Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Canada. Photo by Hilary Nilsen
In the frozen expanses of Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Canada, the effects of climate change are not a distant threat but a daily reality. Here, north of the Hudson Bay and at similar latitudes to Greenland, Iceland, and the northern part of Alaska, the Arctic is warming at twice the global average rate, reshaping the lives of its inhabitants in profound ways.
Amid these challenges, Arctic Bay and other Northern communities have created innovative programs that hire inter-generational Indigenous crews to serve as “guardians” to monitor, manage, and steward their communities’ lands and waters. These crews provide a unique, climate-friendly livelihood opportunity that puts Indigenous people back on the land to carry out monitoring and caretaking, while also hunting, fishing, sharing oral histories, and maintaining other cultural practices.
Since 2018, CJRF has supported guardians in the Arctic through Makeway, which hosts the Northern Indigenous Stewardship Circle, a network of communities with guardian programs across the Canadian North. In October 2023, I visited the Inuit community of Arctic Bay and spent time with the local guardian crew. My visit revealed the remarkable ways in which this program is not just a response to climate change, but also a beacon of hope and resilience.
The Life of a Guardian
On the first day of my visit, I met up with the Arctic Bay Guardian crew as soon as the plane landed, and they wanted to know: do you want to go out on the boat and fish for sea urchins? Led by a guardian named Naray, the Arctic Bay hunting crew uses every available moment of nice weather to be out on the water hunting and fishing. On this day the skies were clear and the water calm, so off we went. The crew was excited to try out a homemade trawling net they had created using recycled ropes, fishing net, and scrap metal from the boat. For a couple of hours, I just observed as the crew tested out their trawling net, adjusting how they used their homemade design after the first failed attempts, but then creating something functional. The result? Fresh sea urchins, which they stored away for an upcoming community gathering. This then, I thought, is the life of an Indigenous Guardian: being out on the land, making the most of available resources, and then coming back to shore with a harvest.
A Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) staff member and Arctic Bay Guardian pull in their homemade fishing trawler. Photo by Hilary Nilsen
Guardians sort through the catch, pulling out sea urchins. Photo by Hilary Nilsen
Fresh sea urchins sorted and ready to bring to a community gathering at the end of the week. Photo by Hilary Nilsen
Creating Fulfilling Livelihoods Opportunities
These guardian programs stand out for their profound impact on local employment. When talking with crew members fully employed by the program, they all expressed a unanimous preference for this work over previous jobs. I learned that prior to their employment as guardians, many had been engaged in seasonal work, such as construction jobs, that took them away from their homes and families for extended periods. Others faced unemployment due to the region's limited job opportunities. Now, under this program, they benefit from year-round employment, fair wages, and benefits, all while staying in their community. The demand to join the program is high, reflecting its success and the community's need for such opportunities. While there, I witnessed a multiple-day interviewing process for a new position, a testament to the program's growth, popularity, and the tangible improvement in crew members' livelihoods.
A Guardian stands armed on the front of the boat looking for seals or narwhal to hunt in the water. Photo by Hilary Nilsen
Building Food Security in an Isolated Community
Arctic Bay’s cold climate and isolated location contribute to its high cost of living – including the high costs of food. As hunters, the guardians play a crucial role in ensuring food security. Their harvest provides a sustainable source of food and strengthens community bonds through wide distribution. Toward the month's end, when many households have depleted their government assistance, the guardians host community gatherings, distributing hunted food and offering other non-traditional items like fruits and sandwiches. These gatherings provide a lifeline for many, serving as a quasi-food bank and a space for communal connection.
Traditional foods such as narwhal, seal, Arctic char, sea urchins, and tarragon birds are laid out in preparation for an upcoming community gathering. Photo by Hilary Nilsen
Securing and Reinvesting in Cultural Practices and Mental Health
A perhaps unexpected but important outcome of the guardian programming is the revitalization of Inuktitut, the traditional language. As the program centers around traditional knowledge, especially hunting, it has fostered an environment where the Inuktitut language thrives among the group. This linguistic resurgence signals hope for preserving cultural identity in the face of rapid change.
Additionally, the mental health benefits of the program cannot be overstated. Gainful, stable employment allows people to remain in their communities year-round, avoiding the stress and disconnection of seasonal migration for work. High job satisfaction among crew members is palpable, with many expressing a profound sense of self-worth and respect within the community.
Community Gatherings: The Heart of Resilience
The community gatherings hosted by the guardians also signal the program's deeper impact. These events are more than just a distribution point for food; they are a celebration of community, culture, and resilience. At one such gathering that I attended, where those sea urchins from my day 1 boat outing were served, the presence of a 103 year old elder, Qaapik Attagutsiak, underscored the inter-generational continuity and respect for elders that are integral to Inuit culture. At the gathering, younger Inuit circled around Qaapik Attagutsiak, helping her to cut and eat her food, speaking with her in the traditional Inuktitut language, and spending time with her, the sort of intimate time between younger and older people that is often overlooked or rushed in our fast-paced urban worlds. This gathering was a powerful reminder of the program's role in not just addressing immediate needs, but fostering a sense of belonging and pride.
Supporting Immediate Needs and Long-term Sustainability
Guardian programming stands as a beacon of hope in the Arctic. It addresses the urgent challenges posed by climate change and fosters employment, food security, cultural revitalization, and mental health. As I left Arctic Bay, the strength and resilience of the community remained with me, a testament to what can be achieved when we support solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term sustainability. The work of the guardians in Arctic Bay is a compelling narrative of resilience, offering lessons and inspiration for us all in the face of global environmental challenges.
The sun starts to set on another day out on the water. A Guardian sits armed in the front always ready to hunt and support his community. Photo by Hilary Nilsen