Project Description:

This thesis project investigates the contributions and limits of a long-term community-based monitoring program of the human-Rangifer social-ecological system associated with the Porcupine caribou herd. More precisely, it investigates the case of the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Society, a  cooperative institution established in 1994 and involving 10 indigenous communities within its community-based environmental monitoring program. Three specific objectives structured the chapters of the thesis project:

1. to investigate how community-based monitoring allows a better understanding of the environmental factors influencing caribou body condition;
2. to investigate how community-based monitoring allows a better understanding of the mechanisms linking environmental  variables, caribou distribution and the capacity for northern indigenous hunters to satisfy their needs in caribou;
3. to investigate how a community-based monitoring program contributes to build social capital among its participants, and favours the use of local indigenous knowledge within environmental management processes.

Project Outcomes or Intended Outcomes:

Both spring and fall caribou body condition improved from 2000 to 2008, despite a continuous increase of the Porcupine caribou population. Spring and fall caribou body conditions were mostly influenced by weather on the winter and spring ranges, in particular by  snow conditions and spring temperatures. Amelioration of snow and temperature conditions from 2000 to 2010 likely contributed to the caribou population increase during the same period.

There is a strong influence of snow conditions and temperature on hunting activities and the capacity of hunters to satisfy their needs in caribou. From 2000 to 2008, hunters increasingly met their needs in caribou despite a decrease in hunting activities, which may have been caused by the caribou population increase.

In spite of a high level of social capital within the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Society, indigenous knowledge collected through the program barely contributed to management decisions. Several barriers limit the contribution of this knowledge but the Arctic Borderlands demonstrated  learning and adaptive capacities to overcome these barriers. Indigenous community-based monitoring  can improve our understanding of arctic social-ecosystems. A community-based approach can produce social outcomes that go beyond the primary benefits of data collection. Environmental community-based monitoring bridges indigenous and scientific knowledge and fosters communication between people who need to meet and innovate to manage sustainably the resources on which they depend.

Project Description:

The objectives of this study were to define specifics and general character of the traditional land-use activities in the Waterhen Resource Area and to contrast traditional land-use with third party interests.

Project Outcomes or Intended Outcomes:

The study concludes that the traditional land-use activities of the people of the Waterhen First Nation are significant to their lives and well being. Therefore, the availability and access to the traditional resources are needed.

The Cape Churchill caribou herd, part of the Eastern Migratory caribou population, resides along the western coast of Hudson Bay and has been largely unstudied. However, they are locally important to hunters and visiting tourists, as well as an ecological keystone species as a grazer and prey source. As a product of the 2020 Beyond Borders Caribou Workshop, we developed a collaborative team of academic researchers, Parks Canada staff, and Manitoba Métis Federation staff. Our on-going efforts have focused on developing and fortifying relationships and identifying common goals centered around caribou conservation and the greater ecosystem. The summer range of the Cape Churchill herd is almost completely protected by Wapusk National Park, however the winter range is largely unprotected, existing outside of the park boundaries. The development of a proposed Indigenous Protected Conservation Area (IPCA), led by the Manitoba Métis Federation is a priority goal of our group, with caribou being its focal species. Our objectives are to: (1) monitor the Cape Churchill herd annually to estimate population composition and long-term trends, (2) develop and monitor a grid of n=97 trail cameras on summer range to characterize caribou occurrences, group size, arrival and departure dates to and from seasonal ranges, (3) continue our 23 years of intensive habitat monitoring, (4) monitor the impacts of fire on the winter range using remote sensing, (5) study wolf occurrences in relation to caribou on summer range, (6) incorporate local and traditional knowledge, and (7) engage local and Indigenous youth and elders.

In order to better understand Inuit relationships to the Mealy Mountain (MM) herd, the long-term impacts of the hunting ban, and strategies for caribou management moving forward, this research examines the relationship between Rigolet Inuit and MM caribou. The main goal of this research was to determine community priorities for the research, monitoring, and management of the MM caribou, by documenting Inuit values, with the intent of enhancing the management system.

This research used a qualitative case study approach, following the principles of Inuit-led research as outlined in the National Inuit Strategy on Research. Data were collected through: a community open house and participatory mapping session, where people shared photos, stories, thoughts, and geographic references to where MM caribou herds are still being seen; semi-structured conversational interviews with 21 people from Rigolet (total interview time: 11h09). Interviews were conducted by local researchers and a graduate student. All interviews were recorded, with consent, and transcribed. Transcripts were imported into NVivo 12 software and coded inductively to facilitate additional annotations, word searches, memo writing, data visualizations, and reflections. Using a constant comparative method, the research team also held regular debriefs and teleconferences to talk about co-analyze the data.

Preliminary results of the research demonstrate a wealth of Inuit knowledge about the MM herd. The research highlights the loss of an important country food and a risk to cultural continuity by a long-standing hunting ban; the ways in which a lack of quality research led to questions about decision-making; and the lack of inclusion of Inuit rights or knowledge when management decisions were made. Research participants indicated a strong sense of not being heard by decision-makers. Moving forward, Inuit from Rigolet indicated the need to re-connect to the MM caribou through land-based initiatives and ongoing monitoring, as well as identified the need for Inuit to be more involved in, and lead, conservation and monitoring efforts. This research provides ideas and opportunities for potential interventions in the future that may strengthen cultural ties, stewardship, and enhanced levels of health equity between Indigenous peoples in the region.

Project Description:This project will assess the potential for competition between caribou and muskox in northern Quebec, particularly in regards to space use, habitat selection and diet overlap.

Project Outcomes or Intended Outcomes:This study examines spatial overlap, habitat selection and diet composition of an introduced muskox population and a declining migratory caribou population to determine whether they compete for space and/or food. Concerns regarding competition between muskox and migratory caribou were first expressed by Inuit hunters in the 1970’s and still remain to this day.

Project Description:This project aims at identifying the determinants of migratory routes and staging areas used by eastern migratory caribou. It will use GPS location data collected on >100 females since 2008 to determine the influence of topography, hydrography, vegetation, and snow cover on caribou migrations.

Project Outcomes or Intended Outcomes:This project will allow to produce habitat suitability maps for each season and highlight potential corridors of migration. Conservation of mobile species such as migratory caribou is particularly challenging. The identification of migration routes, and understanding how habitat components affect migratory movements, are crucial to concentrate conservation efforts on key areas of the range.

Project Description:We fitted 9 Argos and 26 global positioning system (GPS)-collars on 35 adult caribou (25 female, 10 male) from the declining Torngat Mountains caribou herd in northern Quebec-Labrador between 2011 and 2016 to assess seasonal habitat selection at 2 spatial scales, current and future population trends, and interactions with the neighboring Riviere-George migratory caribou herd.

Project Outcomes or Intended Outcomes:The decline of the Torngat Mountains population was principally attributed to the low survival of adult females (0.72 annual survival rate) owing to subsistence harvest and predation. Demographic models revealed that the growth rate of the population could vary from 0.83 (current) to 0.94 following a decrease in harvest pressure. Using demographic scenarios, we showed that the Torngat Mountains herd could continue to decrease if no management actions were taken to increase adult female survival.

Paper:
https://www.cclmportal.ca/resource/habitat-selection-and-population-trends-torngat-mountains-caribou-herd

Project Description:

Cold Lake First Nations (CLFN) is working with all levels of government across two provinces, industry, National Defence, and research groups to develop and implement caribou conservation measures. The specific focus of these efforts is the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR).  CLFN was evicted from the CLAWR in 1952 and regained access in 2001 after a long legal process. CLFN has been concerned for many years about how the CLAWR is managed and what the long term impacts to its homelands will be. This project focuses on aligning conservation measures with CLFN Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and implementing them in a complex regulatory environment. The centerpiece of this effort to date is a Section 11 Agreement with Canada that provides common ground for parties to collaborate.

Project Outcomes or Intended Outcomes:

• Implementation of provincial (Species at Risk Act compliant) range plans and the associated actions inside a National Defence facility in collaboration with provinces.
• Creation of a multi year restoration plan for the CLAWR
• Conservation of critical caribou habitat
• Alternate Prey Management 
• Monitoring of ungulates 
• Implementation of restoration activities that integrate IK
• Development and application of Dene Law to CLFN's actions on the land
• Moving towards reconciliation with Canada over the historical legacy of CLFN's eviction from the CLAWR and the subsequent decades of irreparable social harm.

Project Description:

Beginning in 2003, moose populations were intentionally reduced by increased hunting pressure as an indirect way of reducing wolf numbers — fewer moose on the landscape means wolves have less to eat resulting in fewer wolves. Moose were reduced to a density that approximated what would have existed in the absence of forest harvesting. 

Project Outcomes or Intended Outcomes:

As a result of the moose reduction, numbers of the largest caribou subpopulation within the northern Columbia Mountains stabilized. The population growth rate improved by about 5 units (i.e. from declining by 5%/yr, to stability).

Project DescriptionThe Labrador Boreal Caribou Population Monitoring Program is being implemented according to an action item outlined in the Woodland Caribou (Boreal population) in Newfoundland and Labrador Draft Conservation Agreement. We are using a two pronged approach to monitor the demographics of these populations. The main goals are to collar adult female caribou in order to estimate survival rate using known-fate modeling, and to conduct annual aerial classifications in order to estimate calf recruitment rates. While conducting these activities, we are also able to monitor habitat/range use, movement and dispersal, causes of mortality, pregnancy rates, indices of caribou health, adult sex ratios, and minimum population sizes.

Project Outcomes or Intended OutcomesEstimates of survival and reproduction will allow modeling of Boreal Caribou (sub)population trend to inform recovery and co-management planning. Location data from collared caribou will inform range planning. Information on population demographics, health indices and mortality causes will increase our understanding of threats to recovery.