Inuit safety culture and its relevance to safety management in Auyuittuq National Park.

摘要

This article examines how the Inuit of Qikiqtarjuaq, Canada, perceive and respond to risk when traveling on the land and how this may enhance safety management in Auyuittuq National Park. Twenty-five interviews and groups meetings were held with community experts and park staff in 2007-2008. The way in which the Inuit of Qikiqtarjuaq perceive and respond to risk is better understood as their safety culture, which arises from a distinct socioecological context. This safety culture is tied to the past, maintained through relationships, specialized to the arctic environment, developed through experience, and connected to Inuit identity. For Auyuittuq National Park, the safety program follows a national framework with a strong focus on planning and reporting, the capacity of the local offices being limited. Since Auyuittuq National Park depends on local capacity to fulfill its responsibilities, we discuss ways to foster a better understanding and respect of the cross-cultural dimensions of safety.Digital Object Identifier http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2010.551533