Supporting environmental assessment in Nunavut

Baffinland, Nunavut. photo by Brendan Peachey.

ᐃᓄᑦᑎᑐ

This collaborative research project developed in consultation with the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) focuses on supporting environmental assessment practice in the North and Arctic.

Graduate students Nicole Peletz from UBC and Bethany Thiessen from U. Saskatchewan examined community information needs in the impact assessment (IA) process, and to show how Inuit Quajimajatuqangit (knowledge) guides and frames the IA process. The research focus is on projects that have a marine component, such as shipping, building docks, or operating loading facilities.

Nicole’s research shows how Inuit knowledge provides baseline information related to marine impacts; and how it has been used both alongside, and in absence of “Western” science, in the IA process.

Northern sky near Mary River Mine, Nunavut, photo by Brendan Peachey.

Bethany’s research helped build an understanding how information about the impacts of marine shipping and mitigation strategies are communicated throughout the IA process. Her work also provides an understanding of the marine related impacts and concerns are often considered in IA in Nunavut.

Nicole and Beth’s research not only illustrates data and information challenges for assessing projects in changing Arctic environments, it also provides information that can help NIRB in its engagement and consultation with communities and companies.

M.A. ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖅ _ᓂᑰᓪ _ᐱᓕᐊᑦᔅ _(ᓯᓚᑦᑐᓴᕐᕕᒃᔪᐊᖅ _ᐳᕆᑎᔅ _ᑲᓚᒻᐱᐊ)
ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᐃᓂᖅ _ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓂᑦ _ᖃᐅᔨᓴᓂᕐᒃᒧᑦ _ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ: ᐱᑕᖃᖏᑦᑐᓂᑦ _ᖃᐅᔨᓴᐃᓂᖅ _ᑐᓐᖓᕕᖏᓐᓄᑦ
ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᕈᑎᓂᑦ _ᐃᒪᐅᑉ _ᐊᕙᑎᖓᓂᑦ _ᐊᒻᒪ _ᐱᓕᕆᐊᕆᔭᖏᑦ _ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ _ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᐅᔪᑦ (PDF)

M.A. havaariyakhaq uvanngat Nicole Peletz
Ikayuqhugit ahuilutauhimayut ihivriurnikhainut Nunavunmi:
Akuniuyut qauyihainirnut uuminngat kigliita naunaiyainirnut haffumani imarmiutat avataita iningillu
haffumani nunaqaqqaaqhimayunut qauyimayatuqangit (PDF)

Bethany’s research helps build an understanding how information about the impacts of marine shipping and mitigation strategies are communicated throughout the IA process. Her work will help support decision-making and provide a better understanding of the marine related impacts and concerns often considered in IA.

M.A. ᐱᓕᕆᐊᖅ _ᐱᐊᑦ _ᑏᓴᓐ _(ᓯᓚᑦᑐᓴᕐᕕᒃᔪᐊᖅ _ᓴᔅᓯᑳᔅᓯᕗᐊᓐ)
ᑐᑭᓯᔭᐅᓂᖏᑦ _ᐅᑭᐅᑕᖅᑐᒥ _ᐅᒥᐊᕐᔪᐊᖃᖃᑦᑕᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ _ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ _ᐊᒻᒪ _ᐱᓗᐊᕐᔭᐃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖅ:
ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᓄᑦᖅ _ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ _ᓴᓇᕈᑎᐅᓗᓂ _ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᕐᒧᑦ (PDF)

M.A. havaariyangit ukunanngat Beth Thiessen
Kangiqhiyangit Ukiuqtaqtuq imarmiuttat agyaqtuinirnut ihuiluutiyut ingattaqhittailinirnut:
Ihuilutiniq ihivriurnikhainnut ingilrut timiuyunut hivunikhaqhiuqtunut (PDF)

Funding is provided by Irving Ship Building International, with additional support from the Northern Scientific Training Program, Polar Knowledge Canada, Nunavut Research Institute, and the Nunavut Impact Review Board.

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