FRANCK GAZZOLA, Inuit: the silent struggle (Doco/Photojournalism (2019))

In the High Arctic, Inuits are facing unprecedented challenges, out of sight. Traditionally nomadic hunters, Inuits have been forced to settle into a way of life extremely remote to theirs. Today, they already silently suffer from global warming which not only makes for a weaker sea ice limiting their outreach for travels or hunting, but also makes for a shorter ice season which is shrinking the hunting period and forcing them to purchase unaffordable processed food from the local shops. The ever shorter ice season is isolating even more some communities who need ice to physically connect with others (family members, friends...) during Winter. It is also already impacting the biodiversity and has created an overlap in the territories of the polar bears (North) and grizzly bears (South). With ice melting the grizzly have an extended territory to the North whilst the polar bears are forced to move South to find food. The result of this territory overlap is a ‘’new animal’’ locally called a ‘’Grizzlar’’ (contraction of Grizzly and Polar). These impact of climate change, unemployment, coupled with the isolation factor, and the lack/loss of identity are putting an immense pressure on the social issues. Alcohol addiction (bootleg only - alcohol is officially forbidden in these areas) or drugs are often seen as an escape and often lead to depression or domestic violence. In a place where darkness is almost total for 4 months per year, any change in one's lifestyle can set a whole life off balance. Once thriving in this harsh, isolated environment with extreme cold weather conditions, Inuits are already suffering from climate change and the imported comfort (homes, TVs, junk food) that slowly disconnected them from each other and from their traditional way of life which was once keeping them connected, happy and healthy.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.