Conceptualizing indicators as boundary objects in integrating Inuit knowledge and western science for marine resource management

Abstract

A complex co-management system exists across Inuit Nunangat, whereby federal, provincial, territorial governments and Inuit organizations manage natural resources cooperatively. Under Inuit land claim agreements, Inuit knowledge, western science, and co-produced knowledge are to be used side by side to support decision-making. However, the mechanisms of effectively integrating these knowledge systems to inform decision-makers remain poorly understood. This limits Inuit self-determination, hinders knowledge production, impedes resource governance improvements, and exacerbates communication barriers leading to tensions in marine resource management. It is also a barrier for scientists to utilize Inuit knowledge that exists in a different capacity, and vice versa. We discuss marine resource management indicators, positioning them as potential “boundary objects” around which different knowledge systems converge. We explore their role for not only monitoring ecosystems, but also for integrating knowledge in co-management. We summarize efforts at developing indicators and explore the extent to which they can take on information from different knowledge systems in support of improved co-management decision-making. Finally, we identify how indicators can be used as a facilitation tool for integrating knowledge systems while also generating new research questions and bringing forward management challenges that would otherwise remain out of the scope of researchers and resource managers. Ilagijauninginnut piliriqatigiigunnarninginnullu pitaqarmat Inuit Nunangat, pijjutigillugu gavamatuqakkut, gavamaillu aviktursimajuni, nunalingnillu gavamagijaujut ammalu Inuit katujjiqatigiingit piliriqatigiittiarpangninginnut nunalirijaraangata. Inuit angirutinga, Inuit qaujimajatuqangi, qallunaalu qaujisartulirijjutigijangit, ammalu piliriqatigiigunnarninginnut qaujimajangitigut aturtauttiariaqarningani piliriqatigiittiarlutik ikajurtigiittiarlutik isumaliuriniaraangata. Taimanninganut, tukisijausimanirijanga saqititaunasuartillugu qaujimajatuqarijaujut isumaliurutauniartillugit tukisiajauttiangimmat. Ajurutigijaujuq Inuit pivaallirutigijunnartanga, piliriarijaungilluni qaujimajaugaluartillugu, ajurutiqartutitut pivaallirutigijunnataraluanginnit, kisianilu ajurutiqainnaujarllutik tusaumaqattautingiluartunut pijjutigijanga ajurutigingmagu imarmiutalirijikkunnu lu pilirijigivaktanginnut. Ajurutigijaugivuq qaujisartiuvaktuni tukisinasuattiariaksaq Inuit qaujimajatuqanginni pitaqattiaraluartillugu asingitigut, ammalu igluanunga tukisinasuarllugu. Uqausirivangmijavut imatmiutalirijaraangata pilirijigijauvaktut, piliriarijjutigijaujunnarniarninginnut “ajurutiujunut piqutiit” tamakkua ajjigiingittuni qaujimajaqartuni tukisiumaqattautilirunnarlutik. Qimirujavut qanuilingagaluarmangaata tamakkuatuinnaungittut nunamiutalimaalu imarmilu ammalu saqitinasuarllugu qaujimajaujut piliriqatingiigiaqarnirmit. Piliriarinasuartavut katirsurllugit saqittijumanirmut piliriqatigiittialirunnarnirmut ammalu qaujivallianirijavut angilirtigiarlugu tukisijauvalliajunut ajjigiingitillugi ikajurutaulirunnarninganut piliriqatigiitialirlutik isumaliurutauqattarniartillugit. Asuilaak, uqarunnalirpugut qaujisarutauniartut aturtaujunnalirput piliriarijjutigilugit qaujimaqattautivallialirnirmut pivallialirtillugit tukisiqattautivalliatilluta qaujisarutiksaniglu nutaanik apiqutiksanik ammalu pilirianguvallianiartillugu ajungijjutigijunnartanginnit katujjiqatingiingniartilluta pitaqarajalaungikkaluartillugi qaujisartinut ammalu nunalirivaktuni pilirijiit.