The Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project is focused on the Davis Strait polar bear subpopulation. The estimated size of this population is approximately 2,000 individuals. This population has a large range spanning across the Eastern Arctic, including much of the Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut regions, as well as western Greenland. Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project partners come from a variety of communities across the nanuk range.

Nanuk range and 2017/2018 survey results
Map Credit: Shawn Rivoire, Torngat Secretariat

The primary threat to polar bears is the impending loss of their sea ice habitat due to climate change

Priorities for Inuit include:

• understanding threats to polar bears,
• sustainable management, and
• protecting Inuit culture.

Polar bear hide overlooking Iqaluit, Nunavut
Photo Credit: David Borish

Modern land claim agreements such as the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement, Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement, and the Nunavut Agreement led to the creation of wildlife co-management boards in these territories covered by modern day treaties. These co-management boards are intended to give a strong voice to Inuit including in polar bear management.

There remains an opportunity to improve the impact and uptake of Inuit knowledge about polar bears. This is critical if Inuit knowledge is to be reflected in conservation strategies.

Polar bear hide preparation, Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik
Photo Credit: David Borish

Integrating Knowledge Systems

Vast geography, small and remote communities, and costly travel are some of the challenges that decision-makers face with collaboration. Sometimes these challenges have led to conflict amongst Inuit, researchers, and different levels of government. As a result, Inuit knowledge about polar bears has often not been reflected in federal, territorial, and provincial policy decisions.

Coordination of Polar Bear Management

Inuit in Nunatsiavut (Labrador), Nunavik (Quebec), and Nunavut rely on and have jurisdictional rights to this shared population of nanuk. Yet, Inuit rarely have interjurisdictional opportunities to share knowledge, research, and strategies to support Inuit and polar bears in the region with other Inuit.

Opportunities

Inuit organizations are addressing challenges with polar bear management strategies with Inuit and other decision-makers. Insights from diverse sectors, disciplines, and worldviews is critical for effective polar bear stewardship. This is also critical for Inuit communities who have an enduring relationship with polar bears.

Hunters on a polar bear hunt north of Inukjuak, Nunavik
Photo Credit: David Borish

The Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project created an Interdisciplinary Working Group to:

• facilitate dialogue amongst diverse peoples and groups,
• review innovative proposals, and 
• make policy recommendations to support polar bear stewardship.

Now a year into this project, this working group has identified its core focus.

The group is exploring how collective Inuit knowledge can be more accessible and influential. This includes how Inuit knowledge can be implemented for sustainable Inuit harvesting of polar bears and the long-term stewardship of this species.

One of the emerging priorities from this working group has been to document and co-produce research-based visual media. This media presents Inuit knowledge and experiences with polar bears in accessible and culturally appropriate ways. This has led to the idea of Nanuk Narratives (see Documentary File Series below).

The Interdisciplinary Working Group brings together people from diverse backgrounds and sectors with direct expertise and experience related to:

• Inuit-polar bear relationships,
• Inuit knowledge,
• public health,
• polar bear biology,
• law,
• wildlife conservation, and
• political science

This working group consists of 12 members, including two Inuit members from each of the three Inuit regions (e.g., 2 from Nunatsiavut, 2 from Nunavik, and 2 from Nunavut). 

The working group reviews available knowledge on the Davis Strait polar bear subpopulation, and makes innovative policy recommendations for co-management. The working group fosters collaboration and drives solutions that advance polar bear science from multiple worldviews and knowledge systems. The working group supports leadership in research and the management of transboundary species like polar bears.

In collaboration with Polynya Consulting, the Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project completed the first Inuit Knowledge Synthesis about polar bears in these regions. This study gathered and analyzed peer-reviewed and grey literature from across Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, and Greenland. This study supports an understanding of Inuit experiences, observations, and relationships with polar bears in the Davis Strait range.

A database of Inuit knowledge was developed that can be further explored as needed. In fall 2022, this study was sent for feedback to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Polar Bear Administrative Committee, the Polar Bear Technical Committee, the Government of Nunavut, Makivik Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and the Nunatsiavut Government.

Hunters going out on a polar bear hunt north of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik
Photo Credit: David Borish

Communicating in accessible and culturally appropriate ways for Inuit in each of the three regions is key.

Click on the links below to view the following two infographics that share information about:

Survey results estimating the abundance of the Davis Strait Polar Bear Subpopulation

How polar bears are surveyed using genetic biopsy

Based on the recommendations from the Interdisciplinary Working Group to make Inuit knowledge more accessible and influential for polar bear management, a new initiative has emerged from this work: Nanuk Narratives.

This is a multi-year visual media and research project that will document, preserve, and communicate Inuit knowledge about polar bears and their relationships with communities.

Participants going on a polar bear filming excursion for the Nanuk Narratives project outside of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, in the winter of 2023.
Photo Credit: David Borish

This effort will support Inuit-led polar bear stewardship in Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut.

The objectives of this new initiative include:

1. Orally and visually document Inuit knowledge, observations, and relationships with polar bears through documentary film,
2. Co-create a series of short videos that highlight the human dimensions of polar bear management,
3. Analyze video interviews to produce qualitative research outputs about Inuit-polar bear connections, and
4. Develop an impact plan to mobilize the video and research content for educational and stewardship purposes within and outside Inuit communities.

The Nanuk Narratives project is currently in its early stages, but during the winter months of 2023, initial film trips were carried out in Nunavik (Inukjuak and Kangiqsualujjuaq) and Labrador (Rigolet). Team members documented Inuit Knowledge of polar bears, both on the land and within the communities. To date, a total of 19 participants across these communities have been interviewed for this documentary film for the purposes of stewardship and education.

Participants going on a polar bear excursion for the Nanuk Narratives project outside of Inukjuak, Nunavik, in the winter of 2023.
Photo Credit: David Borish

With Inuit already involved in co-management, this project enhances collaboration across Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, and Nunavut. This is important because polar bears are threatened and migrate through multiple jurisdictions throughout the Eastern Arctic.

The project objectives and methods help ensure polar bears benefit from multiple knowledge systems. This includes Inuit knowledge from three Inuit regions, and from western conservation science. A cross-cultural approach supports public policy recommendations and effective strategies for polar bear stewardship.

Landscape outside of Kangiqsualujjauq, Nunavik
Photo Credit: David Borish