The Arctic's aboriginal peoples will be playing a larger role in polar bear conservation following the five nation Arctic range states meetings in Moscow, Russia, in December of 2013. - NNSL file photo |
Recognizing those who know
Traditional knowledge officially part of polar bear management
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 18, 2013
NUNAVUT
The inclusion of aboriginal traditional knowledge in an updated declaration to the 1973 international agreement on the conservation of polar bears was an historic moment, said Leona Aglukkaq.
Leona Aglukkaq: Canada's Inuit will continue to protect their way of life. |
Nunavut's MP and federal Environment minister represented Canada at the five-nation Arctic range states summit in Moscow, Russia, earlier this month.
Aglukkaq said co-operation between the parties at the meetings was fantastic.
She said the willingness of the five states to sign another declaration, after the original was signed 40 years ago, shows their willingness to work together while going forward.
"This was an opportunity for Norway, the United States, Canada, Russia and Denmark to talk about initiatives they've been undertaking within their regions to manage the polar bear population," said Aglukkaq.
"Each jurisdiction had its own unique challenges.
"Our ability to demonstrate the importance of incorporating aboriginal traditional knowledge into research and management - and the importance of the polar bear to indigenous people - came out loud and clear in the work we've done.
"We were able to put forth a declaration for the first time that recognizes the importance of aboriginal traditional knowledge in putting forth a management plan
of all the Arctic regions."
Aglukkaq said the declaration is a big deal for Northern Canadians because it officially partners the Northern Inuit aboriginal perspective with science.
She said there's been past challenges associated with scientists coming to the North, conducting research, and concluding a report used to define programs and quotas that Northerners often disputed.
"Recognition of our traditional knowledge is very, very important.
"Everyone recognizes the value of working together in managing a population that sees no borders."
The declaration ensures the voice of people who have lived in the North, and who understand the habits of wildlife there, is heard.
Aglukkaq said scientists who go North must now work with the people who live there.
She said that will help end situations such as the one in 2009 when scientists reduced narwhal quotas without involving Inuit.
"That was very upsetting to many Northerners, myself included.
"People in the North know the migratory paths of wildlife better than anybody, because we've depended on that knowledge for thousands of years.
"There is no harm in working with people who live in the environment to enhance the work you're doing as a scientist.
"Inuit have survived for thousands of years in Canada's Arctic because we were able to provide for our families by
hunting, which is proof of our understanding of the wildlife in the region we depend on for our survival."
Aglukkaq said Canada continues to effectively demonstrate its polar bear population is healthy.
She said a full 80 per cent of the approximate 25,000 polar bears in the Arctic regions are in Nunavut.
"We fought hard to demonstrate we have very strong management and monitoring systems in place, as well as a strict quota system.
"People tend to forget how important it is for us to have a good management system in place for polar bears, because we depend on them for part our daily diet.
"This is our farm, our food, our bread and butter, and people forget that, especially in international communities.
"No one ever asks what negative impact their campaign against the polar bear hunt will have on indigenous people who live in the Arctic and depend on its wildlife."
Aglukkaq faced a backlash of negativity on social media while in Moscow, when she tweeted a message to the cousin of a young Inuk hunter in Arctic Bay who had just caught his first polar bear.
Her tweet included a picture of the dead bear.
Aglukkaq said she's a proud Inuk and a product of the environment she was raised in.
She said celebrating with the young hunter is the proper thing to do.
"I will never apologize for who I am, where I come from and what I eat.
"The young man who got his first bear, and his cousin, said there was going to be a community feast.
"That's a celebration and I basically said, "Enjoy!" just like I have congratulated the bowhead hunters of Baffin, Kitikmeot or Kivalliq."
Aglukkaq said this is how Inuit traditional knowledge is passed on, and the entire community is fed during the celebratory feast.
She said the Inuit way is no different than any culture in different countries and the food they eat.
"We eat the food we've always depended on and there's some people you can educate, who will understand.
"But some people just don't get it and impose their values on another society.
"You just can't change their minds, so we'll just continue to protect our way of life."
