Elsevier

Emotion, Space and Society

Volume 6, February 2013, Pages 14-24
Emotion, Space and Society

The land enriches the soul: On climatic and environmental change, affect, and emotional health and well-being in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Canada

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2011.08.005Get rights and content

Abstract

For Canada’s Inuit populations, the landscapes surrounding communities, and practices such as hunting, fishing, trapping, foraging, and travelling to cabins, contribute greatly to human health and well-being. Climatic and environmental change, however, are altering local ecosystems, and it is becoming increasingly challenging for many Inuit to continue to travel or hunt on the land. These changes greatly impact health and well-being. While numerous studies examine the physical health impacts of climate change, few consider the affective implications of these changes, and the subsequent impacts on the emotional well-being of Inuit populations. From data gathered through a multi-year, community-driven project in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada, however, it is evident that the emotional consequences of climate change are extremely important to Northern residents. Participants shared that these changes in land, snow, ice, and weather elicit feelings of anxiety, sadness, depression, fear, and anger, and impact culture, a sense of self-worth, and health. This article analyses the affective dimensions of climatic change, and argues that changes in the land and climate directly impact emotional health and well-being. Narratives of Inuit lived experiences will be shared through data from interviews, the concept of ecological affect will be introduced, and implications for climate-health research and programming will be discussed.

Section snippets

Introduction: home is where the affect is

Global climatic and environmental changes have become an ever-increasing international concern, with changes in weather, precipitation, temperatures, and ecosystems occurring at an unprecedented rate (IPCC, 2007a, IPCC, 2007b). Throughout the world, variability in local, regional, and global weather events is resulting in shifting wildlife and vegetation patterns, and alterations in food and water systems are posing significant challenges for humanity and nature alike (IPCC, 2007a, IPCC, 2007b,

(Ac)Climatising emotion, affecting climate

As climate change increasingly impacts numerous facets of Inuit life, culture, and livelihoods, many research studies have been (and continue to be) conducted to identify areas of susceptibility and vulnerability within communities, and explore opportunities to expand and enhance upon already present adaptive capacities and resiliencies (c.f. Ford et al., 2006, Ford et al., 2008, Ford et al., 2010b, Ford and Furgal, 2009, Ford and Pearce, 2010, IPCC, 2007a, Nickels et al., 2006, Pearce et al.,

Study location: Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada

Situated south of the Arctic Circle, at the intersection of the sub-Arctic tundra and Northern Boreal forest regions, Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada is the southern-most Inuit community in the world, and has a population of 259 people as of July 2010 (127 females and 132 males). Rigolet is one of the five communities that comprise the Nunatsiavut Land Claim Settlement Area (established in 2005), along with Nain, Hopedale, Postville, and Makkovik (Fig. 1). Nunatsiavut (‘Our Beautiful

Methods

The data for this paper were gathered between November 2009 and October 2010 by a transdisciplinary team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers from social sciences, epidemiology, and public health working as part of the Changing Climate, Changing Health, Changing Stories project in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada. This community-led participatory project examined the impacts of climate change on health and well-being within an Inuit context, with health conceptualised as

Voices and lived experiences from Rigolet, Nunatsiavut

In order to add to the theoretical framing of affect and emotions, and to further situate this work within climatic and environmental change, this section will highlight the voices and lived experiences of individuals within Rigolet, Nunatsiavut.

Discussion: climate change, affect, emotions, and health and well-being

For the participants interviewed in this research, the land is the heart of cultural and community life, as well as a source of health and wellness. The land provides sustenance, ancestral linkages, and the opportunity to experience joy, pride, happiness, and wellness through participating in hunting, trapping, fishing, or foraging, or just from being away from the community at the cabin. Yet, within the context of a changing climate, ice formation and stability, wildlife and vegetation

Conclusion: the affective dimensions of climatic and environmental change

Clearly, emotions and affect matter. They are fundamental to coping, to decision-making, to adaptation abilities, and to conceptualising changes in climate and environment. They are also fundamental to health and well-being and, as such, should be considered along with physical health in climate-health research and programming. The voices and stories from this research make clear the importance of including and considering emotional responses stemming not only from a changing climate, but also

Acknowledgements

We extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to the community of Rigolet and the many people who shared their stories, experiences, and wisdom throughout this project. Your willingness to open your homes and hearts to us has been most appreciated. Thank you to the three anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful and very helpful comments—the manuscript is the better for it. Thanks also to Libby Dean, Candice Elson, Liane Langstaff, Joanna MacDonald, Kathryn Marsilio, and Andra Zommers for

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