Gold medal recognizes use of traditional knowledge

Use of traditional knowledge from the Aboriginal populations helped garner the Canadian National Committee for International Polar Year 2007-2008 the 2010 gold medal from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

“Understanding the traditional knowledge of the northern Aboriginal people allows an opportunity to capacity build stronger community-based monitoring of the environment in the north,” said David Hik, director of the Canadian IPY Secretariat and a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta.

The gold medal was awarded based on the fourth IPY being the largest ever scientific program that focused on the Arctic and Antarctica.  The participation in the project was extensive with 1,750 researchers, 900 northerners and more then 1,000 students working on 52 research projects throughout the north. Also part of the team was Marianne Douglas, director of the Canadian Circumpolar Institute and a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta. Most of Douglas’ research was conducted in the Canadian High Arctic.

“The IPY is a significant event because of the fact it comes along every 50 years. Canada has made great strides in advocating on behalf of the Polar region,” said Hik.

The IPY started in 1882-1883, but Canada did not have the scientific capacity at that time to be involved.  Over the years, Canada has become a leader in researching the geographical and environmental effects of climate change in northern regions.

 Canada has also led in the inclusion of traditional Aboriginal knowledge in the north and utilizing the participation of the northern people.

“Canada championed the concept of using Aboriginal traditional knowledge,” said Ian Church, chair of the National Committee for IPY, based in Whitehorse.

Involving Aboriginal Elders and community members with understanding and assisting the research in their communities was a collaboration that many countries had never experienced before.

“Elders and youth were involved with the projects in Canada; the communities were involved in the planning, execution, sharing and utilization of data,” said Hik.

The National Committee had a five-year mandate beginning in 2004 to complete the research.  The combination of traditional knowledge with the scientific necessities to study the northern environment will allow community members to become scientific leaders in their community.  This is a reflection on the significance of the gold medal.

“This gold medal portrays the hard work of the academics, communities, volunteers, researchers, funders and everyone that was involved in this IPY,” said Hik.

“I think everyone feels a sense of accomplishment and pride over what our large team was able to accomplish. We were also a little surprised to be recognized.  It is our hopes that this inspires future generations and as a result the medal will be displayed in a northern research centre,” said Church.

The next steps include continued analysis of the research data, along with maintaining the monitoring of contaminants, by knowing what and where to look.  The research will also be sustained through local Aboriginal populations continuing their monitoring of the northern landscape.

Photo Caption: Receiving the Royal Canadian Geographical Society 2010 Gold Medal were (from left) John Geiger, President RCGS; Hon. Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans; Ian Church and David Hik with the Canadian National Committee for International Polar Year 2007-2008.

Photo Credit: David Hik