Inuit Research Advisors

Phase 3 (2011-2014)

IRIS 4 Information (Eastern sub-Arctic)

The IRIS 4 assessment focuses on human activities and environmental concerns of the Eastern Subarctic region, which covers the Nunavik and Nunatsiavut Inuit territories. The original strategy of the Eastern Subarctic IRIS was to develop collaborations and partnerships and unify partners through a common goal and an integrated approach: the IRIS. Since the beginning of ArcticNet, development of the Eastern Subarctic IRIS has benefited from considerable support, expertise and knowledge from the Centre for Northern Studies (CEN-Centre d'études nordiques) of Laval University. CEN has a long history of consultation and research with northern communities and currently has more than 40 ongoing projects in the region of Nunavik. One of CEN important partner in Nunavik is Nunavik Research Centre, which conducted research for over 30 years on issues related to the needs of indigenous populations through the use of traditional knowledge. For the Nunatsiavut region, the IRIS benefited from the knowledge inputs of the Labrador Institute, which lead several research projects in collaboration with the Memorial University of Newfound Land. The IRIS development has also been aided by the involvement of the consortium Ouranos, a research group that focuses on two main themes: Climate Sciences and Impacts and Adaptation. Throughout the consultative committee of the Ouranos Northern Environment Program that brings together partners sharing a mandate in the Eastern Subarctic Region, priority issues and knowledge gaps for the region were identified. This committee also shared information, expertise and funding opportunities to define and start new research projects filling knowledge gaps. Moreover, Ouranos played a key role in the development of the IRIS by providing support for adaptation initiatives and climate science.

The synergy between ArcticNet and its research partners allowed for increased collaboration between many provincial government agencies concerned with transportation, environmental and health issues, and municipal affairs, aboriginal authorities of Nunavik (Makivik Corporation, Kativik Regional Government) and representatives from the Nunatsiavut Government. A Regional Science Meeting/Workshop held in Kuujjuaq from 10-12 November 2009 reunited scientists, managers, and decision and policy makers from both Nunatsiavut and Nunavik to discuss the content of this IRIS report in order to ensure the best coverage of priority issues across the two regions and to provide insight to the report.