Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Vice-President James Eetoolook said today that Canada is leading the way in integrating science and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, or Traditional Aboriginal Knowledge as it is called in other jurisdictions, in the management of polar bears across the circumpolar world. Eetoolook made the comments in his role as a member of the Canadian delegation to the Polar Bear Range States Meeting held in Iqaluit this week.

Eetoolook said he was encouraged by steps taken by the other range states in acknowledging the importance of Traditional Aboriginal Knowledge in polar bear management. The range states include the five circumpolar countries that have polar bear populations, which include Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia and the United States. All five range states signed the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears in 1973 with the common goal to responsibly manage polar bears in their respective countries.

“Inuit have long been concerned about the effects of scientific research on polar bears. The Government of Nunavut is now conducting their research using less intrusive methods,” said Eetoolook. He also called on the other range states to find less intrusive ways of conducting their polar bear research.

During the range states meetings, Eetoolook and officials from several other Inuit land claims organizations across Canada met with the National Resources Defense Council, an American non-government organization opposed to the harvest of polar bears. Eetoolook was able to raise concerns on behalf of Inuit, including explaining the negative impact their campaign has on the sustainable harvest of polar bears by Inuit.