The Sikumik Qaujimajjuti Program

Over the course of many generations, Inuit have accumulated a wealth of knowledge about sea ice conditions. This knowledge, or Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), about sea ice is part of how Inuit travel safely on the ice. However, as the climate shifts, sea ice is more unpredictable, and conditions become less reliable. The usual patterns of freezing in November/December and breakup in June/July are changing. The accumulated experience of ice experts is important to share and apply in new ways with inexperienced travelers to maintain safety while traveling on the ice.

SmartICE was transformed into a northern social enterprise in 2017 to deliver an operational service for coastal communities across the Arctic after receiving the Arctic Inspiration Prize. SmartICE provides community members and local Community Management Committees (CMCs) with tools and technology to monitor ice conditions in near real-time. CMCs, made up of local leadership and experienced ice users, implement their IQ and make decisions on where SmartICE deploys its technology.

In 2019, SmartICE co-developed the Sikumik Qaujimajjuti training program (which translates to “a tool to know how the ice is”). This hybrid program hires local Inuit youth as community knowledge coordinators and provides a four-stage training process to document and mobilize sea ice IQ into ice travel safety tools. The four stages are 1) Employment Readiness and Digital Skills, 2) Learning Community IQ, 3) Computer Mapping, and 4) Earth Observations. The program takes two to three years to complete.

The first stage is to complete employment readiness training. For some Coordinators, this is their first position working with a computer in an office setting. Employment readiness training introduces Coordinators with what to expect while working in an office, how to write an email, and word processor training. This is followed by more advanced topics such as file management, document versioning, and time management. After completion of the employment readiness training, coordinators feel more confident in the workplace and comfortable using a computer to complete tasks.

Coordinators then learn how to facilitate meetings and workshops with CMCs. The coordinators take on a leadership role by creating and sharing the agenda, taking meeting minutes, moderating the discussions, and distributing any action items. They also learn how to organize participatory mapping workshops to gather knowledge from experienced ice users within their community, guiding them through a series of questions to find and map their IQ on paper maps and charts. To date, participatory ice IQ mapping workshops have been held in eight communities across Inuit Nunangat.

Twice a year, coordinators of Sikumik Qaujimajjuti get together for a workshop in a northern community. At the first workshop, coordinators are trained to use Geographic Information Systems to map IQ. Both first- and second-year coordinators attend the workshops, providing an opportunity for mentorship between cohorts. After the workshop, first year coordinators know how to digitize IQ collected from expert ice users during mapping workshops and to create seasonal sea ice safety maps for their communities. These IQ maps contain information on ice areas that are dangerous due to thin ice or open water, too rough for travel, that break-up first during the spring, or are wind shelter areas. Some communities map cabin locations for emergency shelters.

The second workshop trains coordinators to monitor ice conditions using earth observations or satellite images. Coordinators are trained to acquire satellite imagery of their communities and other important areas. They learn to interpret ice conditions using both optical and remote sensing imagery. After the earth observation workshop, coordinators can map weekly ice conditions during ice freeze up and break up seasons. The coordinators use collected IQ to interpret ice conditions in satellite imagery and generate weekly ice travel safety maps that are shared in the community and on social media. Over the past two years, 156 weekly maps have been shared online and posted on news boards.

At the request of CMCs, Coordinators have also collected and compiled local sea ice terminology. Terminology books contain terms, definitions, and pictures of ice features. There are currently three completed terminology books for Mittimatalik, Gjoa Haven, and Nain and there are four more near completion for Arviat, Qikiqtarjuaq, Taloyoak, and Tuktoyaktuk. In addition, four communities developed posters for preparing to travel and traveling on the ice. The posters are catered to each community and its local conditions.

Now in its fifth year, the Sikumik Qaujimajjuti program continues to train Community Coordinators to work with CMCs and produce ice travel safety products. Fourteen Inuit from nine communities across Inuit Nunangat completed or are completing the program. Some graduates are now working with SmartICE in expanded leadership roles. Looking forward, Coordinators and CMCs will continue to work together to find new ways to integrate IQ, SmartICE monitoring technology, and satellite imagery to maintain safety while traveling on sea ice.

Photo: SmartICE