Iñupiaq insights into weather: the value of traditional science

This presentation will explore a few elements of traditional science of the Ieupiat people as evidenced in the descriptions of weather and ice in the Ieupiaq language.  The knowledge to be reported in this presentation is based on words used in Ieupiaq language and from other written sources.  Aspects of this knowledge, such determining weather changes and impending storms will be compared to current approaches to weather and climate forecasting.  There appears to be significant implications to the shift from experiential science to the scientific approach based on abstract principals and mathematical models, which will be reviewed. Perhaps of most concern is the loss of personal knowledge at the expense of the dependence on the “artificial intelligence” of computers. Deep culture (or knowledge), which is so closely tied to language, could be at risk of becoming obsolete if the trend continues. It is unclear how many of the traditional practices of observing and forecasting the weather will continue in the future, as modern technology continues to permiate the society.