Jamie Snook, MA, P.Mgr Executive Director

Torngat Wildlife, Plants & Fisheries Secretariat

20th Biennial Inuit Studies Conference

October 9, 2016

Traditional Knowledge and Decision Making

Who is the Torngat Wildlife, Plants and

Fisheries Secretariat?

Canada’s first tripartite-funded land claim co-management

boards

Knowledge Co-Production

Transdisciplinary Knowledge

Influence in recommendations and decision-making

Co-Management is about people and

knowledge.

Co-Management is about the future

and sustainable utilization.

Co-management impacts the health and

wellbeing of communities.

Co-Management is about dialogue,

recommendations, decisions, and

outcomes.

Three Examples of traditional

knowledge influence and

integration.

Atlantic Salmon & Arctic Char

Torngat Mountains Caribou Herd

Davis Strait Polar Bears

Key ConsiderationsScience

Traditional knowledgeManagement systems

Conservation

Diverse Stakeholders:Nunatsiavut Inuit

Greenland InuitIcelandersFly fishers

ConservationistEuropean Union

Government of CanadaGovernment of NL

Government of Nova ScotiaGovernment of United States

Arctic Char and Atlantic Salmon

Arctic Char and Atlantic Salmon

Arctic Char and Atlantic Salmon

2010 Traditional Knowledge

Documentary

The North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization

2015 annual general meeting in Labrador

Key ConsiderationsTraditional knowledge

ScienceLegal interpretations

Precautionary principlesSustainable utilization

Cultural continuitySocial equity

Diverse Stakeholders:Nunatsiavut Inuit

Nunavik InuitGovernment of NLGovernment of QC

Parks Canada

Torngat Mountains Caribou

Torngat Mountains Caribou

2010 Project PlanningNew Telemetry Program2014 Survey2014 TK Study

New knowledge on:biology, population trends,views on management action and survey methods.

2017 Onward

Key ConsiderationsScience

Traditional knowledgePublic safetyPublic health

Food and income securityLegal analysis

International interest

Diverse stakeholders:Inuit

NGOsGovernment of NL

Parks CanadaEnvironment Canada

Coca Cola

Polar Bear

Polar Bear

2009: Peacock et al study2010: Kotierk TK study

2013: CITES CoP

2015 TK studyNunavik Study

Inuit Consult Group

2016: CITES CoP

• Knowledge can be co-produced.

• Accept all available knowledge to facilitate the best possible dialogue and decisions.

• Policy analysis should be neutral and competent and include all the key considerations.

• Traditional knowledge is influential and contributes to better decisions.

Summary

Torngat Wildlife, Plants and Fisheries Secretariat ColleaguesTorngat Joint Fisheries Board

Torngat Wildlife and Plants Co-management Board

Nunatsiavut GovernmentDepartment of Lands and Natural Resources

Department of Nunatsiavut Affairs

Government of CanadaDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans

Department of Environment and Climate ChangeDepartment of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Parks Canada

Government of Newfoundland and LabradorDepartment of Environment and Climate Change

Department of Labrador and Aboriginal AffairsDepartment of Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods

Communities of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, North West River, Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, Rigolet

Questions and Acknowledgements