| Principal Investigator: | Katz, Sharon (9) |
| Licence Number: | 13968 |
| Organization: | Aurora Research Institute |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2005
|
| Issued: | May 01, 2006 |
Project Description: The objectives of the research are to: investigate ways of introducing man-made items into musk ox habitat with minimal disturbance; observe if wild musk oxen will physically interact with a man-made addition to their habitat; test the efficacy of the “muskombs” (scratching posts for musk oxen); and collect qiviuq (musk ox down wool). The results of this research will be presented to Inuvialuit groups for the purpose of developing a qiviuq industry. The “muskombs” will be built at the Aurora Research Institute and shipped to Sachs Harbour and Holman to be installed at appropriate locations on the land. Local hunters will be hired to select suitable sites where the animals are known to frequent, install the “muskombs” (according to a defined procedure of minimal interference), and periodically check them for accumulation of qiviuq. Budget allowing, hunters will be hired to observe animal interaction with the “muskombs”. All steps of the research will be conducted in collaboration with the Hunters and Trappers Committees of Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok. At the end of the project, reports will be sent to the Sachs Harbour HTC, Olokhaktomiut HTC and the Inuvialuit Community Development Corporation in Inuvik. The study will be conducted from May 5 to August 31, 2006 in the vicinity of Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok.
