Past Award Recipients

07-08 Recipients

06-07 Recipients
05-06 Recipients
04-05 Recipients

Lois Edge  

CNST Scholarship $5,000

PhD Candidate, Education Policy Studies, Indigenous Peoples Education

University of Alberta

·        What is the chemical composition of the Arctic stratosphere above PEARL?

·        How is the chemistry coupled to dynamics, microphysics, and radiation?

·        How and why is the chemical composition changing with time?

·        What is the impact of climate change on future Arctic ozone depletion?

Award Recipients 2006-2007

Heidi Swanson

CNST Scholarship $5,000

PhD Candidate

Biology, University of New Brunswick

Title: The effect of sea-run char on food web structure and contaminant concentrations in coastal Arctic lakes

Other researchers have shown that migrating sockeye salmon contribute high levels of some contaminants (e.g, DDT, PCBs) to Alaskan lakes. They have also shown that Arctic grayling living in lakes with migrating salmon have higher contaminant concentrations than those living in lakes without migrating salmon. This is because migrating fish can transport contaminants from the ocean into lakes. My project will investigate whether sea-run Arctic char transport contaminants from the ocean into lakes through their annual migrations. In summers 2006, 2007, and 2008, several remote lakes located near Hope Bay, Nunavut will be sampled for organisms that represent whole food webs (fish, benthic invertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton). Contaminant concentrations and food web structure (determined with stable isotopes) will be compared between systems that do and do not support sea-run char. The results will help us: 1) understand the ecological role of sea-run char in freshwater lakes; and, 2) determine whether contaminant concentrations in traditional food fish species (lake trout, Arctic char, lake whitefish) differ between lakes that do and do not support sea-run char. The results may also be useful for predicting how contaminant concentrations in freshwater fish may respond to climate change (because Arctic char migration will also be affected by climate change) and evaluating the impacts of a proposed No-Net-Loss Compensation Plan at Roberts Lake (one of the study systems).

Sonia Wesche

Canadian Polar Commission Scholarship $10,000

PhD Candidate

Geography & Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University

Title: Adapting to Environmental Change in the North: Linking Traditional Knowledge, Social Capital, and Adaptive Capacity in the Slave River Delta

Northern Indigenous populations that rely on water-based resources are facing previously unknown variability and extremes in both climatic and hydrological systems. Accordingly, strategies to develop individual and community capacity to adapt to change and to identify policy directions that build resilience to deal with change are critical. In the Slave River Delta (SRD) region, a key node in the Mackenzie Basin’s hydrological system, water serves as the cross-cutting issue and acts as a key driver of livelihood vulnerability for residents of the nearby settlement of Fort Resolution (Deninu Ku’e). Recent and predicted changes in climate and resource development activities cause variation in the hydrological regime that drives the delta system, with implications for ecosystem dynamics and land use activities for the local Dene and Métis. Furthermore, ongoing changes in the socio-cultural system also play an important role in influencing land and resource use patterns, and the ability to adapt to change.

My research project has evolved through collaboration with the local Dene Band after members expressed interest in implementing a people-focused project to parallel ongoing paleohydrological research. Through an examination of the relationship between change and human responses, I am focusing specifically on the contributions of traditional knowledge and social capital. The objectives of this study are to: a) develop a framework of trends and indicators of environmental change, impacts and adaptations based on traditional knowledge, b) examine the role of social capital as a basis upon which to identify, measure and build adaptive capacity, c) develop a methodological framework for integrating TK and scientific approaches for environmental change research, and d) determine how results from an interdisciplinary analysis of TK and paleohydrological research in the SRD can be applied to regional ecosystem management.

Jessica Tomkins

RCGS JAMES W. Bourque Studentship  $5,000

PhD Candidate

Geography, Queen's University

Title: Climate forcing factors and the records of climactic variability in the Canadian High Arctic during the past 2000 years

This research investigates the recent and long-term records of climatic and hydrological variability in the Canadian High Arctic.  As instrumental weather records in this region are short and sparsely available, natural proxy climate records are required to examine past variability and place recent changes into context.  Due to their inherent chronology, annually-laminated (varved) lake sediment records are particularly useful for reconstructing climate conditions and catchment hydrology.  Varve records from a lake within Quttinirpaaq National Park (Lake A, Ellesmere Island, NU) and an unnamed lake on western Melville Island, NT, are being used to examine the climate record from two High Arctic areas during the past 2000 years.  Through statistical analyses, patterns of variability within the reconstructed climate records and the mechanisms that caused them (e.g., the Arctic Oscillation) will be examined.   This study will identify methodologies that are most effective in using multiple paleoclimate records by comparing the reconstructed climate records with existing nearby (<120 km) varve records and also with each other, to evaluate regional climate signals.  Additionally, as the study lakes are meromictic (i.e., saline water with a freshwater cap) and have unique limnological processes, hydrological variability over time in the lakes and their catchments will also be analysed through the sedimentary records.  The results of this study will benefit discussions of northern Ellesmere Island ice shelf history, High Arctic freshwater resources and effective use of multiple proxy records to accurately reconstruct environmental conditions.  This research will provide pertinent information for analysing hydrologic and climatic processes in the High Arctic and their responses to natural and anthropogenic forcings, thus developing improved understanding of the causes and variability involved with ongoing environmental change in the region. 

Suzanne Jarvis

RCGS Studentship in Northern Geography  $5,000

Masters Candidate

Geography & Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University

Title: Paleohydrology of the Peace River from oxbow lake sediment cores in the Peace-Athabasca Delta, northern Alberta

River flooding of the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD), Alberta is an important hydrological process for the replenishment of hundreds of shallow perched basins.  Fluctuating water levels are of an immediate concern to Wood Buffalo National Park and the nearby First Nations communities such as Fort Chipewyan, which use the PAD for subsistence and have deeply-rooted cultural connections to the landscape.  However, the role of climate variability on contemporary and past hydro-ecological conditions is largely unknown but is critical for the development of effective ecosystem management strategies.  In an effort to broaden the understanding of the relationship between Peace River hydrology and climate variability, a series of vibracores and gravity cores collected from two oxbow lakes in the northern sector of the delta are being examined.  Preliminary observations of these largely laminated clay sediments suggest that dark-coloured deposits represent flood events, with dark beds having sharp lower contacts and gradational upper contacts.  Stratigraphic features in lower portions of the vibracores include rip-up clasts, large pieces of woody debris, and thick sandy deposits indicating relatively high energy conditions. Continuing work includes the development of sediment chronologies using cesium-137, lead-210, and carbon-14 dating techniques.  Magnetic susceptibility, a key tool in previous studies, will be used to identify flood events.  A multi-proxy analytical approach, in combination with dendroclimatological analyses by colleagues, will identify the response of Peace River hydrology to climate variability.  An investigation covering a timeframe with a wide range of climatic conditions is essential for the stewardship of this internationally-recognized ecosystem and the successful management of Wood Buffalo National Park.

Ingebjorg Jean Mattson
Caribou Research Award $1,500

Masters Candidate
Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Northern British Columbia 

Title: Vulnerability of barren-ground caribou to predation during winter: limitations and implications to population and distribution dynamics.

The Bathurst Caribou herd is in decline with numbers falling from 1996 levels of 349,000 (± 94,900) to the more recent 2003 estimated population size of 186,000 (± 40,000).  This dynamic appears cyclical, but the causative forces are not well understood.  Current hypotheses for decline include range condition, disease, climate, weather, fire and predation. 

Utilizing aerial surveys and previously collected collar data on the Bathurst Caribou and their associated wolves, my thesis project will focus on factors influencing the risk of predation for Bathurst caribou on their winter range. An examination of data collection methods, migration decisions, as well as resource selection, will aid management decisions and provide insight into the interactions between predator, prey and their environment.

The Bathurst herd will serve as a useful model for understanding the dynamics of other herds (e.g., Cape Bathurst, Bluenose West, Bluenose East) currently in decline, as well as the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq barren-ground caribou. 

The caribou is an animal of primary importance to the communities of the north, thus I have encouraged and facilitated knowledge exchange and training in science-based techniques and traditional ecological knowledge through active participation during field investigations.  Information exchange in the field will be supplemented with community presentations during and following the completion of my studies.

John Bailey

Northern Resident Scholarship $10,000

PhD Candidate

Biology, University of Western Ontario

Title: Bioassessment Modeling for Yukon River Basin Streams

The goal of this research is to investigate the multi-scale structure of the environment and biota at stream sites in the Yukon River Basin and to generate new testable hypotheses and bioassessment models of northern freshwater ecosystems.

This first step in achieving this goal is to quantify the magnitude and nature of variation in multi-scale environmental descriptors (e.g. watershed morphology, water quality) and biotic (benthic macroinvertebrate and fish) community descriptors for wadeable streams in the Yukon River Basin that are relatively unexposed to human activity (reference sites). The magnitude and nature of relationships between patterns of variation in the environmental and biotic community descriptors are quantified and these relationships are used to build reference condition bioassessment models. These models are applied to stressor-exposed test sites (sites exposed to mining, construction, etc.) in the Yukon River Basin and their performances at identifying impacted streams evaluated and compared.

A second aspect of this research is to quantify stressor gradients (magnitude and nature of anthropogenic stressors impinging on a stream) in wadeable streams of the Yukon River Basin. Using placer mining activity as the target stressor, this study will examine and quantify the relationships between a site’s position on a placer mining activity gradient and its biotic communities. This will provide landscape scale dose-response curves that can be used in land-use planning exercises as well as the development of remedial and restoration measures.

This research is significant for freshwater ecology because it will provide for the multi-scale characterization of the environment and biota at stream sites and generation of new testable hypotheses about the structure of northern freshwater ecosystems. It is also expected to have an important impact on applied freshwater ecosystem management throughout Canada and other parts of the world. There will be particular value for northern Canadian applications where techniques for developing and applying bioassessment models for identification, monitoring and mitigation of impacts are needed to ensure ongoing ecosystem health in the face of increasing development pressures.

David Button

Northern Resident Scholarship $10,000

PhD Candidate

Education, University of Calgary

Title: Indigenous Higher Education in Canada’s Western Arctic: An Inuvialuit Perspective.

As a result of my thirty-five years residency at Inuvik, NWT, I have acquired a unique perspective on the evolution of higher education in the Mackenzie Delta- Beaufort Sea area of Canada’s, western Northwest Territories. I have maintained a particular record of this transformation among the Inuvialuit people living within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

This proposed research is qualitative, with constructivist assumptions, utilizing a critical auto-ethnographic theory of inquiry. My methods will comprise use of open-ended questions in select interviews with elders combined with utilization of my field observations. My primary sources will be Inuvialuit (Inuit) and Gwich’in (Dene) oral histories (current and past), documentary sources from diaries, archives and personal collections, and print sources (indigenous and non-indigenous government publications). Secondary sources will be northern media, independent reports, and journals of early explorers, missionaries and fur traders. Traditional research sources such as theses, conference papers, and web sources will also be used.

The Inuvialuit are the Inuit of Canada’s western arctic that have been living hunting and gathering (subsistence) culture in the Mackenzie Delta – Beaufort Sea region dating back some 4000 years.

Resiliency and adaptability through community, family and adult education have been two key essential determinants which have assured Inuit circumpolar survival over time. As an educator since 1970 in this area, I have witnessed my northern neighbours, the Inuvialuit and the Gwich’in in their determination and willingness to carry on lifelong learning. Further, due to the approach of modernity, I have observed how their traditional community/ cultural skills have been pushed aside by the perceived need for contemporary adult “vocation” skills. Through this period of encroaching modernity, the support for life long adult education, both formal and informal, by the Inuvialuit has been unwavering. Their own Inuvialuit reports state that this support for education has been in order for them to keep up with their children …and to keep up with changing times.

For these research purposes, I chose two time frames to conduct an auto-ethnographical case study: 1933-38 and 1973-78 and to focus solely on the Inuvialuit perspective. During the period 1933-38, the Inuvialuit acquired adult skills that enabled them to practice their centuries old nomadic hunting and gathering lifestyle. Oral histories and third party documentation relate of the richness of this cultural subsistence model and the skills and values required by adult leadership. The second time frame, 1973-78, was a period some fifteen years after the Inuvialuit were encouraged by the Government of Canada to abandon their independent, communal, bush/ land lifestyle, to live a sedentary settlement lifestyle in six major Mackenzie Delta-Beaufort Sea settlements. This was also a period when, among the Inuvialuit and the Gwich’in around Inuvik in the Mackenzie Delta, NWT, there was an emerging social, political desire to settle land claims and, particularly, to have the Government of Canada recognize them as self-governing indigenous nations. During this period, their emerged a mainstream type of public adult education that consisted of programs of individual vocational skill development and English language literacy. From the Inuvialuit perspective, these adult education initiatives were no longer community/ family generated from within by Inuvialuit chiefs/ leaders but imposed by outside educational agents (Government of Canada; Government of the Northwest Territories).

Some of my specific research questions are: What were the major changes in Inuvialuit adult education for the two time periods 1930-38 and 1973-78? How did specific events change and impact the Inuvialuit? What were Inuvialuit (Inuit) Inuit roles in this change? What were some of the specific skills the Inuvialuit acquired during that period? What was the knowledge framework for each period?

I hope that the larger body of indigenous, circumpolar higher education research will be enhanced by this in depth analysis of the Inuvialuit perspective.

Kieran O'Donovan

Northern Resident Scholarship $10,000

Masters Candidate

Biological Sciences, University of Alberta

Title: Influence of environmental conditions on the foraging behaviour and population dynamics of Collared Pikas

Some climate models suggest that global temperatures could rise between 1.4o C and 5.8o C over the next 100 years, and that these effects will be most extreme in northern mountain regions. Of the four circumpolar sub-regions defined in the recent Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, “Alaska and the Canadian Yukon have experienced the most dramatic warming, resulting in major ecological impacts“ (p. 118). Understanding these impacts and the response of species and environments is key to developing meaningful strategies with which to mitigate for them. In my research I will study a key alpine bio-indicator species, the Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris), to use as a model for how alpine environments in the Yukon and Alaska will be affected by the impacts of climate change. Much of what we know to date concerning the ecology of the collared pika is based on information obtained from one long-term field site. In order to properly predict a species level response to climate change it is necessary that its ecology be understood across the entire range of environmental conditions that the species will encounter within its geographical range. Thus allowing us to understand how the species adapts its behaviour and life history to varying environmental conditions.

My project will expand beyond the current study location and study pika adaptations along an environmental gradient in three distinct areas of the southwest Yukon, with each location representing a different degree of habitat quality. I will adopt three primary areas of investigation at each study site: (1) A measure of environmental conditions;  (2) Individual responses; and (3) Population level responses. In order to quantify environmental conditions at each study site I will obtain climate and productivity measurements, such as net primary production, forage quality, species composition and cover. Second, I will measure individual pika foraging behaviour through a cafeteria experiment designed to represent the abundance of species at each of the specific sites. Hair samples will be collected for stable isotope analysis to further clarify pika foraging strategies. Using measures of population parameters, dispersal rates and genetic sampling, I will assess the extent to which behavioural adaptations to environment affect population dynamics and gene flow across the landscape. Finally, the three parts of my project will be combined using modeling to answer questions about the species-level flexibility of collared pikas under varying environmental conditions. This will then be used to predict their possible responses to predicted climate scenarios.

Sarah Pashagumskum

Northern Resident Scholarship $10,000

PhD Candidate

Education, Lakehead University

Title: Envisioning Alternative Education for Northern Indigenous Students

My doctoral research will focus on Alternative Education for Northern Aboriginal Students, with the main focus on high school students. The study will take place in a northern Cree community.  With only 32% of on-reserve First Nations students graduating from high school nationally, the urgent situation of Aboriginal youth within the Canadian education system calls for immediate attention. Consequently, my doctoral research will be guided by the following research questions:

1. Why is the current education system unsuccessful for a large number of students?

2. What would constitute a more successful education system?

I will be using a qualitative approach because of its flexible nature, the possibility for rich data collection and the ability to follow wherever data lead. The research process will be based in constructivist grounded theory, with focus groups and interviews as main modes of data collection. The process will be highly participatory with participant involvement in determining data collection, analysis and interpretation. Any who do research with Indigenous peoples must work conscientiously and critically in concert with the goals of social justice and self-determination, and such a participatory process does just that.

The entire investigation will culminate in an outline for the community of formal education alternatives. These alternatives will be directed towards enhancing or changing the current system so that it better serves the needs of the community and its children. The results of this research will be useful to the community directly involved, but will also be useful to other northern Aboriginal communities and nations. Although there exists much literature on Aboriginal education, there is little research into alternative education for Northern Aboriginal students in Aboriginal communities. The scope of significance, however, extends beyond alternative education to topics integral to the success of Aboriginal education in general including community and parent involvement, cultural dissonance, cultural continuity between community and school, supporting children at risk, and enhancing student resilience.

Vernon Amos

Northern Resident Award $5,000

Undergraduate

Environmental Science, University of Lethbridge

Title: Investigating past ice sheet dynamics and sea level change in the western Arctic, NT

My interest concerns environmental and climate change in the Canadian arctic.  During 2005, I participated in an NSERC Northern Chair study (with J. England, University of Alberta) examining former advances of the NW Laurentide Ice Sheet from mainland Canada onto N. Banks Island, as well as associated sea level adjustments resulting from former glaciations. This work indicated that during the Late Wisconsinan (10,000 to 25, 000 yrs ago) most of  N. Banks Island was crossed by Laurentide ice, precluding the existence of a long-accepted biological refugium during this interval.

During 2006, we will extend this study westward to determine whether Laurentide ice continued through M’Clure Strait to reach or even cross Prince Patrick Island on the edge of the polar continental shelf. This will involve mapping glacial landforms and sediments on Prince Patrick Island as well as surveying and dating raised marine shorelines to determine when the sea replaced the ice as it last retreated from the island. I am also interested to determine the source of the ice cover on Prince Patrick Island, i.e., was it part of the NW Laurentide Ice Sheet or simply a local island-based ice cap? Granite erratics on the island derived from the mainland suggest that the ice could have been of Laurentide origin. This study is important because it will enable researchers to build a working model of past glacial activity and landscape evolution in the arctic to assess how this relates to issues of long term climatic forcing and regional biology.

Harry Borlase

Northern Resident Award $5,000

Undergraduate

Canadian Studies, Mount Allison University

Title: The Nunatsiavut land claim agreement: towards a culturally sustainable future for the Inuit of Labrador

The Inuit of Labrador are entering a period of major political, economic and social change. Not only has the newly ratified Nunatsiavut land claim agreement changed the geopolitical landscape of Canada as a whole, but it provides the foundations through which the Labrador Inuit can finally recognize their claims to self-government and territorial sovereignty. This makes for a very exciting and interesting era for the Inuit, who’s cultural and environmental well-being can now be determined from within their own levels of government, within their own territory. This project will look at the principles and stipulations that make up the treaty’s body, and show how its foundations provide for the cultural security of the Inuit people. More specifically, I want to show the evolution of modern Inuit treaties in Canada by emphasizing on how Nunatsiavut differs from earlier treaties (like Nunavut). This involves exploring the foundations of the agreement and how it is relational to the needs of the Labrador Inuit. Finally, the paper will focus on how the treaty attempts to realize Inuit concerns for cultural protection, with language retention and cultural education being paid close attention to. I look forward to working with the Nunatsiavut government and sharing this research with others as well. 

Angeline Koomuk

Northern Resident Award $5,000
Undergraduate

Nunavut Teacher Education Program, Nunavut Arctic College

Title: How to prepare caribou skins for different purposes.

A century has passed and a new beginning has started, today the Inuit people are reclaiming their traditional way of preparing and sewing hunting clothing though programs that are geared towards teaching those who are interested on how to prepare and sew caribou skins and other skins and pelts; such as during the month of August, the hunters hunt caribou for winter clothing. The preparation of the caribou skins are carefully skinned, stretched, dried and scrapped to the required softness.  Once the skin is prepared, the sewer than decides what the skin will be used for.

The objectives of this study are for people to: a) develop their self-esteem which will lead to bringing income for those who are unemployed, b) be aware of the importance of traveling in warm clothing.  In closing; my goal is to start a tannery which would really help the people who are interested in working with traditional skins. The tannery would not only benefit the local people but other communities would have the advantage by sending their skins and this

Stephen Mansell

Northern Resident Award $5,000

Undergraduate

Law, University of Saskatchewan

Title: Sami self government in Northern Europe: an example for northern Canadian Aboriginals

My research project will be an examination of the aboriginal rights and self government enjoyed by the Sami peoples of Northern Europe.  Unlike other aboriginals groups, the Sami have their own parliament, there own government structure, and a great deal of land and hunting rights across their tradition territory.  I will study the evolution of Sami rights, and attempt to determine how the Sami have been so successful in establishing their autonomy.  Using Finland as a base, I intend to visit the autonomous Sami parliaments in, Finland, Sweden, and Norway.  I will visit a number of Sami communities, and interview Sami peoples, their leaders, and government officials. 

The second component of my paper will be a comparison of the experiences of the Sami people with those of the Aboriginals of Northern Canada.  The Sami enjoy greater autonomy and self regulation than Aboriginals in Canada.  I believe the economic and cultural strength of the Sami can serve as an example for Canadian Aboriginals.  I hope to establish that the Canadian government should follow the lead of the Northern European Countries, and give more autonomy to the Aboriginal peoples of Northern Canada.        

Tiffany Muckpah

Northern Resident Award $5,000

Undergraduate

Nunavut Teachers Education Program, Nunavut Arctic College

Title: Migration of the Barren-ground Caribou

I have grown up with caribou in my diet, and have learned to shoot and skin the caribou, butcher the meat and prepare dishes and to prepare the skin for clothing. The caribou is an important aspect of my life and culture, as well as for my two boys, who love frozen caribou meat with a cup of tea. There are different ways that I have learned to prepare the meat; as steaks, stir-fry, stew, roast, barbeque but the best of all is to dry the meat as jerkies. Just add the bone marrow of the caribou to the jerkies and you’ll have the best snack.

I have lived in Arviat all my life, and throughout the years I have noticed that some years the caribou are at a distant area and some years they are just a few miles from town. We have had some winters where there are no caribou to be found. This research will help me understand what factors affect the migration of the caribou and to determine if the caribou have changed their migration routes due to the climate change. The barren-ground caribou are an extraordinary animal as they have migrated long distances. Their migratory strategies are clever, as the pregnant cows migrate to the calving areas first. Then a few weeks later, the rest of the herd migrates; bulls, calves and cows that are not pregnant.

Kawina Robichaud

Northern Resident Award $5,000

Undergraduate

Environmental Sociology, Yukon College

Title: Ecological Analysis of Shallow Bay Wetland, YT

The goal of this project is to quantify the ecological processes on a valuable boreal Wetland. Shallow Bay Wetland, North of Whitehorse YT, is currently under threat of alienation to private possession. This area has very high public and ecological values. The Shallow Bay Wetland is historically tied to the Ta’an Kwach’an First Nation People. Since their land claims have been settled, they have shown interest in developing ecosystems based management plans for this area. The Ta’an Kwach’an First Nation is a partner in the Cooperative Wetland Research and Student Training Project.Wetlands are extremely important ecosystems in the Yukon; they are vital for the survival of a great number of species. Because wetlands have a great productivity, they often provide ecosystem viability and long-term stability.

I am conducting inventories of aquatic life, vegetation, water birds, and on birds of prey in the area. Since the late 1970’s my advisor has been banding ducks at the wetland, conducting waterbird counts and collecting pesticide samples for pesticide analysis. Past and present data will be compiled and analyzed. Insight from the elders will be gathered to give a picture of the original state of the site. Learning about the area’s dynamics and discovering more on this ecosystem is crucial for the development of an understanding of the ecological processes at Shallow Bay. The comprehensive analysis of the ecosystem will act as a summary of the present and past research findings, and will include recommendations for the management of the Shallow Bay Wetland. This will be towards suggesting reasonable boundaries and a management regime for a habitat protection area.

Angela Savage

Northern Resident Award $5,000

Undergraduate

Nursing, Grant MacEwan College

Title: History of Community Health Care in the Yukon

The Yukon Territory is a place rich with fascinating history. As a student in nursing, I have decided to research the history of nursing in the north, particularly during the time when the Alaska Highway was being built, and this territory underwent incredibly rapid changes. The nurses of the Yukon played a large role in the lives of the residents, as well the men that were building the Alaska Highway.

My research will entail searching through the Yukon Archives for primary source material, as well as identifying retired (or experienced) Yukon-resident nurses who may be interested in sharing their knowledge for this project. While in Edmonton this winter, I will examine the Alberta Archives for any additional relevant information, and transcribe any interviews I may do with experienced nurses. Next summer I will be returning to the Yukon Territory to at which point I will complete a synthetic report on my findings to date with my supervisor, and will develop and deliver a public presentation to the Yukon Registered Nurses Association and the interested public. I will also seek publication of my work in a relevant journal. Finally, my accumulated research will be deposited at the Yukon Archives for future research use.

Jason Shorty

Northern Resident Award $5,000

Undergraduate

Anthropology, Yukon College

Title: The Visual and Aural Representations of the Cultural Geography of the Yukon-Alaska Borderland

The purpose of this project is to expand existing documentation of the cultural geography of the Yukon-Alaska borderlands through the integration of photographs and recordings of pronunciation of place which bear Athapaskan names within an existing geographical and textual database.  This work will be done in support of a longer term research project bu the White River First nation of Beaver Creek and Professor Norman Easton of Yukon College on the history and couture of the region and the development of a digital Upper Tanana Cultural Atlas.

The Upper Tanana Dineh Place Names Dadtbase currently contains documentation of 647 named localities along the borderlands from the White River, Yukon, to Tanacross, Alaska. It exists in several formats (print, PDF and ArcView GIS and Filemaker databases). The Yukon Native Language Centre at Yukon College and Easton both hold photograpsh and aural recordings of many of these places. My work will integrate these photos and recordings direcly into the Filemaker database. Users of the database will then be able to see a visual representation of the place and hear an expert speaker pronounce the name of the place in the Upper Tanana language.

By undertaking this work I will become familiar with the use of the ArcView GIS and Filemaker Database programs as they may be applied to the documentation of cultural geography. This knowledge gained by working on an existing database will then allow me to transfer this approach to a similar study within my own First nation’s jurisdiction (Kwanlin Dun First Nation, Whitehorse) in the future.

Professor Easton has agreed that I may undertake this work in conjunction with my studies in the fall at Anthropology. At the completion of my efforts in the spring of 2007 I will present a seminar on my work and the training on the use of the database to the participants in the Upper Tanana language workshop held at the Yukon native Language Centre and a digital copy of the database will be given to the First Nation governments of White River (Beaver Creel, Yukon) and Northway, Tetlin and Tanacross, Alaska, which occupy the geographical area covered by the database.

Award Recipients 2005-2006

David Hardie Canadian Northern Studies Trust Scholarship $10,000 PhD Candidate Department of Biology, Dalhousie University

Title: Population genetics, life history, and ecology of Arctic marine fishes

The general focus of my doctoral research is to use a comparative approach to reveal genetic, ecological, and life-history adaptations of Arctic fishes to the unique challenges of their environment at the northern extreme of species’ ranges.  The first part of my work concerns the evolutionary ecology and biodiversity of non-commercial Arctic marine fishes, about which very little is known.  I am working towards evaluating whether Arctic marine fishes differ fundamentally from related taxa in more moderate temperate climes, with a view towards advancing knowledge about the evolution and ecology of fishes in cold-water settings. 

The second part of my research concerns landlocked populations of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) persisting as marine relicts in saline coastal lakes on Baffin Island, at the northern extreme of the species’ range in Canada.  Monthly tidal inflows into these coastal lakes are critical to the persistence of these unique cod populations, which depend on influxes of seawater to replenish lake salinity and to contribute nutrients and food to these depauperate lakes.  Preliminary results support the hypothesis that Atlantic cod colonized the lakes during a post-glacial period of ameliorated Arctic Ocean conditions between 5 and 8 thousand years ago, before a cooling trend pushed the species range southward, leaving the Arctic populations in complete isolation.  Our results suggest that while cannibalistic cod in these lakes grow quickly to very large sizes (140 cm in length), smaller cod feeding mostly on sea urchins grow much more slowly and do not normally exceed 50 cm in length. I am interested in the genetic effects of extended periods of small population size and low genetic diversity in these Arctic populations since the effects of small population size and low genetic diversity have been invoked as potential factors preventing the recovery of depleted marine cod stocks despite a decade-old fishing moratorium.

Photo 1.  Field assistant and polar-bear monitor extraordinaire Michael Mipeegaq (left) has become a great friend over several months spent at remote field sites over the last few years.  Beyond the practical assistance, companionship, and security of a safe camp, the cultural benefits of Michael’s involvement in my research are invaluable to me.

Photo 2.  Cod in these remote lakes can grow to very large sizes by devouring their smaller brethren and everything else in site – including loons!

Kate Hennessy Canadian Polar Commission Scholarship $10,000 PhD Candidate Anthropology, University of British Columbia

Title:  Bringing History Home: Digital Media and the Repatriation of Cultural Knowledge in Northern Athabaskan Communities

The issue of repatriation is usually connected to the return of cultural artifacts and human remains by museums to source communities. However, through ethnographic fieldwork and multimedia projects with four Athabaskan communities in northern British Columbia, Alberta and the Yukon, I will examine the role of digital archives and multimedia as tools for the repatriation of language materials and cultural documentation, such as photographs, film, and audio and video recordings. My research will compare the ways in which four Athabaskan communities—the Doig River First Nation in northern British Columbia, the Beaver First Nation in northern Alberta, and the Ross River Dene Council and Liard First Nation in the southern Yukon Territory—are making use of digital media. Using methods of participatory ethnography while facilitating community media projects as a videographer, trainer, and multimedia producer, I will document the ways that new technologies (visual documentation and multimedia) are used to represent aspects of native culture and language by different agents such as community members, academics, and government institutions. These communities differ significantly in their historical experiences with residential schools and with land claims. They offer a unique opportunity to study how current approaches to the use of technology are influenced by earlier attitudes towards literacy and increasing political awareness derived from land claims. At the community level, my research will make a significant contribution to the creation of multimedia resources that are focused on the needs and knowledge systems of  northern indigenous people, minimalizing the orientation towards urban Euro-Canadian practices in developing new media for First Nations communities.  On a more general level, my research will examine the potential for digital archives and multimedia to aid in the reconstitution of wider socio-economic, political and authority practices and evaluate the impact of such new technology on the socially contended roles of northern native and non-native Canadians.

Rebecca Zalatan Royal Canadian Geographical Society James W. Bourque Studentship $5,000 PhD Candidate Geography, University of British Columbia

Title: Climate variability and barren-ground caribou abundance cycles in the Canadian Low Arctic

Caribou populations fluctuate in relation to environmental variables with a variety of time constants. The combination of short- and long-term dynamics affects both harvest management and environmental assessments. However, long-term records (>30 years) of caribou population cycles are scarce and usually based on anecdotal evidence. In this study we show how dendrochronological analyses of hoof scars on roots of spruce trees along migration trails can be used to reconstruct caribou population dynamics in the central Northwest Territories, Canada. Once the population index of the caribou herds is determined from the scar frequencies, it can be correlated to climate patterns at the same time scale.  Here, we attempt to relate the long-term abundance cycles of caribou to the Arctic Oscillation (AO). Preliminary analyses have shown that the scar frequency distributions correspond to the population dynamics of the herds. The major shifts in caribou abundance cycles are correlated to phase changes in the AO; however, this relationship has varied consistently in a cyclical pattern since 1900.  

Photo 1. This photo depicts a surficial root of a black spruce tree, where caribou would typically leave a trampling scar by removing the bark as they migrate across the landscape.

Photo 2.  Stems of black spruce krummholz were sampled to obtain dendroclimatic reconstructions of the study sites.

Jamie Reschny Royal Canadian Geographical Society Studentship $5,000 MA Candidate Geography Department, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Title: Mining, Inuit Traditional Activities and Sustainable Development: A study of the effects of the Voisey’s Bay Nickel Mine winter shipping

The general objective of this thesis is to explore how the potential impacts of mining operations on traditional/non-market activities are addressed in contributing to sustainable development, with a specific focus on the Voisey's Bay Nickel Mine (VBNM) winter shipping route and the harvesting activities of the Labrador Inuit.

Although winter shipping will not commence until January 2006, the proposed winter shipping route is an issue that has great significance for the Labrador Inuit. Sea-ice is vital to the Labrador Inuit as a transportation corridor and in the participation in traditional/non-market activities, which can make an important contribution not only in terms of supporting local households, but also in community economic, social, cultural development and spiritual values maintenance. The Labrador Inuit have made their concern for the resolution of the issue evident in the need to negotiate a Shipping Agreement and in overlapping sections of the Environmental Assessment, IBA and Land Claims Agreement. 

The study will involve the compilation of background information from secondary sources and data from key informant interviews. Those to be interviewed include Inuit and other individuals residing in Nain, the closest settlement to the VBNM project area (35 km northwest), as well as those who have worked intimately on the development of the winter shipping issue. Interviews will be ongoing, beginning with primary fieldwork in Nain in April-May 2005.

Gwen Healey Northern Resident Scholarship $10,000 MSc Candidate Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary

Title: The Perspectives of Inuit Women on Their Health and Well-being in a Nunavut Community: A Qualitative Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the health concerns of Inuit women in Nunavut. This is a field of study for which there is little existing literature, therefore the results of this study will contribute to a greater understanding of the cultural, environmental and social determinants of health of the Inuit population.

By understanding the causes and consequences of these issues, health care professionals will be better able to provide a foundation for the development of relevant health prevention and promotion programs specifically designed for Inuit women.

The study will utilize participatory action qualitative health research methods to interview community members in Iqaluit, Nunavut. One of the most important aspects of qualitative research is that it is participatory, marked by the fact that individuals are afforded the opportunity to participate directly in the study by sharing their knowledge and providing their perspectives on the research question. This particular study design allows for the exploration of the perspectives of the participants on women’s health and for the emergence of valuable perspectives on this area of research.

While conducting research in the Arctic, it is important to both acknowledge the skills and support systems that already exist in the community, to partner and collaborate with existing community organizations and advocacy groups to ensure we are working toward a common goal. Key Inuit organizations in Nunavut, such as the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association have been consulted during the proposal process and given an opportunity to provide feedback on the topic and nature of the research study.

Suzanne de la Barre Northern Resident Scholarship $10,000 PhD Candidate Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta

Title: Selling Isolation: “Sense of Place,” Tourism and Community Well Being in Canada’s Yukon Territory

Northern Canadian communities have given considerable attention to the opportunities presented by tourism in the past three decades. Faced with an ever diminishing and increasingly contested natural resources base, and armed with the romantic appeal of “The North,” they have engaged tourism as a panacea for economic growth. Alongside this, debates on sustainability have intersected with those of tourism, challenging the underlying assumptions of tourism’s worth. At the heart of many of these issues lie the challenges that northerners face in articulating what they mean by “sustainable,” and how tourism can contribute to their vision. In response to tourism’s potential, and in consideration of its development constraints (distance from southern gateway cities, climate, undeveloped tourism infrastructure, etc.), the Yukon territory is strategically promoting certain types of tourism over others: Yukon tourism industry planners are considering what is called “niche market tourism,” “new tourisms” or “special interest tourism” to help resolve some of the territory’s tourism development challenges (YTG, 2002). This kind of tourism includes cultural tourism, adventure tourism, learning tourism, and sport tourism. Along with the strategy’s perceived economic benefits – for instance, less people spending more money – citizen, industry and government stakeholders are looking to this kind of tourism to understand its potential contribution to sustainability and community enhancement objectives (YTG, 2000). One way to understand the relationship between tourism and communities of people is to consider “sense of place.” Feld & Basso (1996) define “sense of place” as “the experiential and expressive ways places are known, imagined, yearned for, held, remembered, voiced, lived, contested, and struggled over” (p. 11).  Tuan’s (1990) notion of “topophilia” also speaks to the idea of “sense of place” and is based in the feelings of attachment and love that a person can have for place. “Sense of place” understandings may be useful given that, as a market driven industry, tourism – of any kind – can challenge meanings people and communities attach to the local spaces in which they live, and can have a detrimental affect on them. To this end, cultural geographers and tourism scholars have begun to examine tourism issues in light of “sense of place” understandings (Botterill, 2001; Hester, 1990; Jamieson, 1990; Jamrozy & Burr, 2001; McAvoy, 2002; Milne, Grekin & Woodley, 1998; Nuttal, 1997; Stedman, 1999; Stowkowski, 1996, 2002).  “Isolation,” as a cultural construct that holds meaningful place-related values in the Yukon for residents and tourists alike, provides fertile ground from which to analyse Yukon “sense of place.” That is, encounters with remoteness, real and mythologized, often engage residents and visitors in ways that inform how they see themselves and what they hold to be important (personal values). To this end, my research is concerned with advancing an understanding for how isolation, as a means to incorporate “sense of place” understandings, can be conceptualized in a Yukon tourism development context, and more specifically, how it can be used to foster sustainable tourism and community well-being (cultural, social, environmental, and economic). 

Susan Wilson Cheechoo Northern Resident Scholarship $10,000 PhD Candidate Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan

Title: Gathering Stories for Community-Based Environmental Contaminants Research: A Partnership of the Moose Cree First Nation and Environmental Toxicologists

Many northern indigenous peoples have a close relationship to the land that makes them highly susceptible to environmental impacts.  The purpose of this project is to establish a partnership relationship between a northern community, the Moose Cree First Nation (MCFN), and western scientists, to determine how traditional and western knowledge can be combined to identify environmental pathway(s) that may be adversely affecting community health.  Through interviews with MCFN members, stories will be gathered for examination from both an indigenous cultural perspective and a toxicological (western science) perspective.  The people of the MCFN are interested in exploring how their knowledge can be complemented with western science to identify environmental factors that may be contributing to a decline in the health of their people.  The conventional scientists wish to explore how traditional knowledge can be used to identify environmental pathways that may be impacting the health of the MCFN, and, in turn, other northern communities. Our research team consists of the MCFN community, an environmental toxicologist, an environmental fate expert and myself; as PhD student who is also a MCFN member. This research partnership is innovative because:

o       there are few research projects in Canada where an indigenous community has guided toxicology studies in this capacity;

o       it recognizes and incorporates two knowledge systems to provide guidance for a research area that is traditionally dominated by science;

o       it is guided by culturally relevant community-based research protocols and a negotiated research partnership agreement; and finally,

o       it utilizes a person who helps in the ‘bridging’ of the two worlds, who is both a member of the community and the academic team.

Paleah Black Northern Resident Scholarship $10,000 Masters Candidate Environmental Toxicology, University of Ottawa

 Title: The Implications of Methylmercury Contamination for the Inuit of Nunavut.

Recent awareness of mercury contamination in the high Arctic has lead to community fears and unrest regarding the safety of traditional food sources.  This is a precarious situation as many Inuit still rely on items such as seal and Arctic char as their primary food sources, whereas store bought food is extremely costly or reduced in nutritional value in these remote communities.  This in turn has contributed to the epidemic of type II diabetes and corresponding health issues in Inuit populations.  Preliminary studies have shown contamination in these foodstuffs but have not adequately addressed toxicity levels or clear warnings.  This study will provide information regarding food mercury contamination and corresponding body loads.   In particular, we will explore the consequences of methylmercury (MeHg) bioaccumulation, the form of mercury with potent teratogenic characteristics. 

Unlike the mature brain, the fetus and neonate brain undergo tremendous growth and restructuring, and are therefore more susceptible to MeHg toxicity.  We hypothesize that there are specific genes affected during embryogenesis that are responsible for the long-term effects of MeHg exposure.  In utero MeHg exposed mouse models will be used to identify perturbed gene expression via microarray chip analysis, and matched to Arctic wildlife tissue samples with real time PCR.  MeHg will be analyzed from tissue or hair samples by solid phase extractions followed by capillary gas chromatography- atomic fluorescence spectrometry.   This project hopes to accomplish a new understanding of an old problem. Studying MeHg's teratogenicity may lead to a potential method for preventing future toxicity.  By comparing these results to Arctic wildlife samples, a main food source for many Inuit, a better understanding will be gained on the wide spanning effects of this prevalent contaminant.  In cooperation with the Inuit of Nunavut, we plan on returning our results to the participating community in a concise and public friendly manner.  This will help the affected Arctic populations make informed decisions and also ensure continued cooperation and interest by these people in the future. 

Mathew Fredlund Caribou Research Award $1,500 Diploma, Natural Resources and Technology Aurora College

I am attending the Natural Resources and Technology program in Fort Smith, NT, through Aurora College. This program it directed toward the Arctic. I have already learnt much I didn't know regarding the Qamanirjuaq Barren Ground Caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) and their habitat. I am learning how one population effects the other populations in its area. By the end of the program I am confident I will have an understanding of how things, such the movement of the tree line north, will affect the caribou. I am also hoping to be involved with environmental aspects of the mines that will be opening up in the region to make sure that all is done to ensure the preservation of the caribou calving grounds. The Qamanirjuaq Barren Ground Caribou are an ecologically important aspect of the Southern Kivalliq region. If we are to preserve for future generations the pride of watching caribou run free on the tundra, an understanding of their life history is invaluable to the local residents.

Award Recipients 2004-2005

Audrey Steenbeek The Canadian Northern Studies Trust Scholarship $10,000 PhD Candidate Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia

Title: Prevalence of Gonococcal and Chlamydial Infections in an Inuit Community, Identifying Gender Differences in: Social Networks, Risk Perception and Health Services Utilization

A cross-sectional survey of sexually acquired, gonococcal and chlamydial infections was conducted among Inuit people (15 – 65 years) in a remote Inuit community of Baffin Island (August 1st – September 30th, 2003). All participants were screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea using a routine urine (PCR) test and were interviewed to elicit information on demographics, sexual-histories, high-risk behaviours, risk perception regarding STDs and, use of health services among others. A randomly selected sample from the cross-sectional cohort was then followed (longitudinal survey) every two months for an additional four visits (October 1st, 2003 – June 30th, 2004). Participants were screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea at each visit and questioned about use of condoms, high-risk behaviours and social networks.

 The results of this analysis will have significant implications for the prevention and overall management of STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea among isolated aboriginal populations. By determining an accurate prevalence of disease burden, characterizing core groups and individuals who are most vulnerable to STD infections and, by describing high-risk behaviours that are most amenable to change, specific health interventions and health policies can be implemented that may achieve better results and better access to health delivery than those we now experience. Furthermore, by analysing the nature of sexual networks, use of health services and risk perception we may gain insight into the transmission patterns and the epidemiology of these STD infections. The results of this study will also be used to assess the value of current contact tracing and partner notification procedures with the aim of developing more effective contact tracing and partner notification strategies and, more culturally appropriate health promotion and disease prevention strategies. 

Gita Laidler Canadian Polar Commission Scholarship $10,000 PhD Candidate Geography, University of Toronto

Title: Ice, Through Inuit Eyes: Contributions of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit to sea ice and climate science in the Canadian Arctic

Projections of global warming trends are amplified in polar latitudes due to the retreat, or even potential disappearance, of sea ice.  Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic will be among the populations most directly impacted by long-term declining and/or thinning sea ice trends because much of their livelihood and culture are still highly intertwined with the presence, and cycles, of sea ice formation/decay.  The Inuit have developed an intimate relationship with the sea ice and marine ecosystem through generations of observation and experience.  While they have long been able to harvest wildlife and forecast changes linked to ice conditions, little of this detailed local knowledge has been documented to appropriately and accurately represent this expertise.  Without collaborative projects developed to better understand how sea ice is important to the Inuit, it will be difficult for scientists to account for their local expertise.  It will be equally challenging for policy-makers to establish viable adaptive strategies to potential climatic changes.  More efforts are needed to ensure the transition from simple recognition of local Inuit knowledge, to substantive research partnerships, in the development of pragmatic solutions for Nunavut communities.  Therefore, this project initiates the process of cross-cultural learning about sea ice and marine systems, from both Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ – Inuit knowledge) and scientific perspectives.  The objectives of this project are to: i) gain a better understanding of the importance of sea ice to Inuit culture and identity; ii) better comprehend the traditional and contemporary Inuit means of characterizing sea ice variability; iii) compare results of Inuit and community-based monitoring to the current state of scientific knowledge on ice trends and cycles; iv) evaluate methods of collecting, analyzing, and intersecting IQ and scientific knowledge within a common framework; and, v) establish future collaborative (scientific or social scientific) research/monitoring needs.  This work involves the Nunavut communities of Pangnirtung, Cape Dorset, and Igloolik. 

John Iacozza Royal Canadian Geographical Society Studentship, James W. Bourque Studentship $5,000 PhD Candidate Geography, University of Manitoba

Title: On the relationship between snow covered sea ice processes and polar bear habit

Research has also shown that the polar regions will likely experience amplification in temperature in response to a CO2 enhanced atmosphere (IPCC, 2001).  One of the potential effects of this warming will be a change and possible reduction in sea ice type and extent, as well as the associated snow cover, which will directly impact Arctic marine ecosystems and ultimately polar bears.  This information can then be used as a reference point against which future studies could be compared to determine whether changes in Arctic marine ecosystems are taking place.  The academic research during my Ph.D. will be an extension of my present research on examining the linkages between the physical and biological environments in the Canadian Arctic.  Thus the primary objective of my research will be to understand and quantify the dynamic processes involved in the formation and evolution of sea ice habitat (defined as the snow and sea ice characteristics) of polar bear in the Canadian Arctic.  This will be conducted on a local scale (10s of metres) and will be scaled up to the regional scale (100s of kms) through the use of remote sensing and geographic information systems.  These processes will also be used to examine what consequences natural variability and anthropogenic change of the Arctic climate system will have on the snow-covered sea ice and ultimately on polar bear habitat. In the long term, this work could be applied to other regions of the Canadian Arctic, and the northern hemisphere, to examine if these ecological relationships exist within other polar bear populations.  Researchers and the community can use the findings of this Ph.D. to indirectly assess more accurately changes in polar bear populations by changes in their habitat. 

Vincent Desormeaux Royal Canadian Geographical Society Studentship $5,000 MSc Candidate Geography, Laval University

Title: Historical, biophysical and cultural basis of revegetation in Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik, subarctic Québec.

The vegetation cover at Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik was destroyed by the building of a military base in 1955.  Since then, it has never succeeded in regenerating itself completely and shows generalized degradation.  The incapacity of the vegetation cover to return to its original state is explained in part by the rigour of the subarctic climate, and the demographic pressure combined with the anarchical use of all-terrain vehicles.  There are many consequences (wind erosion, sandstorms, dust, etc..) and these lead to a reduction in the quality of life of residents and, possibly, health problems (asthma and eczema).  The vegetation cover at Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik is part of an urban ecosystem and its restoration has to be considered in a multi-disciplinary perspective.  Therefore, this study is being done using three different geographical approaches (historical, biophysical and cultural).  It aims to give to the band council of Whapmagoostui and to the town hall of Kuujjuarapik the scientific information necessary to plan the stabilization of the sandy substrate through the natural restoration of the vegetation cover.  The way to achieve this objective is to reduce anthropogenic perturbation, and this necessitates the appropriation of the project by the inhabitants (residents and elected representatives) and the use of native species having stabilizing properties and rapid growth.  The specific objectives of the study are:

-to define the ecosystem of reference

-to explain the recent changes in the vegetation cover in relation to the human occupation of the territory

-to characterize the plants

-to identify the plant recolonization pattern

-to study the inhabitants’ perception of the vegetation cover, of its degradation and of its restoration

-to assess the current capacity of the community to take charge of the problem

-to identify the action to be taken

The principal methods employed for this thesis are site surveys, analysis of aerial photographs and individual interviews.   

Photo 1. Aerial photo of Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik taken in September 2001. There are more than 400 buildings. In this photo, sand appears beige and vegetation green. As you can see, only 35% of the surface of the Cree village is stabilized by vegetation.
Photo 2. Recording the vegetation in Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik, northern Québec. The vegetation cover of all vascular, moss and lichens species were sampled in 52 quadrants of 2 meters per side to assess recolonization after disturbance. Potentilla tridentata is one of the most opportunistic plants to invade the new substrate.
Photo 3. View of the former vegetation cover as revealed by the Cree elders. The pre-disturbance dominant vegetation structure was herbaceous and mossy. Some islands of shrubs and trees were scattered on the prairie. Destruction occurred when a radar base was built in the 1950's. Then urbanization set a new disturbance regime and today vegetation is scarce in Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik. The town appears in the background.

Nancy Martineau Research Support Opportunity in Arctic Environmental Studies (Accommodation and facilities at Eureka Weather Station) PhD Candidate Geography, McGill University

Title: High Arctic and Martian Gullies Formation: The Role of Ground Ice and Salt-Saturated Ground Water in the Development of Terrestrial Analogues.

The process of thermoerosion, combined with the distinct mechanics behavior of frozen soils, is known to alter the formation of gully weathering; yet only sparse and fragmented information is available on the subject.  Gullies are small, steep-sided channel, often with an alcove head scarp and a debris apron, caused by erosion due to the intermittent flow of water.  Although investigations have been limited thus far to temperate regions, gullying is also widespread under sub-freezing polar desert conditions. Indeed, evidence suggests that almost any concentrated flow may there give rise to a classic type of slope gully morphology.  Moreover, the minute amounts of water required to create such distinctive landforms may only involve very local melting of near-surface ground ice or more intriguingly perhaps, mineralized groundwater flow through unusual piping systems.  In all cases, as observed in the Canadian High Arctic, the resulting landforms make for unique and stunning sceneries.  The goal of the proposed research is to develop a better understanding of the on-slope processes that contribute, in cold environments, to gully development and deposition within the debris aprons, as well as the variations in their interactions.  This field-based study, supported by laboratory analysis and modelling, will examine various gully scale channels throughout Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands that are directly related to some combination of perennial spring occurrences and episodic buried flows or seasonal runoff from melting snowpack and the degradation of ground ice. This study also intends to contribute valuable information concerning hydrological systems operating in the presence of permafrost and to assess the applicability of terrestrial gullies in the Arctic to reconstruct the geologic history of the relatively young and morphologically similar features recently reported on Mars at mid-to-high latitudes.

Pamela O Caribou Research Award $1,500 PhD Candidate Geography, University of British Columbia

The hundreds of thousands of caribou that migrate through low-Arctic tundra affect the landscape, by trampling and grazing, along the migratory pathways they use semi-annually. The impacts by caribou have implications for the carbon uptake and release in the vegetation and soils of these migratory trails and the surrounding tundra. Little is known about the net ecosystem exchange in tundra systems or the changes grazing causes to the carbon balance of these systems, especially in low-Arctic tundra. The objective of this research is to quantify the impacts of caribou grazing on the habitat they use in the low Arctic during spring and fall migration. Particularly, I am focusing on responses at the community level, which involves examinations at the individual plant and ecosystem scales. The experimental work is done in the low Arctic tundra communities around Daring Lake, Northwest Territories (64°52’N, 111°37’W), and the comparative surveys are conducted in similar systems in the region. This research is based on two general hypotheses: 1) Survey: The gradient of net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) will vary with the gradient of caribou grazing intensity. 2) Experiments: The timing, frequency, and intensity of defoliation treatments will affect the magnitude of responses at various scales. The simulated grazing experiments are varied to address two different questions: 1) how do plants respond to current levels of caribou grazing?, and 2) does the time of year (i.e., season) and/or number of times a year (i.e., two or three) that the grazing treatments are applied cause the most marked changes in plant response? It is expected that grazing will cause changes because alterations in individual plant physiology and morphology as a result of grazing could contribute to changes in species composition and interactions, and consequently, ecosystem processes, such as net primary production, nutrient dynamics, and net ecosystem carbon exchange. It is anticipated that the survey will reveal differences in plant growth form and carbon exchange on the migratory trail relative to off the trail. For the experiments, it is expected that the timing, intensity, frequency of grazing will affect responses at all scales. Historically grazed caribou migratory trails may have plants that have become adapted to seasonal grazing, while plants not on trails may not have experienced as consistent or intense grazing episodes, and thus, may not have adapted grazing responses. Species composition and density, as well as the presence or absence of lichens will likely affect carbon balance. This research will provide new information on the impacts of caribou grazing on tundra ecosystems and the role these impacts play at each scale level and in net ecosystem carbon exchange. The results of this research may potentially be used to approximate net ecosystem values at larger geographical scales using portable Net Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) equipment. Thus, understanding the effects of grazing on the net ecosystem carbon exchange of this system and the mechanisms involved in these changes is one component of understanding and estimating the overall carbon balance of low Arctic systems.

Michelle King CNST Special Award for Northern Resident $2,500 MSc Candidate Speech Language Pathology, University of British Columbia

I am currently completing a Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology.  This is a two year program which combines academic, research and clinical aspects of the field. A total of 8 months are spent completing clinical placements.  My clinical placements will cover a broad range of experiences including pre-school, school aged, and adult populations.  My first clinical placement was at the Child Development Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon and I hope to complete my final placement in the Yukon as well.  Speech and

Language disorders are very diverse and affect many people in a variety of populations.  Speech and Language disorders and delays are particularly common in the North, where I hope to return when I complete my studies.

Rachelle Zral CNST Special Award for Northern Resident $2,500 MSc Candidate Audiology, Dalhousie University

Title: Using Maximum Length Sequences in Auditory Brainstem Response

to Assess Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a disorder of the hearing system that can affect people of all ages.  People with APD have trouble understanding speech even though they have normal hearing.  In children, auditory processing disorder is usually diagnosed based on a child’s behavior in the classroom, teacher and/or parent concerns, and specialized testing performed by an audiologist.  This way of diagnosing APD is called subjective because there are no standards against which to compare results among children or among test conditions.  A more objective measure, one that does not depend on the child’s active participation and one that can be compared to known standards, needs to be developed so that there can be agreement among professionals on when an auditory processing disorder is present/absent.  The aim of my research study is to use an objective measure called maximum length sequences - auditory brainstem response (MLS-ABR) on two groups of children (one group with normal auditory processing abilities and one group suspected of having APD) to see if there are differences in the electrical activity of the brain in response to sound.  If the MLS-ABR data from the two groups varies significantly then MLS-ABR may prove to be an efficient, robust, objective tool suitable for the clinical diagnosis of APD in children.