Indigenous Knowledge of Human–Polar Bear Coexistence in Churchill, Manitoba

• Main Author: Miller, Katharina
• Other Authors: Lickers, Michael
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: College of interdisciplinary studies; Arctic; Canada; Churchill; inuit; nanuq; Sayisi Dene; Sea ice; Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10613/27563; https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-19237

2023 Polar bears (wapusk; nanuq; sas; loor blaan; Ursus maritimus) and people have shared northern coastlines for time immemorial, yet concerns about polar bears coming into communities is increasing. As the Arctic warms and sea ice habitat declines due to climate warming, coexistence strategies between people and polar bears have become increasingly important. This study uses community-based participatory research; coproduction of knowledge; hands back, hands forward; and storytelling to documents Indigenous knowledge of human–polar bear coexistence with Swampy Cree, Sayisi Dene, Caribou Inuit, and Métis people of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. By coupling deductive time-based themes with inductive thematic analysis, this research documents Indigenous knowledge and provides recommendations as future visions for human–polar bear coexistence in Churchill, Manitoba: protect tourism as an important industry and economy, support proactive management and less invasive research, elevate Indigenous knowledge, improve education and safety awareness, and cultivate a culture of coexistence.