Northern Studies
This guide will assist researchers in locating information resources as they relate to the north and Arctic regions.
Polar Research Institutes
- Arctic Institute of North AmericaCanada’s first and longest-lived Arctic research institute.
- Canadian Circumpolar InstituteAn interdisciplinary centre and educational archive dedicated to promoting, facilitating and conducting research of the highest caliber throughout the circumpolar world. Includes the Circumpolar Collection and the Circumpolar Digital Image Collection.
- Scott Polar Research InstituteEnhances the understanding of the polar regions through scholarly research and publication, educating new generations of polar researchers, caring for and making accessible its collections, and projecting the history and environmental significance of the polar regions to the wider community. Includes environmental sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities of relevance to the Arctic and Antarctica.
Libraries and Archives Canada
- Libraries and Archives CanadaLink to their collections search
- Nations to Nations: Indigenous Voices at Libraries and Archives CanadaA free multimedia e-book featuring 28 essays and over 140 images. Indigenous staff at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) wrote the essays to offer personal interpretations of collection items such as journals, maps, artwork, photographs, publications and audiovisual recordings.
- Titles for descriptions of Indigenous-related archival contentLibrary and Archives Canada (LAC) adopted procedures to assure that records have titles for description of Indigenous content are culturally sensitive as a response to an action call from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- We Are Here: Sharing StoriesAn initiative to digitize and describe hundreds of thousands of Indigenous-related collection items in Library and Archives Canada's (LAC) holdings. This content includes textual material, photographs, artwork, maps and publications related to First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation, and comes from private donors, government records and published works
Government Resources
- Canada and the Circumpolar RegionsAdvancing Canada’s Arctic priorities involve many departments across the Government of Canada, both at home and internationally.
- Climate change in indigenous and Northern communitiesSupporting Indigenous climate leadership and co-developing solutions with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples is central to advancing reconciliation and self-determination.
- Crown-Indigenous Relations Northern Affairs CanadaCrown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) continues to renew the nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown, government-to-government relationship between Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
- Government of Newfoundland and LabradorLabrador Affairs Secretariat
- Indigenous Services CanadaIndigenous Services Canada (ISC) works collaboratively with partners to improve access to high quality services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Our vision is to support and empower Indigenous peoples to independently deliver services and address the socio-economic conditions in their communities.
- Map RoomFind a map or geospatial dataset about Indigenous communities or the North. The maps are available as web-based interactive maps or static maps that can be downloaded and printed.
- Northern AffairsCanada's Arctic and Northern Policy, Shared Arctic Leadership Model, devolution in Nunavut, improvements to Nutrition North Canada, climate change adaptation programs.
- Polar Knowledge CanadaResponsible for advancing Canada’s knowledge of the Arctic, strengthening Canadian leadership in polar science and technology, and promoting the development and distribution of knowledge of other circumpolar regions, including Antarctica.
Archaeology and Culture
- Arctic Studies Centre- The SmithsonianThe Arctic Studies Center conducts research on northern lands, environments, cultures, and people using Smithsonian collections and field studies to learn about the history and contemporary peoples of the circumpolar region.
- Inuit Art FoundationThe only national organization dedicated to supporting Inuit artists working in all media and geographic areas.
The IAF's flagship program has been the award-winning Inuit Art Quarterly (IAQ). Focused on the arts and artists of Inuit Nunangat, the IAQ is the only publication dedicated to the advancement and appreciation of Inuit and circumpolar Indigenous arts and is widely considered one of the most significant voices for Indigenous art in the world. - Hubert Wenger Bibliography of First Contacts and Observations Of Inuit/Eskimo PeopleCreated to replace the Wenger Anthropological Eskimo Database.
Environmental Issues
- Canada's Arctic Marine Atlasproduced by Oceans North and its partners, Provides an overview of the marine mammals, seabirds, fish and other wildlife that thrive in our northern waters
- Environment CanadaCurrent conditions, weather radar, satellite, jet stream, public alerts, marine conditions, historical climate data, and more.
- Implications of Changing Climate for the Arctic EnvironmentClimate change publication- Environment Canada Report- Last modified 2019
General Indigenous Resources
- Dehcho First NationsThe public government for Indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories.
- Indigenous peoples atlas of Canada This link opens in a new windowThe Royal Canadian Geographical Society, in partnership with Canada's national Indigenous organizations, has created an atlas that shares the experiences, perspectives, and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. It's an ambitious and unprecedented project inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. Exploring themes of language, demographics, economy, environment and culture, with in-depth coverage of treaties and residential schools, these are stories of Canada's Indigenous Peoples, told in detailed maps and rich narratives.
- Native LandWe strive to map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages across the world in a way that goes beyond colonial ways of thinking in order to better represent how Indigenous people want to see themselves. We provide educational resources to correct the way that people speak about colonialism and indigeneity, and to encourage territory awareness in everyday speech and action.
- Atiku: The Northern and Arctic Studies PortalAtiku features the best international documentary resources for research on the North and the Arctic, presented in 3 thematic collections and 6 collections by types of documents from the collaboration of 6 Quebec universities and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.
International Issues
- Arctic CircleArctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic and our Planet. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan.
Mineral Resources
- Hydrocarbon Impacts DatabaseThis website lets you search the Hydrocarbon Impacts (HI) database, which describes 9000 publications and research projects about the environmental impacts, socio-economic effects and regulation of hydrocarbon exploration, development and transportation in northern Canada.
- Mining and Minerals in NunavutIncludes resources for Nunavut Mining and Explorations, Management of Mineral Rights in Nunavut, a map outlining the administration of mining rights in Nunavut, a map of mineral claims and more.
- Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation ProgramThis program manages the remediation of 8 abandoned mines in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Abandoned mines present risks to the environment and human health and safety but these are currently being managed through ongoing care and maintenance activities at the sites. - Western Indigenous Pipeline GroupThe Western Indigenous Pipeline Group (WIPG) is a wholly owned Indigenous company led by Chiefs and community leaders, which represents the communities impacted by Trans Mountain Pipeline and Expansion (TMEP) (collectively, Trans Mountain) in B.C. and Alberta.
- Last Updated: Jan 4, 2024 1:22 PM
- URL: https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/guides/north
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Subjects: Northern Studies