Identifying the Next Steps Toward Better Integrating Ecological Intergrity Data and Local Knowledge Administered by Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op
Organization Responsible: The agency responsible for implementation is Parks Canada Agency
(Western Arctic Field Unit), Inuvik, NT.Dr. Linh NguyenParks Canada Agency, PO Box 1840187 Mackenzie RoadInuvik, NT X0E 0T0, Phone: (867) 777-8801, Fax: (867) 777-8820
Email: linh.nguyen@pc.gc.ca
Partner Organizations: Many organizations provide financial and in-kind logistic supports.
Organization Contribution
Environment Canada $35000 & in-kind coordination and technical support
Government of Northwest Territories $5000
Gwich'in Renewable Resource Board $10000 & in-kind technical support
Indian & Northern Affairs Canada $20000
Parks Canada Agency $7500 & in-kind technical support
US Fish & Wildlife Service $21000 & in-kind technical support
Wilburforce Foundation $25000
Government of Yukon In-kind technical support
University of Alaska (Fairbanks) In-kind coordination and technical support
Background:
The Inuvialuit have a long-established perspective of the health of the land based ongenerations of observations, and on an understanding of species and ecosystems. They are intimatelyaware of such factors as the interaction between species, which species experience regular, predictablecycles in population, and those whose numbers can be influenced by human activities. Biologists andother scientists recognize the beneficial merit of this traditional and local knowledge from elders andhunters. Since 1996, Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge (ABEK) Co-op has gathered communitylocal knowledge that may be beneficial for Parks Canada Agency to better build a holistic ecologicalintegrity (EI) monitoring program. As Parks Canada Agency develops its first State of the Park Report(SoPR) for Ivvavik National Park due in 2011-2012, it provides an opportunity to assess and reviewwhether the data of the ABEK Co-op can be integrated into scientific knowledge and to provide directionfor future monitoring for both parties.
Program Description:
The described work is contingent on the synthesized outputs of 2010-2011 by
Parks Canada Agency. The objectives are to: (1) review the synthesized outputs as to their suitability for
reporting in the SoPR for Ivvavik National Park; (2) identify gaps in the current framework of ecosystems
used by Parks Canada Agency that local knowledge can complement; and (3) identify next steps with
potential questions and analysis for input in the new survey questionnaire of Arctic Borderlands.
Once the synthesis by the different parties have been completed, Parks Canada Agency will participate in
the review of the analysis to identify any local knowledge that complements current EI data to report in
the SoPR for Ivvavik National Park. This review will be implemented in a coordinated, comprehensive,
and collaborative manner with partners, and coordinated by Environment Canada. Parks Canada Agency
will then review its current EI monitoring program and identify topics of interest so that the next survey
questionnaire distributed by the ABEK Co-op better complements the needs and direction of the agency.
Management Implications: The collection of local knowledge is an ongoing project of the ABEK Co-op
that will help track changes in environmental conditions across the range of the Porcupine Caribou herd,
Mackenzie Delta, and adjacent marine areas. The synthesized outputs provide an opportunity for the
Inuvialuit to see that local knowledge is documented before it is lost, and more importantly, that local
knowledge is available for reporting by partners (e.g., Parks Canada Agency) as identified by the Yukon
North Slope Wildlife Conservation and Management Plan, Long Term Research and Monitoring Plan, and
Ivvavik National Park Management Plan.
Budget:
The proposed budget does not include costs of salary and travel expenses by staff of
Environment Canada and partners affiliated with the project.
Item Cost IFA
Analysis of questionnaire $ 15,000
Review of survey and report $ 15,000 3500
Community Based Ecological Monitoring Program $ 53,500
Gathering and reporting $ 40,000 1500
Total $ 123,500 $5000
Communication Plan:
This ongoing project has several venues for communication, including:
• Interviewers from within the respective community are trained to conduct interviews with elders
and hunters who hold local knowledge;
• Key partners of the ABEK Co-op will be communication ambassadors to various co-management
boards and community decision events. Specifically, communities are key partners in the
oversight and operations of the ABEK Co-op;
• A plain language documents and audio-visual presentations via the web and DVD to
communities. A detailed report of findings and synthesized outputs will be provided to the
Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope) and Aklavik Hunters and Trappers
Committee; and
• Data will be presented at the annual Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op Gathering,
and other meetings that board representatives sit on.
Timeline:
The proposed timeline also incorporates work conducted thus far (colors represent areas with
Parks Canada Agency involvement). The outstanding synthesis analyses will be completed early the
following year for review by the ABEK Co-op and partners.
Deliverables:
Some of the deliverables will include:
• Providing a plain language documents and audio-visual presentations via the web and DVD to
communities. A detailed report of findings and synthesized outputs will be provided to the
Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope) and Aklavik Hunters and Trappers
Committee;
• Providing a draft of the State of the Park Report for Ivvavik National Park; and
• Providing a CD of appropriate images for publication will be provided to the Wildlife Management
Advisory Council (North Slope).