Government has no plan for traditional knowledge study
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Mar 05/01) - With the controversy surrounding the polar bear quota reduction in the M'Clintok Channel, the time is right to test the strength of traditional Inuit knowledge.
Most of the data collected from the area has been scientific.
And residents of Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and Cambridge Bay -- the communities that share the bears in the channel -- disagree with the scientific findings. Hunters and guides believe the bears have moved farther north, rather than been over-harvested. They want wildlife officials to do a study based on their traditional knowledge.
"We believe we know the land more than anyone else. There has to be more consultation before decisions are made," said David Irquit, manager of Taloyoak's hunters and trappers association.
Irquit said the Kitikmeot hamlet feels left out of the decision-making process.
Numbers from the government's three-year study, which wrapped up last spring, indicate the polar bear population is less than half of original estimates. Based on that, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board recommended the quota be reduced to 12 from 32, and no bears be harvested in 2002.
The impact on hunters from the three communities is far-reaching.
"We're the ones affected. The money was flowing in not just for the guides, but the community benefitted too. The women made clothing, the carvers made money by selling their carvings. Hunters used the money to buy new machines to continue hunting and supporting their families," said Irquit.
What's next?
Steven Atkinson, the director of wildlife for the Department of Sustainable Development, said a traditional knowledge study is crucial, but government does not have immediate plans to take the lead.
"As far as specific plans, we don't have any," said Atkinson.
He added government needs to work harder to get other groups interested in handling the work. He said the next two years would be perfect because the scientific study isn't scheduled to resume until 2003.
"Given the timeframe, it gives us a three years to do a traditional knowledge study."
But if traditional knowledge data is collected, another roadblock may arise: how to effectively combine the two bodies of knowledge -- particularly if they are in opposition -- to reach a decision concerning the harvest of bears in the area.
Ben Kovic, chair of the NWMB Nunavut's wildlife decision-makers, said that might be a role for his organization.
"We need to have both (kinds of knowledge) on the table and have somebody say here are the findings and here are the recommendations," said Kovic. "There has to be a mediator. Maybe that's where NWMB comes in."
The wildlife board is scheduled to review their decision regarding the quota and moratorium in 2003.
