Transcultural Approaches to Weather, Water, Ice, and Climate Research in Nunatsiavut

Abstract

Globally, there have been increasing calls for environmental research and governance to be led by Indigenous groups, be inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge, and support Indigenous self-determination. This is being advanced in weather, water, ice, and climate (WWIC) research throughout Inuit Nunaat – Inuit circumpolar homelands – where climate change is having cascading effects on WWIC conditions, the timing and distribution of species, and the ability for Inuit to safely travel and successfully harvest year-round on the land, water, and ice. It is important to understand how Inuit Knowledge and Western science can be brought together to advance WWIC research with and for Inuit. This dissertation provides critical insights on participatory research approaches that can be used to co-develop boundary objects (research constructs) that support and enable transcultural WWIC research and generate outputs that align with Inuit experiences of their environment.