In Clyde River, Nunavut, no one knows the land better than the indigenous people who live there. For centuries, Inuit in the region have given their land and sea-ice thousands of place names, most of which do not appear on any map. While not readily accessible, knowing these place names can be key to survival if you find yourself in an isolated spot.
With support from the Moore Foundation, a new mapping tool created by Clyde River’s Ittaq Heritage and Research Centre hopes to bring together generations of Inuit knowledge and decades of science; and make that knowledge accessible to the community.
The online atlas, which indigenous community will be able to access later this year, shows more than 300 place names in the Clyde River area, and adds information such as videos of elders talking about the significance of places, their important features, and photos that younger generations can use to familiarize themselves with these points on the landscape.
The foundation recognizes the importance of supporting indigenous communities so they may act as stewards of the land they live on for generations to come. The synergy of technology and inherent knowledge in this mapping system will help pass on vital information that is crucial to individual safety and land conservation.
Canadian Geographic reported additional information on this mapping system: How a new northern mapping project is preserving Inuit traditional knowledge.
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