The use and comparison of traditional environment knowledge and ecological science in the assessment of Barren Ground caribou herd condition on Canada's Northwest Territories
Principal Investigator: Lyver, Phil (1)
Licence Number: 13085
Organization: Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba
Licensed Year(s): 2000
Issued: Jan 19, 2000
Project Team: Prof. Fikret Berkes

Objective(s): This study will compare and use traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) and ecological science methodologies to assess body fat indices from harvested caribou. The body fat indices to be measured include the relationship between female caribou body fat

Project Description: This study will compare and use traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) and ecological science to look at body fat markers from harvested caribou. The TEK of hunters and elders will be compared to ecological science measurements focusing on cow/calf ratios, herd productivity and prediction of animal quality. TEK will be gathered from interviews of consenting individuals and body fat levels will be obtained from six scientific measurements. Caribou will only be harvested by local hunters. This research will show how TEK and ecological science can be joined to provide management options for a common resource and how aspects of the Canadian-Indigenous peoples co-management experience can potentially be applied in New Zealand.