Yellowknife (Oct 20/03) - Cooler springs, cooler summers and more ice floes are things Gilbert Thrasher, vice chair of the Paulatuk Community Corporation, and his fellow Paulatuk residents have noticed about climate change.

Although subtle, these changes are of interest to an on-going climate change study being conducted by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a national Inuit organization.

The ITK hosted two workshops on climate change in Paulatuk and Holman in mid-September.

During the workshops representatives from ITK and the Joint Secretariat in Inuvik listened to climate change observations made by community members.

Thrasher caught most of the two-day workshop in Paulatuk, Sept. 17 to 19.

"There is not so much concern. People are just starting to notice things like weather pattern changes," he said.

"We're noticing in the last year that ice floes stay around a lot longer in our bay."

He said the changes haven't affected migration patterns yet so hunters are okay.

Sim Akpalialuk was one of two ITK representatives to visit the communities. Akpalialuk, originally from Pangnirtung, Nunavut now resides in Ottawa where he works for the ITK as the climate change co-ordinator.

"All research in the past has been scientific. Nobody has done traditional observations," he said.

"Nobody has really asked the people before. The people are always here and always observing."

Everything from changing ice conditions and altered wildlife migration patterns, to plants and weather were discussed.

"One of the things we've noticed is that even though Inuit have not polluted their areas in terms of industrial pollution they've always relied on the resources of the land," said Akpalialuk.

"They are the first ones affected by the climate change and the climate affects the livelihood of the Northern people."

"What can be done? That is the big question." He said many people adapt to these changes.

"Rather than being reactive, we can be proactive."

Last year ITK visited Inuvik, Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk.

Akpalialuk hopes to eventually visit every community within the ITK coverage area. ITK represents Inuit in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik in Northern Quebec and Labrador.

Reports developed out of these workshops will be sent to the communities, schools and local organizations. The data will also be used for future ITK projects. The draft should be done by the end of this year, said Akpalialuk.

Akpalialuk also attended an NWT Elders workshop in Inuvik Sept. 22 and 23 to talk about environmental issues.