Assessing traditional and contemporary fisheries knowledge within the Shoal Lake watershed : possibilities for partnerships with Shoal Lake First Nation # 40

• Main Author: Bosnich, David
• Other Authors: Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CA 1995
• Subjects: FISHERY MANAGEMENT; DATA COLLECTING; INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE; PARTNERSHIP; INDIGENOUS POPULATION; CANADA; FISH; MAPPING; LAKES; PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH; TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGY; Canada; Shoal Lake; First Nations
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10625/21780; http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23055

The purpose of this research was to examine an alternative knowledge and management system, relating to the walleye fishery of Shoal Lake, Ontario. The study documented the traditional ecological knowledge relating to Walleye, compared and contrasted traditional ecological knowledge to scientific ecological knowledge, integrated traditional and scientific ecological knowledge into a map format; and recommended areas of further research. To conduct this work, three major research methods were employed: personal observations, personal interviews and a map biography approach. The results of this study defined areas of critical walleye areas for consideration from the scientific and traditional ecological knowledge perspectives. Differing perspectives are held by representatives of Shoal Lake Band # 40 and by representatives of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources on the nature of the fishery as well as on the methods required for a sustainable harvest and recovery of the walleye population. Until these problems can be resolved and greater cooperation can be achieved between both parties, the fishery will not be effectively managed. However, this is not to say that the fishery will not recover on its own, but this will be by chance and will take time. The recommendations of this study include: that the terms defined in fisheries management be clarified and mutually agreed upon, that further research be conducted to clarify these differing perspectives, that a research methodology be developed that would incorporate both scientific ecological knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge, and that the First Nations be brought into the scientific management process so that they can evaluate its potential to contribute to traditional ecological knowledge. Master's degree