Conclusions

Abstract

This book and the associated research combined different sources of observations (i.e. TEK and scientific) to study the changes in climatological conditions over the last 30 years in the James Bay territory. This process had two main objectives (1) identify what observations and meteorological station data could reveal about current impacts of climate change; and (2) how contrasting data sets can be combined to offer a more detailed and insightful view of the phenomena at play. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is a complex and dynamic system of knowledge, representations and practices linked to nature and the environment; it and scientific knowledge should be regarded as different but complementary knowledge that can be used to enrich themselves mutually. In the subarctic this combination can be used by offering additional base data on changes to meteorological conditions, environmental and sociocultural behaviour and by helping elaborate research questions and hypothesis.