Knowing Nanuut: Bankslanders knowledge and indicators of polar bear population health

• Author / Creator

  Slavik, Daniel

• 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.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Inuvialuit
  • Sachs Harbour
  • Ursus maritimus
  • Polar bears
  • Traditional Knowledge

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3NG4H12Q

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.