Coexistence between people and polar bears supports Indigenous knowledge mobilization in wildlife management and research

Abstract

Polar bears are coming into northern communities more frequently, and human-polar bear conflict is increasing. However, in the community of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, people live alongside polar bears with high tolerance and reciprocal respect. Through this case study, we explored human-polar bear coexistence in the community through Indigenous voices, documented social-ecological change, and mobilized recommendations as future visions to inform inclusive management and research strategies: elevate Indigenous knowledge, support proactive management and less invasive research, cultivate a culture of coexistence, improve education and safety awareness, and protect polar bears to support tourism. We used community-based participatory research, coproduction of knowledge, hands back, hands forward, and storytelling, mixing methods from the social sciences and Indigenous ways of knowing. Our study revealed coexistence can be a tool to bridge social and ecological knowledge, examine and facilitate wildlife conservation, and promote well-being through applied research on global issues at the local level.