Inuu’tuti Baker Lake Basin Cumulative Effects Monitoring

The Program

Inuu’tuti, meaning 'life source’, is the name of a program focused on a more comprehensive approach to water monitoring taking place in the Baker Lake basin. The objective of the program is to create a long-term monitoring program which will identify cumulative effects in water. The information could be used to determine how to mitigate the impacts as development increases and climate changes in the region.

Inuu’tuti will include the five water basins of the following rivers: Dubawnt, Thelon, Kazan, Quoich and the catchment area that flows directly into the Baker Lake Basin.

The first five years of this 20-year program will be used to:

This program is a collaborative partnership between the Nunavut General Monitoring Plan Secretariat, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, the Kivalliq Inuit Association and the Nunavut Water Board (NWB). By working together and wisely using all types of knowledge, Inuu’tuti can gather the information needed to safeguard the waters of Baker Lake Basin, and to benefit the people of Baker Lake and all Nunavummiut.

The Vision

Inuu’tuti will use Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) and science equally. IQ will be a critical element and is needed along with science to provide information on the condition of river systems in the Baker Lake Basin in order to safeguard the waters of the Baker Lake basin.

New data will be collected to fill in gaps and to increase understanding of the overall river systems and of climate change effects. The community of Baker Lake will be actively involved in data collection through community-based monitoring which will be essential to the long-term sustainability of the program.

Why do we need a monitoring program for the Baker Lake Basin?

Photo courtesy of: Lisa Bachellier

Why should the community of Baker Lake be involved in the Monitoring Program?

Community involvement will ensure that Inuu’tuti addresses the needs of Baker Lake residents and incorporates their rich knowledge. The organizations and people who use, manage and research the waters in the Baker Lake basin will work together to gather the information needed to better understand the effects of development and climate change on the region’s waters.

How will the Community of Baker Lake be Involved?

The people and community of Baker Lake will be involved in determining their role.

Community involvement may include:

MONITORING STEP DESIRED COMMUNITY INPUT
Design science & IQ monitoring Observe changes in conditions; suggest what, where, and when to monitor
Collect data Collect local IQ and science data
Analyse data and distribute results Compile local data, inform community of results
Check data Validate accuracy and usefulness of results
Revise and improve Suggest improvements to program
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