PLACE

Odile Nelson http://www.nunatsiaq.com

What I Learnt:

Climate has a big affect on the Inuit people. Cold weather stops them from their traditions. And also environmental change affects their traditions. Climate affects things like peoples jobs. There have always been changes in weather and temperature, but today’s changes are big. The Arctic climate is changing and slowly the Inuit are changing with it.

The problem:

That the Climate of Kangiqsujuaq affects people and their priorities.

How we could solve this problem:

Build warmer buildings, put in more heaters, and have traditions indoors. Not outside where the weather will become a problem.

Study Notes

1. 1. Location-

-Relative: -Sweeps across the top of North America

-Covers most of Northwest Territories

-Absolute: -60 N, extends to 83 N

-Major Cities and their Populations: -

-Anchorage: 235,000

-Fairbanks: 25,500

-Juneau: 29, 400

-Whitehorse: 15,000

-Yellowknife: 11,700

-Inuvik: 3,400

-Iqaluit: 3,600

2. Place-

-Physical:

-Landforms: -Both mountainous and flat.

-Contains two highest mountain peaks

-Rocky islands found along coast of Alaska

-Lots of glaciers

-Northern most islands are lowlands

-Lowlands mostly frozen, but are very marshy when thawing

-Drainage: -Almost completely surrounded by water.

-Bordered by Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic Oceans

-Lots of the water is frozen, so cannot be used for transportation

-Rivers very important (Mackenzie River most important)

-Barges carry heavy goods and fuel to northern villages

-Climate: -Long cold winters,

-Short dry summers

-Like a cold desert

-Soil/Vegetation: -With long cold winters, soil permanently frozen (permafrost)

-Limits vegetation that can grow

-Soil does not melt evenly (becomes unstable, and uneven.)

-Causes construction problems

-In more northerly towns, permafrost affects water line

-Human:

-People: -Many Native People. Include:

-Inuit, Indians, Aluet, Metis, Dene Nation, and Non- Native

-Settlement: -Natives believed they were caretakers of the land

-Europeans believed land should be owned, claimed

-Occupations: -Fishing, trapping, hunting (few people in this industry)

- Farming (limited due to little rainfall and harsh climate)

-Mainly grow cabbage, potatoes, and lettuce.

-Wealthy in minerals ($1.25 billion)

-Gold silver, lead, zinc

-Drilling for oil and gas.

-Alaska’s main income

-Very little manufacturing (pulp & paper mills)

-Tourism (dying down)

-Few people in quaternary industry

-Recreation: -Due to cold climate, many enjoy winter sports.

-Hockey and sledding in winter

-Summers are warmer

-Enjoy sports like golf and field hockey in summer

3.Movement-

-Transportation: -High product cost due to difficult geography

-Water (boats)

-Railway

-Trucks and cars (less expensive)

-Air planes and helicopters

-Communication: -Far away from other regions

-Hard to communicate with other areas

-Television and radio available

-Trade: -Trade resources found in the area

-Surrounded by 3 oceans

4.Interaction-

-Main Resources: -Oil, gas, mining

-Resource Development: -Building stronger economy based on resources

-Consequences: - Ruining land when drilling

-Limitations due to environment: - Due to the harsh climate in the Far North the people are limited to activities and to traditions that they celebrate.

Problem: the Norwegian people are taking the Inuit peoples fish.

Possible Solutions: The Inuit could make a law that says the Norwegian people can’t take the Inuits fish.

I discovered that the Inuits are being taken advantage of and this should be put to a stop.