“Bears Are Like Family”: Indigenous Knowledge Shapes New Solutions for Human-Polar Bear Coexistence

CHURCHILL, MANITOBA, CANADA – Researchers representing Polar Bears International, Churchill’s Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Royal Roads University have published a new academic study of Indigenous knowledge on human-polar bear coexistence in Nature Communications Earth & Environment: “Coexistence between people and polar bears supports Indigenous knowledge mobilization in wildlife management and research.” The study was conducted in Churchill, Canada, which, like many northern communities, faces growing concerns about increased polar bear encounters as climate change continues to melt the sea ice crucial to the survival of both polar bears and people. Churchill’s residents, over 91% of whom are Indigenous, have lived alongside polar bears for thousands of years. Despite extensive research on polar bears in this region, famously known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World," few academic reports have been co-authored by Indigenous peoples or centered on local knowledge of polar bears. With knowledge holders representing Swampy Cree, Sayisi Dene, Métis, Sioux, and Inuit people living in Churchill, this report mixes methods from Indigenous ways of knowing and social sciences to advance wildlife conservation across the Arctic. Learn more about the report, and listen to podcasts featuring the contributors, here.  

“One of the beautiful things that we've done with the research project is including the Elders who know the history of living with polar bears, and then we've also included the youth who gave us several really good pointers about what the future should look like for living with polar bears,” says Georgina Berg, co-author, and Cree Elder. Georgina is also a Polar Bears International Advisory Board Member and Churchill Indigenous Knowledge Keeper and emphasizes that, “Both Elders and youth agreed that the polar bears are like our family and that we must be respectful when living with polar bears. Many people said, you know, the bears were here first, and this is their home. We came and lived with them, so we need to be respectful.” 

Key Takeaways:

• Co-produced Research: Many of the study’s authors are Indigenous, including Elders and youth, and the co-produced research incorporates innovative methods in polar bear science—including “Hands Back, Hands Forward,” an approach that connects historical knowledge with future solutions.

• A New Perspective: The report illustrates a history of Churchill that overlays cultural heritage, ecology, and Indigenous knowledge—essential knowledge that builds understanding across worldviews, allowing us to understand human-polar bear coexistence holistically (View the timeline).

• Culture of Coexistence: Contributors described coexistence as “just a way of life,” despite increased polar bear sightings near town. “It’s just built into us,” knowledge holders shared, highlighting how they never walk around town without being bear aware. 

• Storytelling Themes From Safety to Tourism: Sharing circles and storytelling—used instead of traditional interviews—offered a culturally respectful method for the 18 knowledge holders, who discussed topics such as: “Their entire existence relies on being sneaky” (Polar bear behavior); “Why don’t they fly bears south?” (Management and research); and “Every Tom, Dick, and Harry’s out looking for a bear” (Industry and economy). 

A Vision for the Future

The report highlights “Future Visions,” the contributors’ forward-looking recommendations that support equity and reconciliation, giving the knowledge holders agency in issues that affect their well-being. Churchill is unique in its infrastructure for polar bear management and coexistence, being the only Northern community with a Polar Bear Alert Program, which was introduced in the 1970s and is operated by the Province of Manitoba. Churchill is unique in its infrastructure for polar bear management and coexistence, being the only Northern community with a Polar Bear Alert Program, which was introduced in the 1970s and is operated by the Province of Manitoba. Given the urgency of ensuring safer communities for polar bears and people alike, the report proposes actions for management and policymakers that are relevant Arctic-wide that are relevant Arctic-wide, including:

• Elevate Indigenous knowledge in research and management: This will enable management that is responsive to changing social-ecological contexts. 

• Proactive management and less invasive research: Manage the people more and the bears less.

• Cultivate a culture of coexistence: Knowledge holders highlight approaches driven by mutual respect rather than fear. 

• Improve bear safety: This ranges from educating tourists and kids to bringing people from different communities that coexist with polar bears together to learn from each other.

• Youth engagement: Support local youth with job opportunities and mentorship related to polar bear tourism, research, and the Polar Bear Alert Program.

• Sustainable tourism: The majority of knowledge holders are involved with tourism and note it’s important to balance economic benefits with the well-being of bears and the community.

Additional quotes from Authors: 

• Kt Miller, lead author, Polar Bears International representative, and Royal Roads University researcher: “People are not just observers of ecology; we are actively involved in sharing the environments around us. Our study brings together Indigenous perspectives and history with polar bear research and management in a unique way, and we highlight future visions to mobilize the Indigenous knowledge shared. By providing the opportunity for Indigenous voices to share what coexistence means and how it can be improved, the future visions in this research support self-determination and reconciliation, giving local people a voice in things that impact their day-to-day lives.” 

• Dr. Dominique Henri, co-author and a Research Scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada: “Indigenous knowledge is critical to a comprehensive scientific understanding of polar bears. Since Indigenous knowledge and coexistence are rooted in relationships, coexistence provides an approach to building understanding across different worldviews in wildlife research. The current global challenges we face require mobilizing all valid knowledge sources and continuing to find new ways to do research related to complex issues like decolonization and climate change.”

• Dr. Michael Lickers, Indigenous scholar in residence at Royal Roads University, co-author and supervisor of this study: “For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples of the north have lived in harmony with nature and with their relatives the polar bears,” says adding, “This unique project uses an Indigenous methodology of storytelling to explore how Indigenous people in the region coexisted with polar bears in the past, how they live with them in the present, and how they envision coexistence in the future. Storytelling is a powerful tool for gathering and sharing information. The wisdom and knowledge of Elders, knowledge keepers, and community members, all combine to tell a collective story of how the community coexists in a relationship with polar bears, probably just like their ancestors did thousands of years ago.” 

This research provides a new perspective on how research and management can include Indigenous perspectives to adapt to a changing Arctic. By highlighting Indigenous knowledge of coexistence, it advances the importance of relationships in fostering reciprocal respect between people and polar bears.

About Polar Bears International

Polar Bears International’s mission is to conserve polar bears and the sea ice they depend on. The organization works to inspire people to care about the Arctic, the threats to its future, and the connection between this remote region and our global climate. Polar Bears International is the only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to wild polar bears and Arctic sea ice, and the staff includes scientists who study wild polar bears. The organization is a recognized leader in polar bear conservation. For more information, visit www.polarbearsinternational.org. 

Media Contact

Annie Edwards, for Polar Bears International 
annie@fabricmedia.net
+44 0 7307 139782

About Environment and Climate Change Canada

ECCC is the lead federal department for a wide range of environmental issues, including taking action on clean growth and climate change. The Department is also engaged in activities aimed at preventing and managing pollution, conserving nature, and predicting weather and environmental conditions. 

About Royal Roads University

Royal Roads University is Canada’s university for changemakers and is a publicly-funded, applied research university that has focused on lifelong education since 1995.

Media Contact

Jennifer Rathwell, for Royal Roads
Jennifer.Rathwell@royalroads.ca 
+1 250 589 1378