Sustainable Harvesting Working Group: Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Wildlife CoManagement in Nunavut

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Sustainable Harvesting Working GroupInuit
Qaujimajatuqangit and Wildlife Co-Management in
Nunavut

• Presented by David S. Lee
• Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
• Wildlife Department
• Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

David S. Lee
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• In 1993, Tunngavik Federation signed a
  comprehensive Land Claim.
• Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) was formed in 1993
  to replace the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut.
  It is the organization that represents Inuit
  under the NLCA.
• NTIs mission is to foster Inuit economic, social
  and cultural well-being through the
  implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims
  Agreement.
• Article 5 deals explicity with wildlife.
• Articles 6, 9, 15, and 40 also deal with wildlife.

The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
(JBNQA)
1975
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(No Transcript)
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• The population of Nunavut is 30,245 (Jan.1st,
  2006 Census)
• Approximately 85 are Inuit
• There are 25,323 total registered living Inuit
  beneficiaries (NTI)
• The territory of Nunavut totals an area of 1.9
  million square kilometres in Canada
• The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement gives title to
  Inuit for a total area measuring about 350,000
  square kilometres

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David S. Lee

• approving plans for the management and protection
  of particular wildlife or wildlife habitats
• establishing, modifying or removing total
  allowable harvests and non-quota limitations on
  wildlife harvesting
• funding research through the Nunavut Wildlife
  Research Trust Fund and the NWMB Studies Fund

Voting members
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NTI (Wildlife)
NWMB
Federal Gov. (DFO, CWS)
RWOs
Inuit Wildlife Secretariat
Government of Nunavut (DoE)
HTOs
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Nunavummiut and the NLCA

• Harvesting Wildlife is critical to the Inuit
  diet.
• Ringed seal, caribou, bowhead, arctic char,
  walrus, narwhal, beluga, birds, and polar bears,
  are a few examples of wildlife that Inuit
  utilize.
• Sustaining the capacity to harvest, and wildlife
  is vital for maintaining and strengthening
  Nunavummiut economic, social and cultural
  well-being.

David S. Lee
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Establishing a total allowable harvest

• Identify the population that requires a TAH
• A management plan, developed in cooperation with
  the affected Inuit communities, including clearly
  stated, shared management objectives.
• The authority being relied on under 5.3.3, namely
  (a) or (b).
• The reasons why there is 5.3.3.authority for the
  proposed TAH, including the reasons why the
  proposed TAH is considered to be the least
  limitation necessary to restrict Inuit
  harvesting.
• All the evidence used to support the reasons
  given including both scientific and Inuit
  Qaujimajatuqangit.

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How Does the Co-Management Process Work with IQ?

• Example Muskox

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Species at Risk Act (SARA)

• Development of aboriginal traditional knowledge
  (ATK) subcommittee to address the requirement to
  include aboriginal traditional knowledge in the
  Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in
  Canada status report process
• The co-management partners must co-operate to
  ensure that a transparent process is executed
• Involvement of affected people will be key to
  making sound decisions

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Conclusions

• The co-management partners recognize the
  importance of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
  (Traditional Knowledge)
• However, the use of IQ in wildlife management in
  Nunavut has been faced with challenges.
• The use of IQ in the decision making process is a
  vital step towards
• recognizing Inuit systems of wildlife management
  that contribute to the conservation of wildlife
  and protection of wildlife habitat (NLCA 5.1.2
  (e))

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Thank-you

• Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
• Wildlife Department
• P.O. Box 280
• Rankin Inlet,
• Nunavut, Canada
• X0C 0G0
• Ph(867) 645-5400
• Fax [phone]
• Emaildlee_at_tunngavik.ca
• wwwhttp//www.tunngavik.ca

David S. Lee
David S. Lee