Indigenous knowledge and species assessment for the Alexander Archipelago wolf: successes, challenges, and lessons learned-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Indigenous knowledge and species assessment for the Alexander Archipelago wolf: successes, challenges, and lessons learned

Published:2024-02-26 Issue:6 Volume:88 Page:
ISSN:0022-541X
Container-title:The Journal of Wildlife Management
language:en
Short-container-title:J Wildl Manag

Author:

Brooks Jeffrey J.¹^ORCID,Markegard Sarah I.²,Langdon Stephen J.³,Anderstrom Devlin Shaag̱aw Éesh⁴,Douville Michael Gitwaayne⁵,George Thomas A.⁶,Jackson Michael Kauish⁷,Jackson Scott Gus'tú⁸,Mills Thomas Ḵaachkutí⁹,Ramos Judith Dax̠ootsú¹⁰,Rowan Jon Yaanasgít¹¹,Sanderson Tony¹²,Smythe Chuck¹³

Affiliation:

1. Environmental Sciences Management Section, Office of Environment Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500 Anchorage AK 99503 USA

2. Ecological Services Program, Southern Alaska Fish and Wildlife Field Office United States Fish and Wildlife Service 4700 BLM Road Anchorage AK 99507 USA

3. Department of Anthropology and Geography University of Alaska Anchorage 3211 Providence Drive, Room 231 Anchorage AK 99508 USA

4. K̠waashk'i K̠wáan P.O. Box 454 Yakutat AK 99689 USA

5. Craig Tribal Association, Deisheetaan Clan P.O. Box 68 Craig AK 99921 USA

6. L'eeneidi Clan P.O. Box 1 Klawock AK 99925 USA

7. Ḵaach.ádi Clan P.O. Box 163 Kake AK 99830 USA

8. Was'eeneidí Clan P.O. Box 595 Kake AK 99830 USA

9. T'aḵdeintaan Clan P.O. Box EXI Juneau AK 99850 USA

10. Department of Arts and Sciences and K̠waashk'i K̠wáan University of Alaska Southeast 317 Sixth Street Juneau AK 99801 USA

11. Klawock School District, Retired, Shangukeidí Clan P.O. Box 51 Klawock AK 99925 USA

12. Hydaburg Cooperative Association, Haida Sgajuuga.ahl Clan P.O. Box 78 Hydaburg AK 99922 USA

13. Sealaska Heritage Institute 105 South Seward Street, Suite 201 Juneau AK 99801 USA

Abstract

AbstractThe United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska, USA, conducted a species status assessment for a petition to list the Alexander Archipelago wolf (Canis lupus ligoni) under the Endangered Species Act in 2020‐2022. This federal undertaking could not be adequately prepared without including the knowledge of Indigenous People who have a deep cultural connection with the subspecies. Our objective is to communicate the authoritative expertise and voice of the Indigenous People who partnered on the project by demonstrating how their knowledge contributed to the species status assessment. The Indigenous knowledge applied in the assessment is the cultural and intellectual property of those who have shared it. We employed rapid appraisal research to expeditiously develop a preliminary and qualitative understanding of Indigenous People's cultural and ecological knowledge of Alexander Archipelago wolves. We used semi‐directed interviewing and inductive coding from grounded theory for text analysis. Indigenous knowledge contributed to the agency's understanding of the Alexander Archipelago wolf in Southeast Alaska and helped the agency with their classification decision. Indigenous research partners explained the rich cultural significance and position of wolves in Tlingit society and described human–wolf relationships and ecological interactions. The agency used a single‐species assessment approach based in species ecology and conservation biology, whereas the Indigenous wolf experts applied a multi‐species, community ecology approach based in a sociocultural context of balance and respect. The Indigenous wolf experts successfully addressed knowledge gaps identified by the agency. The partners were challenged by a short regulatory timeframe that did not allow for comprehensive study of Indigenous knowledge and constrained review and feedback by Indigenous experts. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service learned that its assessment framework was not designed to account for an Indigenous worldview. To level the playing field, the agency and Indigenous experts should discuss how to co‐develop an assessment framework that equitably applies both perspectives.

Publisher

Wiley

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