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Adapted from: Government of NWT (2018)
Caribou have long been vital to the survival of Indigenous peoples in the north; the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis.
Read moreThreats
Reasons for the drop in caribou populations are complicated. There is still some disagreement among scientific and Indigenous experts as to which factors are most important.
Management
It is often said that forms of wildlife management are mostly not about managing the animals, but about managing people. Some Indigenous peoples find it disrespectful to even talk about managing caribou. In that spirit, this section is largely about managing human interventions that affect caribou.
News and resources
Recently added resources
Nunavut Impact Review Board Issues Reconsideration Report and Recommendations for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited’s “Meliadine Extension” Project Proposal, related to the Meliadine Gold Mine Project
A news release from the Nunavut Impact review board giving its reasons for turning down a request for a gold mine extension in Nunavut. The request from the Meliadine gold mine north of Rankin inlet would have added 11 years to the mine life, according to the mine owners. The review board highlighted potential effects of the mine expansion on the Qamairjuaq caribou herd and the people who rely on the herd; "...the Board noted high levels of uncertainty as to whether existing or modified mitigation measures would be sufficiently protective to prevent or manage negative effects from the Extension Proposal on caribou; especially when considering critical calving and post-calving periods. The Board also acknowledges that unpredicted negative impacts on caribou would have immediate negative effects on the ability of Inuit, Dene and Denesuline reliant on this herd to harvest caribou, which could have devastating and lasting effects on livelihood, health and culture."
Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) (2023)
Usage: Non-commercial with attribution Format: web
Beverly and QaminirjuaqBarren-groundRange managementHuman disturbancethe refuge
This is a series of podcasts (11 altogether), most about half an hour long, focusing on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, calving ground of the Porcupine caribou herd. This in-depth series looks at the ongoing push to allow oil and gas development in the refuge. It includes the voices of Indigenous peoples who live nearby, and depend on the caribou herd. The series started in 2019, and updates were added in 2020 and 2021.
Threshold (202)
Usage: Non-commercial with attribution Format: web
PorcupineBarren-groundRange managementClimate changeHuman disturbance