April 28, in Chico, California, seems a far cry from the Arctic. Expected high today will be close to 90o F. We’ll be barbecuing and sitting by the pool. Much is in motion, however, that is hoped will create a long term link between the only school in Ittoqqortoormiit ( the village where we pick up last minute supplies for the field camp) and our local schools. Under consideration is an audio recording project to document the recollections of village elders in terms of climate change, ice flow patterns and wildlife population numbers. The World Wildlife fund has begun a project to train high schools students to conduct interviews, edit, and post the first hand changes to global climate as experienced by senior members of a community. If the school community is interested, I will train some students there, who will begin to conduct interviews with grandparents and elders in Eastern Greenland. If this is successful in Eastern Greenland, it may continue as a high school project in Chico, California.
Chico is along the Pacific flyway and several wildlife refuges nearby which provide resting and wintering habitat for arctic waterfowl. The impacts of climate change might contribute to altered numbers and survivability of these ducks, geese and cranes. It is my hope that Chico Junior High school and Ittoqqortoormiit school will begin communicating. The audio recording project may be a good way to begin.
vocabulary:
elders
Pacific flyway
wintering habitat
waterfowl
wildlife refuge