Media Centre

November 10, 2011 – Ottawa, Ontario - The Government of Canada’s decision to list Polar Bear as “Special Concern” on the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) creates special new responsibilities to Inuit, says Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), Canada’s national Inuit organization.

According to previous status assessments conducted by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Species in Canada (COSEWIC), Polar Bears have been given the “Special Concern” designation for the past 20 years. Over this period of time, however, Inuit have observed a marked increase in Polar Bear numbers throughout Canada’s Arctic regions and have become more concerned recently about this trend that is affecting the safety of Inuit communities.

While this current SARA designation places no additional restrictions on Polar Bear harvesting for Inuit, it does trigger the requirement for a national management plan to be developed within the next three years. ITK expects Inuit from the four Inuit land claim regions will be invited to be closely involved by the federal government in the development of this national management plan to ensure that Inuit rights and land claims obligations and processes will be adhered to and protected. Key among Inuit expectations is the increased involvement and use of Inuit Traditional Knowledge in the Polar Bear research and management decision-making processes.

An important challenge over the next three years and beyond will be Canada’s ability to properly link and parallel a national management plan with existing regional based regimes in the Inuit land claim regions, as well as with the development of a circumpolar action plan that was agreed to by the Polar Bear Range States at its Iqaluit meeting in October 2011. Inuit are a vital part of the success of this endeavour, and ITK looks forward to Environment Canada giving active and creative effect to its expressed intent to involve Inuit directly.