Foundations highlights the complex layers of the subsurface that play a key role in Arctic land stability. As air and ground temperatures increasingly rise each summer, permafrost thaw is exacerbated, and the integrity of these interwoven and interdependent horizons begin to disintegrate; the integrity of the root systems encapsulated by this once frozen ground, the above ground biomass and the columns of infrastructure lying atop supported by this rigidity. The equilibrium of water flow both surface and sub feeling the disruption, the ratio of water and ice walking a thinner and thinner line. The symphonic resiliency of nature as it adapts to these breaches, and the reflection of this resiliency within the hearts of all living communities.

“As much as both Aaron and I would have loved to visit the Northwest Territories to collaborate immersed in these landscapes, this collaboration has still been meaningful through various media and story sharing via email and video conferencing. Through sharing experiences, field photos, and research papers, I was able to develop a better understanding of the core goals of Northern Water Futures and Changing Cold Regions Network. It is no coincidence that these resources were already a familiar passion to me - research papers covering topics relevant to my graduate research, and field photos of wild and powerful places that I spend time in, yearn to be in, and always appreciate seeing more of. I reside in the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies, and I feel fortunate to live in proximity to the prairies and the mountains. I love that the both ecosystems share elements of the Arctic, and through my experience conducting fieldwork and recreating locally, it’s helped inform my understanding of the processes at play in the Northwest Territories” - Megan Leung

“I shared this field photo to show the colours of the organic soils and vegetation complexity of the tundra. In this photo we are using soil probes to monitor soil moisture of this organic soil. The soil moisture estimates were used in a study to validate and improve the retrieval of soil moisture for the arctic from a recent satellite mission.” – Aaron Berg

“This photo clearly shows the highly organic soil in this landscape, as well as the mosses and shrubs. What my eyes are drawn to is how the hint of frost on the vegetation really pulls out the contrast of greens and reds, and the sparse roots poking out throughout the profile make it feel as though the soil is boundless. As I was creating the composition for Foundations, I imagine as if I were there, with my face a few inches from this rich soil, and I try to imagine what it would smell and feel like.” – Megan Leung

“This a view over one of the many creeks in the Inuvik region. So many processes are shown in this photography including slumping and connection of this sediment in river systems, the expansion of shrub regions into tundra environments. Numerous arctic lakes are visible in the distance.” – Aaron Berg

“The scale of the thaw slumps in relation to the river channel is quite powerful, and the liquid like pattern of the slump scar. As you can see rafts of shrubs beginning to regrow in these slumps, they did not occur recently. The slope of the slump can help begin to understand the magnitude of sediment that was wasted into the river channel. Whether a mountain valley, rock canyon, cave, or tundra valley, I am always in awe of the way that water carves itself through the landscape. This valley of slumps, among other aerial photos of slumps, helped my conceptualize the composition of Permutation.” – Megan Leung