Sustainable Developmeat for Canada's Arctic and Sub-arctic

140 Pages·2000·8.55 MB·English

Sustainable Developmeat for Canada's Arctic and Sub-arctic
Communitiw: A Case Study of Churchill, Manitoba
BY
Steven Timothy Newton
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graâuatc Studies of the Ui~versityo f
Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requinments for the degree of
Mirter of Nahiml Reaormr Mmrpment
Nanual Resourccs Institute
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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Sustainable Development for Canada's Arctic and Sub-arctic Communides:
A Case Study of Churchili, Manitoba
Steven Timothy Newton
A ThesidPracticum aubmitted to the Facdty of Craduite Shidkr of The University
of Manitoba in partiil fuWLwnt of the rquirements of the degree
of
Maater of Nahiral Resources Management
STEVEN TIMOTHY NEWTON O 2000
Pedssion brc ben pinteà to the Libnry of The University of Manitoba to lend or seU
copies of thic thcdr/pricticum, to the Nadooal Llbriry of Canada to microfilm thh
thealdpractlcim and to lend or WU copie, of the am, and to Diswrtitionr Abstracts
Interiutioiul to publlrb an ibrtrrct of thia thclls/ptactieum.
The author mtm, otber pubiication rights, and neithtr thia thcdrlpricticum nor extensive
exmeta h m It mry k priattâ or othernlr rtpmductd without the author'c writttn
permisaion.
Canada's Oceam Act (1997) promotes the n d fo r the sustainable development
of oceans and their resources. Coastal cornrnunities arc an integral wmponent of
Canada's oceans' and therefore need to be considercd under the Act. Many of Canada's
northem coaslel comunities shm chamteristics such as isolation, high aboriginal
rcprcsentation, high unemployment, and susceptibility to climatc change, which will have
a strong bcaring on how sustainable development should k prornotd. The purpose of
this resetuch was to develop a bettcr understanding of the nlationsbip ktween
sustainable development and characteristics specific to n o h mc oastal communities.
Using Churchill, Manitoba as a case study, the researcber 8I18i1yzed the environmental,
social and cwnomjc aspects of sustainable development h mth e perspective of a small
sub-arctic coastal community.
This nscsrch was baseci on litcratutc nviews, mapping and interviews with local
tow~lspdople( n=54). A kkcasting fiamewock was \wd to evaluaft the data, and
concentric rings were developcâ to illustrate annual social, cconomic and environmentai
activities. The establishment of the Nunavut Settlemcnt Region, inci#ised tourism and
Port expansion an ushering in a new set of oppommities for the Town. Howevcr, some
conams wen identified with respect to the social, economic and environmental aspects
of Churchill. Environmental wncems includd tundra vehicle damage, and the
environmental impact of former military dumps, denlict buildings and grave1 pits. Key
social concems included alcohol abuse in the community and a lack of sufficient youth
prograrns. Economic concerns included the development of shoulder seasons and the
firturc economic viability of the Hudson Bay Port Company. In conclusion, the Oceanî
Act and contributions hom this study may help to ensure that social, economic and
environmental activities in Churchill adhere to the principles of sustainable development.
Acknowlednements
The reseanih for this thesis tunied out to be quite an adventure, fiom kluga whale
watching to explorhg abandoned rocket ranges and discovering relic aboriginal
communities. Thmughout this pmcess 1 have learned a great deal h mth e community of
Churchill and from those who supported me in the development of this pmject.
1 would like to begin by thanking my acadernic cornmittee. Professot Thomas
Henley, Dr Helen Fast, and Dr Richard Foster al1 provided invaluable assistance in the
design, cescarch and production of this study. Thanks are also due to the agencies that
fùnded this rrswch: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Northan Science Training
Program and the Northern Research Fund through the Churchill Northem Studies Centre.
Thank you to al1 of the residents of Churchill who graciously supplied their time
and information towards the completion of this thesis.
A very special thanks to my research partner, Ms. Sara E. Melnyk for her al1 her
hclp in wnducting the fieldwork and overall preparation of this document. 1 would also
like to thank Mr. Ryan T. Tombs for assisting me in the development of the concentric
rings, and the rest of the Monty's gang for the lunchtirne nfnshments.
Fidly, 1 would like to thank Amira Posner for her constant emotional support
Uiroughout this seemingly endless pïacess, and to my family for dl their prayers.
Sustai~bIeM mnt fw Camh's Arctic dSubatctic Commynitiu: A Case Stw& of Churchill,
To~ic Page #
Abstract
1..
Acknowledgements Il
Table of Contents iii
List of Tables v
List of Plates v
List of Figures vi
Glossary of Tenns viii
Chapter One: Int raduction
1. O Background
1.1 Purpose Statement
1.2 Rrrearch Objectives
1.3 Meth&
1.4 Organization of the Study
Cbapter Two: Literrturc R d t w o f the Theoretical Brab of Sugtrinable
Dwelopment, Commiini#iea and Frimmorb
2.0 Prcamble 12
2.1 Basis for Sustainability and Sustainable Development 12
2.2 Introduction to Sustainable Coaimunitics 14
2.2.1 Economic Sustainable Development 16
2.2.2 Social Sustainabk Development 17
2.2.3 Envininmental Sustainable Development 17
2.3 Community Self-rcliance 18
2.4 Sustainable Livtlihoods 20
2.5 Measurtment of Sustainable Comunities 21
2.6 Obstacles and Supports 22
2.7 Two Frameworks to Assess Sustainable Devclopment 24
2.7.1 The Sustainable Community lndicators Program 25
2.7.2 Backcasting With A Scenario 26
2.8 The Relevance of SCIP and Backcasting in Churchill 27
2.9 Summary 30
Chapter Thm: A Case Study of the Hiitory and Devclopment of Churchill,
Manitoba
3.0 Preamble 3 1
3.1 History of Churchill 3 1
3.2 Development Sectors In Churchill 35
3.2.1 Transportation 35
3.2.2 Industry 45
3.2.3 Tourism 48
3.2.4 Social 54
3.4 Summacy 57
Chrpter Four: Raulb and Analyria of Commuaity Perspectives
4.0 Preamble
4.1 Profile of the Respondents
4.2 Environmental Aspects
4.3 Social Aspects
4.4 Economic Aspects
4.5 Concentric Rings
4.6 Confirmation Visit
4.7 Summary
Chrpter Five: ChurchUI in the 21" Centuy: A Future Scenirio
5.0 Preamble 88
5.1 The Sustainable Vision 88
5.2 Componcnts of a Sustainable Churchill in 25 yuvs 89
5.3 Sustainable Tmsportation 9 1
5.4 Sustainable Tourism 94
5.5 Sustainable Industry and Business 97
5.6 Sustainable Socid Development 99
5.7 Backauthg to Identify Anas of Pnority 102
Cbrpter Su: Summa y, Conclurions and Recommendrtions
6.0 Summary
6.1 Conclusions
6.2 Recomrnendations
Penonrl Communication 125
Appendix Il:I nterview Schedule 126
Appendi. #2: List of Community Respondents 128
List of Tables
Table
1. Employment Figures in Churchill, Manitoba
2. Govemment Investment in Churchill, Manitoba
3. Hudson Bay Port Company
4. Changes in the Shipping Environment
5. Main Tourist Seasons in Churchill, Manitoba
6. Contirmation Visit to Churchill, Manitoba
7. A Future Scenario of Churchill, ManifOb in 25 Yeers
a of Plates
1st
DEW line facilities for the US military in the 1950s and 603, Iune 1999 34
Fornier US Navy building that still contains large amounts of asbestos, 34
June 1999
Site of the former Dene Village on the outskirts of the Town of 36
Churchill, Manitoba, June 1999
Grave sites of many of the Dene People on the Hudson Bay Coast, 36
June 1999
The Churchill Research Range, former site of Akjuit Aemspace Inc. in 46
Churchill, Manitoba June 1999
The Port of Churchill, owned by OMUTRAX Inc. in Churchill, Manitoba, 46
June 1999
New sign in Churchill, Manitoba showing the wide range of tourisrn 52
activitits, Junc 1999
Polar kaR interacting with tourists on the tundra vehicles in Churchill, 52
Manitoba, June 1999
New log hotel king built on Kelscy Blvd. in Churchill. Manitoba, June 1999 53
10. Inukshuk at the front of a ncently tenovatecl hotel in Churchill, Manitoba, 53
June 1999
List of Fisures
mure
1. Churchill, Manitoba on Hudson Bay
2. The Backcasting Ftarnework
3. Arctic Bridge Trade Routes
4. Gender of the Respondents in Churchill, Manitoba
S. Respondents' Age Groups in Churchill, Manitoôa
6. Ethnic Statw of Respondents in Churchill, Manitoba
7. Respondents' Years of Residence in Churchill, Manitoba
8. Employment Status of Respondents in Churchill, Manitoba
9. Respondents' Sectors of Employment in Churchill, Manitoba
10. Respondents' Number of Jobs in One Year in Churchill, Manitoba
1 1. Employment Tenn of Respondents in Churchill, Manitoh
12 . Respondents' Main Environmental Concems in Churchill, Manitoba
13.1s Climate Change a Concem for Churchill, Manitoba?
14. Comrnunity Recununendations for a Sustainable Environment
15 . Respondents' Main Social Concems in Churchill, Manitoba
16. Respondents' Recommenâations for a Sustainable Comunity
17. Respondents' Main Economic Concems in Churchill, Manitoba
18. Respondents' Optimism Conceming the Hudson Bay Pott Company
19. Respondents' Optimism Concerning the Rescarch Range
Suttainable îkwîtpmentf or 't Amtic M d S W t kC tmtrrnuiitks: A Case && of Ckhill,
20. What Types of Impacts Will Nunawt Have on Churchill?
21. Community Recornmendations for a Sustainable Economy
22. Concentric Rings Depicting Annual Social, Economic and
Environmental Activities in Churchill, Manitoba
M~itoba
vii