english cover 11/14/01 1:13 PM Page 1 FINAL REPORT OF THE INUIT BOWHEAD KNOWLEDGE STUDY NUNAVUT, CANADA By Inuit Study Participants from: Arctic Bay, Arviat, Cape Dorset, Chesterfield Inlet, Clyde River, Coral Harbour, Grise Fiord, Hall Beach, Igloolik, Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Kugaaruk, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Rankin Inlet, Repulse Bay, and Whale Cove Principal Researchers: Keith Hay (Study Coordinator) and Members of the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study Committee: David Aglukark (Chairperson), David Igutsaq, MARCH, 2000 Joannie Ikkidluak, Meeka Mike FINAL REPORT OF THE INUIT BOWHEAD KNOWLEDGE STUDY NUNAVUT, CANADA By Inuit Study Participants from: Arctic Bay, Arviat, Cape Dorset, Chesterfield Inlet, Clyde River, Coral Harbour, Grise Fiord, Hall Beach, Igloolik, Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Kugaaruk, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board Repulse Bay, and Whale Cove PO Box 1379 Principal Researchers: Iqaluit, Nunavut Keith Hay (Study Coordinator) and X0A 0H0 Members of the Inuit Bowhead Knowledge Study Committee: David Aglukark (Chairperson), David Igutsaq, MARCH, 2000 Joannie Ikkidluak, Meeka Mike Cover photo: Glenn Williams/Ursus Illustration on cover, inside of cover, title page, dedication page, and used as a report motif: “Arvanniaqtut (Whale Hunters)”, sc 1986, Simeonie Kopapik, Cape Dorset Print Collection. ©Nunavut Wildlife Management Board March, 2000 Table of Contents I LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES . .i II DEDICATION . .ii III ABSTRACT . .iii 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 RATIONALE AND BACKGROUND FOR THE STUDY . .1 1.2 TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE . .1 2 METHODOLOGY 3 2.1 PLANNING AND DESIGN . .3 2.2 THE STUDY AREA . .4 2.3 INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES AND THE QUESTIONNAIRE . .4 2.4 METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS . .6 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 9 3.1 INUIT KNOWLEDGE OF POPULATION ECOLOGY OF BOWHEADS . .9 3.1.1 Trends in Abundance . .9 i) Depletion of bowheads by commercial whalers . .9 ii) Voluntary cessation of Inuit harvesting . .10 iii) Long-term population increase: first-hand observations . .10 iv) Long-term population increase: first- and second-hand observations in combination . .14 v) Recent, annual population increase: first-hand observations . .15 vi) Present-day abundance: first-hand observations . .16 vii) Abundance/population increase: second-hand information . .18 viii) Assumption of population increase due to cessation of whaling . .19 ix) Abundance/population increase: unsubstantiated statements . .20 x) Decrease of population . .20 xi) Stability of bowhead numbers . .20 TABLE OF CONTENTS xii) Population changes: no information . .21 xiii) Abundance near other communities: second-hand information . .21 3.1.2 Distribution and Migration . .22 i) General observations . .22 ii) Stock identity/site fidelity . .26 iii) Changes in distribution and migration patterns . .27 iv) Seasonal distribution and migration . .28 3.1.3 Recent Changes in Group Size . ..