Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Guelph
$296,968.00
Weaving Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science for More Effective and Collaborative Moose Monitoring and Research
FY 2024-25
Summary
Community-led research programs created in partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous environmental professionals offer a promising context in which to bring together Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Western science (WS) to solve complex environmental issues. Using place-based IK alongside WS can help address local concerns, answer important research questions, and give a more holistic understanding of how environmental issues influence relationships between people and the Lands. Currently, there are many theoretical frameworks that outline how to work well across cultures, but very few resources detail how to do so in practice, leading to a general uncertainty of how to move forward in a meaningful way. Finding ways to work well across cultures is particularly important for species that are valuable to both non-Indigenous and Indigenous Peoples. Moose (Alces alces) represent a time-sensitive, culturally relevant case study to create environmental monitoring and research programs founded in Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge, as proactive efforts could prevent this important species from experiencing further declines. Our research program is focused on three overarching objectives: 1) To test the effectiveness of commonly-used wildlife monitoring tools to facilitate Indigenous community leadership and prioritize community values throughout the research process; 2) To use both IK and WS to better understand the commonalities and differences in the mechanisms of moose population declines from local to regional spatial scales; 3) To create a Moose Knowledge Network to serve as a space for individuals, governments, and/or organizations that are interested in moose conservation to come together to share knowledge, build relationships, and solve problems of mutual interest. Overall, this project will serve as a template of Indigenous, community-led environmental monitoring and research programs that aim to embrace multiple knowledge systems, while creating avenues for ethical communication, relationship building, and knowledge dissemination to ensure impact far beyond this project and these locations.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
586255-2023
Name nom
Popp, Jesse JN
Department département
Ontario Agricultural College
Organization id
24
Institution établissement
University of Guelph
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2024
Competition year année de concours
2023
Award amount
296968
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1002
Area of application group en
Northern development
Area of application group fr
Développement du nord
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
4701
Research subject group en
Evolution and ecology
Research subject group fr
Évolution et écologie
Research subject en
Animal ecology
Research subject fr
Écologie animale
Field of research list names en
Not available
Field of research list names fr
Non disponible
Socioeconomic objective list names en
Not available
Socioeconomic objective list names fr
Non disponible
Application title
Weaving Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science for More Effective and Collaborative Moose Monitoring and Research
Keywords
culturally important species; ethical space; indigenous guardians; indigenous knowledge; indigenous-led conservation; moose (alces alces); optimization of wildlife monitoring; socioecological research; weaving knowledge systems; wildlife monitoring
Application summary
Community-led research programs created in partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous environmental professionals offer a promising context in which to bring together Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Western science (WS) to solve complex environmental issues. Using place-based IK alongside WS can help address local concerns, answer important research questions, and give a more holistic understanding of how environmental issues influence relationships between people and the Lands. Currently, there are many theoretical frameworks that outline how to work well across cultures, but very few resources detail how to do so in practice, leading to a general uncertainty of how to move forward in a meaningful way. Finding ways to work well across cultures is particularly important for species that are valuable to both non-Indigenous and Indigenous Peoples. Moose (Alces alces) represent a time-sensitive, culturally relevant case study to create environmental monitoring and research programs founded in Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge, as proactive efforts could prevent this important species from experiencing further declines. Our research program is focused on three overarching objectives: 1) To test the effectiveness of commonly-used wildlife monitoring tools to facilitate Indigenous community leadership and prioritize community values throughout the research process; 2) To use both IK and WS to better understand the commonalities and differences in the mechanisms of moose population declines from local to regional spatial scales; 3) To create a Moose Knowledge Network to serve as a space for individuals, governments, and/or organizations that are interested in moose conservation to come together to share knowledge, build relationships, and solve problems of mutual interest. Overall, this project will serve as a template of Indigenous, community-led environmental monitoring and research programs that aim to embrace multiple knowledge systems, while creating avenues for ethical communication, relationship building, and knowledge dissemination to ensure impact far beyond this project and these locations.
