Bridging Indigenous and science-based knowledge in coastal and marine research, monitoring, and management in Canada

• Published in: Environmental Evidence
• Main Authors: Steven M. Alexander, Jennifer F. Provencher, Dominique A. Henri, Jessica J. Taylor, Jed Immanuel Lloren, Lushani Nanayakkara, Jay T. Johnson, Steven J. Cooke
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019
• Subjects: Coastal management; Indigenous knowledge systems; Integrative research; Marine management; Monitoring; Systematic map; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Nunavut; Canada; inuit
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-019-0181-3; https://doaj.org/article/52960e8eb94a4ec7943a2074dc0cea04

Abstract Background Drawing upon multiple types of knowledge (e.g., Indigenous knowledge, local knowledge, science-based knowledge) strengthens the evidence-base for policy advice, decision making, and environmental management. While the benefits of incorporating multiple types of knowledge in environmental research and management are many, doing so has remained a challenge. This systematic map examined the extent, range, and nature of the published literature (i.e., commercially published and grey) that seeks to respectively bridge Indigenous and science-based knowledge in coastal and marine research and management in Canada. Methods This systematic map applied standardized search terms across four databases focused on commercially published literature, carefully selected specialist websites, and two web-based search engines. In addition, reference sections of relevant review articles were cross-checked to identify articles that may not have been found using the search strategy. Search results were screened in two sequential stages; (1) at title and abstract; and (2) at full text following a published protocol. All case studies included were coded using a standard questionnaire. A narrative synthesis approach was used to identify trends in the evidence, knowledge gaps, and knowledge clusters. Results A total of 62 articles that spanned 71 Canadian case studies were included in the systematic map. Studies across the coastal and marine regions of Inuit Nunangat accounted for the majority of the studies. Whether the focus is on management and decision making or research and monitoring, the predominant ecological scale was at the species level, accounting for over two-thirds of the included studies. There were 24 distinct coastal and marine species of central focus across the studies. Nunavut had the greatest taxonomic coverage as studies conducted to date cover 13 different genera. The predominant methodology employed for combining and/or including Indigenous knowledge was case study design, which accounted for ...