The Decibel How Labrador Inuit are adapting to a warming world
May 16, 2025
Join investigative journalist Jenn Thornhill Verma and fisherman Joey Agnetok as they delve into how Labrador Inuit communities are grappling with climate change. They discuss the critical role of sea ice in Inuit culture and the numerous Inuttitut terms that reflect this connection. The guests highlight innovative adaptations, like the SmartICE project, which melds traditional knowledge with modern technology to enhance ice navigation safety. Elder stories reveal both the cultural challenges and community resilience in a warming world.
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Flying Into Nunatsiavut
- Jenn Thornhill Verma describes flying into Nunatsiavut as an otherworldly experience with indistinguishable land and sea ice.
- Transport relies on snowmobiles because there are essentially no cars in winter, highlighting the remote conditions.
Sea Ice Is Thinning Rapidly
- Ron Webb and Gus Dicker conduct regular, manual measurements of sea ice thickness, revealing significant thinning compared to previous decades.
- Ice once 3-4 feet thick is now much thinner, demonstrating rapidly changing Arctic conditions.
Shorter Ice Seasons Impact Culture
- The sea ice season in Nunatsiavut is shortening, now marking fewer seasons than before due to climate changes.
- Traditional methods to predict and use sea ice are becoming unreliable, impacting cultural practices.