Interview Questions for
The Land is Changing: Stories from Across the North

For High School:

Essential Interview Questions (ask these first)
Name of person being interviewed:
Relation to you:
Age:
Culture of the person being interviewed: for example, Inuit, Dene, Inuvialuit, First Nation and from what Nation, Southerner

What is interviewee’s connection to the land: e.g.,

Have you lived on the land, or
Have you hunted and fished on the land, or
Have you lived in town but gone out on trips on the land?
Describe your favorite place.
What do you love to do most on the land?
Have you worked on the land?

Pick one or two questions from each category, or choose one topic on which to focus.

Introductory Questions
Have you noticed that the climate is changing?
How has the weather changed since you were a child?
Has the climate changed during your lifetime? How has the climate changed?

Questions about the changes to the animals
What changes have you noticed in wildlife numbers and movement that you think have been caused by changes in the climate?
Are animals behaving differently due to climate change? If so, how?

Questions about how climate change affects their lifestyle
Is traveling on the land harder or more unpredictable now than years ago?
How has the changing climate affected your travel on the land?
How has the changing climate affected hunting and fishing?
What challenges are you faced with now, that are different from when you were a child?
What concerns do you have regarding the future?
What differences do you notice? Is there more snow, less snow, more storms, fewer storms? Is it warmer or colder? …
Are there different species of fish, or birds or insects in our region? Why or why not?
What changes are you seeing on the land?
Have you heard any stories from anyone who has had new challenges traveling on the land because of changes in climate?
What new things do you have to pay attention to now that you didn’t have to years ago?
How is the changing climate affecting your lifestyle?

Questions about the future
What are your concerns for the future with regards to climate change?
What are your concerns for future generations if the climate continues to change? How do you feel the animals will be affected if the climate keeps changing as it is?
What lifestyle changes have you made to adapt to the changes that are happening on the land?
Do you notice people around you making changes in order to adapt to the changes in climate?
What steps should we take to protect our air, land, water and sea? How can be better caretakers of our world? What do you want to tell other children across the north?

Or

Have the student ask questions that address his or her own concerns.
Have students compose questions themselves.

Intermediate Questions:

Essential questions for the interview: (ask these first)
Name of person being interviewed:
Relation to you:
Age:
What culture is the interviewee from: e.g. Inuit, Dene, Inuvialuit, First Nation and from what Nation

Ask interviewee about his or her connection to the land: for example,

Have you lived on the land?
Have you hunted and fished on the land?
Have you lived in town but gone out on trips on the land?
Describe your favorite place.
What do you love to do most on the land?
Have you worked on the land?

For the interview have students pick one or two questions from each category, or if they prefer they could choose one topic on which to focus.

Introductory Questions
Have you noticed changes in the climate?
How has the weather changed since you were a child?
How has the climate changed during your lifetime?

Questions about changes to animals
What changes have you noticed in the number of animals and how they move across the land or on the ice?
Have these changes been caused by changes in the climate?
Are animals behaving differently? If so, how?

Questions about how climate affects their lifestyle
Is traveling on the land harder or more dangerous now than years ago?
Is hunting and fishing more difficult now or less difficult?
How is life different for you now than when you were a child?

Do you notice any differences such as more snow, less snow, more storms, fewer storms? Is it warmer or colder?
Are there different kinds of fish, or birds or insects in the north? Do you think this is caused by changes in climate?
What changes are you seeing on the land?
Do you have any interesting stories about people traveling on the land because of changes in climate?
Is travel more difficult now or less difficult than when you were a child? How?
How is the climate changing your life?

Questions about the future
Are you worried about the future and changes to the climate?
What are your concerns for children if the climate continues to change?
Will animals be hurt if the climate keeps changing as it is?
Do you notice people around you making changes because the climate is changing?
What should we do to take care of the air, land, water and sea? How can we take better care of our world? What do you want to tell other children across the north?

N.B. Really keen or bright students may prefer to make up their own questions.

Primary:

Essential questions for the interview: (ask these first)
Name of person being interviewed:
Relation to you:
Age:
What does the person do?

Ask the student to choose three or four of these questions for the interview.

How has the weather changed from when you were little?
How does the weather affect the animals?
Do you know any animals that are affected by the weather?
If the weather keeps changing, what will happen to the animals?
Is it different now when people travel on the land compared to when you were little?
Has the ice and snow changed?
Is the winter warmer or colder from when you were little?
Does spring come sooner or later?
Is there less ice in the ocean?
Has hunting changed?
Are there fewer animals than before?
What should we do to take care of the earth?

Example of questions students from Primary Grades can take to interview:

Name of Student:
Name of the person you are interviewing:
Relation to you:
Age:
What does the person do?

Choose three or four of these questions to ask the person that you are going to interview.

How has the weather changed from when you were little?
How does the weather affect the animals?
Do you know any animals that are affected by the weather?
If the weather keeps changing, what will happen to the animals?
Is it different now when people travel on the land compared to when you were little?
Has the ice and snow changed?
Is the winter warmer or colder from when you were little?
Does spring come sooner or later?
Is there less ice in the ocean?
Has hunting changed?
Are there fewer animals than before?
What should we do to take care of the earth?