Weaving Indigenous & Western Knowledge to monitor moose and investigate population decline
Moose (Alces alces) are in decline across many regions of North America. Of major concern to Indigenous communities across Canada, causes of decline are not well understood. Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers hold vast amounts of knowledge spanning decades of personal experience highly relevant to conservation and management of many wildlife species, including moose. Indigenous knowledge systems strengthen moose monitoring and management initiatives and understanding of moose ecology in changing environments. In collaboration with Indigenous communities across Ontario, this research aims to 1) optimize community-based moose monitoring while prioritizing Indigenous knowledge systems and values, and 2) identify factors related to moose population fluctuations while furthering understanding about the importance of moose to Indigenous communities.
