The Indigirka River Delta (Republic of Sakha, Yakutia) has been recognized historically as an important breeding area for numerous Arctic bird species and has the largest breeding concentration for the threatened Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri). However, the most recent peer-reviewed studies from this region date to the 1990s, and contemporary information on breeding conditions is lacking. Given the continued decline of Spectacled Eider populations, updated data from this key breeding area are critically needed. To assess current breeding status of Spectacled Eiders and the overall bird community at this site, in 2022 to 2024 we repeated ground-based surveys conducted in 1994 – 95. Spectacled Eider arrival occurred several days earlier than in the 1990s, on 28 May to 1 June, instead of 6 June, though nest initiation timing was comparable. Reproductive performance over the three years of study (2022 – 24) was relatively low: cumulative nest survival over the 24-day incubation period was 0.44 (95% CI 0.36 – 0.52), below values reported from Alaskan populations. Consistent with earlier results, coastal islands provided habitat supporting higher nest survival. In the interior, but not at the coast of the Indigirka River Delta, daily nest survival increased with nest age. Minimum daily temperature had a negative effect on nest survival. Our results are consistent with prior surveys in the 1990s, confirming low reproductive success for Spectacled Eiders at this key breeding ground. With respect to the broader bird community, we recorded notable changes since the 1990s in species representation. Four species previously reported were not detected, 10 species were new to the area, and 10 species were newly confirmed breeding.
Climate-driven hazards are intensifying across Canadian Arctic regions, yet dominant disaster preparedness frameworks continue to privilege technical, infrastructure-focused, and population-neutral approaches. Such approaches insufficiently account for the lived realities of Black and racialized immigrant communities, who increasingly shape the social fabric of northern settlements. In this commentary, we argue for a relational rethinking of Arctic disaster preparedness through a community-grounded case from Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Drawing on a community-engaged collective conversation with 15 Black and racialized immigrant residents living in Inuvik, we show that preparedness is experienced not simply as hazard planning, but as a relational practice shaped by migration status, identity documentation, housing precarity, mobility, and community belonging. The Inuvik dialogue illustrates how preparedness emerges through hazard-specific knowledge, legal identity concerns, and relational forms of belonging that structure how people interpret safety and resilience. These insights reveal a major blind spot in Arctic disaster governance (coordination of efforts to reduce disaster risks). Currently, migrant and racialized experiences remain largely marginal to policy and research. Disaster governance in Canadian Arctic communities must move beyond universalized preparedness models and instead adopt relational frameworks that recognize migration, belonging, and social inequality as central dimensions of climate resilience in northern communities. Our paper also identifies implications for culturally responsive preparedness planning, migrant-inclusive emergency governance, and relational approaches to Arctic climate adaptation.
Much of our present-day understanding of oil behavior in ice derives from a relatively small number of deliberate, difficult to execute, and, arguably, impossible to replicate large-scale field releases permitted in Canada, Norway, and the United States. This paper identifies 14 projects involving experimental oil releases in ice over the period 1970 – 2015, with brief synopses provided for five of these. Three previously unpublished projects in Canada (1974 – 86) are reviewed and discussed in greater detail with the findings interpreted in light of changing oil spill risks in Arctic and subarctic areas. Despite the sharp decline in Arctic oil exploration since 2015, numerous potential sources of accidental spills in ice remain, for example, the high density of winter vessel traffic in the Baltic Sea, and extensive oil infrastructure in the Bohai Bay and Sea in China. Changes to the Arctic and subarctic oil-in-ice risk profile are tied to increasing use of the Russian Northern Sea Route, and to a lesser extent the Northwest Passage, by large vessels, and the adoption of low sulfur fuel oils with variable behavior in cold water, potentially impacting the effectiveness of current response strategies. The small number of oil-in-ice field experiments reviewed here still forms the basis for much of our understanding of how oil behaves in a range of sea ice types. The emphasis on in situ burning as a primary countermeasure for spills in or on ice, pursued successfully in many of the significant historical experimental releases, is increasingly valid in the context of many current scenarios where the remoteness and sparse logistics support continue to favor countermeasures requiring minimal resources. Key findings from these historical projects can guide today’s responders in developing strategies to address present and future spill risks in Arctic and subarctic areas.
In 2015, the European Union (EU) implemented an exception to its 2009 regulations banning the trade in seal products on the basis of a moral objection to seal hunting. This exception, referred to by turns as the Indigenous exemption and the Inuit exception, the term we use here, technically permits recognized Indigenous bodies to import seal products into the EU and presents Indigenous hunting for subsistence purposes as not a moral issue compared to non-Indigenous commercial hunting, despite the end result being the same: the seal is dead. So if Indigenous seal harvesting is viewed as acceptable, and imports based on this hunting are permitted, why do many Indigenous and non-Indigenous hunters and advocates believe the exception does not work? Drawing on archival research and interviews with hunters and advocates across the Circumpolar North, this paper argues that the Inuit exception does not work adequately to support Indigenous rights and cultures because it is not really designed to do so. Informed by the literature on stigma and cultural violence, we unpack our argument through an examination of three core interrelated themes, or reasons, that the exception does not work: (1) lack of engagement by the EU to understand what subsistence hunting means for hunters and their cultures; (2) failure to design and support the exception to be operational; and (3) lack of desire for the exception to work.
This study explores the complex relationship between instructional self-efficacy and contextual factors, as well as the impact of this relationship on Greenlandic student teachers’ practical training. We explore how student teachers’ instructional self-efficacy is influenced by their experiences in the Greenlandic teacher education program, including their on-campus academic studies and in-school teaching practice. We collected data from 36 student teachers enrolled in the teacher education program at the University of Greenland. The multiple regression model explained a modest proportion of the variance in classroom management self-efficacy. However, only self-efficacy in motivating students emerged as a significant unique predictor. Perceived relevance of general pedagogy and of subject didactics, mentor feedback, and perceived discipline problems during teaching practice showed no significant unique associations with self-efficacy in classroom management when motivational self-efficacy was controlled. These findings suggest that student teachers’ confidence in their ability to motivate and encourage pupils may be a central psychological resource underpinning their confidence in managing classroom behavior, whereas other aspects of their preparation may exert more indirect or weaker effects. While we do not claim generalizability, these findings indicate that teacher education programs must balance theoretical instruction with practical experiences to cultivate future teachers’ self-efficacy effectively in real-world classroom environments. Key recommendations include establishing robust support systems, including mentoring relationships and fostering collaborative environments that promote open communication between student teachers and seasoned educators. Furthermore, the critical link between perceived student behavioral issues and instructional self-efficacy highlights the importance of tailored mentoring and thoughtful placement in school contexts that provide manageable challenges. Addressing these factors is vital to mitigate the concerning trend of early teacher attrition, and to enhance student teachers’ confidence and competence. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to investigate the evolving nature of instructional self-efficacy, evaluate the impact of varied support structures, and assess the experiences of student teachers from diverse backgrounds. Overall, this study offers insights into the field of teacher preparation, emphasizing the urgent need to adapt teacher education programs to strengthen future teachers’ instructional self-efficacy, ultimately leading to their preparedness and long-term success in the teaching profession.
Nunavut is one of the three northern territories in Canada. Under Nunavut’s Scientists Act, the Nunavut Research Institute (NRI) administers research licenses in the territory. The research license review (RLR) process includes community organizations in reviewing applications, ensuring Nunavummiut (people of Nunavut) priorities are considered. RLR organizations can recommend approval, rejection, or conditions for research licenses. To better understand RLR organizations’ experience with the NRI’s research licensing process, we undertook a survey to learn about: i) the annual volume of RLR requests; ii) RLR organizations’ review protocols and practices; iii) opportunities and challenges associated with RLR; and iv) recommendations for improving the NRI’s consultation process. Survey results showed that RLR organizations receive up to 64 applications annually, with most (40%) receiving one to 10 applications per year. Over half (55%) of RLR organizations review all applications received. Some (35%) reviewers are financially compensated for time spent reviewing, and 45% of organizations assign different reviewers for each application. Only 10% of reviewers provide feedback for all applications reviewed. Reviewers reported a need for increased community support and resources for the RLR process, more direct engagement with researchers, and improved access to research outcomes and reports. This survey is the first time Nunavut RLR organizations were consulted on their experiences with the license review process. Their feedback is critical in refining RLR administrative processes, strengthening community – researcher communications, and informing the NRI’s efforts to ensure research is more accessible to Nunavummiut. Taken together, improvements in the RLR process can contribute to enhancing Inuit self-determination in Nunavut research.
In northern (including Arctic) Canada, remote communities face significant challenges in accessing perishable foods that meet national food-security standards. Geographic isolation and harsh climatic conditions exacerbate issues related to the affordability, adequacy, and availability of fresh produce in these communities. This scoping review evaluates the challenges within the northern perishable food supply chain (NPFSC), examining demand and supply factors and major drivers of change. A comprehensive literature search across four major databases, with no time restrictions, yielded 105 relevant records from academic and grey literature. On the demand side, challenges include food insecurity, dietary shifts from traditional foods to lower-quality store-bought items, a scarce food environment, and northern consumers’ preferences. On the supply side, key challenges involve transportation, last-mile delivery, product perishability, cold-chain management, and limitations in retail outlets. Together, these issues contribute to the unaffordability, low adequacy, and limited availability of fresh produce. This research highlights key drivers of change, including climate change, societal shifts, geopolitical interests, and policy developments, and examines their impacts on transportation, retail, consumption patterns, and the overall supply chain. Recommendations emphasize developing adaptive supply-chain strategies that incorporate local knowledge and technological innovations to enhance food security. Policy improvements should refine subsidy programs and explore local food production options, among other considerations. A comprehensive framework has been developed to guide stakeholders in addressing these challenges and improving food security in northern communities. This analysis lays the foundation for future studies and policies aimed at boosting the resilience and sustainability of northern food systems.
. Rapid climate change is impacting Canada's northern coastlines, including northern fish, benthic ecosystems, and ecosystem services. Ongoing environmental pressures continue to influence the social, cultural, and physiological well-being of Labrador Inuit, who are intrinsically linked with the marine environment. Collaborating closely with the Nunatsiavut Government, this research presents a detailed map of benthic faunal assemblages in an understudied northern inshore system, providing essential information on benthic habitats and incorporating community-identified fishing locations for ogak (Greenland cod). A total of 75 drop-camera transects unveiled 44,809 organisms belonging to 50 morphotaxa clustered into three distinct faunal assemblages. Fishing locations were represented in two of three assemblages, which were heterogeneous and composed mainly of pebbles, boulders, and rhodolith beds. The unrepresented assemblage was homogeneous and composed entirely of fine sediments. Numerous benthic taxa, potentially sensitive to environmental disturbances, were identified, including tube-dwelling anemones, large sea squirts, erect bryozoans, and extensive rhodolith beds. Insufficient data on benthic species and their associated habitats limit our comprehension of species distributions, abundances, and functional roles in northern waters, creating obstacles for effective self-governance. This research identifies the distribution and structure of benthic habitats in a culturally and economically important region of the Labrador coast, feeding directly into conservation and management strategies for marine habitats in Nunatsiavut facing increasing pressures from climate change.
In the face of rapid climate change impacting Canada’s northern coastlines, northern fish, benthic ecosystems, and ecosystem services are being heavily impacted. The ongoing environmental pressures continue to influence the social, cultural, and physiological well-being of Labrador Inuit who are intrinsically linked with the marine environment. Collaborating closely with the Nunatsiavut Government, this research presents a detailed map of benthic faunal assemblages in an understudied northern inshore system, providing essential information on benthic habitats and incorporating community-identified fishing locations for ogak (Greenland cod). A total of 75 drop-camera transects unveiled 44,809 organisms belonging to 50 morphotaxa, clustered into three distinct faunal assemblages. Fishing locations were represented in two of three assemblages which were heterogeneous and composed mainly of pebbles, boulders, and rhodolith beds. The unrepresented assemblage was homogeneous and composed entirely of fine sediments. Numerous benthic taxa, potentially sensitive to environmental disturbances, were identified, including tube-dwelling anemones, large sea squirts, erect bryozoans, and extensive rhodolith beds. Insufficient data on benthic species and their associated habitats limit our comprehension of species distributions, abundances, and functional roles in northern waters, creating obstacles for effective self-governance. This research identifies the distribution and structure of benthic habitats in a culturally and economically important region of the Labrador coast, feeding directly into conservation and management strategies of marine habitats under the pressures of climate change in Nunatsiavut.
