SeDNA: Understanding Fish Habitat through eDNA is a community-driven project that will help safeguard Kivalliq Fisheries against challenges due to climate change or other changes in the North. Elders in our region have spoken of fish species moving into areas where they don’t belong, and this program uses both Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and cutting-edge scientific techniques to look at fish inventories in culturally and environmentally significant Nunavut lakes. eDNA, or environmental DNA, refers to the trace amounts of genetic material left as a living creature moves through an environment. Beyond collecting fish inventory data, this initiative will train community members by providing hands-on experience with eDNA sampling and analysis. This project ensures that Indigenous voices and expertise remain central to environmental monitoring in Nunavut. By building local capacity and fostering the next generation of northern scientists, it will create a sustainable, community-led approach to understanding and protecting freshwater ecosystems for years to come.
