monitoring environmental in the local observations and...
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Monitoring Environmental Change in the Mackenzie Delta Region: Local Observations and Participatory Multimedia Mapping
Trevor Lantz, Douglas Esagok, Chanda Brietzke, Harneet Gill, and Trevor Bennett
Project TeamMonitors: Abraham Peterson, Amy Noksana, Angela Alexie, Annie C. Gordon, Ashley Kay, Billy Archie, Billy Wilson, Charles Pokiak, Christine Firth, Chucky Gruben, Cody Felix, Cole Felix, Danny C. Gordon,Billy Wilson, Charles Pokiak, Christine Firth, Chucky Gruben, Cody Felix, Cole Felix, Danny C. Gordon, Darren Pokiak, Dorothy Alexie, Doug Esagok, Dustin Felix, Edward James, Edward Lennie, Edward McLeod, Emma Kay, Emmanuel Adam, Ernie Dillon, Herb Snowshoe, James Rogers, Jeannie Lennie, Joe Arey, Jordan Amos, Lyle Storr, Martha Voudrach, MaryLou Dillon, Maureen Elias, Nellie Arey, Raymond T, Rita Green, Robert A. Alexie, Robin Felix, Roy Goose, Sam Pingo, Samuel Raddi, SteveRaymond T, Rita Green, Robert A. Alexie, Robin Felix, Roy Goose, Sam Pingo, Samuel Raddi, Steve Cockney Jr., Terrance Allen, Wade Vaneltsi, Walter Elias, Wanda Pascal, and William Paul.
Support: Richard Binder, Sharon Snowshoe, Steve Kokelj, Claire Marchildon, Darren Keith, Ingrid Kritsch, Michelle Gruben, Charles Pokiak, Wilbert Firth, Herbie Snowshoe, Christine Firth, Charlie S h Ab S J Bill S Gi V l i A i J M d D h Al i ASnowshoe, Abe Stewart Jr., Billy Storr, Gina Valentsi, Annie Jane Modeste, Dorothy Alexie, Aurora Research Institute, Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat, Inuvik HTC, Aklavik HTC, Tuktoyaktuk HTC, TetlitGwich’in RRC, Gwich’in Social Cultural Institute, Gwich’in Tribal Council, Kwusen Media.
Funding: NWT CIMP, NSERC, NSTP, Polar Shelf, MITACS.
Northern environments are changing
Minimum Sea ice extent in 2012. Image: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio.
Tracking and understanding rapid change is a huge challenge
Catastrophically Drained Lake in the Old Crow Flats (July, 2009)
Disturbance EffectsTraditional knowledge can make an enormous contribution
SeismicDrained Lakes InfrastructureFiresChanges are usually first noticed by locals who spend time on the land
The recognition and use of TK in the NWT is widespread
lA Few Examples:
GNWT Policy
Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act
Co‐management Organizations
NWT CIMP
Parks Canada
COSEWIC
Using traditional knowledge in research, monitoring, and decision making is not always straightforward
Monitoring using Traditional Knowledge
Traditional Knowledge should have its own voice in the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (CIMP)p g g ( )
Project Development: 2009‐2011
In 2009 we held a meeting with landIn 2009, we held a meeting with land users from Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, and Aklavik to discuss the outer delta.
At this meeting, we raised the idea of an Inuvialuit knowledge monitoring program and formed a steering committee.
In the summer of 2009, we organized a land‐based knowledge exchange camp in the outer delta.
In the winter of 2010 we heldIn the winter of 2010, we held meetings in the delta communities to discuss the program.
Guiding Principles
1. To use local knowledge, make sure the project is built with the community.
Guiding Principles
2 Provide opportunities for youth to spend time on the land and learn from2. Provide opportunities for youth to spend time on the land and learn from land‐users.
Guiding Principles
3. Create situations where knowledge can be shared.
Guiding Principles
4. Involve individuals who understand TK and Science and can help bridge the gap.
Developing and Implementing a Protocol
In the summer of 2010, we developed a pilot monitoring protocol that involves:
Field visits local experts and youthField visits: local experts and youthVideos PhotosAudio recordingsAudio recordings Follow‐up interviews
In 2010/11, Trevor Bennett started work with / ,Inuvialuit monitors from Inuvik, Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk
Partners: Delta HTCs, IJS & UVIC
In 2012/13, Harneet Gill started similar work with monitors from Fort McPherson
Partners: TG‐RRC, GCSI and UVIC
Monitoring sites are identified by local participants
A research team travels to the site and records the participants’ observations using photos, videos, and GPS units
All videos, photos, and audio files are geo‐tagged
Follow‐up interviews provide context and a narrative for each trip
Observations are added to a web‐based map
Engaging land users in monitoring
More recently, we have developed a version of the protocol that can be deployed rapidly.
Community monitors obtain a GPS enabled camera from the HTC or RRCRRC.
Monitors photograph the site that they are concerned about andthey are concerned about and record a short narrative to accompany their photos of the site.site.
T d t h k d ith 46
Regional Monitoring: 2011‐2013
To date, we have worked with 46 monitors to record observations at ~270 sites in the Inuvialuit and Gwich’in settlement regionsGwich in settlement regions.
Observations have focused on a range of topics and themes:range of topics and themes:
Environmental Changes
C l l I / T di i l UCultural Importance / Traditional Use
Development / Infrastructure
Education / Knowledge Transfer
ADD URLS
Map showing the location of observations made in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (green), and the Gwich’in Settlement Area (purple).
Wildlife Populations: Muskrats, Beavers and Otters in the Delta
Environmental Change and Infrastructure: The Dempster Highway
Knowledge Keeper Web Atlas
Observations (photos, videos, audio, and transcripts) are organized by:
LocationTopicSpeciesSpeciesObserver
Indexed by Keyword and Searchable
Other spatial data can be overlaid
Participatory Multimedia Mapping: Program Strengths
EffectiveEngaging way to record observations.
CommunicationCommunicationPowerful means of communicating local observations to multiple audiences.
Observation Fidelity Includes a method to record additional information and context.
Cultural CoherenceProtocol involves travel, teaching, storytelling. y g
UtilityThis knowledge is important to communities, researchers decision makers and plannersresearchers, decision‐makers, and planners.
Participatory Multimedia Mapping: Ongoing Challenges
1. Long‐term Sustainability
2. Youth Involvement
3. Striking a balance between f ilit t dfacilitated vs. independent monitoring
Conclusions
Recording local knowledge using multimedia significantly improves our capacity to detectimproves our capacity to detect environmental change.
Spatially explicit records of these observations are relevant to researchers and decision makers:
Community members, co‐management organizations, municipalities, territorial and federal agenciesfederal agencies …
Project TeamMonitors: Abraham Peterson, Amy Noksana, Angela Alexie, Annie C. Gordon, Ashley Kay, Billy Archie, Billy Wilson, Charles Pokiak, Christine Firth, Chucky Gruben, Cody Felix, Cole Felix, Danny C. Gordon,Billy Wilson, Charles Pokiak, Christine Firth, Chucky Gruben, Cody Felix, Cole Felix, Danny C. Gordon, Darren Pokiak, Dorothy Alexie, Doug Esagok, Dustin Felix, Edward James, Edward Lennie, Edward McLeod, Emma Kay, Emmanuel Adam, Ernie Dillon, Herb Snowshoe, James Rogers, Jeannie Lennie, Joe Arey, Jordan Amos, Lyle Storr, Martha Voudrach, MaryLou Dillon, Maureen Elias, Nellie Arey, Raymond T, Rita Green, Robert A. Alexie, Robin Felix, Roy Goose, Sam Pingo, Samuel Raddi, SteveRaymond T, Rita Green, Robert A. Alexie, Robin Felix, Roy Goose, Sam Pingo, Samuel Raddi, Steve Cockney Jr., Terrance Allen, Wade Vaneltsi, Walter Elias, Wanda Pascal, and William Paul.
Support: Richard Binder, Sharon Snowshoe, Steve Kokelj, Claire Marchildon, Darren Keith, Ingrid Kritsch, Michelle Gruben, Charles Pokiak, Wilbert Firth, Herbie Snowshoe, Christine Firth, Charlie S h Ab S J Bill S Gi V l i A i J M d D h Al i ASnowshoe, Abe Stewart Jr., Billy Storr, Gina Valentsi, Annie Jane Modeste, Dorothy Alexie, Aurora Research Institute, Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat, Inuvik HTC, Aklavik HTC, Tuktoyaktuk HTC, TetlitGwich’in RRC, Gwich’in Social Cultural Institute, Gwich’in Tribal Council, Kwusen Media.
Funding: NWT CIMP, NSERC, NSTP, Polar Shelf, MITACS.
Permafrost and Hydrology: River Icings
Knowledge Keeper Web Atlas: A Demo
Knowledge Keeper Web Atlas: A Demo