Acadia University researcher, Dr. Mark Mallory, is working with the Nunavut General Monitoring Plan (NGMP) to collect, analyze, and report information on the long-term conditions of Nunavut’s environment, people, communities, and economy.

Mallory is leading a study of polynyas or hotspots, which are islands of open water surrounded by sea ice that remain open virtually year-round due to currents, tidal action, or upwelling and are traditionally used as important hunting areas for Inuit. 

“We want to develop protocols for environmental monitoring at these polynyas sites that will help inform training and provide advice for future projects conducting research at polynyas elsewhere.”.

Mallory is engaged in summer fieldwork to study two of the smaller ones, at Cape Vera and at Nasaruvaalik, Nunavut.

The NGMP, on behalf of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Planning Commission, and NTI has provided targeted funding to assist this and other similar monitoring initiatives.

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For more information, please contact the NGMP Secretariat:

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

E-mail: ngmp-psgn@aandc-aadnc.gc.ca

Phone: 1-855-897-6988 (toll-free)