On the shores of Lake Tiktalik in Canada’s Western Arctic, the harsh reality of climate change is manifesting through rapid thawing of the permafrost. This unsettling phenomenon has led to the emergence of significant landslides, known as "thaw slumps," which can stretch several hundred feet wide and deep, creating massive craters in the tundra.
At just 17 years old, Jaden Cockney has started a challenging journey alongside his mentor, William Dillon, 69, to monitor the dramatic retreat of this ancient permafrost. Once a mere few inches below the surface, the permafrost is now being driven deeper underground, leaving Tuktoyaktuk vulnerable. Dillon’s team is meticulously collecting data on the changing landscape, documenting the erosion of their ancestral land, as they come to grips with the fact that their community could become one of Canada's first climate refugees.
For centuries, the Inuvialuit people have thrived in this area, yet now the prospect of relocating looms as the community faces the fierce realities of a warming climate and an increasingly aggressive Beaufort Sea. Tuktoyaktuk is precariously perched atop 1,300 to 1,600 feet of melting permafrost, raising pressing questions about their future.
As residents like Dillon and Cockney navigate the complexities of these changes, they must confront not only the physical changes to their environment but also the emotional toll and logistical challenges of possibly moving their community. The conversations on whether and when to move divide the community, emphasizing the impact that climate change has on Indigenous lifestyles and decision-making.
