OTH60 - What is the future of wildlife health in the Arctic? Collaboratively advancing community-based monitoring - sponsored by NWMB*

*Nunavut Wildlife Management Board

To predict, mitigate, and adapt to emerging wildlife health issues we need wildlife health surveillance programs that are community-driven and collaborative drawing on Traditional Knowledge, local knowledge and western scientific knowledge. By bringing together different knowledge types and approaches we can gain a more holistic understanding of wildlife health and bridge gaps to support wildlife co-management in the Arctic. In this town hall, we will present three collaborative wildlife monitoring programs in the Arctic, how they contribute to wildlife health surveillance, and lessons learned. We will then open the floor to the audience and our speakers for a moderated group discussion to address questions such as: How should wildlife health surveillance in the Canadian Arctic grow in order to support healthy communities and ecosystems? Our goal is that this discussion will contribute to the mobilisation of community-based wildlife health surveillance to support Inuit food security, culture, and economies. 

Co-Chairs:

Eleanor Dickinson, University of Calgary 

Susan Kutz, University of Calgary 

Lisa Loseto, Fisheries and Oceans Canada 

Grant Gilchrist, Environment and Climate Change Canada 

Speakers:

Susan Kutz, University of Calgary

Allen Niptanatiak, Kugluktuk Angoniatit Association

Lisa Loseto, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Enooyaq Sudlovenick, University of Prince Edward Island 

Jim Elias, Tuktoyaktuk Hunters & Trappers Committee

Grant Gilchrist, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Josiah Nakoolak, Coral Harbour