Aboriginal People and Resource Co-Management: The Inuvialuit of the Western Arctic and Resource Co-Management under a Land Claims Settlement

Abstract

"The Inuvialuit Final Agreement (IFA) as enacted under the Western Arctic (Inuvialuit) Claims Settlement Act (1984) set in place five management bodies for co-management of resources in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) of Northwest Territories and Yukon. ISR is a mix of private Inuvialuit land held in common, and crown land. Fish and wildlife resources are co-managed by Inuvialuit and governments of Canada, Northwest Territories and Yukon together with agencies of United States and other nations.

"Co-management initiatives are reviewed to illustrate roles and activities of co-management bodies created pursuant to the IFA. Potential problem areas are discussed with respect to development-conservation dichotomy as enshrined in IFA. Complications arising from impending settlement of native land claims contiguous to and overlapping with ISR are also discussed with respect to the need for integration of co-management mechanisms.

"Preservation of cultural identity through meaningful participation in management and conservation of arctic wildlife and its habitat is explored with concerns raised and recommendations given for future of successful and culturally appropriate co-management of resources."