The Role of Traditional Knowledge in Community-Based Management of an Eiderdown Industry Developing in Northern Canada

Abstract

"The basic premise of this particular case study is that traditional knowledge and skills can be incorporated into decision-making processes to develop workable systems for community-based management. As Douglas Nakashima has illustrated Inuit traditional knowledge as a basic for arctic wildlife management is Justified, but it is a question of developing appropriate institutions for that knowledge to be applied and incorporated into decision—making. The purpose of this paper is to describe development of a community-based management system for commercial harvesting of eiderdown in the Belcher Islands. In doing so, we hope to illustrate how indigenous knowledge is integral to the management process. It is important to note that upon starting this research and development initiative, there was little consensus on how to achieve sustainable, community-based development of living common-property resources in northern Canada or elsewhere.The basic premise of this particular case study is that traditional knowledge and skills can be incorporated into decision-making processes to develop workable systems for community-based management. As Douglas Nakashima has illustrated Inuit traditional knowledge as a basic for arctic wildlife management is Justified, but it is a question of developing appropriate institutions for that knowledge to be applied and incorporated into decision—making. The purpose of this paper is to describe development of a community-based management system for commercial harvesting of eiderdown in the Belcher Islands. In doing so, we hope to illustrate how indigenous knowledge is integral to the management process. It is important to note that upon starting this research and development initiative, there was little consensus on how to achieve sustainable, community-based development of living common-property resources in northern Canada or elsewhere."