apputainaq - snow on open water

Indigenous Knowledge

apputainaq  ᐊᑉᐳᑕᐃᓇᖅ
'Where snow falls on or has been blown on open water, near polynyas or at the floe edge, but deceptive because there is no ice underneath, you can fall right through, a dangerous ice condition that is hard to see, but you can look for areas that seem a bit wet, always best to test with a harpoon.' (Sanikiluaq Siku Workshop, 2018)

aputainnar ᐊᐳᑕᐃᓐᓇᕐ
‘ᐃᒪᐅᑉ ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᑖᒍ ᓯᑯ ᐊᐅᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᖢᓂ.
Imaup ingirraninganut ataagu siku auppalliali&uni.
A thin layer of slush on the water with snow on top. Can be seen as a slight depression, but very hard to tell the difference. Dangerous! Occurs when the ice is breaking up due to the ocean currents. The slush keeps the snow from melting’ (Mittimatalik, Sikumiut Committee, Wilson and Arreak 2022: 95)

Proifile photo credit: Gita Ljubicic