TakingITGlobal

59 # R I S I N G Y O U T H C O M M U N I T Y I M P A C T V O L . 2 T hroughout her life, Mia Otokiak has had the opportunity to be a part of different scientific investigations and explorations in the Arctic. Most recently, she took part in the Northwest Passage Project (NPP), a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project that centers on a research expedition into the Arctic's Northwest Passage. Gathering all that she has learned through her experiences, Mia decided to organize a workshop series celebrating the ecology of the Arctic, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, and youth leadership. "As a young Inuk woman, I have had the opportunity to travel, share my own experience, and grow my knowledge base through opportunities like the NPP, my work with the Nunavut Impact Review Board, and other learning journeys such as Ikaarvik, Ocean Networks Canada, and Ocean Bridge," she explains further. "These experiences have shaped my life, and my goal with creating this workshop series is to have these experiences contribute not only to my personal development but also to the growth and development of my community." Her project included two workshops where she integrated Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, scientific ways of knowing, and human perspectives to speak to Arctic ecology, specifically plankton and marine mammals, and how they, as well as humans, are affected by current environmental realities. As Mia poignantly shares, "Through these workshops and outreach, I hope to expand the community's reach, inspire young people in their own personal journeys, and share the beauty and challenges associated with a changing Arctic." Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in A Changing Arctic Mia Otokiak As a young Inuk woman, I have had the opportunity to travel, share my own experience, and grow my knowledge base... A #RisingYouth Podcast Episode featuring Mia and her project! A special thank you to Ocean Wise for sharing the #RisingYouth grant opportunity with Mia to make this project possible.

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