Empowering Informed Ice Travel for Indigenous Communities
Providing training to effectively monitor sea-ice conditions in support of more informed travel on ice.
Project Overview
Updated January 28, 2025.
The Problem
Climate change is causing landfast sea ice in the Canadian North to be thinner, form later and break up earlier, resulting in increasingly dangerous over-ice travel that compromises food security and physical and mental health of Inuit in Arctic communities. For Inuit, sea ice is not only a hunting platform and winter highway; it is a fundamental part of their identity and culture.
How We Are Solving It
SmartICE operates the world’s first set of climate change adaptation tools to integrate traditional knowledge of ice with advanced data acquisition, remote monitoring technology and earth observation mapping. Their ice-monitoring technology utilizes SmartBUOYS: stationary sensors inserted into the ice to measure ice thickness and snow using thermistors. Additionally, SmartQAMUTIKs/SmartKAMUTIKs (incorporating both dialect spellings all other regions of Inuit Nunangat and the Nunatsiavut region), are sled-based sensors towed behind snowmobiles to provide real-time ice and snow thickness measurements to the operator along community trails.
SmartICE offers learning and employment opportunities under this dedicated program for northern community members. Participants are trained to safely and effectively monitor sea-ice conditions in support of more informed ice travel for Indigenous communities in northern Canada.
The Result
In 2023, DIGITAL’s co-investment supported the training of just under 35 residents across Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Taloyoak, Kugluktuk, Kinngait and Iqualuit in equipment operations and mapping of safe ice paths. The project provided a unique, community-based approach to employment readiness, digital skilling and geomatics training so that residents don’t have to leave their communities for training. Participants benefited both from SmartICE training and their community knowledge holders to enable more informed ice travel through the combination of both technology and traditional and local knowledge.
In 2025, we announced our continued co-investment to support the delivery of training in 14 Indigenous communities across Northern Canada, supporting community members in safely and effectively monitoring sea-ice conditions and creating employment opportunities for over 75 residents. This continued support will also help pilot curriculum for advanced training to accomplished Inuit knowledge coordinators.
