Northern Communities Research Articles

Wilful Blindness: Sleeping Sickness and Onchocerciasis in Colonial Northern Ghana, 1909-1957.

SummaryAs a contribution to the existing literature on deliberate or unintended neglect, concealment and ignorance regarding significant and enduring public health problems—produced by economic marginality, lack of political power and institutional failures affecting specific places and groups—this article discusses the history of epidemic sleeping sickness and endemic onchocerciasis in colonial northern Ghana from 1909 to 1957. Despite accumulating evidence of their serious impacts on the health of northern communities, and calls to action on the part of some health officials, both diseases were only officially recognised as significant risks when it was no longer politically possible to deny them. The particular histories of each disease, in the same region over the same decades, reveal two comparable and interrelated trajectories of neglect.

Employment with the Northwest Territories Aquatics Program: A Significant Life Event?

For over 60 years, the Northwest Territories Aquatics Program (NWTAP) has employed university students from southern Canada with little to no exposure to northern Canada to run seasonal swimming pools and waterfronts in isolated northern communities. In this article, we examine the impact that working for this program had on nine former employees’ lives and whether or not working for the NWTAP could be categorized as a significant life experience. We used thematic analysis of the data from retrospective semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires and identified four themes: (1) employment by the NWTAP enhanced the employees’ self-confidence, independence, and self-efficacy; (2) employees gained knowledge about Indigenous cultures in the Northwest Territories; (3) employees developed enhanced sensitivity to social issues in northern communities; and (4) the experience of working for the NWTAP strongly influenced participants’ career paths. Our analysis indicated that working for the NWTAP was a significant life experience.

Overview of surficial geochemistry and indicator mineral surveys and case studies from the Geological Survey of Canada's GEM Program

The Geological Survey of Canada carried out reconnaissance-scale to deposit-scale geochemical and indicator-mineral surveys and case studies across northern Canada between 2008 and 2020 as part of its Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) program. In these studies, surficial geochemistry was used to determine the concentrations of up to 65 elements in various sample media including lake sediment, lake water, stream sediment, stream water, or till samples across approximately 1 000 000 km 2 of northern Canada. As part of these surficial geochemistry surveys, indicator mineral methods were also used in regional-scale and deposit-scale stream sediment and till surveys. Through this program, areas with anomalous concentrations of elements and/or indicator minerals that are indicative of bedrock mineralization were identified, new mineral exploration models and protocols were developed, a new generation of geoscientists was trained, and geoscience knowledge was transferred to northern communities. Regional- and deposit-scale studies demonstrated how transport data (till geochemistry, indicator mineral abundance) and ice-flow indicator data can be used together to identify and understand complex ice flow and glacial transport. Detailed studies at the Izok Lake Zn–Cu–Pb–Ag VMS, Nunavut, the Pine Point carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn in the Northwest Territories, the Strange Lake REE deposit in Quebec and Labrador as well as U–Cu–Fe–F and Cu–Ag–Au–Au IOCG deposits in the Great Bear magmatic zone, Northwest Territories demonstrate new suites of indicator minerals that can now be used in future reconnaissance- and regional-scale stream sediment and till surveys across Canada.

Climate change and Indigenous mental health in the Circumpolar North: A systematic review to inform clinical practice.

Climate change is disproportionally impacting the Circumpolar North, with particular impacts among Indigenous populations. Environmental changes are felt in many aspects of daily life of Northern communities, including both physical and mental health. Thus, health institutions from around the Arctic must meet emerging needs, while the phenomenon remains marginal to their southern counterparts. In this systematic review, we aimed to review current scientific knowledge on the mental health impacts of climate change in Indigenous Peoples across the Circumpolar North. Seven databases were searched. Original peer-reviewed research articles were included if they addressed links between climate change and mental health in Arctic or Subarctic Indigenous Populations. After extraction, data were synthesized using thematic analysis. Of the 26 articles that met inclusion criteria, 16 focused on Canadian Inuit communities and 21 were exclusively qualitative. Being on the land was identified as a central determinant of wellbeing. Immediate impacts of climate change on mental health were felt through restricted mobility and disrupted livelihoods. Effects on mental health were further felt through changes in culture and identity, food insecurity, interpersonal stress and conflicts, and housing problems. Various ways in how communities and individuals are coping with these effects were reported. Understanding climate-related pathways of mental health risks in the Arctic is crucial to better identify vulnerable groups and to foster resilience. Clinicians can play a role in recognizing and providing support for patients affected by these disruptions. Policies sensitive to the climate–mental health relationship must be advocated for.

Paleolimnological perspectives on the shifting geographic template of permafrost landscapes and its implications for Arctic freshwater biodiversity

Geographic context matters when trying to understand how permafrost thaw impacts northern freshwater biodiversity in a warming climate. Most risk to fresh water from thawing permafrost is associated with abrupt thaw processes known as thermokarst. Lake sediments can provide a record of thermokarst landscape development and associated biogeochemical and biodiversity trends over long timescales, providing a tool to link thermokarst geomorphology with freshwater biodiversity. We describe how paleolimnology, with its inherent emphasis on long-term perspectives, can characterize the shifting geographic template of warming thermokarst landscapes and its implications for biodiversity. We suggest aligning thermokarst lake paleolimnological research with hypothesis-testing frameworks used by permafrost hydrologists and biogeochemists and by the Freshwater Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program and advocate for knowledge co-production with northern Indigenous communities. Lastly, we stress the importance of considering geographic context in the choice of study sites to ensure that diverse thermokarst landscapes are represented (especially those most vulnerable to warming) and that the fine-scale differences in limnological settings that influence ecosystem response to thermokarst stressors are accounted for.

The utility of drones for studying polar bear behaviour in the Canadian Arctic: opportunities and recommendations

Climate-induced sea-ice loss represents the greatest threat to polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774), and utilizing drones to characterize behavioural responses to sea-ice loss is valuable for forecasting polar bear persistence. In this manuscript, we review previously published literature and draw on our own experience of using multirotor aerial drones to study polar bear behaviour in the Canadian Arctic. Specifically, we suggest that drones can minimize human–bear conflicts by allowing users to observe bears from a safe vantage point; produce high-quality behavioural data that can be reviewed as many times as needed and shared with multiple stakeholders; and foster knowledge generation through co-production with northern communities. We posit that in some instances drones may be considered as an alternative tool for studying polar bear foraging behaviour, interspecific interactions, human–bear interactions, human safety and conflict mitigation, and den-site location at individual-level small spatial scales. Finally, we discuss flying techniques to ensure ethical operation around polar bears, regulatory requirements to consider, and recommend that future research focus on understanding polar bears’ behavioural and physiological responses to drones and the efficacy of drones as a deterrent tool for safety purposes.

Radon gas concentrations in on-reserve housing in two northern Manitoba First Nation communities

• Two northern first nations measured radon levels in on-Reserve housing. • The average indoor air concentration of radon gas was 174.7 Bq/m 3 . • Thirty-eight percent had radon gas levels ≥200 Bq/m 3 . • The study identified the need for culturally specific training. • Local knowledge sharing and culturally appropriate infographics are key tools.

“It’s Very Stressful for Children”: Elementary School-Aged Children’s Psychological Wellbeing during COVID-19 in Canada

Emerging evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures, including lockdowns and school closures, have been negatively affecting school-aged children’s psychological wellbeing. To identify supports required to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we gathered in-depth information on school-aged children’s and parents’ lived experiences of COVID-19 and perceptions of its impact on psychological wellbeing in grade 4–6 students in Canada. In this qualitative study, we conducted telephone-based semi-structured interviews with parents (n = 15) and their children (n = 16) from six schools in small and mid-sized northern prairie communities in Canada. Interviews were analyzed through thematic analysis. Three interrelated themes have emerged. First, the start of COVID-19 brought sudden and stressful changes to children’s lives. Second, disruptions to daily life led to feelings of boredom and lack of purpose. Third, limited opportunities for social interaction led to loneliness and an increase in screen time to seek social connection with peers. Results underscore the need for resilience building and the promotion of positive coping strategies to help school-aged children thrive in the event of future health crises or natural disasters.

How Representations of Inuit Issues in Parliamentary Committees Reveal a Specific Policy Dynamic

This article explores how Inuit issues were addressed and portrayed in parliamentary committees. More specifically, we investigated if parliamentary committees allowed Inuit to present their perspectives and priorities, given that they play an important role in all stages of the public policy cycle, including policy development, implementation, and evaluation (Winfield 2010). The focus of this article is on the 41st Parliament (June 2, 2011–August 2, 2015,  the last Conservative Party government led by Stephen Harper) and the 42nd Parliament (December 3, 2015–September 11, 2019, the first Liberal Party government led by Justin Trudeau). Quantitative textual analysis techniques were conducted after retrieving textual elements via the R software. As a whole, the theme of economic development was central to Inuit and non-Inuit participants during the 41st Parliament but was not as prominent during the 42nd Parliament. For Inuit participants, education issues were much more important during the 41st Parliament, while health and wellness issues received most of the attention during the 42nd Parliament. Non-Inuit participants expressed concern for the health and well-being of northern communities during both parliaments. This study provides evidence that the Trudeau Liberal Government’s rhetoric around inclusiveness translated into actions regarding Inuit political participation, as Inuit leaders were granted more time to present their perspectives during the 42nd Parliament. 

Are Engineered Geothermal Energy Systems a Viable Solution for Arctic Off-Grid Communities? A Techno-Economic Study

Deep geothermal energy sources harvested by circulating fluids in engineered geothermal energy systems can be a solution for diesel-based northern Canadian communities. However, poor knowledge of relevant geology and thermo-hydro-mechanical data introduces significant uncertainty in numerical simulations. Here, a first-order assessment was undertaken following a “what-if” approach to help design an engineered geothermal energy system for each of the uncertain scenarios. Each possibility meets the thermal energy needs of the community, keeping the water losses, the reservoir flow impedance and the thermal drawdown within predefined targets. Additionally, the levelized cost of energy was evaluated using the Monte Carlo method to deal with the uncertainty of the inputs and assess their influence on the output response. Hydraulically stimulated geothermal reservoirs of potential commercial interest were simulated in this work. In fact, the probability of providing heating energy at a lower cost than the business-as-usual scenario with oil furnaces ranges between 8 and 92%. Although the results of this work are speculative and subject to uncertainty, geothermal energy seems a potentially viable alternative solution to help in the energy transition of remote northern communities.

Infection of Plasmodium falciparum and helminths among school children in communities in Southern and Northern Ghana

BackgroundInfections of Plasmodium species, Schistosoma species and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) inflict a significant burden on children mostly in deprived communities in Ghana. Despite the deployment of malaria vector control and the annual Mass Drug Administration by National Control Programmes, these infections still pose major public health concerns in Ghana. Some remote communities which are hard-to-reach are not covered by MDA campaigns which is a major challenge to meeting elimination targets. Adequate data is necessary for formulating policies and strengthening interventions to mitigate transmission. This study assessed the infection burden of Plasmodium, Schistosoma species and STH infections among school children in communities in Southern and Northern Ghana.MethodSchool children living in communities in Southern (Ada Foah, Pediatorkope, Tuanikope) and Northern (Kpalsogu) Ghana were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. A total of 493 (241 males and 252 females) school children aged (2–15 years) were enrolled in the study. Stool samples were collected to screen for Schistosoma mansoni and STH infections using the formol-ether concentration technique and urine samples were also collected to screen for S. haematobium using the routine urine examination method. Plasmodium parasitaemia was determined from thick and thin finger-prick blood samples.ResultsOverall, the prevalence of P. falciparum, S. mansoni, S. haematobium, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm infections were 17.2% (95%CI 12.8–19.7), 22.6% (95%CI 25.2–32.7), 1.6% (95%CI 0.89–5.2), 1.2% (95%CI 0.78–4.8) and 1.2% (95%CI 0.78–4.8) respectively. Plasmodium falciparum infection was generally widespread in all the study sites with Ada Foah recording the highest prevalence (35.3%) and Kpalsogu recording the lowest (5.8%). Schistosoma mansoni was present in only two Southern communities with Tuanikope recording the highest prevalence of 70.3% as against 51.5% recorded in Pediatorkope. A total of 4.5% (95% CI 2.82–10.8) of the children were co-infected with P. falciparum, Schistosoma species and STHs. This occurred only in the Southern communities; of which combination of P. falciparum and S. mansoni were predominant (1.4%).ConclusionA relatively low burden of parasites co-infection among children only in the Southern communities was detected. However, there were a high prevalence of single infections of P. falciparum and S. mansoni in those communities. Control measures for the helminths needs to be restarted in the island communities with a high burden of S. mansoni infections and that of Plasmodium needs to be scaled up in Ada Foah where P. falciparum infections were high.

Intimate Partner Violence, Animal Maltreatment, and Animal Safekeeping: Findings From a Public Survey.

While research on the link between intimate partner violence (IPV), animal maltreatment, and the need for animal safekeeping has increased significantly in recent years, previous research has included samples of victims/survivors and service providers. The present study examined public awareness of the link between IPV, animal abuse, and the need for animal safekeeping. The study also examined awareness of services and supports and inquired about respondents' experiences with animal safekeeping in situations of IPV through an online survey that was open to the public. The survey included quantitative and qualitative questions and asked about three types of animals: pets, livestock, and service animals. Respondents were 176 residents of Saskatchewan who live in urban, rural, and northern areas of the province. Findings indicate that many respondents knew people who experienced IPV where their animals were also abused. Several respondents had assisted someone in planning for temporary animal safekeeping as part of their plan to exit a relationship when they were experiencing IPV. These results demonstrate the importance of "natural supports," including family, friends, and neighbors, for providing information, support, and assistance with animal safekeeping in situations of IPV, especially in rural and northern communities that do not have domestic violence and animal welfare agencies nearby. Findings also indicate public support for increasing services and supports for people who experience IPV and own animals, including pet-friendly domestic violence shelters and rental housing, to allow people and animals escaping IPV to remain together.

Schefferville revisited: The rise and fall (and rise again) of iron mining in Québec-Labrador

The impact of “boom-bust” industrial cycles and mine closure on mining communities is a subject of long standing in research on extractive industries. Relatively few studies incorporate a historical, longitudinal approach to the economic and demographic changes associated with these cycles at a community and regional scale. This paper revisits a series of classic studies undertaken in the 1980s of industrial cycles in the Québec-Labrador mining region of Canada, and updates them by tracing some of the impacts of the rapid rise and fall of iron prices since the early 2000s. Drawing from field observations, community interactions, and socio-economic data on several regional mining settlements, it considers the social impacts of these increasingly rapid industrial cycles on northern mining communities, as well as Indigenous communities. Using the conceptual lens of staples theory and political economy, the paper explores the influence of past episodes of closure and dislocation on contemporary industrial cycles in the region. It also accounts for the shifting institutional and political contexts affecting recent mining cycles, including the role of the state, environmental issues, and Indigenous rights. The results reveal that continued reliance on mining keeps these remote communities tied to global trends in iron ore and steel production, meaning they will continue to be exposed to the stresses and strains of industrial cycles to come. However, these impacts are experienced differently across the region, based on intraregional differences in local demography, economy, and settlement history.

Simple scoring algorithm to identify community-dwelling older adults with limited health literacy: a cross-sectional study in Taiwan

ObjectiveHealth literacy (HL) is the degree of individuals’ capacity to access, understand, appraise and apply health information and services required to make appropriate health decisions. This study aimed to establish...

People and Plants in Nunatsiavut (Labrador, Canada): Examining Plants as a Foundational Aspect of Culture in the Subarctic

This paper emphasizes the cultural value of plants in Nunatsiavut (Labrador, Canada), a self–governing Inuit region in the Subarctic. Via interviews with community members, we describe the links between plant usage and culture to understand the direct ways that plants are utilized for food, construction, gardening, and medicine, and to then link these uses to deeper cultural significance among three communities in Nunatsiavut (Hopedale, Postville, and Rigolet). Many plants were common amongst communities with a total of 66 taxa identified. About 75% of taxa were reported in at least two communities, corresponding to 95% of all responses. Edible plants were the most common reported usage, with emphasis on berry–producing taxa such as blueberry shrubs. Our study shows that a diversity of plants (i) support cultural activities; (ii) act as markers for historical events; (iii) highlight intergenerational exchange and valuing of plant knowledge; (iv) express the deep awareness that people have for their local environment; and (v) a medium for the expression of traditional values. The similarities in the plant responses among the communities suggest a shared body of plant knowledge. Our study supports the great cultural importance of plants in northern communities.

Valuation of Country Food in Nunavut Based on Energy and Protein Replacement

Communicating value across the pluralities of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems requires attention to economy and environment, food and wildlife, and the health of the people and that of the land. Valuation of distinct entities is always difficult but often essential to describe collective wealth and well-being, to quantify trade-offs, and to consider compensation when one is compromised for another. Here we estimate the replacement value of Nunavut country food by combining information on the amount and nutritional composition of harvested country food with the nutritional content and local price of store-bought food. Comparing the five-year average of energy and protein available in reported harvest to recommended dietary allowances indicates that 17 of 21 Nunavut communities harvest enough country food to satisfy the protein requirements of all community members. Nunavut’s country food system annually harvests five million kg of protein-rich food from across the territory, which would cost $198 million to purchase as store-bought protein, with a replacement value between $13.19 and $39.67 per kg depending on energy versus protein replacement and the inclusion versus exclusion of store-bought food subsidies. These valuations are higher than most previous estimates of local food value because they are more reflective of the energy and nutrient richness of country food and the high price of store-bought food in northern communities. The country food system is priceless in many, profound ways; better awareness of its energy and protein cost of replacement, together with the breadth of its nutritional and cultural value, may help to ensure local food systems are prioritized in northern food security and economic development initiatives.

Iñupiaq Knowledge of Polar Bears (<i>Ursus maritimus</i>) in the Southern Beaufort Sea, Alaska

Successful wildlife management depends upon coordination and consultation with local communities. However, much of the research used to inform management is often derived solely from data collected directly from wildlife. Indigenous people living in the Arctic have a close connection to their environment, which provides unique opportunities to observe their environment and the ecology of Arctic species. Further, most northern Arctic communities occur within the range of polar bears (nanuq, Ursus maritimus) and have experienced significant climatic changes. Here, we used semi-structured interviews from 2017 to 2019 to document Iñupiaq knowledge of polar bears observed over four decades in four Alaskan communities in the range of the Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear subpopulation: Wainwright, Utqiaġvik, Nuiqsut, and Kaktovik. All but one of 47 participants described directional and notable changes in sea ice, including earlier ice breakup, later ice return, thinner ice, and less multiyear pack ice. These changes corresponded with observations of bears spending more time on land during the late summer and early fall in recent decades—observations consistent with scientific and Indigenous knowledge studies in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. Participants noted that polar bear and seal body condition and local abundance either varied geographically or exhibited no patterns. However, participants described a recent phenomenon of bears being exhausted and lethargic when arriving on shore in the summer and fall after extensive swims from the pack ice. Further, several participants suggested that maternal denning is occurring more often on land than sea ice. Participants indicated that village and regional governments are increasingly challenged to obtain resources needed to keep their communities safe as polar bears spend more time on land, an issue that is likely to be exacerbated both in this region and elsewhere as sea ice loss continues.

Forest with broad-leaved species at the norther limit of distribution (Northwest of Russia)

Monodominant broad-leaved forests are more typical on the northern limit of their distribution as was shown in the Leningrad region. This feature distinguishes these northern communities from forests located in their optimum range of the Central part of Russia where forests have a polydominant composite on of their stands. At the norther limit, the vegetation growing on sod-carbonate loam soil is closer to the real zonal broad-leaved forests. The northern forests with broad-leaved species are sensitive to soil factors and temperature valueas was revealed by the nMDS ordination of 53 geobotanical plots. Despite the dominance of nemoral species in the forests in both the north and south of the Leningrad region, the diversity, constancy and abundance of species associated with boreal evergreen forests are higher in the northern part of the region. This is a consequence of the presence of a significant share of coniferous and small-leaved tree species in the stands and less nutritious and acidic soils also. A high proportion of edge-meadow grass species and adventive weeds are associated with recreation and park care activities.

Raising awareness and training professionals to assess climate risks to historic buildings and commence adaptation planning - Experiences from Adapt Northern Heritage

The European project Adapt Northern Heritage (2017-2020) was supporting northern communities to adapt historic places to the environmental impacts of climate change through community engagement and informed conservation planning. A risk management toolkit was developed to help stakeholders, caring for historic buildings and other places of the historic environment, to better understand climate hazards, impacts and risks and utilise this knowledge to commence the process of strategic adaptation planning. This paper focuses on the project’s stakeholder engagement to develop and disseminate the toolkit: Firstly, workshops were held at the project’s nine case study sites in Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Russia, Scotland and Sweden. Secondly, the structure of the workshops was compressed and simplified into training seminars, held in Greenland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Finally, digital modules for continued learning were created. The toolkit and digital modules remain freely available online. This paper discusses the workshop’s engagement concept, structure and techniques and how they were developed and utilised for the seminars and modules. The paper draws conclusions from this process and reflects on its transferability to related fields of activities, such as using stakeholder engagement to improve the carbon / energy performance or sustainability of historic buildings.

Pigiasilluta oKalagiamik: Culturally Relevant Assessment in Nunatsiavut

Beginning with a story of travelling between northern communities and the shared experiences of the researchers, the environment, and the animals, this research reports the perspectives of teachers, administrators, and parents on how school-based assessment practices impact Inuit learners in Nunatsiavut, the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area. To adjust to current global social, economic, and environmental challenges (Council of Ministers of Education 2018; OECD 2018; United Nations 2010), mainstream jurisdictions are centering their curricular content and assessment measures on competencies (Alberta 2018; British Columbia 2018; Council of Ministers of Education 2018; OECD 2018; Ontario 2016). Our results show that many of these values are already imbedded in community- and land-based experiences in Nunatsiavut and we argue that the development of assessment practices to capture competencies can help reveal the strengths in culturally relevant curriculum and instruction in Nunatsiavut.