1. "Where's the ice gone?" Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in an Inuit community Dr James Ford Dept. of Geography, McGill University

2. Arctic Climate Change Photo: J. MacDonald ACIA (2005); IPCC (2007) Observed change Dramatic projections Indigenous peoples vulnerable

3. My Research Characterize Inuit vulnerability to climate change Who and what are vulnerable? What stresses? Determinants? Capacity to cope?

4. Case Study Research Inuit communities

5. Igloolik, Nunavut

6. Igloolik Igloolik, Nunavut

8. Research: 2002 - 2005 PhD research 44 in-depth interviews with Inuit

9. Key Findings Changing biophysical environments –Increasing danger –Food security Vulnerability exacerbated by other stresses –Erosion of safety and survival skills –Weakening of food sharing (Ford, 2005; Ford et al., 2006, 2007; Ford and Community of Igloolik, 2006)

10. Research: 2006 - 2008 Postdoctoral research 50 interviews 7 focus groups

11. Key Findings Back-to back extremes –2005, 2006, 2007 freeze-up (Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

12. Key Findings Back-to back extremes Safety implications moderated by a number of processes (Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

13. Key Findings Back-to back extremes Safety implications moderated by a number of processes –Social learning: experience of change since late 90s (Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

14. Key Findings Back-to back extremes Safety implications moderated by a number of processes –Social learning: experience of change since late 90s –Local institutions: see paper (Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

15. Key Findings Back-to back extremes Safety implications moderated by a number of processes Food system still vulnerable –Constrained access –Difficult to offset with store food (Ford, 2007; Ford et al., 2008a, b)

16. Conclusion 6 years of continuous cc vulnerability and adaptation research Ongoing – IPY Using work to monitor developments in vulnerability and adaptation

17. Acknowledgements Funding: IPY CAVIAR project, SSHRC, ArcticNet, Nat. Resources Canada Colleagues: Drs Barry Smit, Gita Laidler, William Gough, Wayne Pollard, George Wenzel, Lea Berrang Ford Community collaborators: Celina Irngaut, Kevin Qrunnut, Harry Ittusujurat, John MacDonald, all 94 interviewees!

18. Thank you

19. Late Freeze Up Freeze up: 1 week per decade later 1969 – 2005 (Sign. at 99% conf. interval)