Inuit Observations of Climate Change

WGBH/Boston

This video features changes in the land, sea, and animals that are being observed by the residents of Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Canada â many of whom hunt, trap, and fishâbecause of their long-standing and intimate connection with their ecosystem. Scientists interview the residents and record their observations in order to deepen our understanding of climate change in the polar region. Background essay and discussion questions are included.

Click to View

Notes from our reviewers

The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials.

May be used to spark discussion of how we know climate is changing and how it is already affecting humans. Showing this video could serve as an introduction into current warming trends, impacts on a vulnerable community, and discussing environmental justice issues. Can easily be part of a unit on climate, ecology Could be used as an homework assignment and have students put observations on a worksheet or do in class.
Video includes interviews from the Arctic Inuit community of Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Canada about observed changes in Arctic climate. Focus on collaboration between community and scientists studying climate change. Strengths: first-person accounts of observed changes and dramatic visuals of changes. Comments from expert scientist: This video does a good job of highlighting the role of local native knowledge and how this can form an important "dataset" in understanding changes in the Arctic.
Teachers need to place this video in a context, possibly showing geographical map of Sachs Harbour and polar amplification of surface air temperature warming. Complements other CLEAN selected resources about the Arctic. Accompanying background essay and discussion questions are found at this teacher's domain site.