The federal government has announced more than $3 million in funding for Inuit-led conservation and climate adaptation initiatives in Nunatsiavut.

There are four initiatives in total.

$1.8 million is going towards empowering Inuit families to visit culturally significant areas in Nunatsiavut to deepen their connections to the land, and to gather data about changes to the environment. That data will inform future conservation and land-use improvements.

$225,000 is being put toward a Guardians program, which will allow Nunatsiavut Inuit beneficiaries to spend time in Torngat Mountains National Park, stay at the Torngat Mountains Basecamp and Research Station, and connect with the land and people.

Nearly $706,000 has been set aside for research on changing sea ice conditions in Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, Rigolet, and the Upper Lake Melville region. Interviews are currently taking place to determine areas where sea ice conditions are unsafe, which will inform the creation of hazard maps that will be available on GPS devices.

And over $355,000 will fund a study of the sustainability of hunting wild food in light of changing environmental conditions, such as snowfall and vegetation. Specifically, the program will focus on ptarmigan, an important game bird, to ensure that the population is healthy and hunting is sustainable.