Presenter(s): Selena Blick − Environmental Studies
Faculty Mentor(s): Mark Carey
Poster 142
Research Area: Social Science
In order to combat climate change, renewable energy sources must replace fossil fuels, and quickly. However, just like fossil fuels, renewable energy projects can create other environmental harms, many of which are felt unfairly by Indigenous communities. The territory of Nunavut, located in Northeast Canada, has a population comprised of over 85% Indigenous People. This community is currently reliant on imported diesel and looking to make the transition to renewable energy, but is hesitant about the ways that renewable energy projects, especially hydroelectricity, might impact their natural environment. This research will explore these issues that the people of Nunavut currently face in terms of energy use and renewable energy production and how Indigenous People in other parts of Canada have worked to resolve these issues. While climate change is a pressing matter, urgency can not be an excuse to mistreat Indigenous People or their land. By exploring how these energy issue impact Indigenous People, this research seeks to provide a better understanding of why energy projects need to be approached in a way that is both just and sustainable.