The Inuit

0. The Inuit, a tribe of Indigenous people that reside in the north of Canada, are represented by a population of nearly 65,000 people throughout the country. Despite being grouped together into one demonym, there are actually eight distinct ethnic groups of Inuit people living in Canada alone. Their language, Inuktitut, also has several regional variations.

1. It is estimated that three quarters of the Inuit live in Canada’s Arctic regions, with fifty percent living in Nunavut, Canada’s biggest and newest territory. At almost 1.8 million kilometers squared, Nunavut is roughly the size of its neighbouring region, Greenland, but with half of the population density. Despite sharing land borders with three other Canadian provinces and one territory, there are no roads leading in or out. It is even home to one of the most remote communities on Earth: Alert, Nunavut. As it is less than 1000 km south of the North Pole, this unique location experiences extreme cold temperatures as well as round the clock darkness or light at each respective solstice.

2. As the Arctic conditions do not allow for agricultural success, the Inuit used to be hunter gatherers. As they travelled from place to place in search of food, these nomadic people would stay in igloos, or domed-shaped snow houses, for temporary refuge. Whales were their primary target on these hunts, as whale meat would allow these populations to sustain themselves for months. Moreover, ots oil and blubber would serve other purposes, such as providing fuel or the manufacturing of products. When the opportunity arose, they would also hunt caribou, otherwise known as a reindeer. These animals also gave the Inuit valuable fur and skins, which would be made into clothing.

3. Today, life looks quite different from that of their ancestors. The development of technology has also helped the Inuit have access to farming and agriculture. In 2014, a group of students from Ryerson University in Toronto piloted a project in the village of Naujatt to provide fresh produce for the area. A high-tech greenhouse was installed which maintains a temperature that is suitable for the cultivation of vegetables such as lettuce varieties, potatoes, legumes and so on. The project has been well-received by the community and plans for more of these greenhouses are in the works.

4. Nevertheless, life is not the easiest for the Inuit. Their geographic isolation negatively impacts their quality of life. Regardless of the small triumph of having ‘locally-grown’ agriculture, necessities such as milk and bread still have to travel thousands of kilometres before reaching an Inuit home. On average, they are still above 50% higher in price than that in the more populated provinces. A relatively high cost of living means that many of the residents of the territory are food insecure, which is ultimately connected to a vast array of health problems in these northern Indigenous communities.

5. It is also worth noting that the climate change is the biggest challenge of all. As many Inuit still use outdoor freezers to store meat, the thawing of ice means an increase of spoiled food. Rising sea levels have also been associated with more mercury in the water, which is trickled up the food chain into humans. Asides from this, global warming also poses a threat to infrastructure. As many buildings were built on partially frozen land, or permafrost, rising temperatures may cause their foundations to become structurally unstable.

6. From a traditional standpoint, this phenomenon also poses a threat to a rich Inuit history. Though it may not be a necessity for life anymore, many parents still try to show their children the ways of their ancestors. Disappearing ice means more dangerous conditions for hunting, with an increased number of experienced locals falling through the ice and drowning each year. By not being able to pass on these techniques to future generations, the Inuit will lose a unique part of their identity.

7. Some may argue that melting sea levels would bring more economic activity to the area. However, these prospects come with potentially damaging side effects. With more waterways, the tourism industry has a chance to flourish by offering cruises that would bring Canadians up north to see the Inuit way of life. An increase in cruise ships can negatively affect the ecosystems that the Inuit rely on. Moreover, there is the possibility of nearly irreversible pollution in the form of oil spills or illegal dumping from the cruise liner itself. There is no doubt that the Inuit will have to act on their changing environment, but it is vital to think about the consequences.