Tools and Collaborative Approaches to Bridging the Communication Gap Between Northern Communities and Scientists About Caribou Anatomy and Health

Authors
Ryan Brook
Susan Kutz
Peter Flood
Christoph Muelling
Jason Anderson
Kelsey Clifford

Reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) populations across the circumpolar north are facing dramatic impacts in response to climate change and human development. Despite a shared interest in Rangifer sustainability, sometimes misunderstandings have arisen among caribou users, researchers, and management agencies. These conflicts often reflect differences in world views, language barriers, and lapses in communication. With regard to understanding and communicating caribou health, therearerelativelyfew resources available to help facilitate discussion and describe what is `normal` structure and function so that we can begin to understand `abnormal`. At the same time, a diverse set of knowledge, tools, and approaches are needed that meaningfully address bridge the differences that exist. Despite a range of anatomical features thatareuniquetothespecies, little work has been done to describe the anatomy of the genus Rangifer. Given the range of perceptions and knowledge regarding caribou and reindeer form scientific and community perspectives, it is essential to develop tools that integrate scientific approaches to caribou anatomy with the observations and knowledge of indigenous people in northern regions in that northern communities have expressed a desire to be involved in research and monitoring. The purpose of the Rangifer Anatomy Project (RAP) is to describe Rangifer in ways that are useful to indigenous hunters, educators, students, biologists, and veterinarians through posters, books, and electronic tools. Development of these resources involves detailed anatomical dissections and histological analysis in the laboratory, collaborative dissections that engage hunters, youth and elders during community caribou hunts in the North, and interviews that document knowledge of historical and contemporary uses of caribou for food, medicine, and tools. Weanticipatethattheprocessof this project and the final products that describe caribou anatomy from multiple perspectives will ultimately facilitate greater discussion about caribou health.