Monitoring climate change impacts, Indigenous livelihoods and adaptation: Perspectives from Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada

The Arctic is at the forefront of climate change, undergoing some of the most rapid environmental transformations globally. Here, we examine the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods in the coastal Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada. The study examines recently evolved adaptatio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ishfaq Hussain Malik, James D. Ford, Ian Winters, Beverly Hunter, Nicholas Flowers, Duncan Quincey, Kevin Flowers, Marjorie Flowers, Dean Coombs, Christine Foltz-Vincent, Nicholas E. Barrand, Robert G. Way
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2754720525000071/type/journal_article
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849309592385748992
author Ishfaq Hussain Malik
James D. Ford
Ian Winters
Beverly Hunter
Nicholas Flowers
Duncan Quincey
Kevin Flowers
Marjorie Flowers
Dean Coombs
Christine Foltz-Vincent
Nicholas E. Barrand
Robert G. Way
author_facet Ishfaq Hussain Malik
James D. Ford
Ian Winters
Beverly Hunter
Nicholas Flowers
Duncan Quincey
Kevin Flowers
Marjorie Flowers
Dean Coombs
Christine Foltz-Vincent
Nicholas E. Barrand
Robert G. Way
author_sort Ishfaq Hussain Malik
collection DOAJ
description The Arctic is at the forefront of climate change, undergoing some of the most rapid environmental transformations globally. Here, we examine the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods in the coastal Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada. The study examines recently evolved adaptation strategies employed by Inuit and the challenges to these adaptations. We document changing sea ice patterns, changing weather patterns and the impact of invasive species on food resources and the environment. Utilising knowledge co-production and drawing upon Indigenous knowledge, we monitor the changes and multiple stresses through direct observations, engagement with rights holders and community experiences to characterise climate risks and associated changes affecting livelihoods. We use both decolonising research and participatory methodologies to develop collaboration and partnership, ensuring that monitoring reflects local priorities and realities while also fostering trust and collaboration. We showcase that monitoring environmental trends involves more than data collection; it includes observing and analysing how environmental changes affect community well-being, particularly in terms of food security, cultural practices, economic activities, mental health, sea ice changes and weather patterns. The paper contributes to a nuanced understanding of Inuit resilience and experiences in confronting climate risks and the broader implications for Indigenous communities confronting climate challenges.
format Article
id doaj-art-21019096cfbd472287e8ea4e6e770a02
institution Kabale University
issn 2754-7205
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Cambridge University Press
record_format Article
series Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures
spelling doaj-art-21019096cfbd472287e8ea4e6e770a022025-08-20T03:54:06ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures2754-72052025-01-01310.1017/cft.2025.7Monitoring climate change impacts, Indigenous livelihoods and adaptation: Perspectives from Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, CanadaIshfaq Hussain Malik0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5832-5276James D. Ford1Ian Winters2Beverly Hunter3Nicholas Flowers4Duncan Quincey5Kevin Flowers6Marjorie Flowers7Dean Coombs8Christine Foltz-Vincent9Nicholas E. Barrand10Robert G. Way11School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKSchool of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKHopedale Community Member, Nunatsiavut, Canada Nunatsiavut Government, Hopedale, CanadaHopedale Community Member, Nunatsiavut, Canada Nunatsiavut Government, Hopedale, CanadaHopedale Community Member, Nunatsiavut, Canada Inotsiavik Language and Culture Inc. Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, CanadaSchool of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKHopedale Community Member, Nunatsiavut, CanadaHopedale Community Member, Nunatsiavut, Canada Hopedale Inuit Community Government, Nunatsiavut, CanadaHopedale Community Member, Nunatsiavut, CanadaHopedale Community Member, Nunatsiavut, CanadaSchool of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UKNorthern Environmental Geoscience Laboratory, Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University, Ontario, CanadaThe Arctic is at the forefront of climate change, undergoing some of the most rapid environmental transformations globally. Here, we examine the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods in the coastal Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada. The study examines recently evolved adaptation strategies employed by Inuit and the challenges to these adaptations. We document changing sea ice patterns, changing weather patterns and the impact of invasive species on food resources and the environment. Utilising knowledge co-production and drawing upon Indigenous knowledge, we monitor the changes and multiple stresses through direct observations, engagement with rights holders and community experiences to characterise climate risks and associated changes affecting livelihoods. We use both decolonising research and participatory methodologies to develop collaboration and partnership, ensuring that monitoring reflects local priorities and realities while also fostering trust and collaboration. We showcase that monitoring environmental trends involves more than data collection; it includes observing and analysing how environmental changes affect community well-being, particularly in terms of food security, cultural practices, economic activities, mental health, sea ice changes and weather patterns. The paper contributes to a nuanced understanding of Inuit resilience and experiences in confronting climate risks and the broader implications for Indigenous communities confronting climate challenges.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2754720525000071/type/journal_articleclimate changeclimate adaptationhuman impactclimate resiliencecoastal adaptation
spellingShingle Ishfaq Hussain Malik
James D. Ford
Ian Winters
Beverly Hunter
Nicholas Flowers
Duncan Quincey
Kevin Flowers
Marjorie Flowers
Dean Coombs
Christine Foltz-Vincent
Nicholas E. Barrand
Robert G. Way
Monitoring climate change impacts, Indigenous livelihoods and adaptation: Perspectives from Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada
Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures
climate change
climate adaptation
human impact
climate resilience
coastal adaptation
title Monitoring climate change impacts, Indigenous livelihoods and adaptation: Perspectives from Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada
title_full Monitoring climate change impacts, Indigenous livelihoods and adaptation: Perspectives from Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada
title_fullStr Monitoring climate change impacts, Indigenous livelihoods and adaptation: Perspectives from Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada
title_full_unstemmed Monitoring climate change impacts, Indigenous livelihoods and adaptation: Perspectives from Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada
title_short Monitoring climate change impacts, Indigenous livelihoods and adaptation: Perspectives from Inuit community of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Canada
title_sort monitoring climate change impacts indigenous livelihoods and adaptation perspectives from inuit community of hopedale nunatsiavut canada
topic climate change
climate adaptation
human impact
climate resilience
coastal adaptation
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2754720525000071/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT ishfaqhussainmalik monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT jamesdford monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT ianwinters monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT beverlyhunter monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT nicholasflowers monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT duncanquincey monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT kevinflowers monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT marjorieflowers monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT deancoombs monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT christinefoltzvincent monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT nicholasebarrand monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada
AT robertgway monitoringclimatechangeimpactsindigenouslivelihoodsandadaptationperspectivesfrominuitcommunityofhopedalenunatsiavutcanada