Where this project comes from ?
The Imalirijiit project began in 2016 through a partnership between local community organizations in Kangiqsualujjuaq (Nunavik), and a group of university-based researchers. Kangiqsualujjuamiut were concerned about the possibility of a rare earth elements (REE) mining project starting its operations in the upper watershed of the George River. The river is essential to the traditional activities of fishing, hunting and gathering and the community wanted to start its own long-term community-based environmental monitoring program to collect baseline (or reference) data before any disturbance in the watershed. This partnership between the community of Kangiqsualujjuaq and university-based researchers led to the creation of a Science Land Camp program involving youth, Elders, local experts and researchers. Named IMALIRIJIIT (“those who study water”) by the youth participants in 2016, this Land Camp Program uses a hands- on, land-based approach to share knowledge about water quality monitoring and environmental stewardship as well as encourage youth’s interest in the natural sciences.
The Imalirijiit project clears the misconceptions from both sides and creates a great relationship between the community and researchers.
- Kangiqsualujjuaq Youth Committee
Imalirijiit Project Goals
The Imalirijiit project includes objectives related to education, research and community goals. All objectives are connected and feed into each other in a complementary manner to create a successful and collaborative long-term environmental monitoring and science education program. At the heart of the project is the Science Land Camp which takes place along the George River.
The land camp gives opportunity to those who may not have the means to go out on the land and learn their culture as well as learning science.
– Hilda Snowball
