Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project
Authors
The Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project story is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
Publication Date: November 2023
Polar bear hide in Iqaluit, Nunavut
Photo Credit: David Borish
Overview
The Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project brings together Inuit leaders and knowledge holders, co-management representatives and interdisciplinary researchers to advance polar bear conservation and Inuit cultural continuity. This work is focused in the Eastern Arctic region of Canada.
With thousands of years of place-based knowledge about polar bears, or “nanuk,” Inuit are leaders in Arctic conservation.
Polar bears are critical to Inuit throughout Inuit homelands. Polar bears, Inuit culture, and wildlife conservation are interconnected through food security, culture, law, public health, land stewardship, and spirituality. As such, polar bears are foundational to Inuit livelihoods, well-being, and culture. Yet, many threats affect the survival of polar bears. As a result, Inuit culture is also being impacted.
The issues facing polar bears and Inuit culture are connected and complex. Therefore, incorporating multiple ways of knowing into polar bear management is important.
In 2022, Inuit wildlife co-management boards from Nunatsiavut (Labrador), Nunavik (Northern Quebec), and Nunavut created the Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project with the support of Polar Knowledge Canada. The Boards came together in a unique partnership to support the uptake of Inuit knowledge in polar bear conservation. Together, we will elevate Inuit knowledge in the stewardship of the Davis Strait polar bear subpopulation.
Successful co-management of polar bears is a priority for Inuit organizations across Inuit Nunangat.
Polar bears in the Torngat Mountains National Park in the summer season
Video credit: Torngat Secretariat
Place
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
Threats to Polar Bears
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
Inuit-led Co-Management
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
Inuit Leadership
Three co-management boards are collaborating on the Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project in the Eastern Arctic to:
- support cross-cultural collaboration across three Inuit regions,
- elevate Inuit leadership, knowledge, and decision-making, and
- advance knowledge co-production, shared understandings, and strong co-management.
The three collaborating boards include the Torngat Wildlife, Plants, and Fisheries Secretariat (Labrador), the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board (Nunavik, Quebec), and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (Nunavut).
Torngat Wildlife and Plants Co-management Board (Nunatsiavut, Labrador)
The Torngat Wildlife and Plants Co-management Board (TWPCB) is composed of federal, provincial, and Nunatsiavut government appointees. Clear roles and responsibilities are outlined in the Labrador Inuit Land Claim Agreement. The board may establish or modify the total allowable harvest for polar bears within the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area, also known as Nunatsiavut. The board regularly participates in the interjurisdictional polar bear surveys, Inuit knowledge studies, and a variety of dialogues at multiple jurisdictional levels.
Dr. Jamie Snook, the Executive Director of the Torngat Wildlife Plants and Fisheries Secretariat, is one of the project leads for the Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project.
Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board (Nunavik, Quebec)
The Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board is responsible for wildlife management in the Nunavik Marine Region. The board was created by the Nunavik Inuit Land Claim Agreement. The board incorporates western science and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (traditional Inuit knowledge) when making wildlife management decisions. The board has seven appointed members – three by Makivik Corporation (political organization representing Inuit in Nunavik), two by the Government of Canada, and one by the Government of Nunavut. All board members nominate a chairperson.
Tommy Palliser, the Executive Director of the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board, is one of the project leads for the Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project.
Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (Nunavut)
The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board was established in 1994 by the Nunavut Agreement (finalized 1993). The board is responsible for wildlife management in the Nunavut Settlement Area. It is a co-management board that consists of nine appointed members. The board and its co-management partners work together to combine the knowledge and understanding of wildlife managers, users, and the public to make decisions concerning the management of wildlife in Nunavut.
Jason Akearok, the Executive Director of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, is one of the project leads for the Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project.
Executive Directors of the co-management boards (from left to right: Jason Akearok, Jamie Snook, and Tommy Palliser)
Photo Credit: Torngat Secretariat
Interdisciplinary Working Group
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.
Inuit Knowledge Synthesis
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
Science Communication
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
Documentary Film Series: Nanuk Narratives
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:
- Orally and visually document Inuit knowledge, observations, and relationships with polar bears through documentary film,
- Co-create a series of short videos that highlight the human dimensions of polar bear management,
- Analyze video interviews to produce qualitative research outputs about Inuit-polar bear connections, and
- 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
Project Impact
The Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project supports Inuit leadership and elevates Inuit knowledge and decision making in polar bear conservation.
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.
The Nanuk Knowledge and Dialogue Project advances knowledge co-production, shared understandings, and strong co-management for polar bears. This is critical for Inuit for whom polar bears are connected to food security, cultural continuity, relationships with land, and self-determination.
Landscape outside of Kangiqsualujjauq, Nunavik
Photo Credit: David Borish