About the project

Seals are important for Inuit across Inuit Nunaat. Ringed seals are a nutritious food source, their fur is essential for winter clothing, and their continued harvest keeps cultural continuity intact. Harp seals have been observed in higher numbers every year, and there is interest in monitoring their health, since they share the Arctic ecosystem with ringed seals in the ice-free seasons.

The Nattivut Network is a new monitoring program in Iqaluit, Nunavut, CA. As the climate changes, it is urgent to start monitoring seals now, so we can identify any changes in seal health that happen in the future.

While we are only working in Iqaluit at this time, we welcome any questions or concerns from other communities in Inuit Nunangat.

The Nattivut Network has four goals.

Monitor Seal Health

1

This goal centers around assessing ringed and harp seals, both of which will have the same sampling and monitoring components.  We look at seal health by measuring contaminants, exposure to disease, body condition, and looking at what seals eat.

Capacity Sharing

2

What do you do if you see a visibly sick seal? How do we know why it is sick? How could you sample it safely? Our network includes wildlife veterinarians who have and can provide training to safely sample and handle any potentially sick seals and wildlife.

Community Connections

3

This goal aims to stress the importance of local Inuit Knowledge, and on giving back. Recognizing Inuit contributions and existing knowledge is pillar of this program. This program includes both Inuit and western ways of knowing to create a fuller picture of seal health. With our food workshops and harvester interviews, we place Inuit Knowledge at the centre of this program. This extends into community care, which for Nattivut Network, means keeping the flow of traditional and local knowledge flowing from knowledge keepers to the community.

Knowledge Mobilization

4

We believe that research does not need to be mysterious or confusing. Having this goal means we want to prioritize public communication on research activities, our motivations for the research, the methods, and results.