TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND NORTHERN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT: THE ARCTIC CIRCUMPOLAR ROUTE

From felt tip to technology: the challenges of representing traditional knowledge in a GIS platform to create a knowledge surface

10.32920/ryerson.14654004 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Julie B. Robertson

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Representation ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Indigenous Peoples ◽

The Arctic ◽

Vector Data ◽

Collective Knowledge ◽

Vector Maps ◽

Spatial Dimensions ◽

Continuous Surface ◽

Forms Of Knowledge

Traditional knowledge (TK) has been the keystone to survival in the Arctic for thousands of years. Caribou are integral to the society, health and culture of the Inuit, the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic. There is a lack of research regarding caribou on King William Island (KWI), Nunavut. Through a project in Gjoa Haven, located on KWI, Inuit Elders and hunters used maps to help represent their knowledge of caribou in the region. These 32 maps were processed in a GIS to explore the spatial dimensions of TK, and different forms of knowledge representation. Using vector data the features drawn were separated into lines and polygons to show hotspots of caribou knowledge. Using a fuzzy raster methodology, all caribou data was summed to create a collective knowledge surface of the caribou features. These maps refine the data from the vector maps and create a continuous surface that aims to better reflect the collective nature of TK. This research explores the challenges of representing TK using western technologies, and application of fuzzy methodologies for improving the representation.

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Pacific Salmon: Ecology and Management of Western Alaska’s Populations

Pacific Salmon: Ecology and Management of Western Alaska’s Populations ◽

10.47886/9781934874110.ch19 ◽

2009 ◽

Keyword(s):

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Pacific Salmon ◽

Local Communities ◽

The Arctic ◽

Great Promise ◽

Joint Research ◽

Local Residents ◽

Local And Traditional Knowledge

<em>Abstract.</em>—The Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative (AYK SSI) is a research program in Alaska focused on learning from the knowledge and understanding of local indigenous fishing communities. From the mid-1990s, Alaska Natives have urged that local and traditional/indigenous knowledge be recognized as a serious body of ecological insights and stewardship traditions. This paper provides a survey of milestones in Alaska, from the early definitional debates and the rise of systematic methods for documentation, to the growing body of substantive information. The discussion on local and traditional knowledge at the AYK SSI Symposium in February 2007 provided an opportunity to assess achievements and identify obstacles. Participants underscored the continuing challenges of the diverse cultural context for joint research by biologists and local communities, directing attention to foundational questions of trust and respect. Local residents celebrated the great promise for local and traditional/indigenous knowledge to contribute to our shared scientific understanding of salmon and to promote respectful and effective systems of stewardship, but they were also acutely perceptive of the barriers to improved synthesis and mutual learning. The concluding section of this paper explores implications for the on-going research agenda of the AYK SSI, particularly the need for an on-going consultative process to insure that local communities and researchers are mutually aware of methodologies available and the substantive contributions made by local and traditional knowledge research. In this way, the on-going development of research in this area can draw more fully on the struggles and accomplishments of the preceding decade.

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Climate-related displacements of coastal communities in the Arctic: Engaging traditional knowledge in adaptation strategies and policies

10.31219/osf.io/3au6x ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

David Romero Manrique ◽

Serafin Corral ◽

Ângela Guimarães Pereira

Keyword(s):

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Policy Making ◽

Local Level ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Arctic Region ◽

The Arctic ◽

International Governance ◽

Native Communities ◽

Complex Processes ◽

Ecological Changes

Climate change impacts lead to alterations in migration patterns and the displacement of exposed native com- munities and peoples in the Arctic region, forcing them to leave their homes and traditional ways of life as a result of rapid local ecological changes. This paper illustrates climate-related displacements and subsequent relocation as extremely complex processes, and proposes traditional knowledge as a relevant source of knowl- edge both at local level and policy making spheres.The main conclusions are that the representation of indigenous peoples in international governance structures does not guarantee that traditional knowledge is entirely engaged in evidence-based policy making and that traditional knowledge is not always valued as an equal source of knowledge by some relevant scientific bodies. In this context, changing the approach towards a knowledge-systems-based framework would contribute to the development of more concrete policies and strategies for adaptation of Arctic native communities.

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Mad dogs and (mostly) Englishmen: Colonial relations, commodities, and the fate of Inuit sled dogs

Études/Inuit/Studies ◽

10.7202/1004073ar ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 129-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Frank James Tester

Keyword(s):

Northwest Territories ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Market Economy ◽

Rule Of Law ◽

The Arctic ◽

Truth Commission ◽

Exchange Value ◽

Cultural Transformations ◽

Sled Dogs ◽

Personal Skills

The Qikiqtani Truth Commission was created by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association to examine events affecting Qikiqtanimiut between 1950 and 1980. Paramount among these was the fate of Inuit sled dogs. Dogs, unlike the snowmobiles that have replaced them, had no exchange value in a market economy. They enabled existential relations dependent upon traditional and personal skills rooted in Inuit culture and personality. It is understandable that their fate was identified by elders as an important focus of the Commission. The loss of dogs was both real and symbolic of cultural transformations that concern Inuit elders. As Inuit relocated to settlements, sled dogs became a liability for the Arctic administration. TheDog Ordinance of the Northwest Territories, intended to protect people from attacks, was at the same time a tool in the totalising agenda of a Canadian State committed to assimilating Inuit to Canadian norms, values, assumptions, rule of law, and settlement living. As Inuit moved to town in the 1950s and 1960s, theDog Ordinance of the Northwest Territorieswas used to redefine dogs—previously seen as essential to Inuit lifestyles, to keeping Inuit out of town, away from welfare and living independently—as liabilities and commodities. Their replacement by snowmobiles introduced Inuit to new commodity relations. As a commodity essential to hunting, snowmobiles pose a serious challenge to Inuit reciprocity andningiqtuq(sharing) relations andInuitQaujimajatuqangit(traditional knowledge).

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From felt tip to technology: the challenges of representing traditional knowledge in a GIS platform to create a knowledge surface

10.32920/ryerson.14654004.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Julie B. Robertson

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Representation ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Indigenous Peoples ◽

The Arctic ◽

Vector Data ◽

Collective Knowledge ◽

Vector Maps ◽

Spatial Dimensions ◽

Continuous Surface ◽

Forms Of Knowledge

Traditional knowledge (TK) has been the keystone to survival in the Arctic for thousands of years. Caribou are integral to the society, health and culture of the Inuit, the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic. There is a lack of research regarding caribou on King William Island (KWI), Nunavut. Through a project in Gjoa Haven, located on KWI, Inuit Elders and hunters used maps to help represent their knowledge of caribou in the region. These 32 maps were processed in a GIS to explore the spatial dimensions of TK, and different forms of knowledge representation. Using vector data the features drawn were separated into lines and polygons to show hotspots of caribou knowledge. Using a fuzzy raster methodology, all caribou data was summed to create a collective knowledge surface of the caribou features. These maps refine the data from the vector maps and create a continuous surface that aims to better reflect the collective nature of TK. This research explores the challenges of representing TK using western technologies, and application of fuzzy methodologies for improving the representation.

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Eternal Kantele at the End of Time - Reflections on Retraditionalization of Traditional Knowledge In the Face of Rapid Ecological Changes in the Arctic

Nordicum-Mediterraneum ◽

10.33112/nm.3.1.10 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tero Mustonen

Keyword(s):

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Position Paper ◽

The Arctic ◽

Ecological Changes ◽

The Face ◽

Open Meeting

A position paper presented for the 4th NRF Open Meeting in Oulu, Tornio and Luulaja, Finland - Sweden, October 2006

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Climate-related displacements of coastal communities in the Arctic: Engaging traditional knowledge in adaptation strategies and policies

10.31230/osf.io/qkc3d ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

David Romero Manrique ◽

Serafin Corral ◽

Ângela Guimarães Pereira

Keyword(s):

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Policy Making ◽

Local Level ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Arctic Region ◽

The Arctic ◽

International Governance ◽

Native Communities ◽

Complex Processes ◽

Ecological Changes

Climate change impacts lead to alterations in migration patterns and the displacement of exposed native communities and peoples in the Arctic region, forcing them to leave their homes and traditional ways of life as a result of rapid local ecological changes. This paper illustrates climate-related displacements and subsequent relocation as extremely complex processes, and proposes traditional knowledge as a relevant source of knowledge both at local level and policy making spheres.The main conclusions are that the representation of indigenous peoples in international governance structures does not guarantee that traditional knowledge is entirely engaged in evidence-based policy making and that traditional knowledge is not always valued as an equal source of knowledge by some relevant scientific bodies. In this context, changing the approach towards a knowledge-systems-based framework would contribute to the development of more concrete policies and strategies for adaptation of Arctic native communities.

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Chukchi traditional clothing as historical source of cultural transformation

Études/Inuit/Studies ◽

10.7202/019732ar ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 31 (1-2) ◽

pp. 311-315

Author(s):

Nadezhda I. Vukvukai

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Professional Training ◽

Cultural Transformation ◽

Research Note ◽

The Arctic ◽

Arctic Zone ◽

Historical Source ◽

Scientific Task

Abstract This research note is based on the study of the Chukchi traditional clothing as a leading aspect of the national and cultural heritage of Chukotka. The topic was chosen by the need to show the advantages of Chukchi traditional clothing in the Arctic zone. Our scientific task was to collect data about Chukchi clothing and descriptions about its crafting in order to develop a method for professional training in their making and to promote this traditional knowledge.

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Arctic governance, indigenous knowledge, science and technology in times of climate change

Journal of Enterprising Communities People and Places in the Global Economy ◽

10.1108/jec-08-2015-0041 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 514-528 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Gisele M. Arruda ◽

Sebastian Krutkowski

Keyword(s):

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Local Governance ◽

Low Cost ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

Local Communities ◽

Cultural Preservation ◽

The Arctic ◽

Content Type ◽

Indigenous Voice

Purpose This paper aims to place a discussion of traditional knowledge and the indigenous voice within the framework of Arctic governance. Design/methodology/approach The study involves literature review spanning different disciplines and highlighting important case studies. Findings The advance of low-cost, portable technology has brought about tremendous opportunities for indigenous people. Knowledge and observation are no longer monopolised by scholars, filmmakers or politicians based in the West. Film has proved to be a powerful tool for cultural preservation while the internet (video sharing sites and social media platforms in particular) have empowered local communities and facilitated their involvement in political activism and local governance. New ways to represent themselves have been a crucial step forward, yet the new goal is to work towards greater recognition of the “indigenous voice” and ensure traditional knowledge is not treated as anecdotal and irrelevant in managing Arctic affairs.. Research limitations/implications The conclusions reached in the discussion need to be further explored by extending the research into Inuit communities to survey how technology can facilitate and impact collaborative forms of governance in the Arctic. Practical implications This research provides an increased understanding of how technology transforms power relations. Policymakers can see that the indigenous community in the Arctic is not lodged in the past. Their increased use of new technology can serve as an effective oversight of political decisions and economic initiatives, particularly those relating to oil and gas exploration in the region. Social implications Indigenous views and knowledge are literally crossing borders through media. Initially perceived as a cultural threat, film, video and internet are now regarded as powerful technology tools for cultural preservation and empowerment of local communities. In other words, the modern communication patterns are a crucial mean of indigenous population take part of the current global debate, express their concerns, reinforce their values and traditions and have an active voice in the globalised world. Originality/value This paper illustrates how technology helps indigenous communities to address different economic, environmental, cultural, educational, research and other issues in the Arctic. Robust evidence is presented to support the call for traditional knowledge to become an integral part of decision-making processes across all institutions of governance in the Arctic.

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