“We Don't Know anything about Whales:” Ecological Knowledge and Ways of Knowing in Ulukhaktok, NT, Canada

Peter Collings; Tristan Pearce; Joseph Kann

doi:10.1139/AS-2017-0030

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“We Don't Know anything about Whales:” Ecological Knowledge and Ways of Knowing in Ulukhaktok, NT, Canada

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“We Don't Know anything about Whales:” Ecological Knowledge and Ways of Knowing in Ulukhaktok, NT, Canada

Peter Collings, Tristan Pearce and Joseph Kann

Arctic Science, Vol.4(3), pp.223-241

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/AS-2017-0030

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Abstract

Environmental Science and Management

qualitative data analysis

traditional ecological knowledge

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit

beluga whales

This paper reports on interviews conducted during June and July, 2015, to document ecological knowledge of beluga whales in Ulukhaktok, NT. Beluga whales are not a traditionally available or important species for Ulukhaktomiut, but they have appeared in increasing numbers in the waters around the community, and hunters have actively pursed and taken them. We conducted interviews in English with 31 Inuit about their beluga knowledge. A Key Words in Context (KWIC) analysis of the word "know" in the narratives reveals different conceptions of what it means to know something about whales. "Know" variously references practical skill, concern and empathy for others, or the developing awareness of one's place in the world. Each of these meanings is coded uniquely in Inuinnaqtun, providing insights about the important differences between researchers and Inuit in how "ecological knowledge" is understood and activated.

Details

Title: “We Don't Know anything about Whales:” Ecological Knowledge and Ways of Knowing in Ulukhaktok, NT, Canada
Authors: Peter Collings (Author) - University of Florida, United States
Tristan Pearce (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Joseph Kann (Author) - University of Florida, United States
Publication details: Arctic Science, Vol.4(3), pp.223-241
Publisher: N R C Research Press
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1139/AS-2017-0030
ISSN: 2368-7460
Copyright note: This article is open access. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en_GB.
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450530802621
Output Type: Journal article

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