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Decolonizing Pathways to Sustainability: Lessons Learned from Three Inuit Communities in NunatuKavut, Canada

Author

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  • Amy Hudson

    (Environmental Policy Institute, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G5, Canada)

  • Kelly Vodden

    (Environmental Policy Institute, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G5, Canada)

Abstract

Community led planning is necessary for Inuit to self-determine on their lands and to ensure the preservation of cultural landscapes and the sustainability of social-ecological systems that they are a part of. The sustainability efforts of three Inuit communities in Labrador during a Community Governance and Sustainability Initiative were guided by a decolonized and strength-based planning framework, including the values of Inuit in this study. This paper demonstrates that Inuit led planning efforts can strengthen community sustainability planning interests and potential. We situate the experiences of NunatuKavut Inuit within, and contribute to, the existing body of scholarly decolonization and sustainability literature. For many Indigenous people, including Inuit, decolonization is connected to inherent rights to self-determination. The findings suggest that decolonizing efforts must be understood and actualized within an Indigenous led research and sustainability planning paradigm that facilitates autonomous decision making and that is place based. Further, this study illustrates five predominant results regarding Inuit in planning for community sustainability that support sustainable self-determination. These include: inter and cross community sharing; identification of community strengths; strengthened community capacity; re-connection to community and culture; and the possibility for identification of sustainability goals to begin implementation through community led governance and planning processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Amy Hudson & Kelly Vodden, 2020. "Decolonizing Pathways to Sustainability: Lessons Learned from Three Inuit Communities in NunatuKavut, Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:4419-:d:364308
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Warren E. Walker & Marjolijn Haasnoot & Jan H. Kwakkel, 2013. "Adapt or Perish: A Review of Planning Approaches for Adaptation under Deep Uncertainty," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Paulus Daniel Jokhu & Cat Kutay, 2020. "Observations on Appropriate Technology Application in Indigenous Community Using System Dynamics Modelling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-12, March.
    3. Annika E. Nilsson & Joan Nymand Larsen, 2020. "Making Regional Sense of Global Sustainable Development Indicators for the Arctic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Brennan Lowery & John Dagevos & Kelly Vodden, 2020. "Goal-Driven or Data-Driven? Inventory of Sustainability Indicator Initiatives in Rural Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-35, October.
    2. Luciana Iocca & Teresa Fidélis, 2023. "Is There a Place for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Climate Change Policy and Governance? Learnings from a Brazilian Case," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Domptail, Stéphanie Eileen & Mörsdorf, Jessica, 2023. "The Need for Decolonizing Research in the Economics of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management," GEWISOLA 63rd Annual Conference, Goettingen, Germany, September 20-22, 2023 344244, GEWISOLA.
    4. Ingegärd Eliasson & Susanne Fredholm & Igor Knez & Eva Gustavsson, 2022. "The Need to Articulate Historic and Cultural Dimensions of Landscapes in Sustainable Environmental Planning—A Swedish Case Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Nicholas Mercer & Amy Hudson & Debbie Martin & Paul Parker, 2020. "“That’s Our Traditional Way as Indigenous Peoples”: Towards a Conceptual Framework for Understanding Community Support of Sustainable Energies in NunatuKavut, Labrador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-32, July.

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