Program Coordination and Indigenous Partnerships (2019-2020)

Table of Contents


Coordination and Administration of the Northern Contaminants Program

Project Leader

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

Team Members

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 (Yukon Contaminants Committee, Northwest Territories Regional Contaminants Committee , Nunavut Environmental Contaminants Committee, Nunavik Nutrition and Health Committee, Nunatsiavut Government Research Advisory Committee; Arctic Institute of North America; Canadian Cryospheric Information Network

Funds

$505,728

Project Summary (2019-2020)

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 functions for the NCP are 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 2019-2020 will include: (i) implementation of a revised schedule for the 2019-2020 Call for Proposals and comprehensive review process (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.

 

top of page


Facilitation of International Action Related to the Long-range Transport of Contaminants into the Arctic

Project Leader

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

Team Members

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

Funds

$190,000

Project Summary (2019-2020)

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 2019-2020 will include: (1) 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 (2) the release of the AMAP Assessment report on Biological Effects of POPs and Mercury in Arctic wildlife and fish.

 

top of page


Council of Yukon First Nations Participation in the Northern Contaminants Program

Project Leader

Merran Smith, Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN)

Team Members

Yukon Contaminants Committee; Aynslie Ogden and Brenda Hanley, Yukon Government; Ellen Sedlack, Government of Canada; Representative from Yukon First Nations ; Mary Gamberg, Independent Researcher

Funds

$37,375

Project Summary (2019-2020)

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 leader 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 affected Yukon communities, including CYFN members and the leadership board where appropriate.

 

top of page


Dene Nation Participation in the Northern Contaminants Program

Project Leader

Trevor Teed, Dene National and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Regional Northwest Territories Office

Team Member

Norman Yakeleya, Dene Nation and AFN

Funds

$41,227

Project Summary (2019-2020)

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 and 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 and appointed by the regions, using Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and with input from the Elders Committee, traditional hunters, gatherers, fishers and trappers.

 

top of page


Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami (ITK) National Coordination

Project Leader

Eric Loring, ITK

Team Members

Kendra Tagoona and Tom Sheldon, ITK; Scot Nickels, Inuit Qaujisarvingat: Inuit Knowledge Centre; Inuit Circumpolar Canada; Nunavut Environment Contaminants Committee; Northwest Territories Regional Contaminants Committee; Nunatsiavut Government Research Advisory Committee; Nunavik Nutrition and Health Committee

Funds

$163,300

Project Summary (2019-2020)

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami provides leadership and advocacy on a national level in regard to environment, wildlife, and health research on issues affecting Inuit Nunangat. Research carried out under NCP has shown that the contaminants are an environment and health concern to Inuit of Canada, as they are primarily carried to the Arctic in the atmosphere from sources located elsewhere in the world only to concentrate in the fat-rich country marine foods depended upon by Inuit for nutritional and culturally well being. The concentrations of some of these contaminants are two to ten times higher in the breast milk of Inuit mothers than among non-aboriginal woman in southern Canada (CACAR 2009). Inuit still have the highest concentration of POPs and heavy metals of all residents of the Canadian Arctic, but research is showing that some of these contaminants have declined in maternal blood since the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2004. The concern for Inuit is the perceived and real impact these contaminants have on the health of both the wildlife and the Inuit of the Arctic. A carefully thought out and sensitive communications program is essential in order to prevent people from switching away from the nutritious aspects of their country food while being informed about any issues in order to make good choices for their families. The information that is delivered is often difficult to communicate as it can be enlightening in terms of knowledge of contaminants in country foods but can also cause fear about those contaminants, , but Inuit want and have the right to know what is happening to their health and the health of the arctic environment. This project helps to ensure that information is brought back to Inuit through the most effective channels and that it will be developed by Inuit for Inuit (Inuit Research Strategy 2018). 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.

 

top of page


Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Canada’s Activities Under the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP)

Project Leader

Eva Kruemmel, ICC

Team Members

Monica Ell-Kanayuk , Stephanie Meakin, Joanna MacDonald, and Selma Ford, ICC

Funds

$178,020

Project Summary (2019-2020)

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 as well as the development and encouragement of long-term policies that protect the Arctic environment. Inuit have been directly and indirectly impacted by long-range transport of 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.

 

top of page