The value of caribou

Around 21,000 people live on or near the range of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq herds, and the majority of them are of aboriginal ancestry. Using caribou fulfils economic, social and cultural needs. The latter two categories are hard to quantify, but caribou clearly contribute to the foundation of several cultures, and are essential to the maintenance of these cultures.

Encouraging young people to hunt responsibly ties them to the traditions of their past. This strengthens and enriches life in native communities. Retracing the footsteps of their elders will help anchor young people, who are barraged by a constantly changing world.

A new socio-economic evaluation of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq herds puts the total annual net value of the caribou harvest at more than $20 million. The final report by InterGroup Consultants of Winnipeg will be available from download from www.arctic-caribou.com in spring 2008.

According to the 2008 report, Nunavut benefits most from harvesting the herds. Its share of the harvest is valued at almost $12 million. The value of Manitoba's share of the harvest is about $4 million, while the value of Saskatchewan's share of the harvest is over $3 million. The value of NWT's share of the harvest is less than $1 million.

Lean caribou meat is often more nutritious than imported foods. In northern communities, fresh meat and produce are limited, and costs are high.

The InterGroup report also found that the domestic harvest accounted for more than $15 million of the $20 million-plus total net annual value of the herds. The outfitting industry accounts for most of the remaining value of the caribou, more than $4 million yearly.

Additional values are derived from the use of skins for clothing and bedding, and bones and antlers for handicrafts. Apart from purely economic factors, the use of caribou is important to the culture and traditional lifestyle of aboriginal people. As part of its research for its report, InterGroup Consultants conducted eight community interviews (two per jurisdiction) to better understand the social and cultural importance of the caribou harvest. All respondents saw harvesting caribou as integral to preserving and, where necessary, revitalizing their culture. Important activities like passing on traditional knowledge and learning outdoor wilderness survival skills take place while hunting caribou.

For a comprehensive overview of the herds, download a copy of 20th Anniversary Report: Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board 1982 - 2002, available in PDF format. For recent harvest estimates, check the BQCMB's annual reports.