Canada’s Oceans Now: Arctic Ecosystems 2023 - Scientific research and Indigenous Knowledge

Scientific research and Indigenous Knowledge
Community leadership and participation are increasing in scientific research and monitoring across Inuit Nunangat

This infographic depicts an Arctic ice sheet with a crack running from bottom left to top right showing the ocean water beneath. In the center a circular shape depicts a bare hand holding a gloved hand. Four tenets of community-researcher partnerships are written in the border of this circular shape as follows: Reciprocity, Respect, Accountability, Trust. There are many people seen interacting throughout the infographic. On the top left, four people near a group of buildings representing an Arctic community are discussing arctic animals. Below them, a transparent text box states:

• Inuit Knowledge informs Western science, leading to a more holistic understanding of the environment and culturally important species including Arctic char, beluga, and seals.

On the bottom left, two people are near the edge of the ice collecting data in different ways. A community harvester is observing a seal, and the other person has electronic scientific equipment in the water. Above them a transparent text box states:

• There has been an increased effort to bridge different ways of knowing to address ecological and social challenges associated with climate change.

On the bottom right, one person is recording information while another person places a scientific sensor into the water through a hole in the ice, a third person is fishing through a hole made in the ice. A transparent text box below them states:

• Community technicians use different technologies and tools to gather data on the arctic environment and species.

On the top right, a person is driving a snow mobile and pulling supplies across the ice. Below them, a transparent text box states:

• Inuit participation in the publication of information from coastal and marine studies in increasing.
• A line graph within the text box shows a steep increase in Inuit participation from 1992 to 2020. Participation was very low until approximately 2005.