Program Coordination and Indigenous Partnerships (2018-2019)

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Coordination and Administration of the Northern Contaminants Program, 2018-2019

Project leader

Sarah Kalhok Bourque, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

Team

Members of the Northern Contaminants Program Management Committee (Northern Indigenous Partner Organizations (Council of Yukon First Nations, Dene Nation, Inuit Circumpolar Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami); Federal Departments (Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada; Health Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Polar Knowledge Canada); Territorial and Northern Regional Governments (Yukon Government, Government of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut Government, Kativik Regional Government, Nunatsiavut Government), and ArcticNet), Northern Contaminants Program Secretariat; Regional Contaminants Committees (YCC, NWTRCC, NECC, NNHC, NGRAC); Arctic Institute of North America; Canadian Cryospheric Information Network

Funds

Total: $542,795

Project Summary (2018-2019)

The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) engages Northerners and scientists in research, monitoring, and related assessment, communications, and policy initiatives. It is managed through a partnership that includes federal, territorial and northern regional/Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and other key Arctic research programs. The secretariat function for the NCP is carried out by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. The NCP Secretariat provides the administrative, financial, and logistical support and coordination required to deliver the NCP. This includes developing and implementing strategic and operational plans for the NCP under the direction of the NCP Management Committee, and managing the funding and reporting requirements for funding recipients. Highlights for 2018-2019 will include: (i) implementation of a revised schedule for the 2019-2020 Call for Proposals and comprehensive review process (expected release date: October 15, 2018); (ii) release of two reports in the Canadian Arctic Contaminants Assessment Report series: “Contaminants in Canada’s North – State of Knowledge and Regional Highlights” and “Human Health”, as well as the annual Synopsis of Research reports for 2016-2017 and 2017-2018; and (iii) development and implementation of initiatives, tools and resources to help profile the work of the NCP and assist in a variety of efforts to communicate NCP work and results within the broader context of contaminants work across the North; (iv) implementing the joint NCP/NGMP/POLAR Data Management Principles and Guidelines for Polar Research and Monitoring in Canada; and (v) supporting efforts to better integrate monitoring activities across the North, and build local research capacity.

 

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International Action to Reduce the Long-range Transport of Contaminants to the Arctic

Project leader

Sarah Kalhok Bourque, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

Team

Rolf Rødven and Simon Wilson, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme Secretariat; Eva Kruemmel, Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada; Tom Harner, Atmospheric Science and Technology, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Funds

$200,000

Project Summary (2018-2019)

Since the majority of contaminants found in the Arctic environment originate from countries other than Canada, the issue must be dealt with on an international scale. For this reason, the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) and its partners engage in international activities aimed at regulating contaminants that are subject to long-range transport. These efforts have already led to several international agreements, including the global Stockholm Convention on POPs (2004) and the Minamata Convention on Mercury (2013). The NCP’s primary contribution to these agreements is through the provision of scientific data, information and expertise on contaminants in Canada’s North and communication about the impacts they are having on Northerners and wildlife. The NCP also represents Canada’s primary contribution to the Arctic Council’s Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), which is a highly respected source of circumpolar scientific assessments related to the Arctic environment. Through AMAP, NCP data and information are put into a circumpolar context and used to inform policy decisions taken by the influential Arctic Council. Highlights for 2018-2019 will include: (i) ensuring that NCP results and expertise are used to evaluate the effectiveness of global regulation at reducing Arctic pollution, and to help evaluate chemicals of emerging concern (e.g. plastics and microplastics) for potential inclusion in the Stockholm Convention and other international risk management measures; and (ii) the release of the AMAP Assessment report on Biological Effects of POPs and Mercury in Arctic wildlife and fish.

 

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Council of Yukon First Nations Participation in the Northern Contaminants Program

Project leader

James MacDonald, Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN)

Team

Yukon Contaminants Committee; Aynslie Ogden, and Brendan Hanley, Yukon Government; Ellen Sedlack, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada; Derek Cooke, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council; Mary Gamberg, Independent Researcher

Funds

$37,375

Project Summary (2018-2019)

The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) engages in the NCP through participation in: NCP Management Committee and Subcommittee meetings; Yukon Contaminants Committee meetings; related national or international tasks and initiatives; NCP proposal reviews; project leaders and community consultations; outreach activities related to the NCP component of the CYFN website; and providing timely input and feedback in the development of, and/or revisions to key NCP documents. NCP program objectives, structures, strategies and research are communicated back to all Yukon communities, including CYFN members and the leadership board where appropriate.

 

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2018-2019 Dene Nation Participation in the Northern Contaminants Program

Project leader

Trevor Teed, Dene Nation

Team

National Chief Bill Erasmus, Dene Nation and AFN Regional Chief;

Coordinator Lands and Environment, Dene National/AFN Regional Office

Funds

$51,227

Project Summary (2018-2019)

Dene Nation plans to build capacity and knowledge about contaminants within Denendeh. The work will include explaining the NCP and its projects and their importance within Denendeh, determine which projects Dene would like to see funded, and the role of Dene Nation. Aspects of the Dene Nation’s partnership with the NCP include attending meetings, teleconferences and workshops for the NCP & NWT Regional Contaminants Committee (NWT RCC), engaging with the Dene representatives of the NWT RCC, integrating traditional knowledge into the operations of the NCP and its regional committee, and engaging with NCP funded projects in the Denendeh. Dene Nation will also operate an Environment Committee, update its website and social media site, and report to the Dene Leadership and the National Assembly. This work will also address food security as related to contaminant issues by working alongside the Dene Nation Health Department. The work will be conducted by the Land and Environment Department of the Dene Nation as directed by the Environment Committee, whose members are from the communities & appointed by the regions, using Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and with input from the Elders Committee, traditional hunters, gatherers, fishers and trappers.

 

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Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami National Coordination

Project leader

Eric Loring, Inuit Tapriit Kanatami

Team

John Cheechoo, and Kendra Tagoona, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Scot Nickels, Inuit Qaujisarvingat: Inuit Knowledge Centre (IKC); Tom Sheldon, Inuit Circumpolar Canada; Nunavut Environment Contaminants Committee; NWT Regional Contaminants Committee; Nunatsiavut Government Research Advisory Committee (NGRAC); Nunavik Nutrition and Health Committee (NNHC)

Funds

$182,114

Project Summary (2018-2019)

The Department of Environment and Wildlife at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami provides leadership and advocacy on a national level in regard to environment and wildlife research issues affecting Inuit Nunangat. The partnership between ITK and the NCP allows ITK to assess information and research generated by the program and to play an informed role in influencing present and future NCP management priorities, and to set national and international priorities. The involvement of ITK helps ensure that Inuit voices from the community and regions are heard and incorporated into NCP and other related Arctic research programs. ITK will help advocate and communicate Inuit needs and interest into NCP research and ensure that research communication generated from the program is done with an Inuit lens and with Inuit involvement. When possible ITK will also work towards furthering NCP research to incorporate and utilize Inuit knowledge both at the research stage and in the policy making process. ITK will serve to provide insights into how Inuit knowledge can best engage with scientific knowledge to advance appropriate and sustainable practices, strategies and policies for the NCP. 

Inuit Circumpolar Council – Canada: Activities in Support of Circumpolar and Global Contaminant Instruments and Activities

Project leader

Eva Kruemmel, Inuit Circumpolar Council - Canada

Team

Nancy Karetak-Lindell , Stephanie Meakin, Joanna MacDonald, and Selma Ford, Inuit Circumpolar Council – Canada

Funds

$178,538

Project Summary (2018-2019)

The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) is a non-governmental, not-for profit organization representing circumpolar Inuit, and Canadian Inuit internationally. Among ICC’s principle goals are the promotion of Inuit rights and interests on an international level and the development and encouragement of long-term policies that protect the Arctic environment. Inuit have been directly and indirectly impacted by long-range transported contaminants, which accumulate in the Arctic and have led to very high concentrations in some Inuit populations. These exposures have been shown to have potential impacts on the health and well-being of both communities and wildlife populations. ICC Canada’s work includes involvement in contaminant research, representation of Inuit viewpoints and interests nationally (e.g. at the Northern Contaminants Program), in the circumpolar Arctic (within the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, and other Arctic Council working groups), and internationally (within UNEP, e.g. the Stockholm Convention, the POPs Review Committee, and the Minamata Convention on Mercury among others). ICC Canada’s objective is to ensure that scientific (contaminant) research in the Arctic is addressing Inuit needs and is done with proper Inuit support and involvement.

 

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