Wahkohtowin has been working in the area of wildlife protection since its inception in 2016. Our Mitacs Intern, Elena McCulloch, shares her story as an Academic Indigenous Woman continuing to ask questions and gather data in the space of moose population decline and moose habitat protection.
......While there are many factors potentially involved in the decline of moose populations, one that our communities have observed and raised concerns about is habitat loss......
The relationship between moose (other names include Alces alces in latin, moswa in Cree, and mooz in Ojibwe) and Indigenous Peoples is a long-standing one that is still very relevant today[1]. Moose can be thought of as community members when the definition of community includes all of the beings that rely on each other not only to survive but to live a good life[2] (mino-bimadiziwin). It has been argued that living in the same home, the forest, is the common ground (literally) that allows different species to relate to each other[3]. For Indigenous Peoples to maintain their relationships with other beings, including moose, forest landscapes need to be protected.
In the 1970s, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry developed new initiatives to manage moose, including the division of the province into Wildlife Management Units[4]. After determining that the population of moose in Ontario had declined significantly, new management strategies and population targets were set by the OMNRF in 1980, and the population began to rise[1]. However, goals set for the year 2000 were largely missed, with one 1996 study finding that 93% of all Wildlife Management Units within core moose range were below their population targets[2]. Further declines have been reported since the new millennium. In 2016, a report by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario estimated that the provincial population of moose had declined by about 20% over the last decade[3].
While there are many factors potentially involved in the decline of moose populations[4], one that our communities have observed and raised concerns about is habitat loss. An important component of moose habitat is winter cover during periods of deep, crusted snow[5], when moose might sometimes use more energy travelling to food than they gain from consuming it[6].
While winter cover for moose is included in the OMNRF’s Forest Management Guide for Managing Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scale, Wahkohtowin Development is questioning whether these guidelines are consistent with our First Nations’ knowledge of moose winter habitat. For instance, the OMNRF guides, and most scientific literature on moose do not mention winter yards – areas of repeated winter use where moose gather or herd together, and that we know are present on the landscape based on our community members’ knowledge and experiences on the Land.
A similar situation was investigated by researchers in Eeyou Istchee, where for over 30 years moose, specifically the cutting of winter moose habitat, was the main point of contention between the Cree and forestry[1] [2]. The Cree requested special protection measures for moose yards, which was largely disregarded because “… moose were not perceived by non-Aboriginal managers as showing high fidelity to specific sites, and forest harvesting was even seen as having positive effects on moose by producing feeding areas.”[3]. Using GPS collars to study year-round moose habitat selection, researchers found that overall, results agreed with Cree knowledge and led to an improved understanding of moose in Northern Quebec[4].
In the summer and fall of 2022, I conducted interviews with knowledge holders on moose winter habitat and the impacts of forestry on moose, in order to understand what gaps exist and how we can address them using the strengths of both Western Science and Indigenous Knowledge. I hope to be able to share results for this project at community gatherings this summer and through Wahkohtowin’s website and social media. Chii miigwetch to everyone who has supported this research and generously shared their knowledge with me, to help communicate our communities' concerns and knowledge for better, more collaborative management of the Land.
A similar situation was investigated by researchers in Eeyou Istchee, where for over 30 years moose, specifically the cutting of winter moose habitat, was the main point of contention between the Cree and forestry[1] [2]. The Cree requested special protection measures for moose yards, which was largely disregarded because “… moose were not perceived by non-Aboriginal managers as showing high fidelity to specific sites, and forest harvesting was even seen as having positive effects on moose by producing feeding areas.”[3]. Using GPS collars to study year-round moose habitat selection, researchers found that overall, results agreed with Cree knowledge and led to an improved understanding of moose in Northern Quebec[4].
In the summer and fall of 2022, I conducted interviews with knowledge holders on moose winter habitat and the impacts of forestry on moose, in order to understand what gaps exist and how we can address them using the strengths of both Western Science and Indigenous Knowledge. I hope to be able to share results for this project at community gatherings this summer and through Wahkohtowin’s website and social media. Chii miigwetch to everyone who has supported this research and generously shared their knowledge with me, to help communicate our communities' concerns and knowledge for better, more collaborative management of the Land.
[1] Jacqmain H, Dussault C, Courtois R, Bélanger L. 2008. Moose–habitat relationships: integrating local Cree native knowledge and scientific findings in northern Quebec. Canadian Journal of Forest Research; 38(12): 3120-3132. https://doi.org/10.1139/X08-128
[2] Jacqmain H, Bélanger L, Courtois R, Dussault C, Beckley TM, Pelletier M, Gull SW. 2012. Aboriginal forestry: development of a socioecologically relevant moose habitat management process using local Cree knowledge in Eeyou Istchee. Can. J. For. Res; 42: 631-641.
[3] Jacqmain H, Dussault C, Courtois R, Bélanger L. 2008. Moose–habitat relationships: integrating local Cree native knowledge and scientific findings in northern Quebec. Canadian Journal of Forest Research; 38(12): 3120-3132. https://doi.org/10.1139/X08-128
[4] Jacqmain H, Dussault C, Courtois R, Bélanger L. 2008. Moose–habitat relationships: integrating local Cree native knowledge and scientific findings in northern Quebec. Canadian Journal of Forest Research; 38(12): 3120-3132. https://doi.org/10.1139/X08-128
[1] LeBlanc JW, McLaren BE, Pereira C, Bell M, Atlookan S. 2011. First Nations Moose Hunt in Ontario: A Community’s Perspective and Reflections. Alces; 47: 163-174. https://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/97/119
[2] Westman CN, Joly TL, Pospisil M, Wheatley K. 2020. Encountering Moose in a Changing Landscape: Sociality, Intentionality, and Emplaced Relationships. Ethnos. DOI: 10.1080/00141844.2020.1841262 https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2020.1841262
[3] Westman CN, Joly TL, Pospisil M, Wheatley K. 2020. Encountering Moose in a Changing Landscape: Sociality, Intentionality, and Emplaced Relationships. Ethnos. DOI: 10.1080/00141844.2020.1841262 https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2020.1841262
[4] Bottan B, Euler D, Rempel R. 2002. Adaptive Management of Moose in Ontario. Alces; 38: 1-10. https://www.alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/download/495/577/2419
[5] Timmermann HR, Gollat R, Whitlaw HA. 2002. Reviewing Ontario’s moose management policy – 1980-2000 – targets achieved, lessons learned. Alces; 38: 11-45. https://sportdocbox.com/Hunting_and_Shooting/88889000-Reviewing-ontario-s-moose-management-policy-targets-achieved-lessons-learned.html
[6] PROVINCIAL AUDITOR. 1998. Audit of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Program. Toronto (ON). http://www.gov.on.ca/opa/english/e98/309.htm.
[7] Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. 2016. Small Steps Forward. Environmental Protection Report 2015/2016. Vol. 2: Biodiversity. Toronto (ON). 83 pp. https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/reporttopics/envreports/env16/EPR-Small-Steps-Forward_Vol2-EN.pdf
[8] Murray DL, Cox EW, Ballard WB, Whitlaw HA, Lenarz MS, Custer TW, Barnett T, Fuller TK. 2006. Pathogens, Nutritional Deficiency, and Climate Influences on a Declining Moose Population. Wildlife Monographs; 166(1): 1-30. https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70028916
[9] Timmermann HR, McNicol JG. 1988. Moose Habitat Needs. The Forestry Chronicle; 64: 238-245. https://pubs.cif-ifc.org/doi/pdf/10.5558/tfc64238-3
[10] Lundmark C, Ball JP. 2008. Living in Snowy Environments: Quantifying the Influence of Snow on Moose Behavior. Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research; 40(1): 111-118. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1657/1523-0430(06-103)[LUNDMARK]2.0.CO;2
[11] Jacqmain H, Dussault C, Courtois R, Bélanger L. 2008. Moose–habitat relationships: integrating local Cree native knowledge and scientific findings in northern Quebec. Canadian Journal of Forest Research; 38(12): 3120-3132. https://doi.org/10.1139/X08-128
[12] Jacqmain H, Bélanger L, Courtois R, Dussault C, Beckley TM, Pelletier M, Gull SW. 2012. Aboriginal forestry: development of a socioecologically relevant moose habitat management process using local Cree knowledge in Eeyou Istchee. Can. J. For. Res; 42: 631-641.
[13] Jacqmain H, Dussault C, Courtois R, Bélanger L. 2008. Moose–habitat relationships: integrating local Cree native knowledge and scientific findings in northern Quebec. Canadian Journal of Forest Research; 38(12): 3120-3132. https://doi.org/10.1139/X08-128
[14] Jacqmain H, Dussault C, Courtois R, Bélanger L. 2008. Moose–habitat relationships: integrating local Cree native knowledge and scientific findings in northern Quebec. Canadian Journal of Forest Research; 38(12): 3120-3132. https://doi.org/10.1139/X08-128