Arctic ontologies: reframing the relationship between humans and rangifer

Castro, Damian; Hossain, Kamrul; Tytelman, Carolina

doi:10.1080/1088937x.2016.1179352

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Herders described their human–animal agency as an instrument to shape the structure, function, and cultural relevance of the pastoral landscape—a process reported from many human–reindeer livelihoods across the circumpolar North (Castro et al. , Stépanoff ). The current form of this relationship rests upon the herders’ knowledge of the behavioral patterns and seasonal habitat selection of their reindeer (Table ), as well as of the diverse landscape functions in relation to, for example, weather and snow conditions that generally fluctuate widely in the sub‐Arctic within and between years (Bokhorst et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human–animal agency in reindeer management: Sámi herders’ perspectives on vegetation dynamics under climate change

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Many primary livelihoods in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions experience accelerating effects of environmental change. The often close connection between indigenous peoples and their respective territories allows them to make detailed observations of how these changes transform the landscapes where they practice their daily activities. Here, we report S ami reindeer herders' observations based on their long-term inhabitance and use of contrasting pastoral landscapes in northern Fennoscandia. In particular, we focus on the capacity for various herd management regimes to prevent a potential transformation of open tundra vegetation to shrubland or woodland. S ami herders did not confirm a substantial, rapid, or large-scale transformation of treeless tundra areas into shrub-and/or woodlands. However, where they observe encroachment of open tundra landscapes, a range of factors was deemed responsible. These included abiotic conditions, anthropogenic influences, and the direct and indirect effects of reindeer. The advance of the mountain birch tree line was in some cases associated with reduced or discontinued grazing and firewood cutting, depending on the seasonal significance of these particular areas. Where the tree line has risen in elevation and/or latitude, herding practices have by necessity adapted to these changes. Exploiting the capacity of reindeer impacts on vegetation as a conservation tool offers time-tested adaptive strategies of ecosystem management to counteract a potential encroachment of the tundra by woody plants. However, novel solutions in environmental governance involve difficult trade-offs for ecologically sustainable, economically viable, and socially desirable management strategies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human–animal agency in reindeer management: Sámi herders’ perspectives on vegetation dynamics under climate change

et al. 2017

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“…Caribou have been characterized as an essential species for Indigenous peoples across the Circumpolar North (Bali, 2016;Parlee et al, 2018). As such, these declining numbers are also posing a variety of complex and significant challenges for Indigenous communities who have relied on and continue to rely on caribou for food (Chiu et al, 2016;Kenny et al, 2018), cultural identity and practices (Bali & Kofinas, 2014;Polfus et al, 2017), spiritual ceremonies (Castro, Hossain, & Tytelman, 2016;Rixen & Blangy, 2016), clothing (Bali & Kofinas, 2014;Zoe, 2012), and livelihoods (Mason, Dana, & Anderson, 2007;Parlee et al, 2018) for millennia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Campeau et al, 2019). To prevent further decline of the caribou, and to support a potential recovery of the herd, in 2013 the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador issued a total hunting ban on caribou (Castro et al, 2016;Timmins, 2016), with support from the Nunatsiavut Government and the NunatuKavut Community Council. This hunting ban, and lack of access to caribou, has created serious impacts for Inuit in Labrador who have relied on these caribou for hundreds of years (Alton Mackey & Orr, 1987;Bergerud, Luttich, & Camps, 2008;Kenny et al, 2018;Natcher, Felt, & Procter, 2012;Wilson et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

"You can never replace the caribou": Inuit Experiences of Ecological Grief from Caribou Declines

Cunsolo¹,

Borish²,

Harper³

et al. 2020

American Imago

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“…Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus sp.) is a keystone species in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems across the circumpolar North (Kofinas et al, 2000;Castro et al, 2016). Wild reindeer and caribou inhabit large regions that feel the impacts of anthropogenic drivers, such as expanding resource development through mining, agriculture, forestry, tourism, energy development, roads, and settlements, as well as natural drivers like climate change.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of these herds are still migratory. Through time, these nomads of the North have provided sustenance and livelihoods for a great many people in the Arctic and boreal regions, and both wild and domesticated reindeer figure prominently in the socio-cultural contexts, narratives, and belief systems of northern cultures (Klokov, 1997;Sjoholm, 2007;Stammler, 2007;Sommerseth, 2011;Castro et al, 2016). Reindeer husbandry has also proved adaptive to changes in society, but simultaneously quite vulnerable to changing land uses, loss of available habitat, and increasing regulation of reindeer management (Bostedt et al, 2003;Sandström et al, 2006;Brännlund and Axelsen, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Social Values of Wild Reindeer to Planning and Management Options in Southern Norway

Kaltenborn¹,

Mehmetoglu²,

Gundersen³

2017

ARCTIC

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Norway is home to the last remaining populations of wild mountain reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Europe. Concerns over anthropogenic and natural drivers have led to change in the management regime from a population-based model to an area-based model. More complex management goals, increasing involvement of stakeholders, and larger management units call for improved knowledge about reindeer-related values. We examined the responses of 1000 respondents to 39 statements of attitudes and values associated with wild reindeer presence and the management situation in two reindeer regions of southern Norway. We used a partial least-squares path modeling approach to examine the nexus between the attraction of wild reindeer, sustainability concerns, utilitarian and non-utilitarian values, conflicts, and attitudes toward hunting. The results show that local concepts of the sustainability of reindeer are based on opinions about the ecological requirements as well as the roles reindeer can play in the social and economic development of the communities. The attraction of reindeer is a function of consumptive as well as non-consumptive objectives. Segments of the community with different consumptive orientations can share ideas about the attraction of reindeer, but diverge in their interpretation of the sustainability of the species. Improved knowledge about the diversity and complexity of value orientations associated with wild reindeer can be a useful tool for developing multi-objective management frameworks with a diversity of stakeholders who may share similar values and interests, although they have different experience and knowledge bases.

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Arctic ontologies: reframing the relationship between humans and rangifer

Cited by 12 publications

References 31 publications

Human–animal agency in reindeer management: Sámi herders’ perspectives on vegetation dynamics under climate change

Human–animal agency in reindeer management: Sámi herders’ perspectives on vegetation dynamics under climate change

"You can never replace the caribou": Inuit Experiences of Ecological Grief from Caribou Declines

Linking Social Values of Wild Reindeer to Planning and Management Options in Southern Norway

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