Arctic Exploration and Development via Cooperation

Needing to adapt to the unusual conditions of the Arctic applies to current economic and social development. As years have gone by, life in the Arctice has evolved. No longer do the semi-subterranean dwellings of the Inuit dot the landscape, nor does seasonal subsistence hunting sustain the economy. Instead, these old customs have been shoved into the periphery to be replaced with western habits. Now, timber houses astride concrete pads and tourism/resource-based economy are the new norm. These changes represent two major problems for the Inuit. Primarily, this shift is marked by a rapid loss of traditional culture. Statistics Canada reported that in 2011, 64% of the Inuit could converse in an Aboriginal language; down considerably from 70.9% in 2006 and 73.5% in 1996.