Community-driven Research
Researchers are increasingly engaging with Indigenous stakeholders, but examples of true partnerships, where researchers and Indigenous People benefit equally from science activities, are limited. We aim to deliver science that is co-developed and co-led by Indigenous communities, by fostering respectful relationships with Indigenous partners. Our goals are to provide the evidence needed to support conservation of northern ecosystems, while also advancing the rights, perspectives, and prosperity of Indigenous People.
Lead exposure in Sahtú communities (Fort Good Hope Renewable Resources Council, Jordyn Stalwick, Drs Kelly Skinner, Brian Laird and Mylène Ratelle, University of Waterloo): To understand how people living in northern communities might be exposed to lead, we reviewed existing studies, surveyed hunters, and tested water, fish, and shot geese for lead.
Understanding changes in bird health (Ahiak Area Comanagement Committee, Sahtú Communities, Drs Brian Laird, Kelly Skinner, and Mylène Ratelle, University of Waterloo): Wildlife harvest supports traditional Indigenous diets, and birds are an important element of subsistence harvest in many northern communities. To provide information about changes in the health and distribution of birds that are related to changes on the land, we are delivering workshops that provide training related to dissection, measurement, and collection of biological data from harvested birds.
What are the ducks telling us? Documenting K'áhshó Got'ı̨nę knowledge about scoters (K'áhshó Got'ı̨nę Foundation, Tuyeta Management Board, and Fort Good Hope Renewable Resources Council): Together with Dene partners, we have co-developed a study to describe changes in Surf and White-winged Scoter distributions in areas around Fort Good Hope, NT. This work aims to address questions about these species by bridging Indigenous Knowledge with western science. Equally important project objectives are designed to increase opportunities for Indigenous partnership in sea duck conservation and to build capacity to support future sea duck monitoring and research by Indigenous Guardians.
Forestry and boreal birds (Cold Lake First Nations): We are grateful to have been invited to join ongoing wildlife research being conducted by Cold Lake First Nations, a Dene Nation community in northeastern Alberta. To support research in a candidate Protected Area, we are studying potential impacts of forestry on avian communities and boreal food webs.
Changing freshwater ecosystems and traditional food security (Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board, Sahtú Renewable Resources Board, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation): With congratulations to the Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board on a successful funding application, we are looking forward to being part of the team that will test for linkages between abiotic and biotic characteristics of freshwater lakes in the Mackenzie River Basin and place-based indicators of ecosystem health, including the productivity of wildlife species that are important traditional foods.
