Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 24, 2007

CHESTERFIELD INLET - Victor Sammurtok teacher Glen Brocklebank and prize climate-change student Doriana Sammurtok of Chesterfield Inlet travelled to London, England, to wrap up the 2007 edition of the Cape Farewell project this past month.

Cape Farewell brings artists, scientists and educators together to collectively address and raise awareness about climate change.

Cape Farewell project student participants Doriana Sammurtok of Chesterfield Inlet, Amelie Tremblay-Martin and Hayley Rowden, clockwise from left, enjoy a moment together during the project wrap-up conference. - photo courtesy of Glen Brocklebank Cutline

The two attended a conference focused on the project and what more can be done to raise awareness on the issue of climate change.

Sammurtok was among 12 students from Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany who took part in a two-week voyage to research changing weather patterns and retreating glaciers north of the 79th parallel to the extremes of Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic on the 100-year-old Dutch schooner, Noorderlicht, this past year.

Brocklebank said the conference allowed the students to tell project organizers what they took from the experience.

"They didn't want it to be a case of the students go on this voyage and then, that's it, it's over," said Brocklebank.

"They want them to continue on with the project and pass on what they've learned to others so that they keep generating interest and promoting understanding of climate change."

Brocklebank said each student gave a talk and/or presentation at the conference.

He said one student gave a PowerPoint presentation set to music while he talked about what the voyage meant to him, while others discussed what they're doing in their school to promote awareness on climate change.

"Doriana (Sammurtok) gave the Inuit perspective on climate change and it went over quite well.

"She and I spoke about the way Northerners, especially Inuit, view the land and the changes they've seen during the past few years.

"The changes are affecting us in the North now.

"We see more polar bears coming into town and different species of birds in Chester, and the ice platform polar bears hunt on has changed significantly in Doriana's lifetime."

Brocklebank said Inuit know where their food comes from and see what and where their food eats.

"It's a unique opportunity for people involved with the study of climate change to hear the opinion of someone who sees their entire food chain without any packaging getting in the way.

"Inuit are beginning to see changes in their food now and the way they're able to provide for their families."

The British High Council was happy with this year's trip and wants to get more youth involved.

Brocklebank said one of the great things about the project is that it's science-and-arts based, which plays to the strength of Inuit.

He said the council wants to hear the human perspective on climate change, not just scientific predictions and calculations.

"The real interest in our talk stemmed from the fact we're so closely connected to the land.

"There's no separation, like there is for many of them who come from urban areas."

Brocklebank said a large number of people approached him and Sammurtok after their presentation to hear more about what changes they've seen in the Arctic.

He said it was dramatic for them to listen to an Inuk girl talk about changes she's seen in her lifetime.

"They were looking for an emotional perspective on climate change and Doriana hit them over the head with it."

Brocklebank said the Cape Farewell project was a fantastic opportunity for the entire student body in Chester, not just Doriana, because it focused them on the issue of climate change and trying to understand what's really happening.

"On one hand, we're saying our lives are really being affected by climate change in the North.

"But then -- as was illustrated by one of our students who went to the Canada-wide Science Fair -- we're the largest producers of greenhouse gases in Canada, per capita, because we're fossil-fuel dependent.

"While that's an example of how complex an issue climate change is, we're at the point in the North where we can no longer just tell people about what's happening.

"We have to show Canada and the rest of the world that we're capable of leading the way in bringing about positive changes, and kids like Doriana are vital to that effort."