Mobilizing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit of Ice Travel
SmartICE is a social enterprise whose goal is to empower Indigenous communities to adapt to increasingly unpredictable ice conditions. With funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada, SmartICE has launched a new pilot project focused on mobilizing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (“that which has long been known by Inuit”) to increase ice travel safety. SmartICE has hired a team of community members to lead workshops with Elders and experienced ice users in the Inuit Nunangat communities of Gjoa Haven, Arctic Bay, Qikiqtarjuaq, Arviat, and Nain.
In the workshops, the SmartICE team members document local ice terminology and local Inuit Quajimajatuqangit related to ice travel. Then, they work with community members to co-develop practical resources – like maps, posters, and booklets – based on the terminology and knowledge shared in the workshops. These resources can then be distributed widely within the community. The overarching goal of the project is to enhance ice-travel safety adaptation by increasing community members’ awareness and uptake of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
SRDC has been invited to join this pilot project as a developmental evaluation partner. SRDC is working closely with the SmartICE team to plan and conduct an evaluation of program outcomes, focused on understanding who the resources reach and what role the resources play in ice travel safety and decision-making in community.
Project Details
Published: March 2023
Capability: Program Evaluation/ Performance Measurement
Policy Area: Community Capacity, Health - Population Health
Population: Indigenous Peoples
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