Assessing traditional and contemporary fisheries knowledge within the Shoal Lake watershed : possibilities for partnerships with Shoal Lake First Nation # 40
Date
1995
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Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CA
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to examine an alternative knowledge and management
system, relating to the walleye fishery of Shoal Lake, Ontario. The study documented the
traditional ecological knowledge relating to Walleye, compared and contrasted traditional
ecological knowledge to scientific ecological knowledge, integrated traditional and scientific
ecological knowledge into a map format; and recommended areas of further research. To
conduct this work, three major research methods were employed: personal observations,
personal interviews and a map biography approach.
The results of this study defined areas of critical walleye areas for consideration from the
scientific and traditional ecological knowledge perspectives. Differing perspectives are held by
representatives of Shoal Lake Band # 40 and by representatives of the Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources on the nature of the fishery as well as on the methods required for a
sustainable harvest and recovery of the walleye population. Until these problems can be
resolved and greater cooperation can be achieved between both parties, the fishery will not be
effectively managed. However, this is not to say that the fishery will not recover on its own, but
this will be by chance and will take time.
The recommendations of this study include: that the terms defined in fisheries management be
clarified and mutually agreed upon, that further research be conducted to clarify these differing
perspectives, that a research methodology be developed that would incorporate both scientific
ecological knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge, and that the First Nations be brought
into the scientific management process so that they can evaluate its potential to contribute to
traditional ecological knowledge.
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Keywords
FISHERY MANAGEMENT, DATA COLLECTING, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, PARTNERSHIP, INDIGENOUS POPULATION, CANADA, FISH, MAPPING, LAKES, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH, TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGY