Interview with Josh Komangapik – The first CAFF Arctic Indigenous Canadian Youth Fellow

August 12, 2024

Josh Komangapik, an Inuk from Iqaluit, Nunavut, is the first CAFF Arctic Indigenous Canadian Youth Fellow. Over the past months, he has contributed to CAFF’s Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, working alongside scientists and Indigenous Knowledge holders to implement the Arctic Coastal Biodiversity Monitoring Plan in Canada. In this interview, Josh shares insights about his fellowship, his commitment to giving back to his community, and his newfound interest in international collaboration.

Can you tell us about your background and research interests?

I have an undergraduate degree in geography, and when I first started my academic career, I was very interested in Inuit food security in the face of climate change—a passion that still drives me. My journey into conservation began as a summer student with Nunavut Territorial Parks, where I worked on heritage appreciation and interpretation. There, I was mentored by Leesee Papatsie, who introduced me to conservation from a community perspective, rooted in our own culture, history, and landscapes. This experience led me to a career in protected area management with Parks Canada and Environment Canada.

I then decided to pivot towards physical science and started my Master of Science in Environmental Practice at Royal Roads University. This interdisciplinary program focuses on sustainable ecological systems, including issues like contamination and ecosystem management. Currently, I’m working on my final project, which involves characterizing pHs and walrus tissue samples. I chose this program to return in my home community with my friends and family. Since there is no university in Inuit Nunangat, moving away for education can be challenging. Having spent half my life in the South, I felt it was time to be home.

Looking to the future, I’m not entirely sure what path I will take. This fellowship has ignited a passion for international work. So far, I’ve focused on the national level, and now I’m excited to see where this new interest takes me. For now, I’m trying to live in the moment, enjoy being a student, and embrace the possibilities ahead.

You've worked in protected areas management and you're currently doing your master’s in environmental practice, what drives your interest in this field?

What drives my passion is the desire to learn something that will benefit my community, not just myself. I want to give back to the Inuit and Nunavut in the best way I can, and it just so happens that this is the path I've chosen. In our communities, people grow up to be hunters, seamstresses, experts in weather and animals, etc. —each with their own specific roles based on their expertise. I hope that I can contribute in my own small niche.

What were some of your tasks and what did your work focus on during the fellowship?

My task was to work with CAFF and the Arctic Eider Society to analyze data within the observation-based SIKU app, where permissions have been obtained from project members. SIKU is an Indigenous Knowledge Social Network that facilitates self-determination in research, education, and stewardship for Indigenous communities. I was also exploring how apps like SIKU could be used as tools for future monitoring in CAFF’s Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP).

Fellowship kick off meeting at the ICC Canada office
© CAFF

What do you hope to be main outcomes of the fellowship?

It was the first time that CAFF awarded an Arctic Indigenous Canadian Youth Fellowship, and I think it was a learning process for all involved partners. I hope this initial fellowship can serve as an example that will benefit the next Indigenous youth fellow.

It's really important that Indigenous youth are introduced to these kinds of opportunities. I learned so much from this fellowship, not only from the project but also from being here, meeting people, and being introduced to new topics. It has opened up many possibilities in my life, and I really hope that many other young Indigenous fellows will be able to have these experiences.

I also hope to continue working with CAFF and the Arctic Council in the future. I enjoy the atmosphere and how things work here; it has been very different from my previous jobs.

The Arctic Council has placed an increased focus on engaging with young people. Why do you think it’s important for young people to engage in Arctic discourse, and how can institutions make this possible?

It's important that we're part of the discussions because we live here, and governance structures affect us directly. We have a lot of value to add. We should be part of the decision-making process, move past tokenism, and find ways to truly work together.

Interview with Josh Komangapik – The first CAFF Arctic Indigenous Canadian Youth Fellow

August 12, 2024

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