Co-developing Cree way tools project for coastal wildlife monitoring 

Phase 1 of the CHCRP documented: 1) eelgrass decline and slow recovery associated with climate warming and hydroelectric-modification of freshwater discharge, 2) a significant change in the abundance and distribution of geese along the coast, 3) earlier ice breakups and warmer sea water temperatures, and 4) profound impact on coastal change on goose harvesting practices and associated knowledge, land use, and community values. The Cree organizations, communities, and land users involved in Phase 1 of the CHCRP have expressed a need for continued research on the health and recovery of coastal systems, eelgrass, and goose populations, including a focused effort on building long-term capacity for Cree-led monitoring so that communities and land-users can track changes in coastal biodiversity and cultural practices into the future.

Indigenous-led, community-based monitoring (CBM) can: 1) help fill research gaps by providing continuous, place-based data, 2) build public support and credibility of scientific and conservation pursuits, 3) support cross-cultural learning and knowledge exchange, and 4) support Indigenous self-determination and decision-making – all important benefits to Canada and the environment. However, CBM challenges have constrained its widespread adoption and long-term sustainability, including a lack of: 1) funds for monitoring, 2) training and/or capacity in many communities, 3) use of CBM data in policy and decision-making, and 4) monitoring indicators focused not exclusively on environment, wildlife, or people but on their biocultural connections. Situated within the place-based reality of changing coastal habitats, declining biodiversity, and threats to traditional harvest practices in Eeyou Istchee, the objective of our proposed research is to co-develop biocultural monitoring tools and approaches in Eeyou Istchee focused on connections between people and the land and building community capacity for long-term sustainability of community-based monitoring. Our research will support Cree self-determination and sovereignty, advance cross-cultural and transdisciplinary monitoring of culturally important places, species, and relationships, and help protect the biological and cultural diversity that is characteristic of Canada.