Nunavut turns to tech to help residents prepare for climate change

One of the snowiest Aprils in Iqaluit's history was quickly replaced by an unusualwarm spell,something Nunavummiut should expect to see more often.

"Occasionally we get colder bouts of weather, other times we'll get much warmer. And right now we're seeing a really quick thaw this spring and certainly, linked with global increases in temperatures," said Colleen Healy, Nunavut's climate change program manager with the Department of Environment.

"It's the type of thing we're going to be seeing more of."

To better prepare Nunavummiut in the face of a changing climate, the territory has launched an online climate change primer. Tukisigiaqta or "let's go understand together" is an interactive online teaching tool available in three languages combining traditional and modern knowledge to teachNunavummiut how to better prepare themselves.

"We're seeing storms coming in much quicker then before. They're less predictable. So you might go out on a sunny afternoon thinking you're just going to Ski-Doo down on the bay for a bit, and have trouble coming back home. And we're seeing that more and more," Healy said.

Healy advisespacking enough supplies to last for 72 hours, bringing a SPOT device and telling a family member if you're heading out on the land.

Cancelled events

The warm weather led to the cancellation of an annual snowmobile race betweenIqaluitandKimmirutin April, after much of the path melted away.

The race had been postponed after one of a string ofblizzardstohitNunavut'scapital earlier in the month. It was the snowiestApril in 48 years.Environment Canada measures snowfall in melted snow and in April, there was 82 millilitres of snow,just shy ofa record 88 millilitresinApril 1968.

The hot spell has alsocancelled an annual char-fishing tournament nearPangnirtungscheduledlater in May after the hamlet has seenrecentrecord breaking temperatures.

New sightings

JamesQitsualikgrew up on the land inGjoaHaven. The 49-year-oldsaid he has noticedover the years that the amount of snowfall is lessening, cutting down the winter season.

"[The ice] takes longer to freeze up in the fall and then it doesn't stick around as long," he said.

"We've seen a few more deaths, people breaking through the ice, where it could have been safe."

A shorter ice season isn't the only change Qitsualik has seen. He saidsomerivers and streams have dried up anderosion has flattened some areas. It's not the only noticeable change.

"We're seeing different birds up here, even bugs," he said.

"We never, ever had robins. Now we're sighting robins."