Polar Science and the Two Ways of Knowing

With rapid changes in both Arctic climate and the severe impact on Inuit communities, research such as the Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study (CFL), an International Polar Year (IPY) research initiative, have begun to assess the full extent of change in polar regions. Research methodology used to gather information on critical Arctic issues has evolved to value the input of traditional knowledge with a more collaborative approach, and as a result, relationships between researchers and Inuit continue to evolve. Furgal et al. (2002) state that the Arctic ecosystem is highly complex in its physical and biomechanical nature, being a polar region, and research should include the full extent of local traditional knowledge held by Inuit peoples and the scientific analyses of physical, biological and chemical components of these environments. Team 10 of the CFL study seeks to connect traditional Inuvialuit knowledge (TK) and scientific research within the research project, dubbed Two ways of knowing. Focusing on the needs of Inuvialuit communities, this study is one of the first of its kind to address the needs of Inuit communities and scientific research by creating a process which allows for both knowledge systems to have their input. A traditional knowledge field study, guided and designed by a steering committee of representatives of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) communities, researchers at Trent University and Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada) is a crucial part of implementing a framework to share information about traditional knowledge with scientists and science with community members, was conducted in 2009. Our presentation will focus on a discussion of changing research methods to value the Two ways of knowing about the CFL system, building research capacity in Inuit communities, , when considered together, significantly enhance our understanding of changes in the CFL and use in decision making processes.

References: Furgal, C., D, Martin. & Gosselin, P. (2002). Climate Change and Health in Nunavik and Labrador: Lessons from Inuit Knowledge. In Krupnik, I. & D. Jolly (Eds.), The Earth is Faster Now: Indigenous Observations of Arctic Environmental Change.