The NRC's Arctic and Northern Newsletter 2024

Update on our Program Advisory Committee

It has been a busy year for our Program Advisory Committee. The committee met twice, in person in Ottawa in November 2023 and virtually in April 2024. With the change in the responsibilities of Martin Lougheed (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami), members nominated and chose Karen Kelley (also from Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) as the new co-chair. Welcome, Karen!

At both meetings, the committee had thoughtful and insightful discussions about research ethics, developing meaningful key performance indicators for research programs and the launch and subsequent management of our program's development grants. The committee heard about research highlights from the program's 16 projects to date. We are thankful for our committee's input and guidance at these meetings. The coming year promises more opportunities for these engaging and valuable discussions.

The Canada–Inuit Nunangat–United Kingdom Arctic Research Programme (CINUK) enters its third year

Have you seen the CINUK film yet? If not, you should! You can watch an English version of the short film about CINUK (YouTube), the English version with French subtitles or the English version with Inuktitut subtitles. Thank you to the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) team for producing this fantastic glimpse into the 13 CINUK projects and for the project teams for sharing such lovely imagery of their project work. Shorter, project-specific films are coming soon, so keep checking back for their release on the CINUK website.

In November 2023, the project teams met in person in Cambridge, UK, for their second annual scientific meeting, hosted at the British Antarctic Survey headquarters. Thanks to funding from UKRI, many project team members from across Inuit Nunangat were able to attend the meeting in person. Keynote addresses were delivered by Jean-François Houle, Vice-President of Engineering at the NRC, as well as Natan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Frances Wood, International Director at UKRI. A training event was also held under the theme, "How to be an ally in Inuit Nunangat: Governance, science and engagement." The training provided an overview of the National Inuit Strategy on Research and discussed the effects of infrastructure deficits on research, the role of consensus-based decision making, communications and data management planning and many other topics. The session was very well received. The NRC will be working with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami to provide similar training to a wider audience in the coming year.

Many CINUK teams are already thinking about what's next for their projects, whether this means advancing technological research, seeking new sources of funding to advance existing research or how to widely and effectively communicate their research results. Next year, we hope to be able to share these results and the impact the research will have on advancing climate change mitigation and adaptation methods in Inuit Nunangat and elsewhere.

NRC development grants

In November 2023, the Arctic and Northern Challenge program awarded 5 recipients with development grants as part of its first round of callouts. These grants provide resources for eligible Northern recipients to conduct community-level consultations to ensure local support for a project idea and to prepare for a research and development proposal in one of the program's 4 research themes: housing, water, food and health. Grants were awarded for the following projects:

• Northern Aircrete Domes Inc.: Project to evaluate the feasibility of a biogas plant for treatment of food waste and sewage water
• Northern Aircrete Domes Inc.: Project to establish a compact manufacturing facility for air-dried Aircrete, a lightweight and environmentally friendly construction material
• Nunavut Housing Corporation: Project to engage residents, Inuit organizations, industry leaders, builders, developers and educational organizations in developing and integrating energy-efficient and other building technologies
• Government of Nunavut's Department of Health (Kitikmeot): Project to establish reliable information, make available resources and publish traditional knowledge and research on High Arctic production of traditional plant foods, including information on cultivating preferred traditional plants and supporting food autonomy and food security
• City of Whitehorse: Project to purchase, install and monitor sensors for chambers and water and wastewater pipes to measure and record information on the condition of pipes

At the beginning of April 2024, we launched a second call for development grants. For more information on the grants or to request an application package, send us an email at NRC.Arctic_Northern-Arctique_Nord.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

Deadline for grant applications: October 4, 2024

Highlights of 5 program collaboration projects

We hope you will enjoy reading about 5 of our new collaborative research projects. In addition to providing access to NRC research laboratories in many cases, these projects bring together NRC research and technical staff with Northern and Arctic recipients, other research and academic organizations, and industry partners to address Northern-driven research priorities in the 4 research themes of housing, health, food and water. More projects will be highlighted in next year's newsletter.

ArcVR: Connecting culture and land-based healing using virtual reality to support Inuvialuit mental health and well-being

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the NRC's Medical Devices Research Centre are collaborating to provide Inuvialuit with immersive virtual reality (VR) technology that will provide cultural benefits for clients with limited access to the land for healing and help improve their well-being. This study will provide VR immersions to determine possible mental health benefits for Inuvialuit for connections to the land and to test the effectiveness of VR technology as a potential wellness tool in the North.

What has been done to date:

This year, the project team tested and purchased equipment, and an initial development environment was set up as a proof of concept and demonstration. Knowledge transfer documentation was put together and a comprehensive steering committee was formed. As well, a youth steering committee was inaugurated in February 2024, with representation from 5 of the 6 communities involved in the project. The first task for the steering committee was to select cultural sites for the immersive virtual reality environment. The committee selected 3 of the 6 sites. Reports from project Elders express optimism about the successful mental wellness tool in the region.

DehchoCyano: Monitoring cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in freshwater resources of the Dehcho region

Algal blooms have been reported in several lakes in the Northwest Territories' Dehcho region by community members, Dehcho Aboriginal Aquatic Resource Ocean Management and Indigenous Guardians. This situation has increased concerns about the presence of cyanotoxins in the aquatic ecosystems. This project, led by Dehcho First Nations, focuses on characterizing cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in lakes throughout the region. The project team includes researchers from the NRC's Biotoxin Metrology group in Halifax and researchers from Wilfrid Laurier University and Dalhousie University. The team uses a combination of sampling techniques in lakes during the open water season and is developing a long-term monitoring strategy for the region as well as local capacity for sampling and analysis. The team will share findings with other Northern groups interested in setting up similar monitoring programs.

What has been done to date:

In the first year of the project, 15 lakes were successfully sampled (14 accessed by float plane and 1 by road). Frozen filters were sent to Dalhousie University for DNA extraction and analysis. Results from year 1 indicated that toxin-producing cyanobacteria are present in several lakes. Results are informing sampling priorities and training plans for years 2 and 3. During the open water season of 2023, 3 Guardians were trained in sample collection. In January 2024, advanced training was given to a Dehcho Guardian at Wilfrid Laurier University and at field locations.

Rapid Retrofits, Healthy Homes: Partially fabricated rapid retrofits

The need to improve the energy performance of homes in the North and to decarbonize the building sector is high, yet progress has been slow due to cost, disruptions and a lack of skilled labour in many Northern communities. As Northerners strive to meet energy efficiency goals, the health and well-being of home occupants must be considered. What is needed is a scalable retrofit methodology that prioritizes efficiency, cost and occupant health. Earthrise Building Services Inc. is working with the NRC's Construction Research Centre to use a community-focused and data-driven approach to implementing residential deep-energy retrofits that will also provide adequate ventilation and a superior indoor environment quality.

What has been done to date:

The focus for the first year was on retrofitting 5 homes with new windows, doors, siding, insulation or ventilation systems during the summer of 2023. The project team obtained state-of-the-art 3D capture technology to create digital twins of these homes, which made it possible to create precise designs of mechanical systems and exterior retrofit solutions before moving to the actual retrofit work. Priority for contracts was given to First Nations contractors. A total of 2 of the 5 homes were successfully retrofitted by addressing the heating systems, insulation, air sealing and ventilation. Together with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, another 19 homes were added to the project for retrofitting, which expanded the original scope and will provide more data for analysis. The call for tenders for the summer 2024 projects was issued in February 2024. The funding for this project has made it possible for Earthrise Building Services to hire 2 additional staff, both young early career Northerners. The project has also attracted additional funding opportunities for carrying out high-quality retrofits in more Northern communities.

ArcticChar: Enabling better management and monitoring of a critical food fish in Kugluktuk, Nunavut

Arctic char from the Coppermine River are a critical food source for the community of Kugluktuk, Nunavut. This project builds on existing relationships and aims to answer questions from Inuit about movements of fish in the Coppermine River and Coronation Gulf. In a collaboration led by the Kugluktuk Hunters and Trappers Organization and with researchers from University of Waterloo, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the NRC's Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre, existing infrastructure for acoustic telemetry is being used to answer questions about fish migration and habitat use. Inuit fishers and managers will use the results to advance community-based fishery management practices, such as timing of harvest and harvest locations, as well as the local understanding of how climate can affect fisheries. A collaboration with the NRC will also make it possible to assess and improve the moorings used to anchor the equipment underwater in order to facilitate year-round research in Arctic river systems.

What has been done to date

The project team Inuit researchers and partners worked to track 56 tagged char and to tag an additional 13. The team installed and maintained moorings with 70 receivers that recorded transmissions from tagged fish in the Coppermine River and the Coronation Gulf. Early results show that water temperature, water level and daylight affect fish when they migrate into the Coppermine River. Tagging data are being used to learn whether char return to the same river to overwinter or move among different rivers of the Coronation Gulf. In the past, it has been difficult to track fish over the winter because moorings in the Coppermine River would be damaged when the river ice would freeze and break up. In February 2024, members of the project team monitored the moorings under the ice in the Coppermine River using an underwater robot equipped with a camera. The information they gathered should help with tracking fish during the winter, which could provide the community with answers about the habitat use and the overwintering habits of char.

PangWAS: Planning the future of water supply in Pangnirtung

The issue of water supply availability is a major concern throughout the North. In the past 4 years, the City of Iqaluit has faced 3 water emergencies, with 2 related to availability at source. The city's reservoir, Lake Geraldine, did not recharge with an adequate volume to ensure a supply of water throughout the winter. Other communities rely on rivers fed by glaciers, and because of glacial retreat due to climate change, this source of water is becoming increasingly precarious, as can be seen in Grise Fiord. Thawing permafrost is expected to have an impact on surface water in, as yet, unknown ways. Some studies indicate that surface lakes could disappear as permafrost thaws because water would seep deeper into the ground, forming larger taliks, which are the layers of unfrozen ground in permafrost areas. This project to study the Duval River is being led by the Hamlet of Pangnirtung with support of the NRC's Construction Research Centre. It will develop an approach that could be adopted by other Nunavut communities wanting to gain insight on the future viability of their traditional surface water sources.

What has been done to date:

This year, the project team focused on selecting and obtaining equipment, identifying the measurement point in the Duval River and installing velocity, depth and water quality probes in the river. The first stakeholder engagement session was also held. On the first day, 10 Elders and 3 high school students met in person, followed by a visit to the Duval River. On day 2, the NRC addressed the Hamlet Council and mayor, followed by a celebration for the entire community. In addition, a radio broadcast was held in Inuktitut and English to introduce the project to the wider community. The NRC also presented the project at the Northern Territories Water and Waste Association's annual conference in Yellowknife, with a representative from Pangnirtung in attendance.