During a hike along the Kugluktualuk (Tree River), Nunavut’s westernmost community, north of the Arctic Circle, Emma Sutherland challenged hikers to identify whether scats belonged to caribou, muskox, or bear. She was the expedition’s marine biologist, working on tours with Adventure Canada, a Canadian travel company specializing in small-ship expedition cruises to remote and culturally rich destinations.

A Master of Science student through the Centre for Earth Observation Science at the University of Manitoba, her thesis project focused on historical satellite telemetry data, examining the migration timing and movement patterns of Eastern Beaufort Sea belugas.

“I was drawn to the Arctic not only by the stark beauty of its landscape but also by a desire to understand and protect the complex ecosystems that are increasingly under threat.”

Sutherland’s data analysis identified distinct groups within the population that migrate differently through Canadian, American, and Russian waters annually and utilize different areas. This aligns with observations made by Inuvialuit harvesters, who have noted varying movement patterns among beluga groups for a long time.

Her work is part of a larger research program on Eastern Beaufort Sea belugas, one of the world’s largest populations, estimated at 40,000 individuals. These whales migrate vast distances, but each summer, they gather in the Mackenzie River Delta, a rich, warm, and productive environment crucial for calving and feeding. Thanks to a long-standing collaboration between Inuvialuit and researchers, it is one of the most studied in the world.

“The success of these programs relies heavily on Inuvialuit knowledge and participation. Since the 1970s, Inuvialuit hunters have provided tissue samples, creating an unparalleled long-term dataset that enhances global understanding of belugas. The research has helped inform the management of Canada’s first Arctic Marine Protected Area, Tarium Niryutait MPA, established in 2010 to safeguard the beluga habitat.”

The beluga tagging program occurred at Hendrickson Island, near Tuktoyaktuk, NT. Researchers tagged whales there in the 1990s, 2000s, and most recently, in 2018–2019. Sutherland said these programs "have yielded valuable insights into habitat use, migration timing, dive behaviour, and reactions to ship noise.”

Although her research is based on pre-existing data rather than fieldwork, Sutherland has actively contributed to field projects during her degree. In the summer of 2023, she spent more than three months in Tuktoyaktuk, assisting in projects on coastal erosion, bathymetry, and marine mammal behaviour as part of the SINEWS (Sistering Indigenous and Western Science) program.

“This experience gave me firsthand exposure to the environment I had been studying remotely, deepening my understanding of belugas’ importance to the Inuvialuit way of life,” she said.

Living in Tuktoyaktuk allowed Sutherland to spend time on the land and waters of the Mackenzie Delta. Her conversations with community members reinforced her belief in the value of co-producing knowledge, where Western science and other ways of knowing complement each other.

“I spent time listening to Elders speak about changes they’ve observed over decades—shifts in ice conditions, animal behaviour, and weather patterns. This local knowledge provided important context to the scientific data, grounding it in lived experience.”

In 2024, she joined a field program on Somerset Island, a collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Florida Atlantic University. Observing beluga and narwhal habitat use and behaviour in person allowed her to gain insights that data alone could not provide.

“I watched beluga calves learning to swim, groups socializing, and daily movement patterns. Inuit team members from Taloyoak, Nunavut, shared knowledge on beluga and narwhal harvesting, reinforcing the importance of integrating scientific research with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.”

According to Sutherland, belugas across the Arctic experience climate change differently, depending on their environment and biology. Reduced sea ice creates new ice-free areas and alters prey distribution, affecting belugas’ movement patterns.

“Since EBS belugas rely on key prey species to fuel their energetically demanding migrations, shifts in prey availability due to warming waters can lead to unpredictable migration routes. Social structure and individual traits also play a role. Calves learn long-distance movement patterns from adults, and different social groups may follow different learned routes.”

She added that size and age affect belugas’ ability to navigate deep areas or thick sea ice.

“While adult belugas could potentially adapt by venturing into new habitats, younger whales and calves may be more restricted to shallower areas and thus less flexible in the face of environmental change.“

These shifts impact beluga harvesting for Inuvialuit communities. If migration patterns become less predictable, it complicates subsistence hunting and the cultural practices surrounding beluga harvests. Therefore, researchers and Inuvialuit knowledge holders must work together to monitor these changes and ensure sustainable beluga management.

While aboard the Adventure Canada ship, Sutherland delivered lectures about arctic marine mammal research, focusing on belugas. Many passengers observed a massive congregation of belugas—about 500 individuals—at Prescott Island. The group included a mix of adults, juveniles, and calves.

“Many beluga populations exhibit fission-fusion social structures, meaning they form and dissolve groups throughout the year. Seeing such a large aggregation in one place is not unusual, as belugas often gather in the hundreds or thousands when conditions are favourable,” she said.

During this encounter, she highlighted various behaviours—surfacing patterns, vocalizations, and interactions between mothers and calves. Her expertise in beluga ecology provided invaluable insights into the significance of such gatherings and the ongoing research that shapes our understanding of Arctic marine life.

Sutherland’s excitement was contagious as she explained that “field sightings like this can help validate findings from satellite and acoustic data, showing how science and observation in the wild go hand in hand.”

She often reflects on the urgency of this work. The Arctic is changing rapidly, and long-term data is critical for understanding and responding to those changes. She believes that by blending scientific insight with Indigenous knowledge, communities will be better equipped to adapt to future uncertainties.

“As climate change continues to reshape the Arctic, the collaboration between researchers and Indigenous communities will be more crucial than ever in ensuring sustainable conservation and management practices.”

Sutherland is especially interested in exploring how conservation strategies can better incorporate community-led initiatives. Whether through continued academic study or work with government or non-profit organizations, her goal is to contribute meaningfully to the stewardship of the Arctic environment and the cultures that depend on it.

Banner image of Emma Sutherland, Hiking along a ravine near the camp Somerset Island, Nunuvut. (Photo credit: Justine Hudson)