Benoit Aquin
By Inconnu
2007-2008
Participation in International Polar Year (IPY)
At the end of April, the Institute received a positive response to a research proposal for IPY. The project, titled ‘Dynamic Inuit social strategies in changing environments: a long-term perspective’ is being administered by the University of Toronto. In addition to researchers from the U. of T. and Avataq, researchers from Calgary, Laval, McGill, Memorial and Western Ontario universities are also contributing to the project.
The research project is scheduled to take four years, with fieldwork slated for 2007 and 2008. The final two years (2009-2010) are earmarked for dissemination of the findings. The Institute’s research focuses on two Inuit sites likely dating from the Thule period (1300 CE to first European contact) and the historical period. Archaeological work is slated for the summer of 2007 on Drayton Island, a few kilometres south of Inukjuak. For the 2008 fieldwork season, the research team is to relocate to the Digges Islands, near Ivujivik. The Institute’s research team is led by Daniel Gendron and Pierre Desrosiers.
