Indigenous knowledge holders describe caribou health as emerging from interwoven relationships among animals, people, and the land. In the Canadian North, within the range of the Bluenose-East caribou herd, which is a major migratory caribou population in the Canadian Arctic, ongoing interviews, in-depth discussions, and participatory activities are beginning to illuminate early themes that reflect both ecological and social dimensions of change.
Knowledge holders and Elders described how shifts in migration routes, health, and the broader environment intersect with changing fire conditions, predation pressure, insects, disease, and other stressors. Participatory mapping exercises add further depth by showing where caribou once travelled, where they now avoid, and how these shifts overlap with concerns about disturbance and access. These spatial narratives connect closely with stories shared during interviews. Often rooted in personal and intergenerational experience, these stories demonstrate long-term ecological knowledge and reveal patterns that may not be easily captured through conventional monitoring systems.
Alongside ecological observations, participants highlighted important social dimensions of change. When opportunities to harvest caribou decline, the effects extend well beyond harvest numbers. These changes interrupt relationships that sustain both caribou and community, underscoring that understanding caribou health requires attention to the social indicators that accompany ecological shifts. Together, these show that caribou health cannot be separated from the cultural and social systems it supports.
Through stories, maps, and lived experience, this work advances the development of community-derived indicators that capture the full ecological and social context of caribou. It also highlights lessons that are relevant for regions around the world seeking to meaningfully apply Indigenous Knowledge in environmental decision-making.