| Summary: | This research examines the relationship between government wildlife management regulations and the use of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) through a case study focusing on narwhal harvesting in the community of Naujaat, Nunavut. Since Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) introduced a community quota system in 1977, the responsibility for hunting management decision-making has shifted to government (specifically, DFO), rather than hunting communities. This shift corresponds with changes in the use of IQ within the community. Interviews with relevant individuals in Naujaat (including hunters, elders, and representatives from the Hunters and Trappers Organization) were conducted to provide insight into the nature of these changes, allowing the relationship between government-based management policies and community perspectives to be characterized. The findings are used to identify opportunities for improving the relationship between community use of IQ and government management programs, culminating in recommendations for the relevant management bodies in Nunavut. These recommendations can enhance the fisheries management regime in Nunavut through better understanding of best practices for inclusion of Inuit priorities and Inuit participation in the management process. This research is part of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council-funded Fisheries – Western and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (Fish-WIKS) partnership project, which aims to understand the relationship between western and indigenous knowledge systems in the context of Canadian fisheries policy.
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