Traditional Knowledge of Beluga Whale Sustainable Hunting and Harvesting

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: traditional knowledge, beluga whale

Principal Investigator: Gordon, Leanne D.R.S (1)
Licence Number: 15585
Organization: Aurora College
Licensed Year(s): 2015
Issued: Feb 02, 2015
Project Team: Joel McAlister, Sarah Beattie

Objective(s): To explore the traditional knowledge of beluga whale hunting and harvesting practices of the Inuvialuit.

Project Description: The objective of this work is to explore the traditional knowledge of beluga whale hunting and harvesting practices of the Inuvialuit. The type of data that will be collected and analyzed includes questionnaires, and interviews with Inuvialuit Elders (Inuvik). Elders will be asked about the tools they used during the hunt and harvesting, way of transportation, exact location of whaling camps and where they hunted, and best time of year for whaling season. Questionnaires will be sent through the mail. Once questionnaires are returned maps of Inuvialuit whaling camps will be created and data will be organized, tallied, graphed, and presented as a technical report. Research will directly involve community members through consultation. Community members will be able to voice their opinions and share their traditional knowledge of beluga whale hunting and harvesting practices. Recommendations made by elders will be presented in the technical report established from the data collected. This will be educational for people who do not get the chance to go to whaling camps and be involved in traditional hunting and harvesting practices. Data will be presented as a technical report, and available to the interviewees upon request. Technical report will be distributed to the Inuvik Hunters and Trappers Committee for future reference. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 29, 2015 to December 31, 2015.