University of Alberta Knowing Nanuut: Bankslanders knowledge and indicators of polar bear population health by Daniel V. W. Slavik A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Rural Sociology Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology © Daniel Slavik Fall 2013 Edmonton, Alberta Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. In memory of: Andy Carpenter Sr. & Geddes Wolki Sr. Abstract Polar bears (Ursus maritimus, Nanuut) are a culturally and economically important species to the Inuvialuit. As a result of climate change, the Arctic is experiencing rapid ecological changes with the potential for profound impacts on polar bear populations. The objectives of the thesis were to document Inuvialuit knowledge of polar bear population health and to identify the indicators used by Inuvialuit to assess polar bear health. Using community-based participatory research methodologies, participant observation, and semi-directed interviews with twenty-seven locally identified community experts and knowledge holders from Sachs Harbour, NWT, this thesis documents Inuvialuit knowledge of polar bear population health within seven categories of indicators: body condition and behavior; breeding success; diet and feeding behaviors; distribution and movements; habitat conditions; population abundance; and unique observations. This research finds that Inuvialuit of Banks Island have an accumulated wealth of traditional knowledge about polar bears and this can contribute to monitoring of polar bears. Acknowledgements This research process has been a test of dedication and determination. It has been more work than I ever expected a Master’s degree would be, but it has also been rewarding in ways that I never expected. First and foremost, I owe a debt of gratitude to Brenda Crnkovic for her love, support, and tolerance of me over the last six years during my many extended trips North. Likewise, to the rest of my family who quietly supported me. I would like to deeply thank Dr. Milton Freeman, who was a mentor and gave me the guidance to get this project started. Members of the “Conservation Hunting & Sustainable Development” research team, including Dr. Doug Clark and Dr. Lee Foote, helped me to develop a holistic understanding of conservation issues. Likewise, Dr. Andrew Derocher helped me to understand the complexity of the Arctic environment and polar bear management. Marsha Branigan and the staff at the Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat (WMAC & IGC) were instrumental in advising me and supporting this project. This research received funding from the Cumulative Impacts Monitoring Program (CIMP) through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC). Additional funds for fieldwork logistics were provided through AANDC, the Aurora Research Institute Research Assistant Program, EnviroNorth (NSERC CREATE Training Program- Communications with local communities), and the NWT Species at Risk Stewardship Program. Elaine Maloney and Cindy Mason at Canadian Circumpolar Institute kindly supported me through the various challenges associated with funding this research. I owe gratitude to the Aurora Research Institute and the Parks Canada Aulavik Field Office for providing accommodations while I was in Inuvik and Sachs Harbour. At the University of Alberta, I would like to acknowledge Dr. Brenda Parlee and Dr. Naomi Krogman for their guidance and supervision, and Rick Pelletier for his assistance in GIS mapping. To my colleagues Raila, Zoe, Kristine, Roger, Angie, Wayne, Brian, and Andrea, thank you for your solidarity and I wish you all the best. Finally, a big thank you, quyanainni, and quana to the to the entire community of Sachs Harbour, especially Lawrence Amos, Joseph Carpenter, Larry Carpenter, Edith Haogak, Wayne Gully, the Sachs Harbour Hunters and Trappers Committee, and my research assistant Charlton Haogak. While a book could never fully capture your unique relationship with Nanuut, I hope this thesis respects your knowledge and history, contributes to passing this knowledge on to the next generation, and assists in the conservation of polar bears for generations of Inuvialuit to come. Table of Contents Abstract Acknowledgements Chapter One: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background _________________________________________________________ 1 1.2 Research Purpose and Objectives ________________________________________ 2 1.3 Organization of Thesis _________________________________________________ 3 Chapter Two: Literature Review ............................................................................................. 4 2.1. Introduction _________________________________________________________ 4 2.2 Research Setting _____________________________________________________ 4 2.2.1 The Inuvialuit of Canada’s Western Arctic ............................................................................................. 4 2.2.2 Geography Banks Island and Ethnography of the “Bankslanders”........................................................ 6 2.3 Research Context ____________________________________________________ 13 2.3.1 Polar Bear Population Health in the Western Arctic ............................................................................ 14 2.3.2 Polar Bear Research and Co-Management in the ISR .......................................................................... 16 2.3.3 Incorporating Traditional Knowledge into Polar Bear management ................................................... 18 2.4 Theoretical Context __________________________________________________ 22 2.4.1 Traditional Knowledge ......................................................................................................................... 22 2.4.2 Traditional Knowledge and Wildlife Research in the Canadian North ................................................. 25 2.4.3 Ecological Indicators ............................................................................................................................. 31 2.4.4 Indicators of Polar Bear Health ............................................................................................................ 34 2.4.5 Indicators of Change at Different Scales .............................................................................................. 47 Chapter Three: Methods and Methodology ........................................................................... 50 3.1 Introduction ________________________________________________________ 50 3.2 Methodology _______________________________________________________ 50 3.3 Study Background ___________________________________________________ 52 3.4 Fieldwork Methods and Data Collection _________________________________ 54 3.4.1 Semi-directed Interviews ..................................................................................................................... 54 3.4.2 Description of Interview Sample .......................................................................................................... 55 3.4.3 Developing Interview Instrument and Guiding Questions ................................................................... 56 3.4.4 Mapping ............................................................................................................................................... 57 3.4.5 Participant Observation and On-the-Ice Trips ...................................................................................... 58 3.4.6 Verification ........................................................................................................................................... 59 3.5 Participants ________________________________________________________ 59 3.6 Analysis ___________________________________________________________ 60 3.6.1 Transparency, Validity, and Reliability ................................................................................................. 61 3.6.2 Reliability and Validity .......................................................................................................................... 61 3.6.3 Accuracy and Recall .............................................................................................................................. 62 3.6.4 Transparency ........................................................................................................................................ 63 3.6.5 Confidentiality and Anonymity ............................................................................................................ 63 3.7 Limitations, Advantages, and Potential Improvements in Methods ____________ 64 Chapter Four: Results ............................................................................................................ 68 4.1