Cloudberry Connections is contributing to national wildlife conservation efforts through a project commissioned by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). The focus of this work is integrating Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK) into species assessments for two important marine mammals: Harp Seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) – Northwest Atlantic population, and Hooded Seal (Cystophora cristata) – North Atlantic population.

 

Both Harp and Hooded Seals hold deep cultural, ecological, and economic significance for Inuit and other Indigenous communities across Atlantic Canada and Inuit Nunangat. For generations, these communities have carried knowledge about seal behavior, migration patterns, environmental changes, and harvesting practices—knowledge that is essential to creating fair and informed conservation decisions.

 

Through this project, Cloudberry has produced an ATK Source Report that identifies and compiles key sources of Inuit and Indigenous Knowledge related to these two seal populations. This report supports COSEWIC in understanding where and how ATK can contribute to species status assessments under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA).

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The report includes:

• A comprehensive list of Indigenous communities, Wildlife Management Boards, and organizations connected to Harp and Hooded Seal stewardship;

• An overview of documented ATK sources, such as community-based research reports, films, academic studies, and government publications;

• Guidance on the availability and accessibility of ATK—whether sources are public, held within communities, or require further engagement to access.

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By contributing this ATK Source Report, Cloudberry is helping ensure that Indigenous perspectives are recognized and reflected in national wildlife management processes. The project reflects Cloudberry’s commitment to knowledge mobilization work that respects both Indigenous knowledge systems and Western science, supporting more inclusive, culturally grounded approaches to marine conservation.