Vulnerability and adaptation in two Communities in the Inuvialuit settlement region

Abstract

This chapter compares the Inuvialuit communities of Ulukhaktok and Tuktoyaktuk in the western Canadian Arctic according to the CAVIAR analytical framework. The comparison highlights examples of similarities and differences in exposure-sensitivities and adaptations related to subsistence harvesting and community infrastructure. Subsistence hunting, fishing and trapping on the land and sea ice continue to be valued activities for Inuit in Ulukhaktok and Tuktoyaktuk. In both communities, however, changes in seasonal patterns, sea ice, and weather variability have affected the health and availability of some important wildlife species and have exacerbated risks associated with hunting and travel. Infrastructure in Tuktoyaktuk is highly susceptible to damage due to degradation of permafrost and coastal erosion. The shorelines of the community are prone to erosion, particularly during strong storm events that have damaged buildings and roads in the past. A prominent difference in the capacity of these communities to deal with climate-related exposure-sensitivities is the diversity of their economies and extent to which they rely on subsistence harvesting. This comparison provides insight into the localized nature of vulnerabilities, and policies to support adaptation. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.