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The article discusses the evolution of a community research partnership defining the Government of Canada International Polar Year (IPY) investigation on the study entitled "Environmental Change and Traditional Use of the Old Crow Flats in Northern Canada." It looks into the history of environmental change, the distribution and abundance of wildlife and vegetation, the impact of the environmental changes on traditional food sources. It examines the environmental monitoring development program.

The settling of comprehensive land claims across Canada's territorial North has brought about substantial changes in governance. Prominent among these has been the establishment of numerous regulatory and co-management boards dealing with land, wildlife, and environmental issues. These boards were explicitly designed to bring significant aboriginal influence to bear in key land and wildlife decisions. To examine whether the boards have enhanced aboriginal participation and influence in these decision-making processes, factors such as the number and influence of aboriginal board members, the extent of board powers, the independence (financial and otherwise) of the boards, and the boards' willingness and capacity to incorporate traditional knowledge into their operations are considered. Overall, the evidence supports the conclusion that the land-claim boards represent an important vehicle for substantially enhanced aboriginal involvement in and influence over government decisions affecting the wildlife and environment of traditional aboriginal lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reflects on the industry perspectives on barriers, hurdles, and irritants preventing development of frontier energy in Canada's Arctic Islands. The Canadian Arctic Islands and intervening channels are rich in hydrocarbon resources. Interviews with exploration and development managers representing six medium-to-large domestic and multinational energy companies operating on the Arctic frontiers of North America show that the principal barriers to development of proven gas reserves are social and environmental issues and a hostile regulatory regime.

Reports on Bill C-42 passed by the House of Commons of Canada, an act respecting the protection of the Antarctic Environment in June 2003. Ratification of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty or the Madrid Protocol, designating Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science; Summary of the Act; Provisions of the legislation.

Comments on the incorporation of traditional knowledge called Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) in policy deliberations on environmental assessments. Criticisms of the GNWT policy by Frances Widdowson and Albert Howard; Definition of traditional knowledge by the GNWT policy; Other questions regarding the policy.