Snowchange 2005 meets in Anchorage

SIKU CIRCUMPOLAR NEWS SERVICE

Snowchange 2005, a four-day conference in Anchorage, Alaska wrapped up last weekend.

Participants discussed issues such as changing snow and ice patterns, lower water levels and animal migrations.

Alaskan elders spoke about how global warming has affected their communities and culture. Margaret Opie, an Inupiat from Barrow, told how her family depends on the ocean and whaling for survival.

“Right now Barrow is in a stall due to the weather. We have a lot of winds, the ice is many, many miles away, and that is part of our Snowchange,” Opie said.

Snowchange, based out of Finland, is an organization working towards promoting an awareness on climate change and ecology. The conference in Anchorage was the third international gathering of Arctic communities, and the first one in the United States.

“The first and foremost form of action is getting people together, and if you get the indigenous people, local communities and others to come here, it’s a step forward,” said Tero Mustonen, founder of Snowchange.

Snowchange hopes to have its next gathering sometime next year in New Zealand.