This document is part of a special issue on geographical perspectives on Aboriginal peoples in Canada. A study was conducted to improve understanding about how communities handle flood hazards through an evaluation of the complex integration of traditional knowledge, community evolution, and modern technologies. Field investigations were conducted in northern aboriginal communities. The results confirm the crucial value of local environmental knowledge, identify the effect of changing social structures on community vulnerability, and stress the jurisdictionally integrated character of disaster response. It is concluded that research must recognize and value the contribution of aboriginal knowledge and incorporate it in all cross-cultural projects in order to improve the understanding of the interconnections between people and place. A bibliography and map are provided.