canada’s North this week in Iqaluit.
ArcticNet is a network of scientists, engineers and health professionals who do research work with Inuit organizations across Inuit Nunangat, the homeland of Inuit.
ArcticNet, ITK — the national organization for Inuit in Canada — and Polar Knowledge, a federal scientific research agency based in Cambridge Bay, co-developed the proposal to the federal government.
It also involves more than 70 organizations from across Canada and around the world regarding the future study of the impacts of climate change and environmental impacts on Inuit Nunangat.
What ArcticNet had proposed to the government was more than a science proposal. It’s a vision that was developed with Inuit, Kirkwood said.
“The vision actually looks at a new era of scientific collaboration and will be focusing on bridging and leveraging diverse knowledge to better understand and prepare for a changing Arctic,” she said.
“The other important aspect of the vision is that it includes a transformed governance framework where it will reflect Inuit governance, Inuit self-determination priorities that is super important for the board.”
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed said partnering with ArcticNet will benefit Inuit Nunangat.
“To ensure this research network that has been evolving to be more respectful of Inuit self-determination to the point now, we have a shared governance model with ArcticNet and Polar Knowledge Canada,” Obed said.
“This is part of the foundation for Inuit to have better understanding of the research needs of our communities and to increase the capacity of Inuit who want to be researchers or be in the space of this field.”
Obed said, “This, for Inuit, is a strategic partnership and it is one that we are not forced into. We decide how we go about partnering with institutions that we feel are ready to respect Inuit self-determination and research.”
Obed said ITK looks forward to future research in areas like climate change and community development, and then for Inuit-specific considerations of language, culture and the environment, wildlife and natural resources, as well.
He said he feels there is a shared passion for making communities better and protecting the environment to have a global understanding about key challenges and concerns that Inuit face with in the changing Arctic whether it be from decrease icing to increase ship traffic are just some of the issues today.
Polar Knowledge’s chief scientist and executive director, David Hik, agreed that Inuit self-determination and collaboration are key to the partnership, calling it “one of the most significant investments that the government of Canada has made in Arctic research.”
Correction: This story has been updated from its original version to clarify that the amount of federal funding ArcticNet has requested has not been finalized yet.
what does all this actually mean? Respect Inuit self determination? Not forced into a partnership? Is it we will take the 50M but will do with it as we please. With no scientific considerations. Of course this is the same guy who spent 5 years changing the name of the Edmonton Eskimos.
It sounds a bit like, “if you want a nice piece of this huge pie we are giving out, you’ll do ‘science’ the way we say you’ll do ‘science.’
Too cynical?
Cause his feelings were hurt.😪🤪
Step one would be teaching Nunavumiut the difference between science and knowledge. There is a terrible misunderstanding in the territory on this topic. Never taught in school I can only presume.
Motivated by questions of ‘identity’ (really, tribalism) a lot of people are invested in the imaginary conflict between what they call “western science” and “traditional knowledge” as if these are radically different and competing epistemological systems.
science isn’t western there is not western science and asian science and african science – the is science and non-science.
sorry for the capitals i can’t figure out my phone
The scientific method is essentially western in origin, though it drew on outside influences and innovations as well. The practice of ‘science’ is not closed to any culture, it can be done by anyone, and thankfully no one will scream appropriation.
No, but they who don’t understand will want to talk about ‘Inuit Science’ or ‘Western Science’.
There ain’t no such thing. As the earlier poster said, there is science, and non-science.
Enought with science. Start building houses.
what will happen to your house in 30-40 years when the active layer melts?
Self determination?
Wasn’t that the idea for the creation of Nunavut? Adaptive ? Resilient?, tough as nails and so forth?
“Yeah but….”
Some people are confusing science and research.
ITK has not shown any interest in science.
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ITK has shown lots of interest in any research that will generate data supporting the victimization of Inuit by others and the justification for compensation.
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NS is Nunvut’s tool for generating future leaders.
.
How many NS graduates have gone on the become polititians, senior administrators in the GN, or in the RIO’s?
.
How many NS graduates have gone on to be scientists, engineers, medical practioners or business executives in the private sector?
.
How much of the $50 million will be spent to better understand the aurora borialis and the impact of solar storms on the protection we receive from the ozone layer at high latitudes?
.
How much of the $50 million will be spent on producing better concrete in arctic conditions?
.
All of the $50 million will be spent building the case for asking for much more money.
Lots of complaints but people don’t realize how much infrastructure costs in a developing region, in addition to the skill set needed to carry out scientific research, training other scientists, building equipment and buying software. Fixed costs will eat up most of the funds, which is a byproduct of life in the arctic.
Most universities have massive endowment funds like the University of Toronto, which has a $3.2 billion endowment fund, to sustain the organization and status. I don’t think $50 million is much in relation to making research happen.
People will find
What do we want? —- Self-determination!!!!
How do we get it? —- With Ottawa’s extensive handouts!!!
What do we want? —- Self-determination!!!
How will we get it? —- Transient southerners!!!