ACUNS 7Th Student Conference Proceedings
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Breaking the Ice Proceedings of the 7th ACUNS (Inter)National Student Conference on Northern Studies Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Main Entry Under Title: ACUNS (Inter)National Student Conference on Northern Studies (7th : 2003 : University of Alberta) Breaking the ice: proceedings of the 7th ACUNS (Inter)National Student Conference on Northern Studies / Briser la glace: 7ième Conférence (inter)nationale de l'AUCEN des étudiants en études nordiques / edited by Ryan K. Danby ... [et al.] ; editorial advisors: Milton Freeman and Mark Nuttall. (Occasional publications series; no. 55) Conference held Oct. 24-26, 2003, organized for the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies by the Canadian Circumpolar Institute and the Circumpolar Students' Association, University of Alberta. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 1-896445-29-2 1. Canada, Northern--Congresses. 2. Earth sciences--Canada, Northern--Congresses. 3. Native peoples--Canada, Northern--Congresses. I. Freeman, Milton II. Danby, Ryan K. (Ryan Kenneth), 1970- III. Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies. IV. Canadian Circumpolar Institute. V. University of Alberta. Circumpolar Students' Association. VI. Title. VII. Series: Occasional publication series (Canadian Circumpolar Institute) ; no. 55. FC3956.A28 2003 971.9 C2004-906273-5 ISSN 0068-0303 © 2004 CCI Press and the Circumpolar Students’ Association (CSA) of the University of Alberta. All rights reserved. CCI Press is a registered member of access©, the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Publisher Number 3524). This publication was made possible, in part, with support from the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS), the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the University of Alberta Conference Fund. Cover design by Ryan Danby (Background image: sea-ice break-up near Cambridge Bay as imaged from the Landsat-7 satellite, June 2002). Printed in Edmonton by Art Design Printing, Inc. Suggested citation: Danby, R. K., H. Castelden, A. R. Giles, and J. Rausch (eds.). 2004. Breaking the Ice: Proceedings of the 7th ACUNS (Inter)National Student Conference on Northern Studies. CCI Press, Edmonton. Breaking the Ice Proceedings of the 7th ACUNS (Inter)National Student Conference on Northern Studies* Edited by Ryan K. Danby Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Heather Castleden Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Audrey R. Giles Faculty of Physical Education & Recreation University of Alberta Jennie Rausch Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences University of Alberta Editorial Advisors Dr. Milton Freeman Canadian Circumpolar Institute University of Alberta Dr. Mark Nuttall Department of Anthropology University of Alberta *Held at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, October 24- 26, 2003 and organized for the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies by the Canadian Circumpolar Institute and Circumpolar Students’ Association, University of Alberta Conference Organizing Committee Heather Castleden co-chair, budget, translation and interpretation, VIP invitations, agenda Ryan Danby papers and posters, programme and proceedings, graphics Suzanne de la Barre accommodations, events coordinator Paul Frame advertising, publicity Nancy Gibson ex-officio member (current Director, CCI) Audrey Giles co-chair, budget, media coordinator, fundraiser David Malcolm ex-officio member (past Director, CCI) Sandra Malcolm secretary Elaine Maloney accounts, university procedures Cindy Mason administration, university procedures Jennie Rausch website management, registration Amber Whitford food and catering Preface The Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) was founded at Churchill, Manitoba, in 1977 and was incorporated in 1978. It is a voluntary association of thirty-five Canadian universities and northern colleges with northern programs and interests. Programs vary widely in scope and size, from full-fledged northern centres and institutes to informal groups of scholars with interests in the polar regions. The Association was established because of the need to link these scholars with each other, with northern communities, with governments, and with national and international agencies concerned with northern science and development through education, professional and scientific training, and research. The ACUNS National Student Conference on Northern Studies takes place once every three years and offers student researchers a unique opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with others who share similar research interests. It also presents an occasion to broaden one's understanding of the diversity and wealth of northern research currently underway at Canadian universities. In October 2003, the Circumpolar Students’ Association and the Canadian Circumpolar Institute at the University of Alberta organized and hosted the 7th ACUNS student conference. The conference provided an opportunity to celebrate ACUNS’ 25th anniversary as well as the impetus to create a critical space for emerging and established northern researchers, policy-makers, bureaucrats, and distinguished scholars to participate in several other northern- centred events including the ACUNS Annual General Meeting, the ACUNS’ Silver Anniversary Convocation of NSERC Northern Research Chairs Conference, and the Northern Science Award Ceremony. As the planning committee came together, we found that we all had the strong desire to communicate our passion for the North in a language in which we could all share. In short, we wanted to “break the ice” and hoped that all of the conference participants would endeavour to do the same. Thus, we decided to make the theme of the conference “Breaking the Ice: Transcending Borders through Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research.” The conference was attended by 145 participants, 80 of which were presenters. Thirty five Canadian students presented oral presentations and 30 prepared posters. In addition, this was the first ACUNS Student Conference on Northern Studies to host international students, and six oral presentations and five poster presentations were made by these students. We hope that future ACUNS conference organizers can find a way to continue with this. Countries represented by the delegates included Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, France, the United States and New Zealand. Of the Canadian attendees, 11 of the 13 provinces and territories were represented (all except New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island). The majority were from Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. We were also pleased to host 11 people from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon, as well as 3 high school students from Nunavik. In addition to the oral and poster presentations, a compelling keynote address from Dr. Mark Nuttall, and an inspiring plenary address from Dr. John England, a wine and cheese function, and a banquet with speeches from ACUNS President, Frances Abele and distinguished northern scholar, Marc-Adélard Tremblay, as well as several informal opportunities during conference buffets provided occasions for conference participants to share their Northern research and lives - their hopes, fears, and dreams - with one another. In breaking the ice, many of us were struck by just how closely connected we are to each other. We learned that we had conducted fieldwork in the same locations and knew the same people. We also learned more about the interconnections between human activities, our environment, and the organisms with which we share our planet. In short, we transcended the disciplinary and political borders that often divide us, while finding potential new colleagues, and reuniting with old friends. Every conference presenter was invited to submit a paper for these proceedings. Those who made oral presentations were invited to submit longer papers while those who made poster presentations were invited to submit short papers or extended abstracts. The collection of papers in this volume is representative of the diversity of subjects addressed at the conference. Topics range from fossil remnants on Axel Heiberg Island to collaborative tourism planning in the Yukon and from the influence of sea ice and ocean circulation on arctic climate to the differences between Inuit healing and western medicine. Yet there is a common thread that links all of these papers. This common thread is place – the North. The importance of such a perspective is often lost in an academic world that rewards specialization by emphasizing expertise in narrow fields. But the boundaries between academic disciplines are becoming more and more artificial in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. An interdisciplinary approach built on the foundation of place provides a platform from which researchers can transcend these boundaries. The ACUNS conference, and by extension these proceedings, helps facilitate this process. The papers in this volume were edited but were not strictly refereed. Many of the papers do not present final results but are reports on research in progress and, therefore, not yet ready for refereed publication. The process of peer review would have extended the time between the conference and publication of the proceedings and we felt that it would be best to have as short a delay as possible. In addition, many of the papers represent the first publication for an author. We felt that the publication of an edited, rather than refereed