Climate Change and Health Pan Arctic Results Workshop
This important workshop held Feb 8 -10, 2011 in Ottawa brought together researchers from across the Canadian Arctic. Community-based researchers, elders, and youth came together for the first time to share their findings from a three-year climate change research initiative funded by Health Canada.
They came to share their experiences, their research findings and to strategize for the future with university partners and policy makers. They discussed the many climate change and health research projects that have been taking place in communities and regions across the Canadian north.
Over the past several years, researchers and communities have been documenting changes to plants, animals, land, and water in Canada’s Arctic. Both the scientists and the northern people are reporting profound changes such as melting ice and permafrost, forest fires, warmer temperatures, and changing weather patterns. These changes have both a direct and indirect impact on the health and well-being of the people in the north.
The purpose of the Health Canada Initiative was to promote northern participation in monitoring, discussing, advocating, and participation in adaptation to the changing environment. There were 37 projects throughout the Canadian North. The workshop highlighted research from across the north. Further information on the workshop and each of the projects can be found at http://csch.ca/workshop/.
The following are short descriptions of the Yukon projects (AICBR coordinated travel for participants involved in the workshop and contributed to projects marked with an asterix - *):
1. Environmental Changes at Big Salmon Village, Yukon
Big Salmon Village is a traditional site of the Northern Tutchone people of Little Salmon/Carmacks. It is situated along the Yukon River. Fieldwork was carried out to collect plant, soil, and water samples. This part of the study used scientific collection methods to establish base line date to better understand the changes to the land and water. A second part planned for February will involve interviewing elders to bring traditional knowledge together with the scientific findings of this study.
2. Traditional Land Use Health Study: Greenhouse and Farm Operation. Little Salmon/Carmacks, Yukon.
Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation has owned and operated a greenhouse and potato farm for over 10 years. The Climate Change and Health Initiative helped to explore possibilities for farm and greenhouse expansion. Through the expansion, the greenhouse and garden operation produced a wide variety of garden and greenhouse vegetables including potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, corn, turnips, celery, and honey dew melon. A cold storage area was build to store root vegetables. The tomatoes were tested against tomatoes bought in the stores in Whitehorse. The test results proved that the tomatoes are comparable in nutritional value and quality, and a local safe, organic, nutritious food source. The vegetables are given free to people with diabetes, meals on wheels, and single nursing mothers. The remaining vegetables are sold to the general public.
Workshop participant: Alice Boland, Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation
3. Culturally Important Plants of the Ross River Dena and Associated Impacts Related to Climate Change. Ross River, Yukon
The project documented traditional foods and medicinal plants important to the Ross River Dena. 64 plants were identified and mapped. Traditional knowledge of the plants was documented.
Workshop participant: Norman Barichello, Ross River Dena Council
4. Tay River Caribou Herd: preliminary investigation. Ross River, Yukon
This study examined the importance of the Caribou herd to the community of Ross River in the face of climate change.
Workshop participant: Brian Ladue, Ross River Dena Council
4. Food Security and Climate Change Health Impacts in Our Community. Teslin, Yukon*
Students were trained to do research, interview, and video citizens of Teslin Tlingit First Nation on food security and climate. The information gathered was presented at a workshop to discuss the changes to the earth and find ways to protect and preserve the land and water.
Workshop participant: Jade McGinty, Teslin Tlingit Council
5. Community Action on Climate Change and Food Security Adaptation in Old Crow. Old Crow, Yukon*
This project is the third phase of a climate change and food security research project that builds upon the knowledge gathered in the earlier phase. The focus of the research has been on knowledge translation, in putting the results and recommendations into action. The project involved the community, elders, and youth. A documentary video was developed to show the profound changes to the hunting and fishing grounds as a result of changing climate and melting permafrost. One dramatic scene from the documentary shows the sudden disappearance of a lake that has been a source of food and resources for thousands of years.
Workshop participant: Daniel Frost, Chelsea Charlie, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
6. A Multi-disciplinary Investigation of Climate Change Impacts on the Yukon River Traditional Foods and the Implications for Health and Tr’ondek*
Hwech’in River Culture and Lifestyle. Dawson, Yukon This study focused on the irregular water conditions in the Yukon River and its impact on food security, especially salmon, wild onion, and bear root. The collection of baseline information will inform adaptation strategies and encourage discussions amongst scientists, elders, and youth in the community of Dawson City.
Workshop participant: Bill Kendrick, Tr’ondek Hwech’in (First Nation)
7. To Feed Our Community Project. White River, Yukon
The project used traditional knowledge to address adaptation strategies for food security. An underground food storage facility for emergency and general was developed in phase of the project. Phase two is focusing on promoting relationships in the community with a community freezer. Traditional knowledge is being used with modern technology to preserve foods for the community. The goal is producing local foods from greenhouse and gardens and harvesting traditional foods in the face of changing climates.
Workshop participant: Glenn Stephen, White River First Nation
8. Climate Change and Health – Linking our Past and Future Through our Traditions and Culture: An Ethno-botanical Resource Study to Determine the Effects of Climate Change on Traditional Ecosystems. Pelly Crossing, Yukon
The focus of this study was on traditional plant medicines and the intergenerational knowledge transfer of climate change and its effects on traditional medicinal plants.
Workshop participant: Bill Trerice, Selkirk First Nation