Plastics and Heavy Metals in Nunatsiavut Foodways and Environments
Monitoring plastics in wild food in Nunatsiavut has been ongoing since 2017. Currently, a community-based harvest sampling and wild food monitoring program analyzes the presence of microplastics (<5 mm) in wild food species, including ringed seals, Arctic char, geese, ducks, murres, and Greenland cod. Monitoring programs also cover surface water collected from marine environments and snow collected from important terrestrial areas. Finally, macroplastics are collected from beaches throughout Nunatsiavut to identify the density and source of plastic pollution. All of these monitoring programs are co-led by Inuit, who define which species to monitor (based on species hunters collect), where sampling occurs (based on areas where wild food is hunted or fished), and when sampling occurs (based on the timing of hunting and fishing activity). Inuit are also deeply involved in analyzing samples, including examining plastics collected from shoreline clean-ups and identifying potential sources and types of plastics. Laboratory analyses can examine microplastics in the digestive tracts of wild food species and surface water and snow samples; however, telling the story of plastics in Nunatsiavut is about more than quantitative estimates and results. Fully understanding the pathways, sources, identities, and priorities around plastics requires processes of co-analysis between community researchers and scientists. Telling these stories facilitates more local involvement and investment in the research and can also enhance our spatial analyses of the origins and pathways of plastics.
Project Goals:
- Monitor plastics and their associated chemicals/heavy metals in birds caught for food by hunters and in museum colonial collections.
- Co-investigate shoreline plastics for potential sources.
- Co-investigate other elements of Inuit foodways, lands, and waters for contaminants as needed.
This project is led by Liz Pijogge (Nunatsiavut Government), Max Liboiron (Memorial University), and Alex Bond (Natural History Museum). Team members include Katrina Anthony, Geraldine Andersen, Laura Crick, and Joby Razzell Hollis.
The YukonU Scholarly Activity Grant (SAG) provided funds to support my involvement in this project, including travel to Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, to organize an on-the-land workshop to conduct co-analysis of shoreline plastics.
Traditional Knowledge and Management of Geese in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Inuvialuit have expressed concerns over recent environmental changes attributed to climate change that have likely impacted the life history of geese (e.g., migration timing), their habitat (e.g., distribution of food and nesting habitat quality), and the ability of hunters to access geese at key times of year (e.g., changing sea ice patterns make hunting areas inaccessible or dangerous). There is a need to bring together Inuvialuit Traditional Knowledge and Western science to understand trends among geese populations, mechanisms contributing to changes, and the effects of these changes on ecosystems and communities. Inuvialuit co-management partners are initiating a study of geese and other migratory birds to assess and develop measures to address i) conservation concerns, ii) management priorities, and iii) adaptation needs and strategies to support Inuvialuit rights, health, and well-being.
This project is partnered with the Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT). Team members include Kate Curtis and Jessica Norris.
The YukonU Scholarly Activity Grant (SAG) provided funds to support travel to the Inuvialuit Settlement Region to conduct initial discussions with Hunters and Trappers Committees (HTCs).