Climate, caribou and human needs linked by analysis of Indigenous and scientific knowledge

Migratory tundra caribou are ecologically and culturally critical in the
circumpolar North. However, they are declining almost everywhere in North
America, likely due to natural variation exacerbated by climate change and
human activities. Yet, the interconnectedness between climate, caribou,
and human well-being has received little attention. To address
this gap, we bridged Indigenous and scientific knowledge
in a single model, using as an example the Porcupine caribou herd
social-ecological system. Our analysis, involving 688 (fall season) and
616 (spring season) interviews conducted over nine years with 405 (fall
season) and 390 (spring season) Indigenous hunters from nine
communities, demonstrates that environmental
conditions, large-scale temporal changes associated with caribou
demography, and cultural practices affect hunters’ capacity to
meet their needs in caribou. Our quantitative
approach bolsters our understanding of the complex relationships
between ecosystems and human welfare in environments exposed to rapid
climate change and shows the benefits of long-term participatory research
methods implemented by Indigenous and scientific partners.