Polar Bears Cannot Be In Danger

Inuit we've spoken with believe that nanuuit - polar bears - are increasing in abundance. The stories of elders clearly indicate that in the past this great animal was not seen often, but when it was, it was a very special event. In Inuit society, the bear is revered for its intelligence, strength and importance within the foodchain. Like all animals, Inuit believe the bear should never be tampered with unless it is being hunted as a source of food.

Now, local observations indicate that polar bears are increasing in numbers, in large part due to the community-based conservation efforts of Inuit. These animals are now spotted more regularly in both camps and communities. Nunavut is home to most of Canada's estimated 16,000 polar bears, which is 2/3rds of the world's population, and annually, Inuit hunt about 325 of them for food, clothing and other culturally appropriate reasons (Foote and Wenzel, 2009). Additionally, Inuit communities will open their quota to "conservation hunting", and approximately 75-175 bears are caught annually by non-locals, which helps with economic development in these often cash-strapped communities (Foote and Wenzel, 2009). These conservation hunts are rigorously regulated and must be conducted in the traditional-style, using dogteams or by foot, and can last two-weeks and require up to 500 km of travel (Foote and Wenzel, 2009).

Unfortunately, in the south, Inuit use of animals such as the polar bear is poorly understood. Arguably, Inuit hunting of seals and polar bear are amongst the most contested environmental issues of our time. This conflict is largely a result of the different world views between southern environmentalists and scientists, and Arctic indigenous peoples.

Most wildlife biologists believe that bears are at risk due to climate change. A major concern is that the loss of sea ice, due to warming, will significantly disrupt polar bear habitat and their ability to successfully hunt and procure calories. These arguments have been quite persuasive in policy circles and, in 2008, the US listed the polar bear as "threatened" under their Endangered Species Act. This was the first time in the world that an animal had been listed as threatened due to climate change. Now, the US is advocating internationally that the polar bear be listed as threatened on the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which would make the Canadian export of any polar bear materials illegal. Inuit, particularly in Nunavut, are dismayed by and largely disagree with this turn of events, and believe that their rights and knowledge regarding this species are not being respected. See ITK's press release for more details:

Inuit Disappointed at US Activism on CITES Polar Bear Up-Listing Proposal

Scientists often study the bear by tranquilizing, tagging and tracking it. While this technique has certainy provided important scientific information about the species, many Inuit believe that these practices are also harmful and disrespectful. Inuit have told us that "tampering" with bears in this way can stress them further and make them irritable. Indeed, Pangnirtung's Jamesie Mike told us that problem bears - such as the ones that destroy property or act aggressively towards humans - are always the ones that have been previously captured by scientists. Everywhere locals have told us that when bears are harvested, they often are already tranquilized, and this meat is not eatten because it is viewed as being unsafe. Inuit expect and prefer that their countryfood is natural and without chemicals. Ironically, Arctic communities often assist biologists in gathering data about wildlife, and in the case of the bear, this may have backfired.

When it comes down to it, it's about whether you believe in the ability of the world to adapt. Elders, like Jamesie Mike, disagree with scientists that polar bears will be in danger if we lose ice. As Jamesie says in the video upload, the bear is a sea animal first and foremost, and he is confident that it, like Inuit, will survive and adapt in a warming world. Interestingly, Jamesie's description of a polar bear matches its scientific name "Ursus maritimus" that means "sea bear".

Indeed, there's a lot of common ground between elders and scientists, as they are both experts in their own systems of knowledge. As our project unfolds, you'll be able to see how Inuit knowledge and science often support one another, which is a promising sign for the future. However, in areas where they disagree, it's important that both sides of the story are heard, and that is our job, to bring you that Inuit point of view.

Stay tuned and we'll continue to bring you the most up-to-date and interesting Inuit climate change perspectives the internet has to offer.

Source:

Foote, L. and G.W. Wenzel. 2009. Polar Bear Conservation Hunting in Canada: Economics, Culture and Unintended Consequences. In. Freemon and Foote (Eds.). Inuit Polar Bears and Sustainable Use: Local, National and International Perspectives. CCI Press.