This PhD project used Inuit knowledge and aerial survey data across many years to analyse distribution, forage selection, foraging ecology, and physical condition of caribou in the arctic.

This Master's project documented an evaluation of the spatial utility of the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op database and the many steps that are involved in the collection, storage, and organization of the Co-op’s data. It provided an excellent opportunity to explore the problem of depicting complex qualitative information on northern landscape change in an intelligible GIS format. Initial attempts to develop the database in spatial format were critically evaluated and recommendations were provided in order to explore whether the data gathering and subsequent mapping process can be improved, whether more useful information can be obtained from the data, and to ensure the proper handling of the data in future years.

This master's project focuses on the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) in the western Canadian Arctic, which is experiencing environmental changes that affect subsistence harvesting practices and are of concern to local communities. In order to assess the impacts of multiple disturbances on culturally important ecosystems in the ISR, researchers created a cumulative disturbance map that represents relative intensity of terrestrial disturbances across the study region. They assessed levels of disturbance in harvesting and management areas, modeled future disturbance scenarios, and assessed the potential for conserving large contiguous areas of unaffected harvesting lands.

This PhD project uses multiple disciplinary lenses to understand the dynamics of the social-ecological systems that are of critical importance to northern Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic. Barren ground caribou are part of these systems which contribute to nutritional, cultural, and spiritual well being that are today undergoing significant changes.

This project is part of an holistic approach to assess impacts of climate change on Arctic terrestrial ecosystems. It focuses on current, short-term phenotypic, and longer-term genetic responses of plant, animal (including caribou) and microorganism species to a changing climate and UV-B regime. Information in the study is taken from indigenous observations, scientific monitoring, experiments and models.

Grounded in an Indigenous methodological framework and using dendroecology as a scientific assessment tool in combination with oral history analysis, this thesis project assessed changes to caribou movement patterns in the traditional territory of Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation (LKDFN), Northwest Territories, Canada. 

This is a masters project completed through the Geography and Environmental Studies program at Carleton University. Sharing stories in Inuit culture has been the foundation of knowledge transfer for generations. This is my story of learning, of research, learning through relationships, and learning from the land through the stories of Elders and youth of Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, during Elder-youth land camps to learn about caribou in 2011/2012. Using the Qaggiq model, I explore how nuna (land) connects us with iliqqusiq (culture), uqausiq (language), and unipkaat (living histories). The land camps are a place for knowledge renewal, to build and strengthen the connections between generations, and a place for communities and researchers to connect. Learning on the land provides the place for strengthening inuuqatigiittiarniq (relationships), inuusiqaqttiarniq (living a good life) and allows the youth to experience how the land provides niqiqainnarniq (sustenance). Storytelling connects us with others and by listening carefully there are many lessons that can guide youth in living a good life