Making ice travel safe.
Sea ice is not only a hunting platform and travel highway; it has, for centuries, defined Inuit culture and identity. Now, because of climate change, Inuit are increasingly concerned about their travel safety and the impacts that declining ice conditions are having on community well-being. Specially designed technologies such as the SmartQAMUTIK and SmartBUOY empower communities to monitor their own ice trails. For the first time, such technology is being produced for Inuit communities by Inuit youth in Inuit Nunangat (Inuit homeland in Canada), and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit societal values and knowledge) is being combined with technical training for local residents to operate and manage SmartICE services in their communities.
The SmartICE team is represented by Trevor Bell, Shelly Elverum, Jenny Mosesie, Shawna Dicker
For a deeper understanding of Smart Ice’s work, please see the introductory video presented during the 2019 Governor General’s Innovation Awards ceremony:
