JAMES BAY POLAR BEAR
KNOWLEDGE SHARING WORKSHOP

This gathering brought together researchers and Cree from the west and east coasts of James Bay for the first time to promote discussion and a collective understanding of the ecology, management, and co-existence with polar bears in this region.

Purpose

The polar bears in James Bay are managed as part of the Southern Hudson Bay (SH) Polar Bear Subpopulation. SH is the southernmost polar bear subpopulation and one of least studied. Cree knowledge, and community-led and scientific studies are suggesting that James Bay polar bears may be a genetically and ecologically separate unit within the SH subpopulation.

The purpose of this workshop is to bring together management bodies, Ontario and Quebec coastal Cree Nations, researchers, Cree entities and government to promote discussion, knowledge-sharing and learn more about the James Bay polar bears. This is intended to help the EMRWB meet its obligations and research mandate under the EMRLCA and QC-EMR-NMR Polar Bear Management Plan; and to support the Mushkegowuk Council and Ontario Coastal Cree Nations address the objectives and actions of the Recovery Strategy for Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) in Ontario (OMNRF, 2011) and Polar Bear – Ontario Government Response Statement (OMNRF, 2016).

Objectives

• Share knowledge about James Bay polar bears
• Share updates on scientific and community-led polar bear research
• Develop an awareness of Ontario, Quebec-EMR-NMR, and federal polar bear management plans and processes
• Gather Nations’ ideas and concerns about polar bears (e.g., public safety), priorities for research, and management approaches (e.g. harmonized kill reporting and sampling between ON-EMR-QC)

Presentations