climate change

Ever since my first Arctic trip, I've always been amazed by the ability of Inuit to predict the weather, ensuring that safe travel and adequate country foods are always taken care of. Today, we reviewed an interview with Livie Kullualik - our "captain" on our trip out to Pangnirtung's floe edge this spring - and he told us about "weather reporting". Livie said:

Today, we're learning from Evie Aninilianik, an 82 year old women from Pangnirtung. Evie also happens to be my Inuit mother, as she adopted me many years ago, in the summer of 2001.

We're working through the interview with Pangnirtung's oldest women, Elisapee Ishulutaq. Although no one knows for sure, Elisapee was born sometime around 1925, giving her over eighty years of experiential wisdom. Elisapee is also a very talented and accomplished artist, working as a printmaker and carver for many years, her work has been featured nationally and internationally.… Uqalimakkanirit

Yesterday, we went through the interview with Inusiq Nashalik, the oldest man (91 years of age) in Pangnirtung. In Nunavut, elders are respected for their knowledge, and when we began the interview Inusiq said: "You've got lots of questions and I'll answer all of them".… Uqalimakkanirit