Arctic Canada - The Culture Cure

Bryson Syliboy is Mi'kmaw and Two Spirited. An outspoken advocate for both the Indigenous and LGBTQ communities on social media, he humerously refers to himself as "Bryson The Gaytive", and despite facing his fair share of detractors and haters, remains undetered. In this episode we discuss the challenges of being Two Spirited, the negative effects of residential school on culture, revitalization of the Mi'kmaw language, cultural appropriation, the use of racist symbols and more. Bryson's current Twitter handle is @ArnallLabrador.

Uqi Chuck Pizzo-Lyall is the recently elected Mayor of Taloyoak (formerly Spence Bay) Nunavut, Canada. One of a new breed of young, Northern leaders, Chuck and his community face many challenges in the Canadian Arctic. Chuck comes from a family of leaders. His grandfather, Ernie Lyall, came by ship from Labrador, Canada, and travelled the Arctic by dog team. He and Chuck's grandmother Nipisha, an Inuk from the Eastern Arctic, raised a large family and Ernie was a key interpreter and witness to many historic events in the Baffin Region over half a century. Chuck's father Charlie and Uncle Bill have played key roles in the politics and leadership in the Central Arctic over the years. Although wildlife and country food is still plentiful in the area around Taloyoak, the community faces many challenges. In this episode we discuss the cost of store bought food, maintaining culture and language, over-crowding in local housing, and what it takes to keep a community functioning in the far reaches of the Canadian Arctic.

Thomas Hoggarth is a professional lacrosse player with the Buffalo Bandits in the National Lacrosse League. He grew up in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada however his roots are North of the Arctic Circle in Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories. Thomas is of Gwich'in decent and proud of his cultural heritage. Lacrosse is one of the fastest and most physical team sports in the world however to many indigenous peoples it is of spiritual significance and a tribute to the Creator. In this episode we discuss Thomas's Gwich'in and Ojibwe heritage, his mother being part of the 60's scoop, the demands of being a professional lacrosse player, being a part of the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team at the World Championships, the spirituality of lacrosse and Thomas's growing status as a premier player in the premier box lacrosse league in the world.

Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories is a community high in the Canadian Arctic, situated on the shores of the Beaufort Sea. Five young Indigenous filmmakers wanted to do something to show their concern with how climate change is affecting the world around them. They directed and filmed a documentary called, "Happening to Us." The film has garnered international attention and the youth have been invited to present it at a United Nations convention in Chile this December 2019. This episode of Arctic Canada-The Culture Cure features an interview with one of these youth, Eriel Lugt, and examines climate change through the eyes of Indigenous youth in the Arctic.

Climate change is affecting the Canadian Arctic at a much faster rate than other parts of the planet. However the Arctic and its peoples have a long history of adaptation and survival. Dr. Isla Myers-Smith is a global change ecologist from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Isla has 12 field seasons under her belt, conducting research in the Arctic and Sub-Antarctic. Dr. Myers-Smith is known for her enthusiasm and energy and she has successfully brought together teams of researchers, including "Team Shrub", with whom she continues to conduct research in the Arctic. 

Dr. Myers-Smith and Team Shrub study plants and how ecosystems are responding as the planet warms. Using traditional tools and new technology such as drones, they are capturing change on Qikiqtaruk, Hershal Island in the Yukon Territory in Northwest Canada in and around the tundra biome. Isla returned to the Arctic in 2019 with the Greening Arctic Project, capturing hotspots of tundra vegetation change at landscape scales. This research is meant to fill in gaps between on-the-ground ecological monitoring and observations from satellites in space. It is the hope that this project can help predict how plant life will respond to the rapid warming of the Canadian Arctic.

In this episode we discuss the increasing size of shrubs on Qikiqtaruk and across the Arctic tundra, shore erosion, slumping, animal migration patterns, adaptation of the land and people, the importance of cooperation between science and traditional Inuvialuit knowledge, and what the future of the Arctic may hold.