About the Project
Learning About Caribou Together
Caribou have held special cultural, spiritual, and economic importance for Indigenous communities for millennia. They are an essential food source, but they are also much more than that. For many communities, caribou are connected to identity, relationships, responsibilities, and ways of life on the land.
My PhD research focuses on barren-ground caribou, which are found across northern Canada, including Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, with winter ranges that may extend into northern parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Historically, barren-ground caribou populations reached around two million in the late 1980s and mid-1990s. Since then, many herds have declined, and most have shown little evidence of recovery. The Bluenose-East caribou herd, which is the focus of my research, declined by about 90 percent over the last decade, although it is now showing early signs of recovery.This herd moves across a vast cross-territorial landscape and is connected to many communities and co-management bodies, including the communities I have been working with: Délı̨nę, Wekweètì, and Kugluktuk.
In Canada, the role of Indigenous Knowledge in caribou management has been strengthened through the long-standing work of Indigenous communities, co-management boards, knowledge holders, and researchers. What I hope to contribute is a better understanding of how this knowledge can move from being recognized and discussed to being used more directly in decision-making, through building tools and indicators that are grounded in community priorities.
A key part of my research is learning with communities to document Indigenous Knowledge and co-develop indicators of caribou health, environment and socio-cultural change. These indicators can help describe what people are seeing on the land, in the animals, and in the environment. They can also become practical tools that support co-management decisions in ways that are more responsive to community priorities.
But for me, this research is not only about indicators, policies, or management tools. It is also about relationships. My research has brought me into relationship with people and knowledge holders in Délı̨nę, the Tłı̨chǫ region, and Kugluktuk. These relationships have been built through research, but also beyond the formal boundaries of research. Through them, I have had the privilege of learning not only about the ecological realities facing caribou populations, but also about the cultural, spiritual, and ethical dimensions of Indigenous life in the North.
These experiences have changed me as a person. They have taught me that research is never separate from the context in which it takes place. I feel research must begin with respect, humility, and a willingness to be shaped by the people you work with. For me, ethical research means honouring the knowledge and priorities of Indigenous communities and ensuring that the outcomes are useful, accessible, and aligned with their visions for the future.
Some of the most meaningful lessons have come from time spent in communities beyond interviews, meetings, or formal research activities. Being present in everyday moments, contributing where I can, and learning through shared time have helped me build relationships, trust, and lasting friendships. These experiences have given me a more grounded understanding of local traditions, responsibilities, and ways of being on the land. They have also shown me that knowledge is not only carried in words. Knowledge is carried in relationships, in shared experiences, and in the time people spend together.
Interview with Elder John Kapakatoak from Kugluktuk
About the Award Recipient
Amish Dua (He/Him) is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary. His research focuses on working with multiple northern Indigenous communities to document Indigenous Knowledge and explore ways this knowledge can be more meaningfully used in decision-making around barren-ground caribou co-management. His current work focuses on the Bluenose-East caribou herd and is grounded in relationships with communities in the Tłı̨chǫ region, Délı̨nę, and Kugluktuk.
Before beginning his PhD, Amish completed his master’s research with the Palsi shepherd community in the western Himalayas, India, where he documented local knowledge about changing Himalayan landscapes and the relationships between people, livestock, wildlife, and place. This work shaped his interest in community-engaged research and in understanding how people’s lived experiences can inform responses to environmental change.
Across his research journey, Amish has been drawn to work that sits at the intersection of ecology, culture, and decision-making. He is interested in how research can move beyond academic outputs and contribute to processes that are useful, accessible, and grounded in the priorities of the people most directly connected to the land and animals being studied.
Outside of research, Amish enjoys cooking and sharing food with others, spending time outdoors, and learning from new people and places he has the privilege of encountering.